5 Ways SCVi Gives Our Youngest Learners a Great Start

Let’s dream big. What do you want from your child’s education? Foreign language exposure? A flexible curriculum that lets your child zoom up a level in learning or slow down to really understand it? A balance of current technology and hands-on creativity? Opportunities to be in a theatre production or play sports? How about all of the above?

At Santa Clarita Valley International School (SCVi), a tuition-free public charter school serving TK-12th grades, we know that kindergarten is the crucial foundation for a successful education. A positive kindergarten experience fosters a love of learning, and helps children develop emotional resilience and important social skills.

Here is how we give our littlest learners in the greater Santa Clarita Valley and beyond a great start.

1. Personalized Learning

From the very beginning, every learner at SCVi is given an individualized learning plan. Our learners set academic and social and emotional learning (SEL) goals for themselves with the help of their facilitator (teacher). Learners can set their own pace, racing ahead when they master something, and taking time to sit with some ideas that need reinforcing. 

Not only that, but because we are a small school, every learner is known by name and has support from their facilitator, paraprofessionals, counselors, and administrators. This familiarity builds confidence, as students feel comfortable and supported. 

2. Dual Immersion

At SCVi, we strive to be globally connected and part of this commitment is offering Spanish dual immersion to our K-5th graders. We bring teachers from Spain and Mexico to live in our community and share their culture and language with our learners. Our SCVi learners spend 50% of their time learning in Spanish with these native speakers and 50% of their time with English-speaking teachers. 

Our learners share the same curriculum and project-based opportunities as their peers and have exposure to the same state standards while receiving instruction in both languages. The Spanish-speaking and English-speaking teachers collaborate on teaching all subject material. Immersion not a great fit for your child? No problem. We have a non-immersion track as well.

3. Arts Integration

At our tuition-free school, we feel arts are essential, every single day. We incorporate an arts curriculum into our project-based learning so our learners can expect to be engaged in the arts throughout their day and in a variety of ways (Chalk! Paint! Music! Video/Media!). 

Participation in the arts facilitates intercultural awareness and open-mindedness. Coursework in the arts is naturally collaborative, making arts education the ideal vehicle for helping young people become lifelong learners. 

4. ABC’s + SEL’s = The Whole Child

Learning how to be a good friend, learner, and leader starts on Day One in elementary school at our free public TK-12. SCVi integrates several social-emotional learning (SEL) programs, like  Leader in Me, which emphasizes the importance of kindness and finding solutions that work for everyone. Learning good communication skills is key and we teach and model using our words and finding ways to practice self-control and reflection. Our goal is to provide an environment in which learners can create, explore, problem-solve, accomplish, support others, and become confident leaders.

At our small school, we teach a growth mindset because learners with a growth mind-set believe in themselves. They trust their abilities and believe their hard work will pay off; they persist to overcome obstacles. In the process, they also learn from and support each other, and see the relevance of their schoolwork to the real world and their own future success.

5. Solid Foundation: Setting Your Child Up for Success

Giving learners a solid foundation in school so that they enjoy learning and develop curiosity about our world is at the heart of what we do at our tuition-free TK-12 public school. From the flexibility of personalized learning to our aerospace focus where we share a fully developed project for each grade each year, to using a play-based learning model, we are here to make education engaging and fun. Find out more about our free public school and enroll today!

 

About SCVi:

Santa Clarita Valley International School (SCVi) is a free public charter school empowering TK-12th graders to become conscientious, compassionate, and responsible citizens of the world. We use project-based and social-emotional learning concepts to inspire and motivate lifelong learners with the skills they need to lead in the 21st century. We incorporate technology into every component of our curriculum, and we value and encourage development of leadership skills by inspiring confidence and character in each of our unique learners. Join our innovative school today!