366 Gault Street, Santa Cruz, California 95062, United States
Academics and Enrichment at SCCS
Daily Schedule
8-8:30am: Drop off
8:30am-2:30pm: School Hours
2:30-4pm: After Care
- Each class is a 45 minute period
- Core classes (ELA & Math) are in the morning and most enrichment classes are after lunch
- All students have a morning snack/recess and lunch/recess
- The youngest group ends the day with a 45 minute "Linner" period (an additional snack & recess)
Garden Science worm bin!
SCCS Class List
Students at SCCS get a strong academic and widely enriched experience at Santa Cruz Children's School that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Take a look at some of what we are offering this year below!
Language Arts
In the younger grades, students hear stories, respond to literature, keep journals, and begin exploring creative writing and storytelling. They build phonics, reading, writing, and math skills with a variety of activities at a pace that is individualized for each child.
As students move beyond early literacy skills, they are enouraged and challenged daily to grow their reading, writing, and speaking skills while developing a true sense of personal responsibility for their work. Students are taught flexibility and ease with all modes of writing and reading. In addition to reading assignments in every genre and style, students participate in self-organized, and largely student-led, Book Clubs with their classmates.
In addition to essays, narratives, and other nonfiction writing, creative writing is an important element of language arts. Students are challenged to find their own voice across genres by writing in an environment that is both assignment driven and about constant personal progress. Students are taught to use any and all tools at their disposal to help them on this quest, from mentor texts to peer feedback, and most importantly: the lost art of revision. This environment has resulted in students who write for the pure joy of it.
Math
No two children are ever in exactly the same place when it comes to their math skills. Some children are ready to surge forward and others need to take more time to master each new skill. At SCCS, each child moves forward in math at their own pace and celebrates their successes in academics based on their own progress and goals. Group math challenges and games keep it as fun, interesting, and collaborative as many of our enrichment classes.
Earth Science
Every year the students of SCCS have at least one in-depth dedicated science class. Students receive a solid basis in the fundamentals of a wide range of scientific subjects from Anatomy to Zoology. This year the focus will be Earth Science.
Every other year we host a school wide science fair. Each grade has a different set of choices for their area of focus. All students present their project to the whole school as well as show off their work to the families and friends of SCCS at the fair. All students are eligible and encouraged to participate in the Santa Cruz County Science Fair as well!
Spanish
Spanish is taught to all students, Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. Students develop their ear and accent through conversation, singing, and consistent practice. The small class size ensures individual attention and opportunities to practice.
Visual Arts
Students will work with a variety of media over the school year exploring their creativity and imagination creating original works and learning art techniques.
Instrumental Music
All students play an instrument at SCCCS. Students start with weekly recorder lessons with Lars in 2nd grade. Starting in 3rd grade students can select from a wide range of instruments taught by Lars and Adriana at the beginning of each year. Students should plan to practice at least 10 minutes daily. Each year, the whole school shows off their instrumental and singing skills in our annual spring concert.
Vocal Music
Through a lively program that integrates movement, singing and musicianship skills, children develop their innate sense of melody and rhythm with joy, instilling in them the confidence in their ability to create beauty in the world through music. Children showcase their vocal skills at our annual spring concert.
Performing Arts
The Santa Cruz Children’s School community puts on an original musical theater production every other school year. Every student will have a roll and the whole community comes together to make the production a success. It is truly a highlight!
History
The K-6 history curriculum at Children’s School builds community by engaging all the school’s students with the same area of inquiry at the same time. While the level of instruction changes from group to group, all grades study the same subjects and themes, which creates a shared experience and allows students of all ages to discuss what they’re learning. The focus, while meeting CA state elementary school academic standards, will expand from local governments, state, national, and finally global government models.
Social Justice
It has always been our goal to foster kindness, empathy, and inclusion at SCCS but we are striving to be more intentional in our goals to help raise good global citizens who stand up for equality, allyship, and anti-racism. In Social Justice, students have the opportunity to explore and discuss these complex topics and to view their world from the lens of others.
Journalism
As a supplement to the creative writing skills program, the SCCS Cruz Kids Chronicle is designed to give the children greater understanding of how to communicate their stories in a succinct and ordered way. Upper class students learn to research, write, edit and lay out their article, taking great pride in the final publication. They are encouraged to pitch feature ideas and to research their stories using the library and internet.
Local Studies
Santa Cruz County has it's own rich history and culture. As part of the Local Studies curriculum, student's explore the natural history, human history, art, music, food, people, and more, and gain a deeper connection to their community.
S.T.E.A.M.
S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) class is definitely a favorite at SCCS. With hands-on projects students work together to solve design challenges that incorporate creativity and teamwork and stress the value of learning from failed attempts, redesign, and trying again.
Mythology & Folklore
Students delve into the myths, legends, and stories from all over the world and throughout human history. Exploring what makes a compelling or interesting story and the similarities and differences in storytelling throughout the world helps enrich and inform each students' own creative writing and story telling skills.
Film Studies
This year students in the eldest groups will learn the art of story telling through film as well as the intricacies of the all the working parts that have to come together to create the movies they love and will explore these roles in depth as they work on their own creations.
Civics
The upper half of the school meets each week to learn about how government functions in relation to society, both locally and globally. An education in civics helps students engage in critical thinking skills and make meaning of current events and reassures them that nationally and internationally, there is precedent for solving modern issues.
P.E. & Team-building
Physical education is an important part of the student’s weekly education. Exercise, sports, and active games play an important role in maintaining physical health as well as supporting the students’ social and emotional development.
Starting in Kindergarten students start with simple games that progress in complexity over time to develop skills like turn taking, sportsmanship, and following directions. These skills are incorporated into age-appropriate team building games that support all aspects of their education, both on the field and in the classroom. With an emphasis on cooperation, kindness, and sportsmanship students are also introduced to the rules and proper techniques of sports and activities like soccer, volleyball, disc golf, and more.
Circus Arts
Students will exercise their minds and bodies and have a blast doing it in Circus Arts. Hand eye coordination, balance, gymnastics, and performance arts are all a part of this rich and delightful experience and the performances are a highlight!
Chess
Chess is so much more than a board game. Learning how to use creative thinking skills in real-world scenarios helps students become better problem solvers in their everyday life. National Chess Master Gjon Feinstein comes to teach an after school chess workshop to all interested students for several weeks each school year.
Student Council
The 6th graders at Santa Cruz Children's School make up the Student Council. As the elder students of the school they help set the tone of kindness and inclusion for the younger students. Their goal each year is to work together to make their community (at school, locally, and even globally) a better place. We have the efforts of the student council and parent volunteers to thank for our beautiful garden and wonderful playhouse. They have also organized fundraisers and drives to help those struck by natural disasters and to help those less fortunate than themselves. We can't wait to see what they do next!
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