Academics - Elementary School
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
It is our mission at BCEMS to provide a life-long skills foundation for our students through the education of the head, heart and hands.
More specifically, we expect our students to think in an outside-the-box manner, solve problems effectively and with confidence, demonstrate excellence, seek sources of personal inspiration, and serve others with a sense of commitment and pride.
Berry College Elementary School has a one class per grade structure for grades Kindergarten through 4. Our curriculum is based on national standards and we strive to teach students the joy of learning. Our students regularly achieve in the superior range on standardized assessments, and our teachers place a strong emphasis on building and strengthening fundamentals in all major content areas. At BCES students develop strong reading, writing and math skills, and they work to apply those skills in an integrated manner across all content areas. BCES faculty believes in the value of applying these basic skills across the curriculum, as well as creating opportunities for hands-on learning experiences.
Teaching and learning at Berry is guided by an integrated constructivist model of theory and practice, in which students construct knowledge based on their experiences both in and outside of the classroom.
SPECIALS
While many schools work to phase out certain areas of special instruction such as physical education, art and music, we at Berry believe in the power of an integrated curriculum aiding the development of a well-rounded child. That is why we purposely and regularly integrate the following specials into our weekly elementary school schedule:
- Art
- Music
- Physical Education
- Spanish
- Library Time
- Storytelling
- Computer & Technology Lab
- Recess
- Character Education/Assembly/Chapel
FIELD ACTIVITIES
At BCES, we believe in the power of hands-on learning. Our classes regularly use the wealth of land and resources at Berry College for study and also pursue a variety of learning opportunities away from Berry’s campus. Some of our field trips and activities include:
Rome Airport, Berry College Long-leaf Pine Trail, Hannah’s Bakery, Earthworks Pottery, Tennessee Aquarium, Berry College Water treatment plant, Chattanooga Discovery Museum, Center for Puppetry Arts, Berry College Dairy, Cave Spring Park, Georgia Aquarium, Chieftains Museum, Lock & Dam Park, Rock City, Weinman Mineral Museum, Martha Berry Museum, Jamestown, Okefenokee Swamp, Cumberland Island, Yorktown, Tybee Island, Ship & Sea Museum, local area plays/festivals/events.