Primary School

The Primary School curriculum is designed to meet the academic needs of all students. The curriculum is challenging but also engaging, and it includes a variety of activities that allow students to learn in different ways. Our academic program provides a strong foundation of concepts and skills in the areas of:

Our curriculum takes a student-centered approach, starting with foundational concepts and skills in all subjects. As students' knowledge and reasoning abilities develop, these concepts and skills gradually become more complex. Instruction is differentiated to meet the needs of all students through varied instructional best practice approaches. 

At CNG, students learn English and Spanish, developing strong biliteracy skills. Biliteracy is the ability to read and write proficiently in two languages. It goes beyond simply knowing basic conversational skills in another language; it involves a deeper understanding of grammatical structures, vocabulary, and cultural nuances. Primary School’s biliteracy philosophy is as follows:

The ability to flexibly leverage what is known in one language in order to effectively communicate in a new language through transfer and comparison of language and literacy aspects such as: phonological awareness, phonics, language conventions, semantics, syntax, text structures, morphology, and pragmatics. Furthermore, students learn to draw from their socio-cultural environments to make decisions about the relevance and precision of their intercultural exchanges and expressions in the four modes of communication: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

Taking care of students in Primary School isn't just about lessons and grades. It's also about making sure they feel good and safe. This helps them not only do well in school but also with making friends and handling different situations in life. By taking care of their physical, emotional, and social well-being, students learn to be good citizens, serve others, and respect the environment through personal involvement and experience.

Physical Wellbeing: Making sure students are physically well means helping them stay healthy and active. This includes having good food, exercising, and making sure they get enough rest. When students feel good in their bodies, they're ready to learn and have fun!

Emotional Wellbeing: Emotions are a big part of being a student. It's okay to feel happy, sad, or even a bit worried sometimes. The school cares about how students feel, and teachers and counselors are available to teach them about their emotions and how to handle them. When students understand and manage their feelings, it makes the school day better.

Social Wellbeing: School is a place to make friends and work together. Social wellbeing means feeling connected and having good relationships. Our counselors and teachers do daily social skills and emotional lessons. 

Primary School tackles the work of social justice in a variety of developmentally appropriate ways through picture books, discussion around equity, and through the lens of our four Core Values. Research shows that emotional intelligence is associated with a wide range of positive outcomes among children, including improved cognitive and social functioning, psychological well-being, and higher academic performance. In developing higher emotional intelligence, students are more engaged, behave in more prosocial ways, and learn better. 

In order to support this development, Primary School has a collaborative Student Support Services team comprised of two Associate Principals, three counselors, and our MTSS Coordinator, all who work together to foster the development of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional well-being. 

These individuals work with the community to provide a supportive learning environment, positive social skill development, and emotional balance. We believe in community and family and strive to provide it for our students. At Primary School, it is imperative to have joy in learning.