Specialists
At Village, we have eight specialist content areas: Art, Dream Studio, Information and Imagination, Math Lab, Performing Arts, Physical Education and Wellness, Science, and Spanish. Guided by our Village Values of caring, courage, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trust, our dedicated specialists help students discover and develop aptitudes beyond the traditional academic program.
DREAM Studio
Beginning with our youngest learners, we focus on computational thinking skills, from block-based programming to simple robotics. By the time they are part of the Upper Division, students dive into immersive projects, such as Weslandia, which features map-making, flag design, coins, and artifacts from student-invented civilizations. As a result, students quickly realize that creating a community requires careful planning and deliberate decision-making.
Information and Imagination
Our Information and Imagination specialists guide students to extend their love of reading beyond the classroom walls. In our library, you’ll find our youngest students exploring character development and story arcs in picture books, while our middle-grade students are discussing the same themes in guided read-alouds. Our program culminates in the complex academic projects of the Upper Division, where students must research effectively, think analytically about sources, and demonstrate an understanding of how to be a critical consumer of information.
Performing Arts
With our Performing Arts specialists, students begin by learning basic rhythms, simple music notation, and exploring performance for an audience. They go on to develop instrumental skills through the ukulele and recorder. We provide students with many ways to express their creativity and build confidence. Whether strumming accompaniments to songs, playing recorder ensembles, or performing in our holiday concert, Village Vikings learn to take creative risks and support each other along the way.
Math Lab
Beyond traditional computation, our Math Lab focuses on mathematical reasoning, logic puzzles, and real-world applications. Whether a student needs foundational support or wants to explore advanced concepts, the Math Lab provides multiple pathways for success. Math Specialists also prepare all students in grades 2-6 to participate in national and international math contests (MOEMS, Noetic), developing competitive problem-solving skills and mathematical confidence.
Physical Education and Wellness
Our coaching team extends Physical Education and Wellness beyond traditional athletics, incorporating meditation, mindfulness, and breathing techniques into a program that emphasizes movement, cardiovascular fitness, and the development of motor skills. Students in grades 4-6 can participate in one of our many athletic teams. Village School is a member of the Coastal Canyon League, which includes several peer schools, and offers Flag Football, Basketball, Soccer, and Volleyball.
Science
Gone are the days of science workbooks. Our Science Lab welcomes even our youngest learners in every 8-day cycle. Students investigate animal habitats, conduct research on sustainability, and connect classroom learning to real-world environmental challenges. Our science specialists help students think like scientists, asking questions, forming hypotheses, and discovering how the world works through experimentation. Upper-division students take their scientific learning off-campus through immersive field experiences, exploring marine ecosystems during trips to Catalina Island, discovering astronomy and space science at Astro Camp, and studying coastal geology and marine biology, traveling up the California coast.
Spanish
Our Spanish specialists open doors to new cultures and perspectives. Students don’t just memorize vocabulary; instead, they use Spanish to understand and connect with the diversity that surrounds us. Whether interacting with our pen pals from Manuel Avila Camacho School or presenting personal ofrendas during our schoolwide Día de Los Muertos celebration, students get the opportunity to use their growing Spanish skills to authentically honor traditions and deepen cross-cultural understanding within our school community.
Visual Arts
Our Visual Arts program empowers students to convey ideas that words alone cannot express, while exploring the rich diversity of artistic traditions and diverse voices. Each year, students study featured artists who represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds and styles, from Ruth Asawa’s intricate wire sculptures to Nick Cave’s transformative Soundsuits, from Frida Kahlo’s powerful self-portraits to Georgia O’Keeffe’s bold interpretations of nature. These artist studies don’t just encourage our students' technique; they open windows into different perspectives and ways of seeing the world.
