FAQ

Students in Youngers start their day with a Morning Meeting to settle in and learn about what’s to come in the day ahead. Each day, students spend time working together as a whole group, in small groups, one on one with teachers, and working independently. CLICK HERE to see a sample K-1 (Youngers) schedule to learn more about their day.

The type of learner that your child is at five years of age can be different than the type of learner they are when they are eleven and twelve years of age. So our program has a built-in mechanism for reevaluating, at the 6th-grade equivalent, what the next best learning environment is for your child. Our students are eager to actively participate in the search and ultimately attend a wide variety of middle schools that will best support their individual talents and needs as they continue to grow. Accordingly, we encourage families to make their school choices one step, one level at a time. We have found our families greatly appreciate this opportunity and understand its importance in uncovering the genius that exists within each and every child.

Through the seven-year journey of elementary school, students change and develop as learners. In the sixth grade year at PS1, teachers, students, administrators, and parents work together to plan what is the next best learning environment for each student.

PS1 students attend a wide range of middle schools, from the most progressive to the most traditional. That is because PS1 students understand who they are as learners and they are able to find the best fit for their next stage of schooling. That is also why they make the transition so seamlessly. PS1 students are sought after in the middle school admissions process for their academic strengths matched by their joy of learning, their confidence in tackling new concepts, and their ease in social situations. Our alumni often attribute their success in middle school to the strong foundation provided to them at PS1.

Curious to know where PS1 students matriculate?

At PS1, students participate in a wide range of various activities and intellectual challenges, generating both academic and social/emotional growth. Teachers know each student’s strengths and stretches and provide individual attention to support each child’s overall development. Project-Based Learning (PBL), integrated subjects, and other methods are used across the curriculum, providing students with many stimulating opportunities to actively explore real-world issues or problems in a relatable context and generate possible solutions. Through working together with each other and their teachers during this ongoing elementary school journey, our students not only build their mastery of academic concepts but also come to understand the ways in which they learn best as individuals. Students learn how they learn best during their years at PS1 equipping them for future success in the classroom and in their lives. They grow personally while understanding how to be self-driven problem solvers. This preparation during the elementary years lays a foundation that our alumni draw upon throughout life, refining skills that will be critical to understanding the 21st-century world and solving the challenges of tomorrow.

Learn more about the values and intentional structure of PS1’s pluralistic elementary curriculum.

From the first day of kindergarten through 6th grade, we help students understand themselves as individuals and as members of larger communities. We’ve designed our curriculum, schedule, and even our physical campus to inspire both productive cooperation and individual reflection. As students gradually expand their comfort zones—from small-group projects to their classroom, school, neighborhood, and eventually the wider world—each learns how and why to make positive change at every level. Multi-age groupings of students allow students of different ages to learn alongside each other, guided and informed by two lead teachers who model productive inquiry and spontaneous insight.

Learn more about Pluralism in action at PS1.

Technology is one of many learning tools used in the classroom and is a part of the daily life of the classrooms. Specific software is chosen to enhance learning as another tool for teachers. Skills such as keyboarding, word processing, and the use of the Internet for research are taught. Students create multimedia presentations using iPads or computers. Technology is an integral part of the design and engineering projects that students produce in The Studio. They will use software to design something that they build on the 3-D printer. It is our goal that students become adept and confident with technology as the tools to stimulate and heighten their sense of imagination, discovery, presentation, and exploration.

CLICK HERE to read more about how The Studio integrates technology into the curriculum.

CLICK below to hear how a 6th grade student describes technology at PS1:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As they join our close-knit learning community, every incoming family is paired with a host family to help make the transition to a new school both easy and inviting. The New Family Dinner, held on an evening in the Spring after new enrollment, provides an early opportunity for new families to meet and mingle along with PS1 staff. Incoming families are invited to participate in summer playdates on and off campus. As the start of school arrives, there are many additional efforts to extend a welcoming hand to our newest community members. New students in K/1 receive a home visit from one of their teachers before the first day of school.  Make New Friends Day just before the first day of school, gives all new students and their families an opportunity to practice the start-of-school routine with their teachers. On the first day of school itself, we hold a welcoming coffee for all parents and showcase the many volunteer opportunities available throughout the community. We then invite incoming parents up to New Parent Orientation as they await Noon dismissal. Finally, we start school on Wednesday and have ½ days for the remainder of that first week to ease into the school year. All of these touch points lead to a virtually seamless start to the school year for incoming families.

At PS1, our purpose is to help students develop with a sense of intrinsic motivation—to know that they are doing their best work because they are interested in learning and what they are learning has meaning for them, rather than earning a grade. Research shows that letter grades diminish a student’s interest in learning and decrease the quality of a student’s thinking (Kohn, 2011).

We continuously assess students’ learning. This information is provided to parents through a rubric and narrative report cards two times a year and parent-teacher conferences twice a year. Faculty engage in a year-long dialogue with parents, actively maintaining the necessary parent partnership to best support each student.

No. In 2020, the Standardized Test Taking Task Force carefully considered the pros and cons of administering standardized tests (Educational Records Bureau's CTP is an example of testing we have done until recently and for many years) and determined we will not administer standardized testing going forward.

CLICK HERE to read the Why behind this decision.

No.  While optional transportation service was provided in the 2023-2024 school year, it is being postponed for the 2024-2025 school year. 

PS1 takes the safety of our students and employees seriously. This continues to be one of our highest priorities. PS1 regularly undergoes safety and security audits with outside consultants. Based on the results, we update policies, procedures and security devices throughout the campus. This is an ongoing process to continue to make the school as safe as possible. Our employees are trained by SMPD on emergency response and their procedures during an emergency. We also have an internal emergency response team, a crisis management plan and a School Resource Officer within SMPD that is our point of contact for any school emergencies or activities in our area. We have monthly safety drills for various scenarios to prepare our students and staff for different situations.

PS1 strives to give homework that is meaningful and developmentally appropriate. Students typically have specialized subject-specific homework throughout the year. Typically homework involves activities to reinforce learning from the school day as well as ongoing projects that help students learn time-management skills in preparation for middle school. 

No. PS1 is a non-competitive school and therefore we do not have a competitive sports team program. However, the physical activity and development of each child are incredibly important. P.E. class occurs up to three times in a student’s weekly schedule. P.E. classes focus on: skill development, teamwork, learning how to play a myriad of traditional and non-traditional team sports, and sportsmanship. You can always find PS1 students engaged in ball games during recess times, and many students participate in competitive sports after school.

Yes - PS1 is developing a new and collaborative World Language program in Spanish beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. The Spanish program helps students develop Spanish language skills, cultural understanding, and appreciation. Our new Spanish Specialist joins a robust specialist program that includes art, music, library, STEAM studio, and physical education.