In kindergarten through grade two, Marymount provides your child with a warm and welcoming environment. He or she will be immersed in engaging experiences that promote intellectual, social, and physical growth. This is also when your child will begin the process of developing into a responsible member of the community. All of this happens in a variety of settings from individual instruction to small classes.

During these years your child will be in an inviting new world of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. He or she will learn that letters are linked to sounds, that those sounds form words and words can form sentences. In addition, your child will read, listen to, and discuss a wealth of classic children's literature including folk tales, fables, and novels. These engaging stories provide your child with examples of a rich vocabulary while promoting an enthusiastic love of reading.

Your child will begin to learn about phonics in a structured, sequential manner. He or she will also begin to recognize more and more words; gaining skill and confidence as a beginning reader and writer. Don't be surprised if by the second grade, your child is proudly writing one and two page journal entries with ease and confidence.

From your child's very first week of kindergarten, concrete activities in math (such as counting, patterning, graphing, and sorting) will be practiced daily. These hands-on math experiences support your child's gradual transition from concrete to abstract concepts. A wide variety of classroom materials will help to support your child's learning of abstract ideas while reinforcing previously learned skills.

Marymount's program will enable your child to explore and grow in his or her understanding of numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems. Repetition and review will provide your child with a firm foundation in place value, addition and subtraction, early concepts of multiplication and division, patterning, geometric shapes, measurement, data collecting, and problem solving.

Of course, we also make sure that there is some unstructured time during the day just to have fun and be creative. Beginning in first grade your child will also be introduced to the President's Physical Fitness Program, which serves as the basis for Marymount's physical education program. Throughout this program your child will be introduced to a wide variety of sports. Throughout a Marymount education, your child will be individually appreciated as he or she matures as a young learner. With small classes and a variety of resources, our program will suit your child's unique abilities.

Elementary Grades
In grades three, four and five, your child's reading, writing and math skills will become increasingly refined as he or she becomes a more independent learner. A variety of teaching methods enables your child to become a creative thinker, problem solver, and positive member of the community.

Explorations through technology, simulations, discussions, drama, and speech encourage interest in our world. Exciting field trips to local cultural and historical sites such as symphony concerts, the art and natural history museums, the Botanic Gardens and La Purisma Mission enhances classwork. Overnight trips begin in fifth grade culminating with Astro Camp, an exciting science camp that explores the mysteries of our universe.

In order to ensure your child's proper physical development, Marymount continues the comprehensive physical education program begun in the primary grades. Among the sports offered are basketball, track, football, water polo, lacrosse, volley ball, soccer, baseball and surfing club. Marymount is also an active participant in the local independent school, interscholastic league.

By fostering respect and accountability for academic achievement, we inspire your child to reach his or her highest potential. By accepting responsibility for personal actions, valuing the dignity of others, and working to better the school community, your child will be ensured of a safe and positive learning environment.