Academics

Kindergarten 

Kindergarten students are introduced to the exciting world of art through lessons that directly relate to world around them and the diverse topics they are studying in the classroom. Weekly, students learn how to analyze artwork and explore a wide variety of materials, from oil pastels to watercolor.  The projects are geared towards building valuable fine motor skills and artistic skills.  Each spring, students select several works for display in the annual Student Art Show.

Students will:

• Experiment with a wide variety of art materials and techniques including: tempera, watercolor, pen and ink, wax-resist, collage, beads, oil pastels, tissue paper, and sculpture
• Complete projects that build a solid foundation in areas such as drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture
• Learn how to break down complex subjects into simple shapes, allowing for more realistic drawings of the natural world including humans, animals, and trees
• Share materials and speak about the artwork of others in a respectful manner, building a safe environment in which creativity can blossom

Lower Elementary 

Students in grades 1-3 have class once per week. Through interactive class discussions, students are exposed to influential works of art from across time. As they discover the important role that art has played around the world, they see how it reflects the values and way of life of the people who made it. As they create their own works of art in these new styles, students expand their own artistic skills and visual language. They also develop a deeper understanding of art history and a greater appreciation for other cultures. Each spring, students select several works for display in the annual Student Art Show.

Open Art Studio allows students to spend additional time with the Art teacher on creative projects they are working on in within their academic curriculum.

Students will:

• Create art using a wide range of materials including: paint, watercolor, yarn, clay, colored pencils, oil pastels, wire, foil, and wood
• Learn about the art of influential cultures and historical periods including: Ancient Egyptian art, Greco-Roman art, Medieval & Renaissance art, Native American art, African art, Asian art, and Oceanic art
• Develop the ability to analyze art and discuss it with confidence
• Learn techniques that build drawing, painting, illustration, design and sculpture skills
• Select their own works of art for exhibit in the hallways
• Share materials and speak about the artwork of others in a respectful manner, building a safe environment in which creativity can blossom

Upper Elementary 

Students in grades 4-6 attend Art class weekly. During this time, students explore the Elements of Art (line, value, color, shape, form, space and texture) through engaging individual and group projects. They also analyze and discuss the work of ground-breaking modern artists. By creating projects that reflect the style of these artists, the students are able to personally connect with the art they are studying and further enhance their own style. They are encouraged to push boundaries and to think “outside of the box” as so many of these artists did. In addition to building traditional fine art skills, the students also learn folk art techniques such as weaving, sewing, jewelry-making, and needlepoint. Each spring, students select several works for display in the annual Student Art Show.

Open Art Studio allows students to spend additional time with the Art teacher on creative projects they are working on in within their academic curriculum.

Students will:

• Use a wide variety of art materials to create both 2-D and 3-D works of art
• Build valuable artistic skills such as utilizing perspective, color theory, shading, proportion, and drawing from observation
• Learn about the lives and influential art by artists like Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Georgia O’Keefe, Frida Kahlo, Georges Seurat, Keith Haring, and Bridget Riley
• Use art to express emotions or ideas
• Create projects that directly relate to the Upper Elementary curriculum

Middle School 

Middle School students have Art class weekly. Through class discussion and engaging projects, they develop a deeper understanding of the Elements of Art (line, value, color, shape, form, space and texture) and the Principles of Design (balance, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm and unity). The Middle School students create a wide variety of 2-D and 3-D works of art that are inspired by the work of 19th and 20th century artists as well as the historical cultures that they are studying in Humanities class. Each spring, students select several works for display in the annual Student Art Show.

Open Art Studio allows students to spend additional time with the Art teacher on creative projects they are working on in within their academic curriculum.

