For 43 years at ��������, The Big Event has been part of our foundation. Each year, on a Saturday morning in March, families, friends, and alumni walk through the doors of �������� to discover what students have been quietly researching, designing, and building for months. It is one of our most cherished traditions at ��������. The 2026 Big Event may have been one of the most ambitious yet!

This year's theme: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Technological Innovations Through Time.

A Tradition That Spans Generations

What makes The Big Event unlike anything else is the depth of community it has built over four decades. Alumni who experienced their own years creating for The Big Event as students remember it vividly — many can recite every theme from their years at ��������. Each March, recent graduates return the evening before to help for the final set up, reconnecting with teachers and the school they grew up in, and passing the tradition forward to the students who are living it now. It is a thread that runs through the entire �������� community, connecting generations of learners.

This year marked the 43rd Big Event, going back to the founding of �������� in 1983 it has been an annual tradition. Each year The Big Event proves the point that founded �������� - children, no matter their size, can do BIG things!  That continuity is very important to the history of �������� and the principles we follow each and every day. �������� programs like The Big Event inform our current and prospective families that what they are seeing isn't just a temporary philosophy — it's a culture.

Inside the Rooms: A Tour of Innovation

Beginning in January, students were placed into six cross-age groups — each with children from kindergarten through 8th grade — and they spent two months learning about the larger theme of technological innovation through time, and then focused on six specific subthemes: aerospace, agriculture, AI, architecture, medical technology, and computers/internet/phones. Students learned, brainstormed, developed plans and designed exhibits they could create for the big day. When it came time to put the design plans into action, each group spent a day in each of the installation rooms imagining, designing, building, and creating to create exhibits exploring a different dimension of human technological progress through the ages. Everything was student planned and student created. By Students and for Students - and their families to enjoy!

Upstairs we started with I Want It That AI, in the Middle School History Classroom where visitors traced the evolution of artificial intelligence from ELIZA, the world's first chatbot, to modern self-driving technology. Students created original AI-generated videos and songs, built a robot gallery, and invited families to imagine what careers the next generation might hold in an AI-shaped world. Have you taken a ride in a Waymo? Our students created their own Waymo version in the AI room for visitors to take a pretend ride!

Call Me, Maybe? transformed the Middle School Language Arts Classroom into an Internet Café, an Internet Highway, and a hands-on Computer Lab. Visitors cracked binary code, created pixel art, solved emoji riddles, and learned how messages travel through undersea cables — a full sweep through the history of computers, phones, and the internet. Our younger students were mesmerized by some of the old style "(ancient?) phones like rotary phones!

In the Science Lab, Old MacDonald Had a Drone — E-I-E-I-O! explored thousands of years of agricultural transformation, from early textile production using animal wool to modern seaweed couture and drone-assisted farming. Students showcased a real drone, a scientifically detailed model cow, and interactive displays on the future of food and agriculture.

The 3rd Grade Classroom became OOPS!! We Built It Again! — an architectural journey from the Appian Way and ancient Roman aqueducts to the Crystal Palace and contemporary living walls. Students explored how materials like concrete, modular construction, and sustainable design have shaped civilization, and invited our exploring visitors to imagine designing their own structures.

Upstairs in the 5th Grade Classroom, Ah-Ah-Ah-Staying Alive! offered a thoughtful and detailed look at medical technology across time — beginning with a working doctor's office and moving through an imaging department, an operating room with a simulated artificial heart transplant, and a forward-looking exploration of how artificial intelligence is already beginning to reshape medicine.

In the Middle School Math Classroom innovations in Aerospace were explored. Defying Gravity: Up, Up, and Away! took visitors on a journey from the mythological wings of Icarus to the International Space Station. Using hot air balloons, airfoils, and interactive rocket tests exhibits created by the students brought the science and history of aerospace to life. They even created their own version of an eVTOL vehicle!

