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Academics » Specialists

Specialists

 

CREATIVE ARTS

Creative Arts invites students to create experiences in music, performing arts, and visual arts at the intersections of all those ways of making. At Valley, we are learning to be curious and unafraid experiencers, as well as tinkerers and creators ourselves. We are animated by questions and not answers, we center stories and storytelling that can help guide us in our goals. We are cultivating a culture of noticing and appreciation, finding ways to acknowledge, celebrate and share in each other’s work. We seek out ways to access new media, materials, and art languages in order to develop and explore new ways of knowing through the arts. We dig into foundational art skills and concepts so we know how to break the rules! We welcome other voices through guest artists and local makers.
 

LIBRARY

Students are introduced to a wide range of authors, illustrators, genres, and books. The Valley library aims to offer books that are windows, mirrors, and prisms for our students - reflecting their own experiences and providing windows into the complex identities of others. Read-alouds are carefully selected through a justice and anti-racism lens, with the goals of reinforcing classroom learning and supporting schoolwide themes such as Environmental Justice. Students learn how a library is organized with the goal of becoming independent library users. Digital literacy and citizenship skills are also taught. The Valley Book Award is chosen each spring from a selection of award-winning books. Our library is a place for students to explore ideas, discover new interests, ask questions, solve problems, build community, practice empathy, and fight for justice.
 

P.E.

In addition to outdoor recess, Valley students participate in P.E. Our program develops students’ motor, cognitive, and social skills, so they gain the confidence to become lifelong movers. Of course, we also aim to get our wiggles out and have fun using a wide variety of games, sports basics, and moderate to vigorous physical activity, in ways that help students feel successful. In the lower school, the focus is on foundational movements and skill building, and in the upper school, the focus is on linking strategies and tactics across groups of sports (net/wall games, invasion games, target games and striking/fielding games). In all grades we have ample opportunities to practice conflict resolution and good sportspersonship.
 

SCIENCE

Science is hands-on, and investigation based. Each class includes time for inquiry, observation, and investigation which allows students to take control of their learning and provides space for their innate curiosity and sense of wonder to grow. Units are designed to expose students to a variety of science fields including life, earth, and physical sciences. Woven throughout our science curriculum is an emphasis on sustainability, stewardship, and environmental justice. When students feel connected to the natural world, they are empowered to make positive contributions to their natural and living communities. Students will take with them: a deep curiosity about the world around them, practice utilizing critical thinking skills to solve real world problems, and a powerful sense of wonder.
 

SPANISH

While listening to compelling and comprehensible messages in Spanish, our brains acquire language unconsciously and naturally. Our program shares joyful exposure to language and sets the stage for future language learning. Curiosity, compelling communication, and meaningful connections guide language acquisition at Valley. We practice curiosity for cultures different from our own. We communicate about the things that matter most to us. We build connections within our school and local communities, and with people and places around the globe. And we do it in Spanish!