Foothills guides our students along their educational journey by making sure that each child is prepared for the next stage in learning.  Our multi-grade classrooms allow flexibility in making sure that each child experiences a continued perfect placement. Our middle years programs are perfect for children who have sucessfully developed a positive attitude toward learning and are ready to focus on becoming strong learners who master the building blocks of reading, writing, and math while fostering a positive growth mindset.

Learning focus         

In the middle years, school becomes more structured and students have increased ownership in the learning experience and their growth. Social studies and science are taught through hands-on activities. Drama, art, and music are integrated thematically across the curriculum. Students participate in process writing and read a variety of literature. Students transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” in these middle grades. Math skills are developed through practical applications, cooperative learning, manipulatives, and games.

Curriculae        

Because it is our mission to provide an excellent school program in which children are able “To increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man;” we have chosen to use only high-quality curriculae that meet or exceed the NAD Education Standards and common core state standards.

• Religion/Bible: SDA Bible Series, Pacific Press
• Mathematics: Go Math, Houghton Mifflin
• Reading/Phonics: Saxon Phonics Grades 2-3, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Reading/Writing: Pathways, Kendall Hunt Publishers
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears
• Technology: Grades 2-3, Keyboarding without Tears, Grades 4-5, Typing Pal
• Physical Education: Spark Physical Education
• Science: By Design Science, Kendall Hunt Publishers
• Social Studies: Newtworks Social Studies, McGraw-Hill
• Art: ArtsAttack

Hours and daily schedule

The middle grades program runs from 8:15-3:30 Monday-Thursday, and until 12:30 on Friday. Typical schedule: Coming Soon

Field trips

Field trips provide experiential learning that is not ordinarily available in the classroom. Field trips are integrated into the curriculae to support learning objectives. Several field trips include: Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Lawrence Hall of Science, Guide Dogs for the Blind, WeCare Animal Shelter, Ice Skating, Explorit Science Center at UC Davis, Lindsay Wildlife Center, Children's Creativity Museum, and more.

Outdoor education

Middle grades outdoor education takes the form of day trips out into God's nature where students examine different habitats and how people can affect the environment. In years past students have also participated in an overnight field trip to Sacramento's Rockin' Water Christian Camp where students experience gold mining, camp songs around the campfire, christian worship, and character building activities.