Curriculum



Pat-Kam School exceeds the standard of education on all Pre-school/Elementary grade levels in NY and other states in the following subjects: The program encourages students to recognize reading as a fun outlet rather than just an assignment based activity. Reading permeates the entire curriculum in all subjects. o Observation-“Observation is the basis for all Science” by J.Dudley Herron o experimentation o appropriate field trips to the NY Hall of Science, DNA Laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor etc. · **Computer **: The school has a state-of-the-art computer laboratory where students are taught to use computers as a tool to supplement their learning in other academic subjects. · **Spanish **: Students from Pre-K through sixth grade are introduced to Spanish as a second language. This is taught by using a fun-learning approach through songs, games, memorizing, dancing to appropriate Spanish music and engaging in basic conversation. · **Physical Education **: Swimming is an essential component of our physical education program. During the summer months all students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade are required to participate in the American Red Cross Swimming Instruction Program levels 1-6. Additional physical activities include social dancing, track and field, soccer, table tennis, basketball, and other playground activities that promote development of gross motor skills. · **Psychological Development **: Throughout the curriculum, psychological development is fostered by helping students to become self-confident and build their self-esteem. · **Social Development **: Children are encouraged to develop appropriate and positive social skills. To that end, birthday parties in school are encouraged where respective classes would enjoy their birthday parties in the Little Theatre. In addition to the birthday cake and the birthday songs, they will dance to the rhythm of the cha-cha slide, electric slide and other appropriate Spanish dances. · **Character Education **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">: Pat-Kam is a private, non-sectarian school. It has no religious affiliation but it believes in the development of good character. Some of the ways by which this is accomplished are by using Aesop’s fables, children’s version of Greek mythology and appropriate children’s stories from the Bible. We have observed over a period of time that appealing to the conscience of students proves to be a far more effective tool in controlling undesirable and disruptive behavior than punishment. · **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Cultural Enrichment **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">: Field trips play an integral role in the cultural development of students. Some of the places that are frequently visited are as follows: Children's Museum, DNA Laboratory, Walt Whitman Museum, Atlantis Marine World, Vanderbuilt Museum,Westbury Music Fair, Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Green Meadows Farm, Fish Hatchery, Garvie's Point, Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Sanctuary and Safety Town. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Summer Activities · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Reading · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Math · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Science · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Field Trips · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Computer Sessions · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Scrabble Bee · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Spelling Bee · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Spanish Bee · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Plant Science/Gardening · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Swimming & other sports activities · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Social Dancing
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Reading **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">: In keeping with the saying that "Reading is the key to all knowledge" the school promotes an eclectic approach to reading where students are taught to use phonetic and whole language approaches to develop proficiency in the skills of decoding new words and reading comprehension.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Math **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">: Formal Mathematics concepts are taught from the early Pre-Kindergarten grades using a hands-on approach. Children are taught many of these concepts as they play.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">Science **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Adobe Fangsong Std R','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 140%;">: The Science curriculum is designed to enhance students learning and stimulate curiosity by engaging them in hands-on activities which include: