Academic Program
Students at Sunset Park Avenues Elementary will experience a curriculum rich in literacy and language that develops their ability to problem solve, reason, communicate, and attend to precision. Students spend much of their time engaged in independent or small-group practice and exploration. During this time, teachers work one-on-one with students to model and further develop their skills, providing highly-individualized learning in a cooperative classroom environment.
Literacy
Students in all grades experience balanced science of reading literacy program each day. This includes:
The HMH curriculum allows teachers to meet students specifically at their instructional level. Students learn the work of what it means to be a reader, writer, listener, and speaker.
We chose this program for its structured feel, ease of implementation with scripted lessons (allowing for teachers to differentiate based on student learning needs), strong digital support (especially during remote learning), alignment with "science of reading," and it’s Spanish version “Arriba la Lectura” for bilingual needs.
- Read Aloud
- Shared Reading
- Guided Reading
- Independent Reading
- Phonics / Word Study
- Interactive Writing
- Independent Writing
- Skill Based Literacy Group Time (SBT)
The HMH curriculum allows teachers to meet students specifically at their instructional level. Students learn the work of what it means to be a reader, writer, listener, and speaker.
We chose this program for its structured feel, ease of implementation with scripted lessons (allowing for teachers to differentiate based on student learning needs), strong digital support (especially during remote learning), alignment with "science of reading," and it’s Spanish version “Arriba la Lectura” for bilingual needs.
Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics
Our school uses Illustrative Mathematics which has an inquiry-based/exploratory and constructivist approach to learning mathematics. The program targets conceptual understanding through hands-on learning experiences.
Our school uses Illustrative Mathematics which has an inquiry-based/exploratory and constructivist approach to learning mathematics. The program targets conceptual understanding through hands-on learning experiences.
Social Studies and Scienceintegrated Units
Students develop emergent research skills through long-term integrated units in social studies and science topics. Our teachers backwards plan unit of study based on the grade-level standards that are of high-interest topics (pumpkins, bridges, construction, and water) and build skills of inquiry, critical thinking, research, and presentation. Students participate in hands-on project learning and take many field trips to deepen their understanding of content and build knowledge of the world around them. |
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Specialty Clusters
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Visual Arts
All students participate in a visual arts program where they explore art-making through a multitude of materials and methods. Students learn to express thinking and ideas through art and develop language skills through critique and study of other artists. |
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Physical Education
Physical Education helps tap into the intrinsic energy and need for movement that all young children possess. In addition to developing gross motor skills and encouraging and active, healthy lifestyle, students learn sportsmanship, fair play, and how to work as a team towards a common goal. |
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STEAM
Our young students experience an intensive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) program. Students become chemists, physicists, and programmers as they learn about 21st century skills in a hands-on way. |
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Dance
The elementary dance program provides standards-based instruction in dance. Students are given the opportunity to experience dance as art in an educational setting, performing, creating, responding and connecting their dance learning to their own experiences. Research shows: “Dancing can help the brain and body work together - it builds perception, memory, problem solving and creative thinking” |
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Media & Library
The media program brings together the school library with other forms of media. Students engage in traditional library studies, lend books, and engage in research and presentation projects. |
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After School Programs
Center For Family Life in Sunset Park
P.S. 516 has a robust partnership with Center for Family Life in Sunset Park (CFL) to provide free afterschool, and summer camp to students in grades K-5. Center for Family Life in Sunset Park serves 160 students, grades K-5 in free, 5-day per week afterschool that will run from school dismissal through 5:45pm. The afterschool program is designed to engage students in consistent group and community-building activities that promote social, physical, academic and creative development. For more information email Olney Edmondson at [email protected].
Title III Program
English Language Learners (ELLs) are entitled to participate in our Title III after school program, which operates once per week for a portion of the school year. Students in the Title III program participate in activities that help to support language development and acquisition.
P.S. 516 has a robust partnership with Center for Family Life in Sunset Park (CFL) to provide free afterschool, and summer camp to students in grades K-5. Center for Family Life in Sunset Park serves 160 students, grades K-5 in free, 5-day per week afterschool that will run from school dismissal through 5:45pm. The afterschool program is designed to engage students in consistent group and community-building activities that promote social, physical, academic and creative development. For more information email Olney Edmondson at [email protected].
Title III Program
English Language Learners (ELLs) are entitled to participate in our Title III after school program, which operates once per week for a portion of the school year. Students in the Title III program participate in activities that help to support language development and acquisition.