A DAY IN THE LIFE AT LIBERTAS
No day is ever the same at Libertas, but here is a sample of what you’ll find when you enter our doors.
7:35 AM
The day begins
Doors open, and children arrive in their multi-age, multi-ability classrooms:
Primary: age 3-6 (PreK and Kindergarten)
Lower Elementary: age 6-9 (1st through 3rd)
Upper Elementary: age 9-11 (3rd/4th to 5th)
Children enjoy free community breakfast in the classrooms and in our Haynes Hall cafeteria.
8:00-11:00
morning work cycle
Our Montessori classrooms offer freedom and independence within a carefully structured environment.
Montessori-trained lead teachers guide individual students through new lessons, based on student readiness. These lessons range from academics, like letters and sounds, to sensorial works that develop concentration and self-control. In between lessons, teachers observe children to see who needs more help, and who is ready to move on.
Children choose the work they will practice within the lessons the teacher has given them. Students return to works until they have mastered that skill.
Children can work with other students or independently. Children often work at small tables or even mats on the floor. Children quickly learn to respect each others’ works.
Children visit the library and find resources to research topics that interest them.
11:00-11:30
community meeting
Read-aloud and discussion of a wonderful Virtue Study story that brings to life character themes like honesty, self-control, gratitude, hope, friendship, and more.
11:30-12:30
Lunch & recess
Free lunch available for every student.
Weather permitting, every student has free playtime in one of our three exciting playgrounds.
12:30-3:00
afternoon work cycle
1:30
half-day prek dismissal
Students continue independent or group work. In addition, the afternoon work cycle may include the following focus areas:
CORE KNOWLEDGE LANGUAGE ARTS: “Listening and Learning” / Seminar: a grade-level group session led by the teacher to help children learn about the world and develop their communication skills. The group reads aloud, discusses, and writes about a great piece of literature or non-fiction historical or scientific writing.
MATH MEETING: A small group session where the teacher walks students through solving a challenging math problem together.
CLASSROOM JOBS: Children develop responsibility by taking turns doing different tasks. These might include: feeding classroom pets, watering plants, sweeping, preparing snack, cleaning up after meals, and organizing materials. Our students may be stewards of a particular shelf of materials or a student ambassador who might meet guests.
ENRICHMENT: Almost every day, children have a 30-45 minute enrichment class. Depending on the grade level, these include:
MUSIC: All students learn to be “tune-ful, beat-ful, and art-ful” through our music program, which includes learning to sing folk music from across cultures, along with music theory and performance skills.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION / GARDENING: Children prepare soil, plant seeds, harvest vegetables to take home, grow flowers to decorate their classrooms, and even take care of our school chickens and goats.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Our full time PE teacher engages children in exercise and games in our covered outdoor education classroom.
Dismissal for Kindergarten through 5th Grade (and children in our PreK Sibling Extended Day program).
3:00-3:15
dismissal
Fee-based after-school programming. Application required.
