our school
OVERVIEW

"It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known but to question it."
-Jacob Bronowski (the Ascent of Man)

WHY CHOOSE PARK?

Park Day seeks to inspire a passion for learning through a progressive approach to education that values intellectual pursuit and critical thinking, creative expression, self-discovery and a commitment to social justice.

Parents praise our child-centered approach as much as they applaud our strong curriculum in math, social studies, language arts, Spanish, science and sports. Families love Park's emphasis on the visual and performing arts, which are an exceptionally strong part of our 7-8 program.

Many of our families were drawn to Park because of its embrace of the diversity of culture, customs, and ideas so richly represented in the Bay Area.

Mostly, people choose Park because they share our belief that successful children are measured not simply by their attainment of knowledge, but by the depth of their wisdom.

PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION

Park Day School adheres to a progressive educational philosophy. Over a century of professional practice and research shape the progressive view that each child learns not by passively consuming knowledge, but by actively constructing his or her own understanding of material based on prior knowledge, skills, and experience. In progressive education, the child plays a more active role in his or her own learning, so teachers focus as much on the characteristics of each learner as they do on the academic content itself.

The very youngest children who turn to someone older for conflict resolution, as well as the oldest children in the school who may find themselves in the position of mediator, are learning communication and leadership skills that will last a lifetime. Children leave Park Day School well on their way to being caring, constructive, open-minded members of the adult world.

We want them to be equipped to live in a diverse society and to be comfortable with the ways in which they are alike and different from others; to be able to recognize the biases that exist in society and to develop and articulate their own values. In the non-judgmental environment of the classroom, students are given opportunities to talk about life experiences that are very different from their own.

...more on progressive education

THE ROLE OF PARENTS

Parents play an essential role in our program at Park Day School. They cook in the classroom, drive on field trips, read with individual students, and help with all-school events. Parents' enthusiasm and involvement are invaluable.

We promote dialogue among staff and parents. A parent board, parent education and diversity committees, fundraising events, and school-wide celebrations offer many opportunities for parents to shape our school environment. An active outreach program promotes dialogue with our wider community.

OUR TEACHERS

We have an exceptional teaching staff at Park Day School. Teachers are encouraged to pursue academic interests of their choosing. Faculty attend workshops to hear new ideas and to challenge their own methods of teaching. The search for improvement is ongoing, even by our most seasoned staff members. In addition, we train many student teachers enrolled in graduate programs throughout the Bay Area. Placement counselors and student teacher supervisors view Park Day School as a dynamic and exciting learning environment.

Teaching materials, geared to the various learning styles and levels of our students, are gathered from many sources, oftentimes created by the teachers themselves. Teachers plan an academic curriculum that meets or exceeds state curriculum guidelines. Each grade level covers major units of study. Within these frameworks, teachers have the freedom to explore a particular sub-theme. Ongoing discussion and collaboration among teachers ensure coordination among the different grade levels.

OUR COMMUNITY

We at Park Day School are committed to our neighborhoods and to Oakland. The concept of community reaches beyond the interconnectedness of students within a caring and supportive learning environment to include their families, the larger East Bay community and the world. Students deepen their connection to their communities through participation in meaningful community service both at school and beyond. In each classroom and throughout the school, we discuss and make decisions about the community service projects we will undertake.

A GREEN SCHOOL

{green business logo} Park Day School is proud to be the first school in Oakland, public or private, to be awarded a certificate by the county of Alameda as a green business. To achieve this, the school had to meet a variety of requirements.
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OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Park Day school is to foster the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of its students; to embrace progressive educational theory and practice; and to build a diverse community committed to children.