Jesus said “Let the children to come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Academics by grade level
POSITION STATEMENT ON DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICE
Developmentally appropriate practice is based on knowledge about how children develop and learn. “In a developmental approach to curriculum design…decisions about what should be learned, and how it would best be learned, depend on what we know of the learner’s developmental status, and our understanding of the relationships between early experience and subsequent development…” (L.K.A.T.Z., 1995 Talks with Teachers of Young Children: A Collection, 1995). Sensational Enlightenment Academy has designed an integrated curriculum, as well as, an emergent curriculum, drawing from the insight and experience of such early childhood experts as Lilian Katz, Judy Harris Helm, Bobbi Fischer and Ursula Davis, to name a few. Our teachers will be continually reinventing the instruction with emphasis on ideas and interests that emerge from the daily lives of our children. This process has proven to be effective in the best early childhood programs in the nation. We will also glean information from many successful early childhood resources, such as Wilson Fundamentals, parents and teachers, High/Scope, Heads Up Reading and Reggio Emilia, The Project Approach, and Work Sampling to name a few. Our goal is to provide the students in our care with individualized instruction assessment, keeping in the forefront, what children need to know and how they learn. We refuse to follow the pattern of many preschool programs that simply push down elementary curriculum in a watered-down version. To keep the instruction relevant and meaningful to our student’s development, we keep before us two criteria of sound curriculum: (1) Conveying important knowledge from a given discipline in many ways, and (2) Considering how and when children develop and learn.
Technology
Using state and national technology standards, we are developing a technology curriculum that focuses on digital citizenship, technology skills, information fluency, and spiritual application. Our goal is to provide a solid foundation of technical skills that students can use to analyze, create, and share learning in ways that are safe and pleasing to the Lord.
Physical Education
Students will have daily physical education, either inside or outside depending on the weather. Some activities inside include music, dance, and games. Students will also learn life skills working on teams, individual, sharing, encouraging others, and communication just to name a few.
Shelby County Schools provides services to eligible private schools. Decisions about the services that will be provided to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities will be determined in the service plan meeting. Individualized Service Plans (IEPs) are written for private school students with disabilities who receive special education services through Shelby County Schools. A team composed of representations, parents, teachers, and the child, when appropriate, are included in developing the ISP.
Sensation Enlightenment Academy currently offers music, P.E., and art classes throughout the week. All students participate in these classes as they are part of our curriculum. Our preschool students are taught through a music and movement program.
Tutoring Services
Tutoring is also offered after school for math and English. Please contact your homeroom teacher or principal for more information on how to get your child in this program.
We offer one on one instructional teaching for our Jr. Pre-K , Sr. Pre-K Program and Elementary Department. We believe positive relationships are the key to unlocking the potential in every child. Our one-to-one classrooms allow teachers to build positive mentor relationships with each student so they are best equipped to learn. Students are able to complete all their homework with teacher assistance and supervision in our Extended Care Program before they leave campus.
Every child must take a entrance test before the first day of school and administration will contact the parent for a meeting.
Our curriculum meets or exceeds all national standards and we support each child’s unique personality, interests and needs in a safe setting.
Learning Rocks!
Dear Families,
SE Academy’s Lower School and Upper School is a vibrant, creative and joyful place. Our Lower School curriculum is focused on educating the “whole child” and developing strong critical thinking skills.
We offer a rich, diverse curriculum that encourages students to reach their academic, social and emotional potential in a challenging yet supportive and nurturing environment that embraces family, community and citizenship. Through our many offerings, children find their passions and develop their interests and strengths. As a result, our students become independent, critical thinkers and competent decision makers who are excited to learn. While we emphasize proficiency in language arts and math, our Lower School and Upper School program also emphasizes world language, the humanities, science and physical education. The arts are a particularly strong feature of the school. Our music program, including piano, choral and the visual arts help to encourage creativity, open-ended thinking and cooperation.
We also believe that no two children are completely alike. Through our Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs), our teachers support the different learning styles and abilities of each individual child in their classes. We have a small student-teacher ratio, which means our teachers really get to know the children well.
It also means they get to know the parents well. Parents are invited to be in touch with our teachers just to check in. They don’t have to wait for a formal parent-teacher meeting or a problem to arise for there to be communication between home and school. We have high expectations for our children’s work and behavior and strongly believe in providing clear feedback to students and families on both.
We also know children learn best when they are given authentic “hands-on” activities. And that active learning can take many forms. It might be 1st graders indirectly learning about supply and demand when preparing to sell recycled items they’ve made for Earth Day. It could be Pre-K students creating a 100th Day of School museum and writing invitations to parents and friends.
In 2nd-3 grades, our students participate in our signature Computer Touch.
S.E. Academy Private School points programs. In this curriculum, students at are paired with students at one of our sister schools to help solve an important global issue. For instance, our 2nd graders are studying deforestation while our 1st Grade is working on issues associated with hunger. Over the course of the year, students research the issue, consult with experts and share information via Edmodo and Skype.
In addition to Touch points, we constantly look for opportunities to bring a global perspective into classroom. One of the great assets of this school is that we have families from all over the world and many of our children are bilingual, bringing a lot to our community and curriculum. Children at S.E. Academy Private School South East Campus are very accustomed to hearing different voices and different languages and this is a powerful feature of our program.
Finally, our teachers give thoughtful attention to each child’s social and emotional health and development. The faculty is very deliberate in building classroom communities through our use of Responsive Classroom in which children feel secure and safe to take risks, and in which all voices are heard and respected.
Kay Pruitt
School Leader
Head of School
SE Academy Independent School is currently offering tours at 10:00 a.m. every Thursdays for prospective students and their families who are seeking admission for the school year. See our facilities, speak with members of the admissions team, and reserve your spot by email: sensationalinfo@gmail.com