The Big Hall: Rockets, Robotics, and the Electronics Club

�������� Electronics Club: Extending into The Big Hall brought an additional dimension to the event through the work of the �������� Electronics Club, led by parent volunteer Bill von Novak. Students demonstrated months of after-school work: Morse code transmitted by laser, AI image recognition from a live video feed, aircraft instrumentation used in real-world navigation, smart home sensor systems, and a robotic arm demonstrating the future of agricultural harvesting. The Aerospace Room also stretched into The Big Hall bringing hand-made rocket launch tests! More than 100 student-built rockets were launched and tracked as students competed to see who’s could fly the furthest distance, and a hot air balloon experiment drew oohs-and-aahs throughout the morning from visiting families.

What The Big Event Represents

The Big Event is not a performance produced for students — it is entirely produced BY our students. Over the course of more than two months, cross-age groups researched together, debated ideas, solved problems, and brought their vision to life. Kindergarteners worked alongside eighth graders. Older students led with patience and purpose. Younger students rose to the challenge and discovered what they are capable of when given the opportunity to collaborate along with real responsibility.

This is what progressive, project-based education looks like in practice — collaborative, rigorous, joyful, and deeply connected to the community around them. And the learning extends beyond the event itself. Students return to each of the installation classrooms the following Monday, to explore and experience everything they created.  The themes students learned during preparation for The Big Event continue to be woven into the curriculum to inform students throughout the rest of the current school year and are remembered by students to reflect on for several years after.

If you are exploring San Diego independent schools with a commitment to progressive education, small class sizes, and a school community with genuine depth and appreciation for the love of life-long learning, we invite you to schedule a parent tour and come visit �������� to see us in action.

📅 SAVE THE DATE! The Big Event 2027 will be held on March 6, 2027. We hope to see you there!

Schedule a Tour → | Learn More About �������� →

Individual Learning Styles: How �������� Nurtures Every Student

The beginning of a new semester is a natural re-set and a good time to reflect on what makes learning truly effective for each child in our learning community. At ��������, we believe differences among children in a classroom aren't just normal—they're essential - on many levels. Every student brings unique strengths, challenges, and approaches to learning, and our student-centered environment is designed to honor and nurture these individual differences while drawing on the commonalities that make it possible and essential to teach to the class as a whole.  

The Challenge: Teaching to the Class While Nurturing Each Individual

An experienced teacher embraces these goals: Where can we provide broad overviews and lessons? Where must we narrow the focus of attention so each child’s needs are being met without detracting from the class as a whole? This is where skilled teaching and a focus on appropriate differentiation comes into play.

Small Classes Lead to Big Impacts

Our small class sizes are more than just a number—they're the foundation of personalized education. With fewer students per teacher, our educators can truly know each child's learning style, academic needs, and personal interests. This intimate setting allows teachers to provide immediate feedback, adjust instruction in real-time, and ensure no student falls through the cracks.

Whether a student needs extra support with a challenging concept or is ready for advanced material, our teachers can respond in the moment - with the knowledge of how each student engages with information and is motivated to learn best. This individualization isn't a luxury at ��������—it's our standard practice.

Executive Function Development: Building Life Skills

We understand that academic success depends on more than content knowledge. That's why we actively teach executive function skills—the mental tools that help students plan, focus, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks successfully.

Our approach includes:

• Breaking down complex projects into manageable chunks that prevent overwhelm

• Teaching organizational strategies like color-coding, calendars, and priority setting

• Modeling time management through structured routines and clear expectations

• Supporting study skills development from note-taking techniques to test preparation strategies

These skills become second nature when practiced consistently in our supportive environment, preparing students for success throughout their academic journey and beyond.

Differentiation in Action

What does differentiation in the classroom look like? It’s not as simple as giving individual students work at different grade levels. Differentiation isn't something we do occasionally—it's woven into every lesson. Our teachers recognize that some students thrive with visual aids while others prefer auditory instruction. Some need movement to process information, while others focus best in quiet stillness.

In our classrooms, you might see:

• Older students choosing between outlines, notecards, or digital tools for organization

• Some students listening to soft music during independent work while others prefer silence

• Hands-on experiments running alongside theoretical discussions of the same concept

• Flexible seating options that accommodate different comfort and focus needs

• Multiple ways to demonstrate understanding, from traditional tests to creative projects

Celebrating Curiosity and Deep Learning

Our program and grade level curricula goes beyond surface-level knowledge to encourage genuine understanding. We celebrate the natural curiosity that drives real learning, creating opportunities for students to explore subjects from multiple angles—both abstract and concrete.

