Elementary:

Primary Grades 1-5

Grades One and Two

The primary program for grades one and two emphasizes individual growth and discovery, while giving children daily opportunities to apply decision making skills and to rely on their own judgement. At Gainesville Country Day School, each child is encouraged to assume responsibility for making choices and ordering his/her own life, to cooperate with others in the completion of a task, to learn proper care of personal and school belongings, and to explore alternative ways of dealing with negative situations.

Students are guided to maintain a healthy concept of self while respecting others, both for ways they are alike and the ways they are different, and to become comfortable expressing feelings while appreciating the feelings of others. Our aim is to have each child find success, competence and enjoyment in learning.

Grades Three through Five

The elementary program for grades three through five moves the child from a program of structured basic skills to using these skills independently on projects that cover all the subject areas. The student is guided into accepting more responsibility and developing independence. More is expected in homework, expanding study skills, use of reference materials, and the synthesis and application of basic subject matter through creative involvement.

Every attempt is made to provide the elementary school child with a strong sense of self-discipline and the confidence to attempt and be successful, whatever the challenge.