Grades: K-5    Students: 287    Buildings: A & C

Schedule: 8:30am -- 3:00pm (12:20pm dismissal on Fridays)

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Nanaimo Christian Elementary School is a Christ-centered community that loves and cares for kids and intentionally celebrates their individual growth in relationships, in faith and in academics. 

 

Our classrooms are cross-graded because we know that not all eight year olds read at a “grade two level.” Instead, we create classroom communities and strive to meet each student where they are at each subject level. Much of our direct teaching is done in small groups in order to give each student the opportunity to be challenged as well as practice independently. This allows us to love each child as they are uniquely created, and celebrate their growth in personalized ways. 

 

Elementary school classrooms are located in Building A (grades K-2) and Building C (grades 3-5). Three playgrounds and atom ball court are just outside these buildings. The campus also includes a large athletic field, covered outdoor classroom gazebo and raised garden beds. Classes often access the adjacent forested play area and short trail to Cathers Lake for learning experiences.

 

Elementary school documents & links

• Elementary student handbook

• School supply lists

• NCS library online search

 

Program highlights

 

Grade 3-5 opera

Each year students in grades 3, 4 and 5 work together to write, design and perform an opera on stage for our community. The entire process promotes team building, problem solving, brainstorming, creativity, and practicing as students create the story, build sets, design costumes and posters, learn musical instruments (and read the notes!), rely on God for strength, and pray for success. The opera is one example of our project-based learning and cross-curricular, cross-graded approach at NCS.

 

Outdoor learning

Outdoor learning experiences are incorporated throughout the elementary school years. Students in grades 1 and 2 have a dedicated time each week to learn outdoors. They love the opportunity to connect their learning in a variety of subject areas to God's creation. In kindergarten, our students spend a concentrated time one day of the week using our forest space and covered gazebo area. ‘Nature Kindergarten’ offers students a chance for unstructured play developing gross and fine motor skills. The program is based on the belief that God has created a natural world through which we can learn and experience His love and holiness. 

 

Daily 5 & literacy cafe

The Daily 5 is a way of structuring the reading block so every student is independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. (1. Read to self. 2. Respond to reading or work on writing. 3. Read to someone. 4. Listen to reading. 5. Word work.) As students rotate through these five activities they also have an opportunity to work in a small group with the teacher on specific reading strategies that will help them become stronger readers. These research-based tasks have a big impact on student reading and writing achievement.

 

Math rotations

Our math program is designed to give students a variety of ways to work through mathematical concepts and applications in a differentiated and hands-on way. Students work at their own unique developmental level to solve problems in a variety of ways through different subjects. They work through these stations: M - Math by myself. A - Activity with a partner. T - Teacher table. H - Hands-on activities. ! - Exciting learning or math journals.

 

Music program

Elementary students have excellent opportunities to develop their gift of music while learning in class with an experienced music teacher. Throughout the year they delight audiences at NCS events with their singing and other musical talents. Read more about our music program.

 

Volunteer opportunities

You can make a difference in the lives of NCS students. Volunteer in the classroom or school. Check here for more info or contact us at tessa.fuiava@ncsnanaimo.com.  

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• Classroom reading -- Read with a group of children or individual students so that they can build fluency by reading aloud. Can also include reading to students as a way to model reading with fluency and expression. 1 hour / any day per week - we always love having more adult readers in the classroom

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• Classroom spelling -- Our students are typically on individualized spelling lists, so it’s helpful having another adult to read out loud a student’s words so that they can complete their weekly spelling test. 1 hour / 1 day per week