A history lesson might include primary source analysis (abstract thinking) paired with artifact creation (hands-on learning). A science unit combines theoretical understanding with laboratory experiments. This multi-faceted approach ensures every student can connect with the material in meaningful ways.

Life Skills for Lasting Success

While academic excellence is important, we're equally committed to developing the life skills students need to thrive. Our small community provides authentic opportunities to practice:

Communication skills through daily interactions, presentations, and collaborative projects

Problem-solving abilities by working through challenges with teacher guidance and peer support

Positive relationships built naturally in our close-knit environment where every student knows and values their classmates

Self-advocacy as students learn to express their needs and preferences in a safe, supportive setting

The �������� Difference

What sets �������� apart is our unwavering commitment to seeing each student as an individual. We don't ask students to fit our program—we shape our program to fit each student. This student-centered approach creates confident learners who understand their own strengths, can articulate their needs, and have the tools to succeed in any environment.

As we move further into the second semester, we're excited to continue nurturing the unique potential within each of our students, celebrating their differences, and watching them grow into confident, capable, and caring individuals, at every grade level.

Are you curious to know more? Discover how our individualized approach can benefit your child at.

A Time of Renewal:

As we arrive at December 31 and prepare to welcome a new year, we find ourselves reflecting on the past several weeks at ��������—weeks filled with gratitude, celebration, learning, laughter, and connection. From our annual Feast before Thanksgiving to our December holiday traditions, this season beautifully captures what community looks like at �������� and how we intentionally teach kindness, respect, and belonging.

The �������� Feast: Building Community Through Holiday Traditions

There is something truly special about experiencing our entire school community come together—hands covered in flour, voices filled with laughter—as we prepare for our annual �������� Feast. On the day before Thanksgiving break, students from different grade levels work side by side making stuffing, applesauce, corn muffins, pumpkin pie filling and pie crust, snapping green beans, and even “churning” homemade butter from cream.

It’s truly an all-community effort. Teachers, staff, and students cook together, and parents and grandparents send supplies and ingredients and generously support the Feast by donating turkeys, helping with preparation, cooking, and cleanup. On the day of the �������� FEAST, students, teachers and staff gather together in The Big Hall to eat family-style in a shared community setting. It is joyful, meaningful, and deeply ��������. It’s also one of the favorite days of the school year for everyone!

More Than a Meal: Teaching Kindness and Character

At ��������, holiday traditions are more than celebrations—they are opportunities to live our values. The Feast brings our �������� Keys, spelled out as TIGERS, to life:

• Think before acting

• Integrity in all we do

• Growth mindset when trying new things

• Empathy for our friends and classmates

• Responsibility for our actions and schoolwork

• Stay present in each moment

As students cook and collaborate across ages, these values unfold naturally. Older students guide younger ones with patience. Children try new skills, help one another, take responsibility for shared tasks, and stay present in the joy of working together. These are lessons that last far beyond the holiday season.

Celebrating Holidays, Cultures, and Traditions

From Thanksgiving through the New Year, our classrooms are alive with learning about holidays and traditions from many cultures and religions. Different classes explore different celebrations, and families often visit to share their own holiday customs, religious observances, and cultural traditions. These personal connections make learning authentic and meaningful.

Every year Ms. Szalay, our Assistant Head of School, leads special classes focused on Holiday Lights. These interactive and hands-on lessons are focused on the importance of light in many winter celebrations—including Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and more—helping students understand both the differences and many of the shared themes across cultures. This year she added a craft element to the classes as students crafted their own version of Holiday Lights to take home. It is another example of how �������� students learn that it is normal to be different, that our differences are something to appreciate, and that respect and curiosity are essential to building community.

Music, Spirit Week, and Shared Joy

It’s time for Spirit Week! �������� Student Council leads a Spirit Week as we close out the Fall Semester in December. All of our students and staff look forward to this special week every year as it adds another layer of fun and connection, with spirited and wacky themes, festive attire and a much-anticipated pajama day before winter break—simple traditions that strengthen community and create lasting memories.

