Lower School Academics: The Building Blocks to Learning
At Good Hope Country Day School young children move from our rich and unhurried developmental program in the Early Learning Center (Pre-School) to our Lower School, comprising grades 1-6. The Lower School features an integrated curriculum that promotes learning as an active and cooperative process. The curriculum includes Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Health, Spanish, Art, Music, Physical Education, Swimming, Computer Science, Music and Library. Core subjects are taught in self-contained classrooms with either a teacher, a teacher with an aide, or team-teachers. Students travel to their “specials” courses (Art, Music, Spanish, P.E., Swimming and Computer Science) 1-2 times per week for each course. Snack and recess time allows for social interaction and physical activity every day.
In August 2023, when GHCDS became a Cambridge International School, the Cambridge Global Perspectives course was introduced in grades K-5, as well as Cambridge Computer Science and Music courses in grades K-6. In addition to Cambridge Computer Science and Music, the full components of Cambridge courses were implemented in grade 6: Science, English, Math, and Global Perspectives. Each year following, new Cambridge courses will be added to Lower School classes until full implementation is achieved.