Students enter the elementary program ready to learn with a strong understanding of fundamental academic and social aptitudes.

In Grades 1-5 students continue to strengthen and expand their basic skills, often with a focus on particular themes or events. First graders explore the concept of structures with a visit to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Returning to their classroom, they use an array of materials they have collected to design and construct their own structures. In grade 3 students examine the ecological impact of the wreckage of an oil tanker that sunk off the Brittany coast a decade ago. After reading a novel about the event, children make posters and integrate their studies with their knowledge of the water cycle and the effects of oil on water.

By grade 2 children are expected to read and write proficiently in French and English. They end the year with a formal evaluation test given to all students in French schools. This test enables teachers to assess students’ needs and provide the support needed to ensure academic success.

A highlight of the elementary grade is the Grade 5 Spring Trip to France. This follows months of correspondence with students in France, sharing school experiences and cultural traditions. When grade 5 students move on to middle school, they are not only well-prepared academically, but are socially and emotionally ready for this important transition.