Education

Art students at WSD enjoy creating, experimenting, and innovating. Students in all grades understand the artistic process and are the proud creators of their own works. They create art in a nurturing and stimulating environment where they learn to develop technique, combine different 2-D and 3-D art forms, refine the application of artistic processes, and hone their own voice and vision.

Students at WSD embrace “The Wapiti Way,” a program of positive reinforcement that teaches a different character value each month. Students are also taught the principles of Mindfulness in building attention, self-regulation, and empathy. Two student-run Hope Squads (grades 4-5 and grades 6-8) promote healthy and positive relationships with peers.

WSD students find authentic purposes for reading and writing. The Lower School literacy program includes small and flexible grouping and is enriched by technologies in the classroom. Older elementary students are given more challenging texts that promote student independence and inquiry. Middle School English students cultivate a love of reading through exposure to multiple genres. They work toward speaking and writing proficiency by practicing oral, written, media, and other forms of communication.

Latin begins in Middle School and exposes students to a new culture through the lens of a foreign language. As students learn the context in which Latin was spoken anciently, they learn to read, write, speak, listen, and be creative in the language. They also engage in project-based learning activities and online resources to enhance their understanding, experience, and enjoyment of this classic language.

WSD has a strong Library program and a Librarian who is passionate about books and about bringing students and books together. Lower School classes visit the Library once per week. Middle School students are invited to visit the library anytime their schedule permits. Supporting every student’s reading interests and guiding them to great books is the job — and the joy — of the WSD Library.

The WSD Math program offers every student opportunities to engage in meaningful, rigorous mathematics. Students engage in rich learning tasks that meet the needs of different learners at different times. Learning strategies are student-centered, build on skills learned, and focus on big ideas and applied practice. Flex grouping and a supplemental online math program are used to differentiate instruction and assess student progress.

Our youngest students learn General Music through world folk songs, dances, and rhythmic movement as they explore the melodies, rhythms, and joys of music. As they progress, students also learn to read, write, create, improvise, and perform music. In 4th grade, students may continue to progress in General Music or choose an instrument to play in Orchestra or Band. Middle School students will commit to one of three courses — Chorus, Orchestra, or Band — and have options to participate in Musical Theatre, Music Appreciation, and Jazz Band.

WSD students spend meaningful time in nature on a regular, often daily, basis, and learn to consider the outdoor classroom as a vital and precious learning space. They build memories and relationships to the local landscape, learn to care for their environment, and explore and strengthen their connection with nature and the outdoors.

Multi-sensory, hands-on, integrated, and experiential define the Science program at WSD, which takes advantage of both the indoor and outdoor classrooms. Students in all grades learn the vocabulary of science, develop an understanding of the nature and methodology of science as well as scientific principles, and receive guided instruction in important scientific concepts. Students perform experiments, use technology, and participate in field studies and individual projects.

Promoting fitness, fun, and a love for the active life are the goals of WSD’s Physical Education program. Lower School students learn new sports, build skills, develop a healthy sense of self, and practise good sportsmanship. Middle School students venture off campus each week in the Adventure PE program, exploring various indoor and outdoor sports at local venues for a full afternoon. WSD’s PE program helps all students recognize the value of physical activity for health, challenge, social interaction and enjoyment.

Through Social Studies and History education, WSD students learn to make sense of their world, prepare to contribute to a rich and diverse society, and anticipate informed participation in the democratic process. Students engage in age-appropriate inquiries and conduct research through library resources, personal interviews, and final projects. They become capable historians as they research and interpret historical data, evaluate primary and secondary sources, and make scholarly and meaningful sense of events both past and current.

Supporting students as they discover the power of their own potential and preparing them to excel in the 21st century must include the integration of technologies into the classroom. WSD uses a variety of digital resources to complement classroom instruction, support project-based learning, differentiate instruction, and monitor individual student progress. Students are taught to be digitally literate and responsible, and to use technology wisely. All educational media and technology utilized at WSD is continually evaluated and improved for effective use in the classroom.

WSD’s Maker Space serves all students in K – 8 and facilitates their technology-supported STEM projects. Students are trained to use a variety of age-appropriate hands-on equipment including design tools, Lego STEM and robotics kits, coding kits, 3D printers, laser engraving and cutting machines, resins, polymers, and other supplies. The Maker Space supports project-based learning and problem solving skills, creativity and imagination, student engagement, and cross-curricular learning.

WSD’s “Mobile Classroom” is a Ford Transit 10-passenger van that takes small groups of students in grades 5-8 on off-campus excursions once a week. The van meets all state-required safety requirements and specifications and facilitates unique learning opportunities for students.The goals of the Mobile Classroom center around building community among our students as well as increasing student and teacher engagement in the wider community. Excursions include locations that have historical, artistic, environmental, and local importance, and that embrace the principles of place-based education.