Preparing for the Start of School

The first month of school is always an exciting time at șĂÉ«TV. In preparation, teachers and staff come together for two weeks of collaborative work during summer orientation. We welcome our families back to campus with an engaging student visiting day to help reduce any first-day-of-school jitters and host our annual school traditions such as our spirited Bubbles Ceremony with a fun visit from the șĂÉ«TV Tiger!  As the school days unfold we find that by late September, routines are established, friendships are forming, and classrooms are buzzing with activity and curiosity. 

That sense of activity and curiosity is a key ingredient to student enthusiasm and success at șĂÉ«TV. During orientation, we were treated to visits from both of our founders who reflected ”helping students learn on a deeper level, through hands-on experiences, so they truly comprehend, rather than simply memorizing without understanding, this is invaluable.” 

For us, it isn’t just the typical story about getting back into the rhythm of school—it’s about the unique advantages of children learning in a close-knit K–8 community where teachers love what they do and children are known, supported, and challenged at every stage. 

Kindergarten: Building Confidence from the Start

For our youngest learners (and their parents), the transition into Kindergarten is a big step! In a small school setting, that step feels safe and exciting rather than overwhelming. Thanks in part to our beginning of the year parent-teacher conferences, our teachers are able to take the time to get to know each child—what makes them laugh, what sparks their curiosity, even what might feel new or a little scary. This personal attention gives Kindergartners the confidence to branch out in their new environment, to embrace independence, and begin their educational journey with joy.

Elementary School: Deepening Curiosity and Belonging

As children move through the elementary grades, the benefits of a small school community shine even brighter. Teachers collaborate across grade levels, ensuring that each student is supported as an individual. Small class sizes allow for flexible instruction and differentiation—advanced learners are encouraged to stretch into new challenges while those who need extra support are guided with care. Just as importantly, our students feel a sense of belonging. Class meetings allow students to continue to grow and learn in their knowledge of one another as they explore social-emotional learning goals that help our small classes work smoothly.  Students are working alongside familiar peers and nurtured by trusted teachers, making school a place where they can focus fully on learning and growing. They are getting ready for the next step - three years of middle school with higher expectations and more advanced levels of learning, critical reasoning, organization and planning.

Middle School: Leading with Confidence

By middle school, șĂÉ«TV students are ready for more advanced work and to step into leadership roles. In our K–8 structure, they aren’t overshadowed by older high school students—instead, they set the tone for the school community while being allowed to remain a little younger, a little longer, rather than racing to keep up with older, more mature students. They mentor younger students in cross-age activities, lead projects, and discover their own voices as leaders whether in their classes, on Student Council, and other activities. Academically, they are doing more advanced work learning algebra, conducting science experiments, writing essays, and more.  Trusted teachers encourage students to take risks and attempt new challenges, getting ready for the next step—whether that’s independent high school applications, high school placement testing, or developing the self-advocacy skills that will carry them forward into higher levels of learning after șĂÉ«TV.  So much growth occurs from 6th - 8th grade! Socially and emotionally, they spend three years preparing for all that comes next, not just ready for high school, but ready for life.

A Community that Grows Together

Every Fall at the start of a new school year it is a time of renewal and a time to focus again on the path ahead.  From Kindergarten to 8th grade, our students grow up in a supportive environment where they are seen as whole people—learners, friends, leaders, and future citizens, supported by caring teachers and loving parents. This is the unique promise of a small K–8 school: continuity, connection, and a community that celebrates every milestone along the way.

We’re off to a great start!  Here’s to another year of growth, discovery, and confidence—for every child, at every stage.

Learning is fun!  This is not a new idea.  At șĂÉ«TV we emphasize to students that learning CAN be fun and we find ways to model this belief, leading by example. We know that the more we can engage students, the more interested they will be in learning, exploring new approaches, grasping new concepts, and experiencing joy in learning. As an example, there is a lot of creativity that can be brought out in math class. Individual students in grades K - 8 may approach math in many ways, using different math strategies, but also sharing ideas, using manipulatives, journaling, and using creativity, color and art in math.  We adopt a growth mindset in all of our classes at șĂÉ«TV, encouraging students to see learning as risking uncertainty and making mistakes when trying new skills, thus leading to the goal of reaching new heights in learning. In small classes with trusted teachers, students feel safe to do just that.

