Welcome to Lower School at SCH Academy

Reading is a layered process built on a foundation of interconnected skills. In the early years, literacy instruction at SCH is grounded in a structured, systematic approach. The literacy program Fundations provides multi-sensory instruction in phonics, spelling, and handwriting, while Heggerty builds students’ phonological and phonemic awareness, which are critical building blocks for reading success. Together, these programs ensure that students gain decoding and fluency skills with confidence and accuracy.

As fluency grows, students engage more deeply with the meaning, craft, and complexity of text. Beginning in Kindergarten, our core language arts curriculum, Wit & Wisdom, offers intellectually rigorous, knowledge-rich units centered on compelling texts and essential questions. Through carefully selected texts and
guided discussions, students learn to recognize multiple perspectives, develop empathy, and think critically about fairness and community. The questions for each grade level can be found in the Curriculum Guide.

Program Goals:

» Foster students’ sense as scientists as they participate in scientific discovery: asking questions, defining problems, designing experiments, making observations, recording data, comparing results, inferring, predicting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions.

» Connect students’ science understanding to everyday life experiences, whether the students are in the woods, on the playground, at home, or in the classroom.

» Develop critical-thinking and reasoning skills that can be applied to real-world situations.

» Demonstrate the interdependence of living organisms and the impact of human decisions on the Earth’s ecosystems.

» Illustrate that change is constant and often predictable, fostering an understanding of patterns in nature.

» Nurture joy in discovery and an appreciation and respect for the beauty, complexity, and interconnectedness of the natural world.

» Encourage creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking in scientific exploration.

» Strengthen understanding through research and the development of science-specific vocabulary.

The Arts

CEL Goals

» Empathy: Students listen attentively to others’ perspectives and respond in ways that demonstrate understanding and respect.

» Creative Problem Solving: Students engage in discussions to identify real-world needs and generate possible solutions.

» Teamwork and Collaboration: Students give and receive positive feedback and engage in constructive conversations about project challenges and failures.

» Communication: Students formulate and ask relevant questions, discuss setbacks productively, and participate in feedback exchanges that build ideas and improve outcomes.

» Technology: Students use tools and equipment in a fully outfitted makerspace to enhance, prototype, and execute their ideas.

» Finance and Data Literacy: Students collect and analyze data through interviews and surveys; older students will apply introductory financial concepts such as supply and demand, budgeting, profit, and loans.

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