Principal's Welcome
CLASS Academy is a Pre-K though 8th grade year-round school with small class sizes that are age-blended to match each child’s emotional, social, and academic needs. CLASS Academy students excel above their peers nationally in an environment where the child finds learning to be fun and never frustrating. Our students’ strengths are in reading, math, science, writing, public speaking, and self-esteem! The school’s dedicated and committed staff coupled with supportive, involved parents, make up this successful Portland private school. We are proud of our program and the positive advantages it gives to our students.
Ms. Heather Kinlin, Principal / Executive Director
CLASS Academy was established for children to experience, appreciate and respect diversity. When children are exposed to the differences among their peers, and are allowed to learn more about others, they will understand, appreciate, and accept the differences in all of us. Students with special learning needs are not segregated, rather are completely integrated and supported appropriately.
Age Blended Classes
Possibly the most prominent philosophy of the CLASS Academy program is the belief in age blended classes. This is done to fully meet each student’s emotional, social, and most importantly their academic needs. The pressure to perform academically can hinder their overall growth and affect their self-esteem. When they are placed in a group according to their proficiencies, not their age, students perform at a higher level academically.The student’s self esteem is being elevated while emotional, social and academic needs are being met on an individual basis.
Between the 30 minute academic “rotations” (educational period) the children do physical/gross motor activities. These are overseen by the instructor and may include light calisthenics, rhythms or perhaps a game of freeze dancing. These activities help the children get the “wiggles” out and enable them to concentrate more easily on their next lesson.
Homework is part of the day-to-day expectations of work-study skills at CLASS Academy. Students receive simple homework daily, even beginning at the preschool level. The homework is generally a fun activity for the child and should never be too difficult or frustrating for them to accomplish. Homework reinforces learning that is in progress, develops good study habits, and familiarizes the parents with what their child is currently learning.
Diversity
“Energizers”
Homework
Spelling &
Penmanship
CLASS Academy’s philosophy regarding spelling is that there will not be formal spelling lists given for memorization. Children have creative writing on a daily basis and will immediately edit and correct their own spelling errors through the use of electronic spellers or traditional dictionaries. Creative or “guess and go” spelling is not CLASS
Academy’s way to learn correct spelling. If a student immediately corrects his spelling errors and uses accurate spelling on a daily basis then correct spelling becomes the norm and not the exception.
At CLASS Academy the students are taught D’Nelian handwriting which makes the transition to cursive easier. Penmanship and neatness is a signature of the pride and care that students display in their work. This skill needs to be instilled at a very young age, therefore, teachers encourage each child to take pride and care in every activity he or she engages in.
Social Skills
Manners and appropriate social skills are the expectation at CLASS Academy. Students learn how to interact with one another in a positive and socially acceptable format. The children learn how to be independent, as well as interdependent learners and workers. The “I can” attitude is reinforced daily.
They are taught skills which help them interact and work in partner groups, as well as with all classmates in general to prepare them emotionally, socially, and academically for the twenty-first century.
Math & Science
Students are introduced to math and computational skills using verbal story problems along with fun, child friendly manipulatives to solve them. ‘Touchpoints’ are used in addition and subtraction while skip counting to songs makes multiplication and division a breeze. Coupons and play money are incorporated into the older children’s curriculum to help prepare them for handling money as they get older. Students learn the names of the planets, as well as the continents through fun songs.
Reading & Language Arts
Reading and language arts are curriculum blended. Reading is taught in a “traditional” format with phonics being the emphasis and sight words incorporated. Emergent reading is done in small groups. Part of the curriculum is done with “basal” readers, which are vocabulary controlled with word repetition for faster student application.
Reinforcement of skills is done with high interest books of the same level. Reading comprehension skills are reinforced daily, not only in the current text, but through games and text which give immediate accuracy feedback without the tedious, pencil-paper format.
Art & Physical Education
Every student at CLASS Academy experiences a full body developmental program which includes tumbling, gymnastics, obstacle courses, freeze dancing, seasonal swimming and ice skating. The students learn age appropriate dances to perform with great ambition at parent nights and holiday performances. Art and art history is a favorite part of the children’s day as they produce “Monet” style paintings, learn about different textures, colors and mediums.