December also brings joy through music to accompany the abundant school spirit. Students practice special holiday songs both in Spanish class and in their music classes all through the month. In music class they are preparing for our beloved annual tradition, our Holiday Family Sing-along held on the last day of school every December.  Another tradition: the last day of school is also Pajama Day for Spirit week.  We all gather in The Big Hall in our fun pajamas, where students, teachers and staff are joined by parents, siblings and even grandparents, to sing holiday songs from a variety of cultures and religions. The students love learning and performing these songs together each year and it’s a great way to head into our Winter Break for the end of the calendar year.

Small by Design, Strong by Community

�������� is proudly Small by Design, and this season highlights why small K–8 schools are so powerful. With small classes and a close-knit environment, every student is known, every child is seen, and every teacher knows every student. These relationships allow us to create meaningful traditions, cross-age learning experiences, and a genuine sense of belonging.

When children feel connected and valued, they learn more deeply, grow more confidently, and develop empathy and understanding for others.

Looking Ahead to the New Year

As we close out the year, we are grateful for the moments—big and small—that define our �������� school community: shared meals, shared songs, shared learning, and shared respect for one another. From Thanksgiving to the New Year, this season reflects the heart of ��������: a place where kindness is practiced, cultures are celebrated, and community is lived every day.

We look forward to carrying this spirit with us into the new year!

Learn more about our community-centered, Small by Design approach to education at . Please reach out to Admissions@��������.org to learn more about how our K-8 small school community would be a great fit for your child and for your family!

Middle School - We Enjoy the Challenge

The middle school years are transformative—a time when students discover who they are while developing the skills they'll need for high school and more. At ��������, our independent K-8 school embraces the unique characteristics of our 6th through 8th grade learners, creating an environment where curiosity thrives and confidence grows.

Reflections from our alumni help us see the ongoing success in our mission and approach with middle schoolers.  “�������� was a place where I always felt seen and accepted. I always felt encouraged. And, always challenged. I learned so much and grew so much at ��������. Most importantly, my love for learning first developed at �������� – a solid sense of curiosity, a respect for the importance of critical thinking, and endless opportunities to express my creativity.” M.J., �������� Alumnus

This confidence doesn't happen by accident. It's the result of three years in our small middle school classes where students have the space to practice, fail, learn, and grow with teachers who work with them closely for three years, who know them deeply and support their development every step of the way.

Understanding Middle School Learners

Middle school students are remarkable in their complexity. They're developing abstract thinking skills, questioning authority, and navigating the delicate balance between independence and belonging. As educational expert Mark Pennington notes, these learners are "curious and willing to learn things they consider useful" while being "focused on themselves and how they are perceived by their peers."

At ��������, we see this developmental stage not as a challenge to overcome, but as an opportunity to harness. Our students surprise us daily with their depth of knowledge and genuine excitement for learning—especially when we meet them where they are. This is a commonly used phrase, but what exactly does it mean in practice every day at school?

The Progressive Education Advantage: Hands-On Learning And Meaningful Interactions Leading to School-Life Balance

�������� follows a progressive education model that prioritizes experiential, student-centered learning over traditional rote memorization. This approach recognizes that middle school students learn best when they're actively engaged with material that connects to their lives and interests. Our Middle School faculty work together as a collaborative team, planning how their subjects and units connect, and managing the workload to keep it at an appropriate level for our young adolescents. We believe in balance - school-life balance for students.  Work should be meaningful and managed - not on overload.

In our small independent school setting, progressive education means rather than memorizing facts, our students discover, question, discuss, and apply knowledge in meaningful conversations with one another and their teachers. Rather than passively receiving information, our middle schoolers are active and engaged participants in their own education through:

• Project-based learning that tackles real-world problems and challenges

• Hands-on exploration in science labs, creative projects, and collaborative work

• Critical thinking exercises that encourage students to form and defend their own conclusions

• Cross-curricular connections that help students see how subjects interconnect

• Student voice and choice in how they demonstrate learning

This progressive approach is particularly powerful for middle school learners because it honors their growing intellectual capacity while respecting their need for active, engaging education. Our students don't just learn the what—they understand the why, learn to discuss their strategies with one another, and develop the skills to figure out the how so they can replicate it in the future.  

