We are a community of learners and leaders where teaching and learning are stimulating, interesting, and Christ-centered. Students, staff, and parents are supportive of one another and work cooperatively to reach ever higher academic, social, emotional, and spiritual competencies. Differences are accepted and respected by students, staff, and parents. We follow many pathways to learning while sharing goals that unite us, a common core of knowledge, and a belief in biblical truths.
It is our desire to learn more about you and your family and how we may best serve your child. We seek to develop each student: academically, athletically, socially and most of all, spiritually. In turn, we are seeking students who want to integrate and fully invest in the school with their time and talent to obtain the most out of their experience here at Calvary Day School.
Our key verse at Calvary Day School is Luke 2:52, which states: “So Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him.” For the Administration and educators of Calvary, this verse is a presentation of the guiding force behind everything we do. This verse encompasses the four components of a truly Christian philosophy of education: physical growth, intellectual growth, spiritual growth, and social/interpersonal growth.
At Calvary Day School, we are called to a higher mission. We infuse faith into our classrooms, clubs, gymnasiums, playing fields, etc.; in essence, into whatever is being done or taught. At Calvary we also pursue excellence in whatever we do. As a result of this internal pursuit of excellence, Calvary was recognized as the first charter member of the National Elementary Honor Society, and our students are accepted each year into some of the finest colleges and universities in the United States, with over half of these students typically receiving academic scholarships.
Since Calvary Day School opened its doors in 1961, it has been blessed with enormous support from those who seek to further the school’s mission of providing an academically challenging education in a uniquely Christian environment. Exceptional teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, and superior athletic venues are all possible because of the generous support of the Calvary family.
What do you remember from school? What caused you to want to participate and be a part of your class? Maybe it was a group project, a speaker, or a field trip that helped you have a positive outlook. It may even have been something you did on your own after learning about a specific topic. There is usually something or someone that sparks our passion or curiosity. It pushes us to take learning into our own hands and learn more.
Each student enters the classroom with different world experiences. Research shows that students who have been exposed to various things often perform better in school. Successful readers tend to associate what they read to what they've experienced. To think widely, students need to have a variety of experiences.
Field trips and hands-on learning always make experiences more memorable. If you reflect upon what you learned in school, the trips you took, and what you took away from them, chances are that they may still be some of the clearest concepts.
Furthermore, field trips allow students the ability to engage with content in so many different ways. Ideas are presented through many different types of media and modalities. Many times we find that students who struggle with traditional learning come out feeling confident and upbeat after a field trip. Many students are able to understand the content better when they can learn holistically. Then, when they return to school, that field trip serves as a touchpoint for additional learning and curriculum points.
As a whole, some of our students’ worlds are small. The community in which each child lives in is an incredible resource for broadening the world around them. It is fascinating what we can find within our city, town, or even our region. We know that field trips allow students to access people and places that cannot be replicated by the internet or in the classroom. This incredible multisensory learning experience can bring lessons to life and, more importantly, create enthusiasm for a subject that is hard to duplicate through any other media. As teachers and parents it’s our duty to make that possible.
Ken Robinson, in his engaging TED talk, says there are three principles that make human life thrive: “diversity, curiosity, and creativity.” Find things to enjoy outside the classroom and bring new life to learning!