K-5 Classrooms at a Glance
Synergy School is a kindergarten through eighth grade school. Most of our classrooms are a combination of two grades with a team of two full teachers. Our kindergarten class is a single grade classroom with 6 of the 24 spaces reserved for young kindergartners. These young K's (children turning 5 in October or November, or other developmentally young kindergartners) will spend two years in the kindergarten class. Our kindergarten through third grade classes have 2 full-time teachers in each classroom, for a student/teacher ratio of 1 to 13.
Children generally spend two years in most classrooms, experiencing the role of a younger student in a group one year and an older student the next. Children have the same teacher(s) two years in a row, facilitating a longer-term relationship and understanding of learning styles and developmental needs.
In combination classrooms, children work at their own developmental level and engage with a broader range of peers. The basic curriculum is always in place, but the larger thematic units are not repeated two years in a row. For example, the first/second graders might study marine mammals in science one year and insects the next. The same important scientific processes are explored within a different topic.
- Kindergarten
- 24 students Teachers: Rita Franklin & Carolyn Kruse
- First/Second
- 26 students Teachers: Ebony Manion & Tanya Baker
- Second/Third
- 27 students Teachers: Teresa Rodriguez & Jesse Kitses
- Fourth/Fifth
- 40 students in two classrooms. These classrooms have a sliding door between them and do a lot of teaming.
- Teachers: Joan Pettijohn, Sandy Barra, & Rea Inglesis
Intern: LeRoy Wise
SPECIALISTS
Specialists work with all grade levels weekly. Music is once a week until middle school, when it is twice a week. Spanish and P.E. are twice a week. Drama is taught during the school day as well as through the After School program. Art is taught by classroom teachers as well as by specialists brought in for special units and projects.
- Specialist Teachers:
- Jana Barber, Physical Education & Drama
- Nate Mellado, Spanish
- Mahala Bundy, Music
- Siri Scull, Art
Cross Age Connections
Synergy facilitates learning and responsibility by connecting students at different grade levels. Some favorite activities include: morning meeting, older and younger buddy classes, and special school-wide field trips.
