Early Years

Early Years comprises K4, K5 and 1st grade, the early years of school life at The Columbus School. These years are characterized by exploring in community and building social skills through play and routines while developing foundational skills in English and Spanish. In K4 most of the day takes place in Spanish with one hour of English per day, while in K5 and 1st most of the day is developed in English with one hour of Spanish per day. Children work on motor, language, math, and socio-emotional skills in addition to social science and natural science concepts through a variety of methodologies. Within an Early Years child’s day, there are times to sing, play, listen, work in centers or stations, talk, think, read, write, debate, move, build, solve problems, make class meetings, and develop projects. To guide our curriculum we use the Bridges math program and the Balanced Literacy / Reading and Writing Workshop approach in language. Our entire curriculum and our assessments are based on standards that are consistently aligned between one grade level and another.

EY Assessment Practices

High School

Our high school curriculum is based on internationally benchmarked standards and brought to life by teacher instructional practices. Departments have innovated many courses in recent years in order to bring the best pedagogy to the students in preparation for the future, and to innovate based on the needs of our ever-changing world. In grades 9 and 10 students fulfill many of the core areas with some elective choices, and in grades 11 and 12 students have more specialized courses to apply their skills in a context closer to their interest and future career interests. For example, a student pursuing an engineering career may take advanced Calculus, Physics, and Hands on Engineering courses, while a student pursuing a medical career may take Advanced Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology. Every student’s schedule has an X block for support within every 5 day rotation and College Counseling also becomes an important part of the curriculum during the high school years to set students up to excel in the pathway of their choice.

Each year the curriculum is reviewed in order to ensure a coherent and meaningful scope of skills, concepts, and knowledge that are systematically taught and evaluated. The curricular maps are developed by the teachers of each department identifying themes and the units plans are continuously refined using a “backward” planning model.

HS Program of Studies

Secondary assessment practices

TCS Secondary Assessment

Middle School

Our middle school curriculum contains programs and curriculum that help students form a solid base of knowledge and skills to move into high school, while honoring them through voice, choice, and social learning activities appropriate for their age group. Students work through the core areas focusing on problem solving. Students in middle school are part of a House system and also participate in a weekly Advisory period with adult mentors. Every students´schedules has an X block for support within every 5 day rotation.

MS Program of studies

Secondary assessment practices

TCS Secondary Assessment

Elementary School

2nd through 5th grade students continue to explore and build skills and develop with peers through units and programs based on the Common Core Curriculum for languages and mathematics, Next Generation Science Standards for science, and ISTE for technology integration. They receive Social Studies and Spanish classes in Spanish 5 times a week. Additionally, all elementary school students have weekly classes in Music, Art, Religion, Ethics and Values and Physical Education with specialist teachers. Teachers work in homeroom teams to develop horizontally-aligned unit sequences and assessments. The curriculum is under continual review to make sure it promotes safe, supportive, and engaging learning for all students.

Elementary Assessment Practices