Enrichment Classes

The Northern Light School Spanish Language curriculum has been created to provide a coordinated approach to the development of communication skills in grades K-8.  Reading and writing skills are introduced as students progress in oral language comprehension.  Beginning with kindergarten, students learn to communicate in a practical, conversational manner.  The ultimate goal is to give students the tools necessary to eventually create their own conversations with little or no teacher guidance.  Classes are taught around 50% in Spanish.  Instructional strategies and learning activities are culturally-based and include the following:  reciting, asking and answering questions, repeating, listening, singing, drawing, dancing, observing, playing games, writing and role-playing.

Kindergarten through Second Grade - Spanish for kindergarten through second grade fosters learning Spanish.  Students acquire information, recognize distinctive viewpoints, and further their knowledge of other disciplines in the target language.  In the same way, they address discrete elements of daily life including greetings, introductions, family, animals, weather, etc.  This class is designed to expose students to Spanish in activities that allow children to get their feet wet in another language while maintaining an academic standard.​

Third through Fifth Grade - Spanish for third through fifth grade fosters learning Spanish in a fun, dynamic and academic manner.  This course focuses on moving students from vocabulary and short phrases to full sentences and more developed reading comprehension.  Its main objective is to teach students how to relate the vocabulary they've learned to a level of limited conversational Spanish.  This year will be a transition year for students to go from vocabulary building to limited conversations.

Sixth through Eighth Grade - Spanish for sixth through eighth grade builds upon the foundation that students have received thus far. This course focuses on moving students from short phrases to more conversational Spanish language skills. 

Our music program is offered to students in our Lower School (K-5).  Utilizing a creative and comprehensiveelementary music curriculum, children learn musical concepts with an emphasis on notes and rhythms, numbers and scales, steps and intervals, Solfege (Do-Re-Mi), as well as ear training, key and time signatures, and kindness and consideration through classes in singing, listening, movement, and music appreciation.   

Kindergarten - Nurture emerging musical creativity through lessons in pitch, steady beats, listening, and movement. 

First Grade  - Continue to hone their developing skills through lessons in note values, rhythm, Solfege, key signatures, movement, and clapping. 

Second Grade - Begin to explore Solfege, scales and intervals, note values and rests, rhythm, movement, and clapping.

Third Grade - Work towards a more comprehensive understanding of music and singing as they develop breath support and control, more complex intervals, Solfege, early emerging sight reading, scales and intervals, rhythm, movement, and clapping. 

Fourth and Fifth Grades - Work on developing advanced singing technique as they prepare for their musical future.  They develop and practice breathing techniques, learn about head versus chest voice, continue their study of Solfege, learn about chords and cadences, chord progressions, and practice rhythm, movement, and clapping.

Teachers in grades K-8 regularly integrate Art into lessons and project-based learning opportunities in order to make the curriculum come alive.

Our arts through STEAM and Makerspace is designed to encourage students to explore their creativity and engage in “hard fun” that promotes design thinking, exploration, creativity, and the development of problem-solving skills.