The Power of Social-Emotional Learning

Social-emotional growth during these crucial middle school years focuses on helping students develop:

• Self-awareness and emotional regulation

• Empathy and relationship skills

• Responsible decision-making abilities

• Resilience when facing challenges

• Leadership skills that prepare them for high school success

These skills are woven throughout our academic curriculum, helping students navigate peer relationships, assert healthy independence, and build the confidence they'll need as they transition to high school.

As parents nurture their students at home, teachers work with and care for students during the school day helping them understand how their academic and social interactions engage their developing emotional intelligence. These are crucial years when teachers and parents work hand-in-hand, communicating regularly. This synergy between home and school is crucial to both the academic and social learning of each child. 

Small Class Sizes: The Foundation of Engaged Learning

One of the most powerful advantages of our independent school is our commitment to small class sizes. In middle school, when students are at their most self-conscious and socially aware, small classes create a safe space for risk-taking and authentic learning.

With fewer students in each classroom, our teachers can:

• Truly know each learner—understanding their strengths, challenges, learning styles, and what motivates them

• Provide individualized attention and differentiated instruction that meets each student exactly where they are

• Create a safe environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and trying new approaches

• Foster deep discussions where every voice can be heard and valued

• Build genuine relationships that support both academic and social-emotional growth

• Identify and address challenges early before they become obstacles to success

In our small middle school classes, no student can hide in the back of the room. Every child is seen, known, and supported. This intimate learning environment is essential for fostering the growth mindset we prioritize—students learn that mistakes aren't failures but opportunities for learning and improvement.

The �������� Advantage: Looping and Deep Relationships

One of our greatest strengths as a private K-8 school is our looping model, where students grow with the same dedicated teachers over multiple years. This continuity allows our educators to truly know each child—understanding what ignites their passion for learning and recognizing when they need extra support or challenge.

Research shows that one of the most powerful opportunities for success is the chance to learn with teachers who know you, who work with a student as they develop over multiple years, rather than passing them along to new teachers who may take weeks or months to get to know how to work best with a student. Looping is an approach �������� has used for decades, and this New York Times piece helped us truly understand the benefits we see in our students. Recounts the author, Dr. Adam Grant, "With more time to get to know each student personally, teachers … have more opportunities to tailor their instructional and emotional support to help all the students in the class reach their potential."

Put into practice at our independent school, we have seen this year after year as our students mature in skills and social-emotional growth along with challenging academics from 6th through 8th grade.

Our middle school faculty work as a team to develop a keen sense of each student's learning style, interests, and potential pitfalls. This deep knowledge enables them to create engaging, real-world learning experiences that capture student attention and lead to remarkable discoveries in math, English and Language Arts, history, science, Spanish, plus enrichments like arts and research.

Engaging Learning That Inspires

While we recognize that not every learning task can be entertaining, we strive to make education engaging whenever possible. Our middle school students tackle real-world problems, participate in hands-on projects, and explore topics that connect to their interests and experiences.

Whether it's a science experiment that brings abstract concepts to life or a history project that connects past events to current issues, we design learning experiences that respect our students' growing intellectual capacity while honoring their need for active, collaborative learning. Even in middle school, movement is important, too! Students move about the class as needed and can engage other students in creative project design.

Learning to take exams and write well-crafted essays is important as well for a truly well-rounded educational outcome. Whether it's writing literary analysis in English class or analyzing the characteristics of ancient African trade routes to create their own trade journal to illustrate historical attributes, all of our lessons have creative elements intertwined to help keep students engaged while developing critical thinking skills.

• In pre-algebra and algebra, students are challenged to think beyond the problem and develop their own reasoning to explain mathematical constructs. 

• In Spanish class, students extend their vocabulary acquisition and take field trips to order lunch at local restaurants or purchase food at a Mexican market to practice their developing conversational skills. 

• In the science lab, students learn to write comprehensive unit books to show what they've learned and prepare for exams as well as detailed lab reports to analyze experiments.
  

Preparing for High School Success

As our 8th graders prepare for high school, we focus on building the academic skills, social confidence, and emotional resilience they'll need to thrive. Developed as a complete three-year programmatic arc, these crucial middle school years at �������� create a foundation of self-knowledge, intellectual curiosity, and community connection that serves our graduates well in their next academic adventures.

