Elementary School Overview

Morrison provides a nurturing and safe environment for students’ younger years. While fostering each student’s curiosity, teachers strive to integrate the best educational practices to help students achieve optimum levels of learning. The classroom is a place for students to learn, explore, and be challenged as they develop spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is the first opportunity for children to begin to understand that school is a place for learning and working. They will learn about sharing, taking turns, respecting the rights of others, and taking care of themselves.

The kindergarten program provides initial learning experiences in language development, number concepts, creative skills, and social and physical growth. Using concrete experiences, pupils are given the building blocks for perceiving, thinking, and problem solving. Educational experiences provide balance and variety among physical, mental, spiritual, and social activities as the child's world of awareness is extended from the home to the classroom.

The kindergarten classroom is a language-rich experience for all. Students are introduced to basic reading skills through shared reading experiences, rhymes, poems, classic stories, and stories created by children. Technology is introduced as a learning tool. Skills related to visual and auditory discrimination, left to right orientation, vocabulary development, whole word recognition, and relationships between letters and sounds are taught in the context of responding to high quality children's literature and our Houghton Mifflin integrated language arts program.

First Grade

Children in first grade begin to develop independence as readers and writers. Our balanced literacy approach provides a solid framework of integration between all language arts skills. Reading other books at home is encouraged. Teaching comprehension and vocabulary are top priorities. Supplemental core stories also provide opportunities to integrate biblical principles, science, social studies, health, art, and other subjects. Technology is integrated to assist learning. Specialists teach your child Mandarin, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, and library media skills. Each has a key part in your child's week.

Second Grade

Second grade is a time to encourage your child's developing curiosity and ability to understand more complex ideas. Our balanced literacy approach provides a solid framework of integration between all language arts skills. Reading other books at home is encouraged. Teaching comprehension strategies and vocabulary development are top priorities. Supplemental core stories also provide opportunity to integrate Biblical principles, science, social studies, health, art, and other subjects. Technology is used to enhance learning experiences. Specialists teach your child Mandarin, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, and library media skills. Each has a key part in your child's week.

Third Grade

In third grade, most students have become fluent readers and read chapter books with pleasure. Books in a series often draw these students into extending their independent reading. Our balanced literacy approach provides a solid framework of integration between all language arts skills. Comprehension and vocabulary skills continue to grow. Supplemental core stories also allow integration of biblical principles, science, social studies, health, art, and other subjects. Technology skills are developed as learning tools. Specialists teach your child Mandarin, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, and library media skills. Each has a key part in your child's week.

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

In fourth grade we continue to use balanced literacy approach to provide a solid framework of integration between all language arts skills. Comprehension and vocabulary skills are continued priorities to help in the growth of our students as readers. Supplemental core stories also allow integration of biblical principles, science, social studies, health, art, and other subjects. Specialists teach your child Mandarin, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, and library media skills. Each has a vital part in your child's week.

In fifth grade we continue to use a balanced literacy approach to provide a solid framework of integration between all language arts skills. Comprehension and vocabulary skills are continued priorities to help in the growth of our students as readers. Supplemental core stories also allow integration of biblical principles, science, social studies, health, art, and other subjects. Students continue using computer keyboards for instruction and practice in typing for speed and accuracy. Specialists teach your child Mandarin, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, and library media skills. Each has a vital part in your child's week.