Elementary School Program A Challenging Education Grounded In God's Love.
Academic Quality
Our elementary school uses the Journey's Curriculum series, a core reading and language arts program. Journey's utilizes award winning, authentic literature to teach reading, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. The program is designed to include a mix of direct, small group, and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
Our Saxon Math curriculum spirals the skills so that our students are continuously reviewing and applying all previously taught skills. Many Saxon Math lessons involve hands-on activities so that our students are grasping concepts both abstractly and concretely.
Science and social studies lessons are integrated into Journey's lessons, but students are provided with advanced science lessons using the FOSS (Full Option Science System) curriculum. Students learn best when making their own discoveries. FOSS provides all students with meaningful experiences and investigations that allow them to learn to analyze data, evaluate results, and think critically – all hallmarks of a good scientist!
Social Quality
It is our priority at St. Barnabas to instill the values of a good moral, faith-based character and allow students to practice them every day with each other as a community. Our “Fruits of the Spirit” character development program teaches the values of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Character development spans every minute of every day at St. Barnabas. It is taught during chapel lessons, modeled by teachers in the classrooms, and practiced in the hallways…anywhere and everywhere!
Creative Quality
Our special area classes at St. Barnabas help to develop well-rounded students. They also inspire our talented students to pursue the development of their talents. Sometimes a student discovers a hidden talent, and we nurture and support this exciting development as well. We offer the following special area classes to the elementary students: visual arts (painting, sculpting and more), fine arts (music class and acting opportunities), media studies (library and technology), religious studies, and foreign language study (Spanish).
Athletic Quality
Our athletic programming for elementary students grows each year, thanks to our Assistant Head of School/Athletic Director, Jeff Shaw. Introducing students to a variety of sports at a young age not only develops their athletic skills but also increases their interest in becoming part of a sports team. Our physical education classes meet twice per week. Fourth and fifth grade students travel off-campus for swimming, bowling, tennis, and karate, to name a few. Third, fourth, and fifth grade elementary students are invited to join the following St. Barnabas JV teams: flag football, tennis, basketball, and volleyball. Team sports teach our students the valuable life lessons of time management, commitment, and responsibility.
We absolutely love St. Barnabas School! The opportunities for my children are so much more than we expected. Staff are amazing and we feel truly blessed to have found this school.
Parent -PrivateSchoolReview.com
Faith can be defined best in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance in what we do not see." We must remember that faith is not hoping for the things of this world but trusting that God saved us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and has an eternal joy planned for us . It is our greatest privilege to educate, share and nurture each student's faith relationship with God through sound doctrine and learning within an environment that encourages students to explore true biblical faith.
"Behavior that fits with what is right or moral." While there are many virtues, the highest virtue is love. Jesus said, "love one another as I have loved you." Educating, modeling, and guiding students to learn and display virtuous behavior towards all people is our moral and biblical responsibility at St. Barnabas Episcopal School.
Colossians 3:23 states, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man..." A powerful message often forgotten within the context of God's word. Children can never reach their "full potential" unless they are working for something far greater than themselves. But wanting this for our child is not nearly enough. As parents and teachers, we have to be the role models they look to mirror. This type of excellence is an integral part of the way we teach and present ourselves in every situation. However, the embodiment of this core value can only be effectively displayed within a framework of God's love.