Recently middle school math teacher, Mr. Mecham, established a new holiday at șĂÉ«TV, just for math.  That holiday is GEMDAS Day. Happy GEMDAS Day!

The short history of GEMDAS Day at șĂÉ«TV: In middle school, for two weeks at the beginning of the year, in the “preseason” of math class, students begin by reviewing the math textbook for the year to come, trying out math problems in each of the units.  Through this exercise they discover that even though the new year of math is just beginning, there are many skills that are already familiar.  During this path of discovery they see they will be able to leverage math skills they already know in their approach to the new year, “stacking” their skills, which can help learning a new year of math seem less daunting. At the conclusion of this review, GEMDAS is a day to celebrate the end of this preseason of math, reflect on math of years past, and look forward to the new math skills they will soon develop.   Each student received the gift of a “łÒ·ĄČŃ¶ÙŽĄł§â€ paper lantern, to be illuminated by the light of math knowledge to come.  The holiday was celebrated as many holidays are, by the distribution and unwrapping of gifts and treats: math textbooks and Smarties candies!

Some may think GEMDAS is a newly made up word - but it is not!  Think back to your days as a young math student and you may recall the order of operations and “łÒ·ĄČŃ¶ÙŽĄł§â€ which is a learning aid for remembering the order of operations in math:  Grouping; Exponents; Multiplication/Division; Addition/Subtraction. While this is not new, it IS kind of a fun way to remember.

Mr. Mecham noted: “Most simply, math textbooks were distributed to the middle school students which is a relatively mundane task, but I wanted to make it fun!  GEMDAS is a holiday with some seemingly silly ways to celebrate math, but sometimes being a little silly allows us to relax and laugh without the anxiety or trauma that some may have experienced while learning math in the past.  Math can be hard, at times, for most students.  Students may struggle sometimes, but that is a good thing because that is when growth can occur, so long as it is a productive struggle (i.e. growth mindset).  We have to remember that math can be fun, and we can be silly, so that we don’t start experiencing frustrating struggle and believing that math hates us (and conversely, that we hate math).  As the song says “Mathematics loves you!”  And, one day, you may love it back!” (note: you can see the song lyrics below
)

At the heart of it, this creative activity made the relatively mundane task of distributing math textbooks fun and helped to lighten the mood.  Getting a big new textbook may seem daunting and bring on feelings of trepidation or anxiety, especially to students who feel math is not their strength.  Having these feelings about math or about any subject can make it more difficult to approach the year and feel like they will be pushing uphill the entire way.  Starting off with the preseason of math shows students that there is much they already know and this gives them the building blocks to learn more and helps get them started on the right foot in the new year.  A confident student approaches their work much differently than an anxious student. What better way to start than to show each one they have the building blocks to approach the year with confidence!

Curious to learn more about how we encourage all students to approach learning with confidence and joy and learn to be their best selves in school? Request info or a tour HERE or send an email to info@tcps.org or admissions@tcps.org or give us a call at (858) 576-2120. Happy GEMDAS Day!

INFO/TOUR Request

***

For the curious: here is more about GEMDAS Day at șĂÉ«TV:

GEMDAS is a day to celebrate the end of the preseason of math.  GEMDAS is a time to reflect on all the math that we have learned in the past and to look forward to learning new concepts and developing new skills.  The GEMDAS lanterns students receive are illuminated by the light of math knowledge to honor the lessons of the past.  The anticipation of what we will learn builds through the preseason and culminates in the opening of the wrapped gifts (this year’s textbooks) left by Euclid the Elephant.  Known for his ability to remember mathematical formulas, Euclid the Elephant sprays magic fairy dust on the gifts to help students to remember all that they will learn from those textbook gifts.   Before opening the GEMDAS gifts, students wish each other a joyful GEMDAS and then sing some carols like these:  

(to the tune of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”) 
On the first day of GEMDAS, Euclid gave to me the y- and x- axes. 
On the second day of GEMDAS, Euclid gave to me two parabolas and the y- and x-axes. 
On the third day of GEMDAS, Euclid gave to me
 

(to the tune of “Happy Birthday”) 
Joyful GEMDAS to you! 
Joyful GEMDAS to you! 
Joyful GEMDAS to everyone! 
Mathematics loves you! 

**No holiday is complete without tasty treats, and the GEMDAS tradition is to eat Smarties as a symbol of filling our minds and our hearts with the joy of math!

HAPPY GEMDAS DAY TO YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS!