A Day In The Life at SYV Family School

At The SYV Family School, each day is a vibrant blend of discovery, creativity, and connection, set against the beautiful backdrop of the San Rafael Mountain range. The unique beauty of our surroundings is reflected in our unique approach to education, which integrates outdoor experiences with a needs-based learning philosophy, creating an enriching environment where students thrive.

Here’s a glimpse into a typical day at our school, showcasing how we weave together academics, arts, and play.

Monday Morning Circle: Setting the Tone

Our school week begins with a Monday Morning Circle, a cherished tradition that sets a positive tone for the week. Students, teachers, and parents gather in a circle around the basketball court to begin the week with an earth prayer, and pledge of allegiance, celebrate birthdays, highlight the week's focus on a social-emotional skill, and celebrate birthdays. This time fosters community, builds rapport, and encourages students to express themselves in a supportive environment. It’s a perfect way to transition from home to school life and bring the students into the excitement and ownership for the learning week ahead. 

PE: Energizing the Body and Mind

Moving our bodies is an important part of our school day. We believe that an energized body creates an energized mind. We don’t focus the physical activity on just one class, it’s integrated throughout the day. From the moment our students arrive on campus they are invited to begin play and movement out on the playground before the school bell. 

Once the academic day begins, we weave into the curriculum time to move, break, change places, and engage with both the mind and body. If there’s a lot of nerves before a big collaboration or pop quiz, students might take a lap around the basketball court. If a class is trying to puzzle out a big math equation, you might see students with colored blocks running laps on the big field as they learn about addition and multiplication. 

In PE, our teachers are creative and collaborative in getting kids moving and engaged with games, relay races, and obstacle courses. Each class begins with a time of gratitude and the day’s activity focuses on sportsmanship and body awareness. 

Theater: Unleashing Creativity

Theater is an important aspect of our school year. We typically put on our main theatre production in the spring, where all of the classes are cast in roles of varying technical ability. Set building, memorizing lines, and choreography are all part of the creative process of learning how to be on stage, project your voice, and build confidence in front of others. 

Our theater performances are designed to be inclusive and engaging, where students learn to express themselves, collaborate with peers, and appreciate what goes on behind the scenes with the arts.

Music: Harmonizing Learning and Fun

Music is fun! We have an engaging and passionate music teacher who brings music to life several times a week for our students. Classes include introducing new instruments, listening to timeless hits from the past, and learning about composers and music structure. These are all part of how we learn to appreciate and play music. 

Students engage in singing, instrument play, and rhythm exercises. Our music curriculum is designed to be interactive and joyful, allowing students to explore different genres and musical techniques. Whether learning a new song, building musical instruments, or creating their own composition, music classes are a highlight of the day, nurturing creative expression and auditory skills.

Spanish: Cultural Awareness and Communication

Language is an important aspect of expanding minds and skills. Our Spanish language curriculum focuses on conversation, wordplay, and practicing skills of communicating in another language. Beyond just learning phrases and vocabulary words, our Spanish teachers are fluent and integrate cultural awareness into the language study so there is a context, appreciation, and connection. We find that this deeper understanding allows students to connect with the language, making memorization more natural and fun. 

Meditation: Finding Calm

Every Thursday morning, after the school bell, silence falls on campus as students participate in a short, guided meditation session. Gathering together on the basketball court our students and faculty learn to get quiet and turn within to listen to their wisdom and the voice that belongs to each of us. 

This time is dedicated to mindfulness and relaxation, helping students manage stress and focus better on learning. Guided by our experienced music teacher, students practice breathing techniques and mindfulness exercises that promote emotional well-being and mental clarity. What our students learn in these meditation sessions can be seen throughout the day as they use these skills to regulate big emotions and to connect with what they need when feeling overwhelmed or dysregulated. 

Multi-Age Playtime: Fostering Social Growth

Playtime, or recess, is an essential part of our curriculum. Students enjoy multi-age playtime that fosters collaboration and consideration for how everyone comes with a different ability and skill set. 

Playtime is invaluable for social development, as younger and older students interact, collaborate, and learn from each other. Whether it’s building a fort, setting up an imaginary storefront, or playing a group game, these interactions build empathy, leadership, and communication skills.

Experimentation: Exploring and Innovating

Exploration and innovation are baked into every aspect of our curriculum. We believe hands-on learning encourages curiosity and scientific inquiry. This allows students to explore concepts through trial and error. Whether they are conducting simple science experiments or building mechanical structures, students are empowered to ask questions and seek answers. Innovation is a pillar of our values and an open format of trying, failing, working as a team and then succeeding together builds a foundation of teamwork and trust among peers. 

This snapshot of our daily life at school paints a picture of the vibrancy and multi-dimensional aspects of a progressive education. Creativity and connection are cornerstones of our day and reflect the unique approach to education and a skills-based learning philosophy. We create an enriching environment where students can thrive and feel challenged and accomplished within the diversity of activities and learning opportunities. 

For more information on the SYV Family School, please visit https://www.syvfamilyschool.org/ and follow along to see what’s happening around campus on our IG @thesyvfamilyschool.