We proactively teach students how to advocate for themselves in our safe environment. Students need to know how to approach a teacher when they get to high school—for example, are they more comfortable approaching a teacher after class, during office hours, or writing a well-crafted email? Any method can work if done consistently to ask questions and get to know what the teacher is looking for in a good student.

Similarly, learning to collaborate with peers in the class, or lead a project, is crucial to rise to success in the high school environment. We don't just teach those skills in middle school—we encourage students to dig deeper, to try them out and learn to be comfortable with new things.

“�������� is a place where teachers and students are guided by heart and curiosity. I like being able to slow down when there is a burning curiosity on the part of the student (or me as their teacher) and try different ways to make the information sink in and resonate. This is the case not just with curriculum, but also with interactions amongst the students and staff. We can take time to see the meaning in daily interactions.” Liza Clifton, �������� Middle School History Teacher

Alumni Successes: Real Results from Our Middle School Program

Every year, �������� alumni return, sharing stories of successes they encounter in high school, whether they attend elite San Diego independent high schools, or highly rated public schools. They're consistently surprised by how their new high school peers are not as comfortable as they are approaching teachers, asking for help, or leading projects with peers, some of the pillars of success in school.

“What we as parents later realized we kind of took for granted at the time… the kids’ ability to whip out presentations, lead others, give of themselves to their community; these are all skills they learned and practiced at �������� that they carried with them into their next schools - high school and now in college. Thank you to �������� for instilling these skills into our children!”  �������� Alumni Parent

A Win-Win Environment for Growth

The question isn't whether our middle schoolers are challenging us or we're challenging them—it's both, and that's exactly as it should be. This dynamic creates a win-win environment where students push boundaries, discover their capabilities, and develop the tools they need for lifelong learning. Middle school can be a challenging time to be a teacher—as well as the most rewarding!

At ��������, we don't just teach middle school students—we celebrate them, guide them, and watch with pride as they grow into confident, thoughtful young people ready to make their mark on the world.

Schuyler Rainey Twyman
Director of Enrollment and Marketing

Ready to learn more about how our small, independent K-8 school can support your middle schooler's growth? Learn more about our comprehensive middle school program or visit our blog for more insights into progressive education and student success.

Keywords: independent middle school, private K-8 school, small class sizes, progressive education, middle school San Diego, looping model, social-emotional learning, personalized learning, hands-on education, student-centered learning

A Foundation for Lifelong Learning

Our child-centered approach harnesses your kindergartner's natural curiosity while building essential skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. We enrich this foundation with social studies, science, Spanish, art, and music, creating well-rounded young scholars who are excited to learn. Our Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Garcia, leads the youngest �������� Tigers as they learn how to be a student. With no more than 12 students in her class, she has the opportunity to truly get to know each student and work with them individually on a daily basis.  “In Kindergarten, every day can be a new adventure, whether we’re discovering the magic of learning to read and write or using hands-on activities to learn about animals in their environments. As a teacher, my greatest joy is watching each child grow in confidence, creativity, and curiosity, making each year I teach truly unforgettable as I build relationships with each of my students.”

Community Connection from Day One

At ��������, we believe in the power of building community. Your kindergartner will experience meaningful connections through partnerships with first-grade "experienced students" and reading sessions with caring fourth-grade mentors. These relationships create a supportive big sister/brother atmosphere that helps children feel valued and secure as they navigate their new school environment.

Safe, Nurturing, and Confidence-Building

Our kindergarten program provides a balance of exploration and structure, allowing children to master school routines while developing independence and social skills. Every day, your child will grow not just as a student, but as a friend, community member, and confident young person ready to make positive contributions to the world.

Ready to learn more about how �������� kindergarten can nurture your child's potential? Visit our website to learn more details about where you can discover everything our amazing kindergarten program has to offer. Then schedule your personal  to see our Kindergarten class in action!

Your child's learning journey starts here—and we can't wait to be part of it!

RSVP for our Open House and Kindergarten Exploration program on Saturday, November 8th, to bring your child so you can both experience the fun and growth in Kindergarten at ��������!

