Crane School

Programs: Endowmentcranes permanently restricted endowment supports five different funds: general support, educational enhancement, faculty support and enrichment, tuition assistance and scholarships, and facilities. Grants and other assistance:grant funds are given in the form of tuition assistance, a need-based program. Crane allots approximately 15% of tuition revenues for that purpose. Parents apply annually using the pfs (parents financial statement) through nais (national association of independent schools), which in turn provides crane with a recommended grant amount. We also require a copy of the parents most recent tax return. In addition to need, students must maintain a standard of academic excellence to be eligible for tuition assistance and their progress is monitored throughout the year. Programs:the crane philosophy embraces a holistic approach to learning that balances academic skills, innovative technology, a healthy lifestyle, the arts and the natural world. Within that context, the school has a robust service learning program with lower school classes providing help for local nonprofits such as transition house, storyteller, and the food bank. In the upper school, service learning is a weekly class which empowers the students to find what they are passionate about, conduct research about a non-profit that addresses that passion and make a pitch to their classmates for support examples of past projects include raising funds to construct a water well in africa, caring for the homeless, and taking care of local animals. The culture and daily routines of the school reinforce the value of authentic relationships, personal responsibility, and responsibility for the world around us through the all-school morning assembly, intra-grade projects, and the integration of nature into our classrooms with both indoor and outdoor learning spaces. In addition to using solar energy, recycling, and using our own well water for landscaping, the composting program supports our campus gardens which in turn supply our organic salad bar lunches. Engaging students to embrace a more global perspective is a fundamental part of the learning programs we conduct during multi-day excursions to other countries and unique settings within california. Trips have included such destinations as peru, catalina island, boston, and the san bernardino mountains as well as local museums, gardens and coastal habitats. High level achievement is encouraged with an educator in residence, learning specialist, technology supports, a full-scope library, after-school discoveries, spanish starting in our early grades, and the regular study of music. As our graduates transition to high school and beyond, they typically receive advanced placement in core academic subjects and their well-rounded experience is often commented upon because of their poise in public speaking, inner confidence, and demonstrated leadership skills. Crane country day school provides its services through these three program areas: academics: (80%)the joy in learning is a fundamental characteristic of the crane philosophy. Students are exposed to a challenging curriculum taught in an experiential and fun way. All academic subjects, including language arts, mathematics, science, history, geography and spanish, are taught beginning in our early grades. Our math program follows the singapore method and our science program is intimately involved in the stem (science, technology, engineering and math) approach promoted by the national science teachers association. Follow-up data is collected from high school students to ensure that our students are successful and thriving in the next tier of education. Performing and visual arts: (15%)crane also believes that it is important to educate and nurture the whole child. This belief is reflected in our dedication to the arts music, art, and drama are weekly subjects that are part of the overall curriculum for all students, kindergarten through 8th grade. In studio art, the students are exposed to a wealth of different media; music includes vocal as well as limited instrumental exposure; and drama gives students a variety of public speaking experiences from making public all-school assembly announcements to performing in full-scale productions. Crane also boasts two xylophone ensembles, mallet masters and vibes. Physical education and athletics: (5%)leading a healthy lifestyle is an important lesson for us all to adopt as early in life as possible. With that in mind, not only do all students participate in outdoor learning and healthy food, they also have physical education classes throughout the week. Beyond the standard physical education curriculum, approximately 85% of all upper school students participate in at least one after-school team sports activity such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, or surf club. Our athletics and coaching staff are all educators first and strive to instill a love of sports as well as good sportsmanship and athletic prowess in our students.