Specialists
Visual Art • Drama • Library • Music • Creative Movement
P.E. • Science • Spanish • Technology/Robotics
Academics at Bertschi are both interdisciplinary and grounded in real-life experiences.
We integrate math, reading, writing, and social studies with cross-curricular connections
to our nine specialist classes. Our specialists are experts in their field and collaborate
with classroom teachers. Each specialist class is held in its own teaching space.
| Specialist Class | Meeting Frequency |
|---|---|
| Visual Art |
Kindergarten: twice per week (yearlong) |
| Drama | All Grades: twice per week during a 6-10 week drama rotation |
| Library | All Grades: once per week (yearlong) |
| Music |
Pre-K & Kindergarten: twice per week (yearlong) |
| PE |
Pre-K & Kindergarten: twice per week (yearlong) |
| Science |
Grades 1 & 2: four times per week (two six-week rotations per year) |
| Spanish | All Grades: twice per week (yearlong) |
| Technology/Robotics | Grades 1-5: embedded within science curriculum and classroom instruction |
Explore Specialists
Visual Art
Visual art gives students a chance to authentically express themselves and develop dexterity and confidence with many diverse art materials. At Bertschi, students are given the freedom to take risks, build from their imagination, work skillfully toward creative solutions and bring their unique voice to their work. Our art curriculum makes connections with areas of study in each grade level classroom as well as with cultures, practices, and approaches to art from around the world.
Drama
The study of theater gives students the opportunity to explore life and the human condition while taking safe and healthy risks. When working on stage, students build self-confidence while developing empathy and understanding for others as they learn of the world through varied perspectives and stories. Every class from pre-K through grade 5 performs a full theater production in our drama lab for their fellow students and their families.
Library
Books act as mirrors into ourselves, windows into other experiences and ideas, and as sliding glass doors that allow us to step into and experience other worlds. Nurturing a love for reading and literature, and establishing community through storytelling is at the heart of our library program. Students experience the joy of read alouds and the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and wonderings during book discussions. Independent selection of books provides agency and students opportunities to fuel their natural curiosity about the world around them.
Music
Music empowers kids with the tools and the confidence to express their joy through music-making. As a meaningful form of self-expression and community-building, music helps our students form their identities and interact with the world around them. We provide a strong foundation in the essential elements of music and a safe space to play, create, and experiment.
PE
We believe that all children, no matter their exposure nor skill level, can find opportunities to improve skills, feel successful and have fun being physically active. Our curriculum and teaching focuses on character development and fostering a positive mindset, as well as building a foundational understanding of how to take care of our bodies and minds in order to lead a healthy and active life.
Spanish
Our Spanish program is immersive and begins with students absorbing the language through habitual routines, imitation, repetition, and movement. Students begin to express their ideas and thoughts in Spanish by working on listening, thinking, and speaking. As they build their skills, students work towards formal reading and writing tasks as well as basic verb conjugation. Students also learn about the rich history and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries around the world.
Science
Science empowers children to be curious, learn from mistakes, and better understand the world around them.
Design-thinking is woven into science lessons where students create and test solutions to real world situations. They study how light affects turtles, create insect habitats, and design their own Rube-Goldberg machines. Other areas of study include circuitry, planetary science, the salmon lifecycle, building solar ovens, water systems, and even dissection!
Technology & Robotics
In technology and robotics, kids learn by doing! Bertschi School teaches kids to be responsible, informed digital citizens in age-appropriate ways. Our hands-on robotics curriculum includes working with and coding many types of robots, engaging in challenges, producing a robot disco, exploring VR, and even discussing philosophy around AI.
Our technology integration specialist also works with our classroom teachers to incorporate technology projects into the curriculum.