CO-CURRICULAR COURSES

Music at Daycroft encourages a love for the musical experience along with a foundational knowledge of music theory and the basics of instrumental performance. Toddlers through sixth graders learn to listen actively and critically to a diverse collection of composers and styles of music. Every music class includes time spent reading music-related books. Formal instrument study begins in grade three with ukulele, then progresses to string instrument instruction and ensemble work in grades four through six. 

We believe that learning to engage as an artist teaches all students, toddler through grade six, lifelong skills of being an art maker and appreciator. Art making at Daycroft aims to be therapeutic while inspiring students to stretch and further develop their abilities, so that they can take pride in their accomplishments. Our art studio provides an inspiring environment where young artists can practice skills and develop their artistic interests.

Spanish at Daycroft School is offered at all levels, toddler through grade six.  Younger students focus on vocabulary, with grammar being added in the upper grades. Students also learn about Hispanic cultures in various Spanish-speaking countries. This is an academic class with an emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish. 

Every child, toddler through sixth grade, benefits from the Physical Education program at Daycroft School. The program offers a variety of developmentally appropriate movement activities for students, allowing for the natural progression of the whole child while building self-esteem and teamwork through play and individualized discovery. Emphasis is on the development of healthy choices and sustaining lifestyle habits that promote good health and well-being that last a lifetime.

The Daycroft School Library is a welcoming space for the exploration of literature and any variety of topics. Its large collection of nearly 11,000 titles supports both the Daycroft curriculum and the individual reading interests of its students, who may visit throughout the day to check out books on an open basis. Students in Young 5 and Kindergarten through second grade meet in the library on a weekly basis to enjoy group read-alouds of both fiction and nonfiction. These deep-dive readings are highly interactive, filled with discussion and analysis of story and content, with the goal of extracting maximum meaning and building deep understanding. Students in third through sixth grade also have weekly classes where they develop information literacy, digital literacy, and research skills. Working with informational content, they practice close reading skills that support comprehension.