|
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
A strong Biblical and academic foundation
The elementary program at Lighthouse Christian School provides a strong Biblical and academic foundation in a nurturing environment. We strive to meet our students where they are academically, socially, and spiritually and provide them with the education, guidance, and experiences they need to establish a solid foundation. Come to Lighthouse and you will find that our education is exceptional in the following ways:
 High academic standards
Academics are a high priority at Lighthouse. We hire only state-certified teachers who are committed to a faith in Jesus Christ and educational excellence. Our teachers set and achieve exceptional results on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. Our students are enthusiastic, joyful learners. Combined with a nurturing environment and solid educational philosophy/methodology, Lighthouse classrooms are proving to be among the most productive in the nation! On standardized tests, for example, Lighthouse averages in the top 15th percentile, which is more than 30 percentage points above the average when compared to all schools and over 10 percentage points when compared to other ACSI Christian schools.
See also:
Current SAT Scores
Curriculum Summary
Elementary Educational Model
Christ-centered
Lighthouse faculty and staff are spiritually mature believers who are worthy Christian role models for your children. Our passion is to foster faith and spiritual growth in all students. We believe that God is the Source of all truth, and there is no dichotomy between faith and academics. Our education seeks to demonstrate the harmony between Biblical truth and academic subjects. We nurture our students to think and live from a Biblical worldview. In addition to daily Bible lessons and weekly chapels, our students also learn to impact their world by participating in community service projects such as the FISH food bank and the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Teddy Care Project. They are exposed to worldwide missions and sponsor a sister school in Liberia.
See also:
CHAMPIONS Character Development
After-School Program
Lighthouse offers a comprehensive program of curricular and co-curricular activities. Choral music classes are offered twice a week for all grades. Recorder starts in 4th grade and band is an option starting in 5th grade. Private violin lessons or Suzuki violin ensembles are available after school.
We are blessed with a fabulous art lab and art program. Our formal art instruction supplements classroom instruction and offers students an opportunity to work with many art media.
At least weekly, our students also receive instruction in foreign language (Spanish), physical education, library, science/biology lab, and technology.
Our after school program is growing! The After School Club offers general care and opportunities for students to enjoy snacks, do homework, and engage in unstructured play. Students may take violin lessons through Suzuki violin. We currently offer Chess Club and Book Club, and plan on offering more in the future.
Nominal fees are charged for some of these offerings. The main office can provide information specific to each opportunity.
 Music Program
The music room houses the elementary music program, choir programs, and after school violin class. Every elementary student has the opportunity participate in music twice a week to sing, learn to read music, study the history of music, learn musical instruments, and prepare for 3 concerts each year. In the upper elementary years students begin playing musical instruments, learning the recorder in the 4th grade and in 5th grade having the option of playing an instrument in beginning band, or singing in the choir.
Middle school students have the option of taking choir as an elective. Boys’ and girls’ choirs meet separately and then join together for a mass choir once a week. These students perform several times a year and also get the opportunity to perform at the ACSI Musicale.
The after school Violin class is a unique offering to the Gig Harbor/Peninsula area as the only strings class offered through a school setting. The group is in its second year under the direction of Heather De Pree. Lighthouse students in second and third grade learn to play the violin as well as the dynamics of how to perform in a group ensemble. While primarily structured around the Suzuki method, the violinists have also entered into chamber orchestra pieces for the second year students. It is our hope that this group will become Lighthouse’s first chamber orchestra group as it expands and matures.
 Art
The elementary art program for 1st through 3rd grades is taught by volunteers under the direction of our Art Coordinator, Jenny Crocker.
Volunteers use the Spectrum curriculum where students learn the basic elements of art as well as art history. Students take part in grade appropriate projects that challenge them to use many different mediums. From crayons to paint, sculpture, and clay, students are constantly encouraged to problem solve and be creative using both the right and left sides of their brains.
In 4th and 5th grades differential learning plays a part as art is tied to history, science, and Bible. Students are taught by Jody Coulston, a professional artist and teacher where even the most timid artists begin to shine. In middle school, art becomes an elective where students explore ceramics, fused glass, drawing, painting and digital photography. In the classroom, art is used as a wonderful springboard to teach many Biblical principles.
Each year every student who takes art has the opportunity to create their own professionally printed greeting card through the Art Alliance Program. These cards spread the love of Christ throughout our community. These cards are available for purchase to parents and relatives, with proceeds going back into the art program. These funds supplement the art budget, paying for professional artists in the community to come and teach classes throughout the school and enabling the purchase of supplies for our sister school in Liberia.
Back to top |
