Academics

Peachtown's Curriculum

Mission

Peachtown Elementary School is a nonsectarian, board-operated, nonprofit institution; its mission is to educate elementary age children from the Cayuga County area in the arts and sciences through structured experiential, developmental, cooperative and interdisciplinary learning techniques.

Our primary goal is to aid each child in realizing his/her full potential in a supportive, nurturing environment. To achieve this goal, Peachtown Elementary encourages an ethnically-diverse and non sexist environment and promotes learning in depth, self-reliance, creativity, intrinsic motivation, and individual and civic responsibility.

An Overview of the Peachtown Curriculum

   Educational Goals: A Peachtown education promotes the social, emotional and intellectual growth of children in an intimate home-like environment.  The ultimate goal of the Peachtown program is to nurture happy, productive, self-reliant and responsible children.  The Peachtown curriculum is designed to promote this goal by offering all students the opportunity to learn, play and grow at a level that is rewarding and challenging to them.  The curriculum is tailored to meet individual needs, and each student’s success is measured by their own potential; all students are encouraged to find the intrinsic reward in learning and to take initiative to become independent learners.  In every setting, direct instruction is geared to the highest level possible for the group, with individual projects and exploration scaled to personal learning levels and styles. From the first days of school, learning is rich content and emphasizes research, hands-on projects and personal reflection. 

   A School Community: All study and recreation time at Peachtown occurs in a multi-age environment.  The multi-age nature of the school fosters a close knit familial atmosphere where children of all ages work and play together.  The classrooms are divided into the Upper Level (grades 4-8) and the Lower Level Classroom (grades pre-K-3) with flexibility of assignment at grade 4.  All school students are together for Morning Meeting, Lunch, Recess, After School Care and special programs.  The non-hierarchical nature of Peachtown, supports a community where everyone is made to feel welcome and its members care for and support each other.

  Interdisciplinary and Global Studies: Rotating topics in history and science constitute the class called Main Lesson, and it serves as the catalyst for interdisciplinary studies.  Language Arts, Fine Art, Math, Drama and Music are integrated into core studies at every opportunity.  Group discussions in every class emphasize the connections not just between subject areas, but also to history, contemporary Science and Technology, culture and politics as well. Foreign language instruction is an essential component of world-study.  At every juncture, the Peachtown curriculum reinforces the global nature of today’s world.  Topical areas of study are regularly updated to reflect current events.  With a curriculum that is constantly evolving, Peachtown students are educated with tomorrow in mind.

  Sustainability: Peachtown actively teaches and promotes sustainability.  The stewardship of environmental, social and economic resources is modeled and reinforced across the curriculum.  From the Board of Trustees to the pre-K classroom, individuals are given a sense of ownership of the school and a responsibility to it and its denizens.  All members of the community are treated with justice and compassion.  Each student has the same opportunities to learn; every student is exposed to the same curriculum regardless of their learning differences.  Creativity of thought and the cultivation of unique skills and interests are promoted.  Peachtown does not teach to conformity; rather, it teaches each student to question and explore in depth their own areas of interest.  Expanding individual interests expands the richness of the educational community.

Peachtown is a model of resourcefulness.  Whenever possible, materials and equipment are outsourced from other organizations.  Paper products are used sparingly, custodial work is done by teachers and students, garbage is composted and trash is largely recycled.  The practice of environmental consciousness is complemented by the in-depth studies of environmental issues.

  Assessment: Assessment of student progress is based upon a paradigm developed through observations and working with an individual student. When a clear picture of the student’s strengths and weaknesses emerges, academic and personal goals for that student are established.  That individual’s work is assessed in accordance with their personal capability.  Written, oral, and visual work and class participation contribute to a student evaluation as do personal initiative, responsibility and the ability to work with others.  Attributes of generosity and compassion are valued as highly as academic and artistic achievement. Parents participate in semiannual conferences and receive written narrative evaluations from each of a child’s instructors.  Standardized testing is not employed, although eighth grade students who desire are prepared for New York State Regents examinations. At all times, parents are kept informed as to their child’s performance relative to public school models.  Peachtown expects students who transfer or graduate to be more than prepared for their future studies.

  A Typical Day at Peachtown

Monday-Thursday

    Morning:

 8:45 All-School Morning Meeting 

     9:05 Main Lesson

    10:15 Snack/ Language Arts

    11:25 Math

    12:00 Swimming or Physical Education in Wells Athletic Center

    1:00 Lunch and Recess

    2:30 Spanish, French, Art, or Music

    3:30 Choice Activity

4:15 After School Care