Description of School Programs
Park School offers a balanced and engaging instructional program, serving students from kindergarten through fifth-grade. Project-based learning serves as the foundation of the instructional program, providing students with meaningful, hands-on, inquiry-based projects that integrate California State standards.

The primary approach to instruction is through a workshop model where teachers provide a short mini-lesson to introduce a concept or skill, a longer session for student practice and application of the concept or skill, and a wrap-up session where students reflect on their learning. Throughout this process, the teacher employs the gradual release of responsibility model, whereby his or her level of guidance and support varies according to the needs of the students. The end goal is to foster the necessary skills, strategies and concepts that will promote independent, critical thinkers who love to learn.

In addition to the academic program, Park School offers a rich Arts program that includes Visual Arts, Music, Dance, Drama and Poetry. Students also receive 30 minutes of Physical Education every day. A Science teacher offers exciting, hands-on science lessons to the kindergarten through fourth-grade classrooms. Currently, the School has two mobile laptop carts with 20-30 laptops available for student use. Teachers share the carts on an “as needed” basis to work on various multimedia projects, Internet research and basic keyboarding skills.

Park School staff and parents understand that educating children is more than teaching the curriculum and standards. They understand that education is also about the development of character and citizenship in a school, town and larger community. It is also about understanding the complexities and beauty of the global community and all of its diversity. Park has chosen six phrases or “Words to Live By” that guide everyone’s actions and behaviors at school.

Caring for the natural environment is a major theme throughout Park School. A beautiful school garden provides an outdoor classroom where students study plant life, life cycles, and other life science explorations. A student-led recycling and compost program called the Green Team enables the students to make a difference in their own community. In addition, several classrooms work closely with the STRAW project (Students and Teachers Restoring the Watershed) and take classroom time to restore Warner Creek (located across the street in Boyle Park).