The Academy is our Upper Elementary classroom serving grades 4 and 5. Students have a strong element of choice in shaping their academic work and are encouraged to be curious, engaged, and love learning.

Autonomy is a big motivator in the Academy, and the practice of academic skills may involve a wide variety of Montessori materials, technology, peer guides, or independent study guided by a teacher. We give students tools, space, and key concepts so that they can explore principles of mathematics, history, geography, science, language, storytelling, and human values in great depth and with enthusiasm.

The Upper Elementary classroom is also an extension of the student's personal and social world. The emotional aspects of life at this stage play an important role in their development. We help the students understand how to work, fit in and be a part of a community in a positive and productive way. 

Events scattered throughout the year provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning and their growth as individuals in a variety of ways. For United Nations Day, students investigate their own heritage as part of a country study and prepare presentations for the distinguished guests who attend the event. During the Festival of Lights, students demonstrate their understanding of major world religions, through songs, dances, and/or plays that they perform. Other manifestation events include overnight trips, during which students participate in team-building and environmental educational experiences; Pi Day, during which students see how many digits of Pi they can recite; and Bard Night, during which students perform poems and songs they have written. 

One way our students practice service and kindness is by participating in the “Little Buddies” program. Once a week, students spend part of the morning in the Little Stars classroom building relationships and playing with the toddler students. The buddy program benefits both the “big” and the “little” buddies: building positive relationships between older and younger students, which promotes a smoother adjustment to school life for the Little Stars, and develops leadership skills, empathy, and confidence among our Academy students.