Preparing for the Start of School

The first month of school is always an exciting time at ��������. In preparation, teachers and staff come together for two weeks of collaborative work during summer orientation. We welcome our families back to campus with an engaging student visiting day to help reduce any first-day-of-school jitters and host our annual school traditions such as our spirited Bubbles Ceremony with a fun visit from the �������� Tiger!  As the school days unfold we find that by late September, routines are established, friendships are forming, and classrooms are buzzing with activity and curiosity. 

That sense of activity and curiosity is a key ingredient to student enthusiasm and success at ��������. During orientation, we were treated to visits from both of our founders who reflected ”helping students learn on a deeper level, through hands-on experiences, so they truly comprehend, rather than simply memorizing without understanding, this is invaluable.” 

For us, it isn’t just the typical story about getting back into the rhythm of school—it’s about the unique advantages of children learning in a close-knit K–8 community where teachers love what they do and children are known, supported, and challenged at every stage. 

Kindergarten: Building Confidence from the Start

For our youngest learners (and their parents), the transition into Kindergarten is a big step! In a small school setting, that step feels safe and exciting rather than overwhelming. Thanks in part to our beginning of the year parent-teacher conferences, our teachers are able to take the time to get to know each child—what makes them laugh, what sparks their curiosity, even what might feel new or a little scary. This personal attention gives Kindergartners the confidence to branch out in their new environment, to embrace independence, and begin their educational journey with joy.

Elementary School: Deepening Curiosity and Belonging

As children move through the elementary grades, the benefits of a small school community shine even brighter. Teachers collaborate across grade levels, ensuring that each student is supported as an individual. Small class sizes allow for flexible instruction and differentiation—advanced learners are encouraged to stretch into new challenges while those who need extra support are guided with care. Just as importantly, our students feel a sense of belonging. Class meetings allow students to continue to grow and learn in their knowledge of one another as they explore social-emotional learning goals that help our small classes work smoothly.  Students are working alongside familiar peers and nurtured by trusted teachers, making school a place where they can focus fully on learning and growing. They are getting ready for the next step - three years of middle school with higher expectations and more advanced levels of learning, critical reasoning, organization and planning.

Middle School: Leading with Confidence

By middle school, �������� students are ready for more advanced work and to step into leadership roles. In our K–8 structure, they aren’t overshadowed by older high school students—instead, they set the tone for the school community while being allowed to remain a little younger, a little longer, rather than racing to keep up with older, more mature students. They mentor younger students in cross-age activities, lead projects, and discover their own voices as leaders whether in their classes, on Student Council, and other activities. Academically, they are doing more advanced work learning algebra, conducting science experiments, writing essays, and more.  Trusted teachers encourage students to take risks and attempt new challenges, getting ready for the next step—whether that’s independent high school applications, high school placement testing, or developing the self-advocacy skills that will carry them forward into higher levels of learning after ��������.  So much growth occurs from 6th - 8th grade! Socially and emotionally, they spend three years preparing for all that comes next, not just ready for high school, but ready for life.

A Community that Grows Together

Every Fall at the start of a new school year it is a time of renewal and a time to focus again on the path ahead.  From Kindergarten to 8th grade, our students grow up in a supportive environment where they are seen as whole people—learners, friends, leaders, and future citizens, supported by caring teachers and loving parents. This is the unique promise of a small K–8 school: continuity, connection, and a community that celebrates every milestone along the way.

We’re off to a great start!  Here’s to another year of growth, discovery, and confidence—for every child, at every stage.

Learning is fun!  This is not a new idea.  At �������� we emphasize to students that learning CAN be fun and we find ways to model this belief, leading by example. We know that the more we can engage students, the more interested they will be in learning, exploring new approaches, grasping new concepts, and experiencing joy in learning. As an example, there is a lot of creativity that can be brought out in math class. Individual students in grades K - 8 may approach math in many ways, using different math strategies, but also sharing ideas, using manipulatives, journaling, and using creativity, color and art in math.  We adopt a growth mindset in all of our classes at ��������, encouraging students to see learning as risking uncertainty and making mistakes when trying new skills, thus leading to the goal of reaching new heights in learning. In small classes with trusted teachers, students feel safe to do just that.

Recently middle school math teacher, Mr. Mecham, established a new holiday at ��������, just for math.  That holiday is GEMDAS Day. Happy GEMDAS Day!