Students will:

• Explore works by trailblazing artists such as: Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, Jim Dine, John Constable, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, and Salvador Dali
• Develop the ability to create sophisticated works of representational art as well as art influenced by prominent movements such as Pop Art, Dada, Abstraction, Romanticism, and Surrealism
• Use a variety of art materials to create 2-D and 3-D works of art, such as: charcoal, acrylic paints, watercolor, clay, collage, wood, and embroidery floss

ASM’s Health Program engages students in thinking critically about health and healthy behaviors. Students set individual health goals and track their progress. Topics such as the value of good nutrition, positive decision-making and predicting consequences, and Internet safety are discussed. ASM’s Health Program is taught in collaboration with the Physical Education teacher the School Nurse, and guest speakers.

The  curriculum is based upon the Great Body Shop ®. Teaching methods include lecture, demonstration, projects, discussions, and role playing, among others.  We acknowledge that you are your child’s primary health educator and we value your partnership. Your child will bring home materials so that you are aware of the lessons being presented and be involved in their class work.  

In Lower Elementary, your child learns about emotional health and its relationship to physical health, anatomy and physiology, safety, preventative health measures, exercise and relaxation techniques.  

Upper Elementary students learn about social, emotional, and physical health. Sixth years discuss topics related to growth and development, puberty and reproduction.

The Middle School students discuss drug and alcohol use, violence prevention and preventing diseases. Students complete a long-term project each year. On a global scale, students study the relationship between environment, disease and public health.

ASM is a vibrant musical community where students’ individual skills blossom through performing and participation. From Children’s House to Middle School, every class sings together for an audience several times a year.  Many ASM students are also accomplished instrumentalists who perform independently at monthly Morning Coffee and semi-annual Evening Coffeehouse events. ASM’s music curriculum uses Kodaly and Orff-based pedagogy to develop tuneful singing, coordinated movement, courageous and skillful improvisation, a strong foundation in music-reading and a deep understanding of the elements of music.

Children’s House 

The music teacher visits each Children’s House classroom twice a week to lead the children in a rich variety of carefully chosen singing games and activities, using the framework First Steps in Music. Movement, play and laughter are vital ingredients in every music lesson. Students delight in singing independently, as well as a group, and playing classroom instruments like shaker eggs, jingles, and rhythm sticks. Children’s House students perform as a level at our U.N. Day Celebration in October.  Each December they present a simple Winter Concert. Kindergarten students enjoy stretching their musical capabilities in an additional weekly music lesson tailored to fit their advancing skill level. Each spring the Kindergarten students prepare several songs to perform together at their Moving-Up ceremony in June.  

Lower Elementary 

Singing, movement and playing instruments are the areas of concentration in weekly Lower Elementary music lessons. While students routinely incorporate music into presentations throughout the year, they also have the opportunity to perform in the school-wide Winter Concert in December.

Students will:

• Learn to understand elements of music such as pitch, temp0, meter, rhythm and form
• Sing and play instruments in an ensemble, following a conductor
• Read basic music notation
• Explore the science of sound through making instruments like kazoos and box zithers
• Develop an appreciation for a wide variety of genres of music

Third year students learn to play the soprano recorder and read music notation. Their musical year culminates with a performance at their Moving-Up ceremony in June.

Upper Elementary 

Upper Elementary students meet weekly for classes that incorporate singing, movement and playing instruments such as soprano recorder, alto recorder and hand chimes. Instrument-building projects have included making pan pipes and lip-buzzed “brass” instruments.

Students will:

• Practice skills learned in Lower Elementary
• Become more focused, critical music listeners
• Create lyrics, choreography and music
• Take responsibility for their individual part in performances
• Work collaboratively in small ensembles
• Engage in independent practice in their chosen specialty
• Develop a love and appreciation of music

Sixth year students are invited to incorporate their individual musical pursuits and skills into their group’s performance at their Moving-Up ceremony in June.

Middle School 

Students have several performance opportunities in a variety of contexts: All-school meetings, First Friday Coffee, formal concerts, and in-class presentations. The class forms a three-octave handbell choir, in which each student is responsible for playing a unique, yet completely interdependent piece of the musical puzzle, reading their individual part from a score. This experience hones students’ collaborative and ensemble skills as well as their individual musicianship. A wide variety of students’ individual musical pursuits are woven into their group performance at the 8th Grade Graduation ceremony each June. 

Students will:

• Practice skills learned in Upper Elementary
• Develop ensemble skills related to rhythm and dynamics
• Sing or play music from a musical score or a lead sheet
• Participate as rehearsal conductors and instrumental soloists
• Take with them the skills to be active music-makers in life

The mission of our Physical Education program is to provide students with a safe and positive physical environment while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. 

Kindergarten students participate in a variety of cooperative activities and games which will develop basic locomotor skills and physical ability. Meanwhile, the students will learn to follow complex instruction, act as leaders, and contribute appropriately within a team. Kindergarten students meet once a week throughout the academic year.

In Lower Elementary, students engage in a variety of cooperative activities and team oriented games which will develop intermediate locomotor skills and athletic ability. In addition, the students will learn to take initiative, act as leaders, exhibit good sportsmanship and contribute effectively within a team. Lower Elementary students meet twice a week and will learn to play soccer, basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, football, dance, participate in agility drills and adventure games.

Upper Elementary students participate in a variety of cooperative activities and team oriented games which will develop advanced locomotor skills and athletic ability. The students will regularly take initiative, act as leaders, and contribute effectively within a team. Upper Elementary students meet twice a week and will learn to play handball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, football,  and adventure games. Students will  understand several types of cardiovascular endurance exercises, agility drills, proper flexibility movements, and a series of strength related exercises.

Our Middle School students pursue a variety of cooperative activities and team oriented games which will develop athletic ability and overall fitness. The students will regularly take initiative, act as leaders, and contribute effectively within a team. In middle school, physical education classes meet twice a week and students learn effective strategy and play sports such as football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, frisbee, wiffle ball, tennis, and engage in running, dance and personal fitness. Students will perform a variety of strength endurance exercises, improve cardiovascular endurance, participate in agility drills, and understand proper flexibility routines.

Children’s House 

During the weekly class, your child is introduced to Spanish language and culture through games, stories, songs, poems, and visual-tactile associations.

Students will:

• Identify basic words: numbers, colors , weather, body parts, animals, and holiday and seasonal words
• Comprehend and respond to basic questions in the spoken language
• Gain an understanding of the culture of Spanish-speaking countries

Lower Elementary

During weekly classes, students begin to develop fluency in Spanish by using thematic vocabulary and simple grammatical structures through the repetition of visual-tactile activities, games, songs, conversation, music, and short sentence writing.

Students will:

• Practice pronunciation
• Build listening comprehension skills
• Converse in Spanish during circle time and when performing skits  
• Explore Hispanic cultures and traditions through a variety of media

Upper Elementary 

During weekly classes, students progress in their ability to use Spanish according to grade level. Textbooks are introduced in Upper Elementary, providing students with a more advanced learning environment. Students further develop speaking, listening, reading,and writing skills through a variety of creative activities.

Students will:

• Strengthen pronunciation and spelling skills
• Communicate using a broader range of vocabulary and grammar
• Develop writing skills through the construction of sentences and small paragraphs
• Broaden knowledge of Hispanic culture through research and presentations

Middle School 

At the Middle School level, Spanish is a major academic subject and is equivalent to level one High School Spanish. The classes are spoken entirely in Spanish and fluency in listening and speaking become well-developed. Learning activities include paragraph and report writing, in-depth readings, grammar practices, frequent homework and daily speaking opportunities. Long-term projects allow students to express their creativity through designing children’s literature, art projects and travel brochures.

Students will:

• Apply correct grammatical structures to their writing and speaking
• Continue to develop proper pronunciation and spelling
• Expand their knowledge of vocabulary
• Achieve a higher level of written expression
• Research Hispanic cultures and present projects to the ASM community