The short history of GEMDAS Day at ��������: In middle school, for two weeks at the beginning of the year, in the “preseason” of math class, students begin by reviewing the math textbook for the year to come, trying out math problems in each of the units.  Through this exercise they discover that even though the new year of math is just beginning, there are many skills that are already familiar.  During this path of discovery they see they will be able to leverage math skills they already know in their approach to the new year, “stacking” their skills, which can help learning a new year of math seem less daunting. At the conclusion of this review, GEMDAS is a day to celebrate the end of this preseason of math, reflect on math of years past, and look forward to the new math skills they will soon develop.   Each student received the gift of a “�ҷ��Ѷٴ���” paper lantern, to be illuminated by the light of math knowledge to come.  The holiday was celebrated as many holidays are, by the distribution and unwrapping of gifts and treats: math textbooks and Smarties candies!

Some may think GEMDAS is a newly made up word - but it is not!  Think back to your days as a young math student and you may recall the order of operations and “�ҷ��Ѷٴ���” which is a learning aid for remembering the order of operations in math:  Grouping; Exponents; Multiplication/Division; Addition/Subtraction. While this is not new, it IS kind of a fun way to remember.

Mr. Mecham noted: “Most simply, math textbooks were distributed to the middle school students which is a relatively mundane task, but I wanted to make it fun!  GEMDAS is a holiday with some seemingly silly ways to celebrate math, but sometimes being a little silly allows us to relax and laugh without the anxiety or trauma that some may have experienced while learning math in the past.  Math can be hard, at times, for most students.  Students may struggle sometimes, but that is a good thing because that is when growth can occur, so long as it is a productive struggle (i.e. growth mindset).  We have to remember that math can be fun, and we can be silly, so that we don’t start experiencing frustrating struggle and believing that math hates us (and conversely, that we hate math).  As the song says “Mathematics loves you!”  And, one day, you may love it back!” (note: you can see the song lyrics below…)

At the heart of it, this creative activity made the relatively mundane task of distributing math textbooks fun and helped to lighten the mood.  Getting a big new textbook may seem daunting and bring on feelings of trepidation or anxiety, especially to students who feel math is not their strength.  Having these feelings about math or about any subject can make it more difficult to approach the year and feel like they will be pushing uphill the entire way.  Starting off with the preseason of math shows students that there is much they already know and this gives them the building blocks to learn more and helps get them started on the right foot in the new year.  A confident student approaches their work much differently than an anxious student. What better way to start than to show each one they have the building blocks to approach the year with confidence!

Curious to learn more about how we encourage all students to approach learning with confidence and joy and learn to be their best selves in school? Request info or a tour HERE or send an email to info@tcps.org or admissions@tcps.org or give us a call at (858) 576-2120. Happy GEMDAS Day!

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For the curious: here is more about GEMDAS Day at ��������:

GEMDAS is a day to celebrate the end of the preseason of math.  GEMDAS is a time to reflect on all the math that we have learned in the past and to look forward to learning new concepts and developing new skills.  The GEMDAS lanterns students receive are illuminated by the light of math knowledge to honor the lessons of the past.  The anticipation of what we will learn builds through the preseason and culminates in the opening of the wrapped gifts (this year’s textbooks) left by Euclid the Elephant.  Known for his ability to remember mathematical formulas, Euclid the Elephant sprays magic fairy dust on the gifts to help students to remember all that they will learn from those textbook gifts.   Before opening the GEMDAS gifts, students wish each other a joyful GEMDAS and then sing some carols like these:  

(to the tune of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”) 
On the first day of GEMDAS, Euclid gave to me the y- and x- axes. 
On the second day of GEMDAS, Euclid gave to me two parabolas and the y- and x-axes. 
On the third day of GEMDAS, Euclid gave to me… 

(to the tune of “Happy Birthday”) 
Joyful GEMDAS to you! 
Joyful GEMDAS to you! 
Joyful GEMDAS to everyone! 
Mathematics loves you! 

**No holiday is complete without tasty treats, and the GEMDAS tradition is to eat Smarties as a symbol of filling our minds and our hearts with the joy of math!

HAPPY GEMDAS DAY TO YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS!