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GROWING INQUISITIVEMINDS

At St. Benedict’s Episcopal School, we plant the seeds for critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Importance of Preschool - 8thOur Preschool - 8th grade model allows students to learn at an age-appropriate level. It’s how we have created an environment where children can be children.We nurture growth so that our students become confident, courageous, and compassionate leaders. Older students serve as role models for our younger students through the Bee Buddies program, which fosters significant relationships across grade levels. Bee Buddies meet monthly to engage in collaborative activities that promote an inclusive community.St. Benedict’s promotes intellectual curiosity and cultivates lifelong learners.

Openness and inclusion have always been part of the Episcopal tradition. We believe that spiritual growth is a natural part of learning and that an Episcopal education encourages children to be inspired learners and, more importantly, good human beings.Being mindful of the inclusivity of our students’ cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds, we oer weekly worship services in the Episcopal morning prayer tradition.Episcopal at heart, open to all.

Preschool and Pre-KSt. Benedict’s welcomes the youngest of our students into an environment rich in play and imagination that sets the stage for further educational development. Our students enjoy time together in the classroom and on the playground.Preschool: Infant to Age 2At St. Benedict’s, we understand that there is no greater decision that you will make than who will care for your child. Our Infant to Age 2 Preschool Program is an extension of the home and we ensure caring, loving teachers who are highly knowledgeable in child development. Our teachers nurture relationships with children and partner with parents to form a bond of familiarity and trust. We provide a loving and developmentally appropriate learning environment.We believe in the sanctity of childhood, and we believe in the value of play. When you visit one of our classrooms, you may see, at first glance, blocks strewn across the floor, paint-smeared hands, a drum circle, laughter, singing - if you look closely you will see children engaged in learning through experiential activities in a safe environment where they are cared for, nurtured, and respected. The classroom is full of movement and sound. Through play, children are learning about themselves, each other, and their environment. Through play, children are making meaning out of their world. We allow flexibility in our daily plans to meet the interests of the children. Our teachers structure the environment but not the processes of play itself. We strive to create a framework of love and acceptance that will set the stage for discovery and growth and build a firm foundation for later learning.Preschool ThreesThe Three-Year-Old program at St. Benedict’s is play-based because we believe play is the most important work of a child. Play builds a strong foundation for learning and bolsters a child’s imagination, builds vocabulary, and enhances social skills. Our program focuses on all aspects of a child’s development: cognitive, emotional, social, physical, creative, and imaginative. Children explore and engage in imaginative play through block building, puzzles, role-playing, water play, music, movement, art, songs, and stories. An introduction to phonemic awareness is the foundational building block to literacy. We focus on a positive sense of self-worth as children begin to socialize through sharing, taking turns, listening, talking, and comparing ideas. Because we learn about the world through the use of our senses, the indoor and outdoor classroom environment provides activities to stimulate the senses. We work on gross motor skills that include running, skipping, sliding, climbing, pushing, and pulling. Stringing beads, filling containers, painting, and stacking are just a few of the fine motor skills that children further develop in our Three-Year-Old program. Ultimately, your child will be a valued member of a safe, loving, and nurturing classroom that engages in active play and discovery.An introduction to phonemic awareness is the foundational building block to literacy. Pre-Kindergarten Children continue to learn through play in the Pre-Kindergarten program at St. Benedict’s because we know that play encourages communication, builds relationships, and enhances cognitive development. We are committed to fostering an active learning environment where students take creative risks, feed their curiosity, and learn to express themselves. Our Pre-K students wonder, question, role-play, work as a team, experiment, investigate, laugh, and have fun every single day. As we prepare our Pre-K students for Kindergarten, students engage in developmentally appropriate experiences that support each child’s individuality and academic, social, emotional, and physical development. Our Kindergarten readiness curriculum emphasizes growth in language and literacy through the implementation of phonemic awareness, phonics, and pre-reading skills. We use Happily Ever After, the introductory literacy series to the Super Kids curriculum used in Kindergarten and First Grade. Handwriting without Tears introduces pre-writing and handwriting skills to our Pre-K students. Additionally, our Pre-K students are scientists, mathematicians, artists, and architects. They solve problems, think deeply, use their imagination, and develop interpersonal skills—all without realizing how much they’re learning. Pre-K students have Spanish, music, and chapel on a weekly basis.

Lower SchoolIn Lower School, we are committed to knowing, understanding, and celebrating every child. We understand the importance of providing an inclusive, nurturing, learning environment during the most formative time in a child’s life. As a result, we give special attention to the academic, social, and emotional needs of children. Our responsive classrooms set a positive tone for learning, create opportunities for autonomy, and engage students in building relationships essential for growing a community of joyful learners.Students are encouraged to tap into their innate curiosity for exploring their world through discovery and active learning. We are growing critical thinkers, problem solvers, collaborators, and innovators. Our learning outcomes exceed national standards, and our curriculum is developmentally appropriate and engaging. Classroom instruction is complemented by weekly participation in art, music, drama, library, chapel, sacred stories, and physical education.Focusing on mastery of skills rather than just memorization of facts, St. B’s students are provided time to think, discuss, process, and apply their knowledge. Supporting students along their journey from dependent to independent learners is a team eort. Our teachers and learning specialists meet children at their academic levels of readiness and guide them daily in phonics, reading, writing, Spanish, math, science, and social studies. Because our teachers balance systematic instruction and the application of skills and knowledge, students deepen their understanding of each unit of study. We incorporate multi-dimensional instructional strategies to foster the academic growth of our diverse learners. The supportive classroom environment promotes ethical, social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth in every student.Academic excellence is a hallmark of Episcopal schools.

Middle SchoolMiddle School is a time of spectacular growth and change. At St. Benedict’s, we design our Middle School around the characteristics and needs of our students. Our faculty respect adolescents’ emerging identities and changing interests, and they work as a team to support our students as they navigate new experiences. We guide our students to make good choices, take on more responsibility, persevere, and embrace their journey. Our academic program immerses students in coursework that inspires them to think critically, problem solve, and collaborate as global citizens. Academic disciplines in the Middle School are organized by both department and grade level. Our innovative curriculum exceeds state and national standards and prioritizes mastery of skills. By the time students leave Middle School, they are expected to not only have mastered the learning outcomes identified in each academic discipline, but also be confident and capable students in time management, organization, note-taking, and study skills. By modeling empathy and cultivating life skills, we encourage our students to be good citizens, engaged in the world around them and mindful of the experiences and needs of others. Our Middle School environment fosters creativity, resilience, and self-ecacy.St. Benedict’s graduates scholars who are confident, courageous, and compassionate leaders, respectful of diversity, grounded in faith and ready to excel in the high school of their choice. The Advisory Program supports healthy, inclusive communication and relationship building.

Beyond St. Benedict’sWhere do our students go – and grow – from here? To many preeminent independent, public, Magnet schools, and IB programs. By the time our students graduate, they are confident, accomplished learners who are prepared for success in high school and beyond. They’re also typically ahead in Spanish language learning, thanks to Spanish being part of our core curriculum that begins as early as preschool.It is always bittersweet to watch our eighth-graders graduate, but we do our best to work closely with families on that decision, including bringing representatives of area schools to campus to meet with our students and parents. Wherever our students go, we know they will continue to grow into confident, courageous, compassionate leaders, respectful of diversity and grounded in faith.“The smaller setting at St. B’s gave me valuable one-on-one time with teachers. That time allowed me to grow as a person and become who I am.-St. B’s Alumnus

Nurturing every aspect of every childAn immersive approach to learning Spanish helps develop a love of the Spanish language and culture. Taught by native-speaking individuals, the Spanish curriculum is a core class at every grade level. Through songs, stories, and interactive lessons, students build a strong vocabulary foundation that allows them to understand key commands and phrases. Through conversation, literature, and grammar, students begin to read and write in Spanish and fine tune those skills in middle school. Because of the emphasis placed on Spanish in Preschool-8th grade, our graduates typically enter high school Spanish as second-or-third year students. GROWING GLOBAL CITIZENS

Athletics: Growing strong, active, healthy bodies. School-run athletic programs at St. Benedict’s include basketball, golf, swimming, and cross country, and our Youth Passing League. Students learn about self-discipline and good sportsmanship – all while having lots of fun. Karate, cheerleading, yoga, and other activities are also oered throughout the year through our clubs and summer camps.Fine Arts are everywhere. St. Benedict’s visual arts celebrates individuality and fosters self-expression and creativity. Students work with a variety of media including drawing, painting, printmaking, and ceramics. Each year, students build on their knowledge and understanding of the creative process. Student artists have several opportunities to showcase their work throughout the year.

Fostering community and active learningEnrichmentWhether in yoga, art, chess, or other activities, St. B’s students enthusiastically explore shared interests through our clubs and organizations. In Robotics and Coding Club, students design and build robots and learn how to write code using the basics of computational thinking.Parent InvolvementWe believe education is a collaborative eort. Our teachers support students’ development outside of school as well, and they often attend performances and athletic events. Equally important is the contribution of our many dedicated parents. Our very active and involved Parent Association hosts events such as Trunk-or-Treat, the Sweetheart Dance, book fairs, and parent socials. They volunteer throughout the school and serve as mystery readers, helping the teachers with classroom supplies and displays, and coordinating special events for the students. The best aspect about a neighborhood school is getting to know our community. Smyrna is a vibrant, diverse town and an ideal environment for developing good citizenship skills. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we celebrate service by bringing our students and their families together for hands-on activities that include making toys for the local animal shelter and placemats for Meals on Wheels.Before & After CareAs a community school, we can be counted on to care for the children of our families. Our Passport Program includes before- and after-school care for Preschool through 8th grade students, as well as enrichment clubs, special events, and summer camps. Students in the Passport Program can arrive on campus as early as 7:00 a.m. and stay as late as 6:00 p.m. We provide snacks, supervised playground time, help with homework, and lots of fun activities. Passport also oers care for students on no-school days, including parent/teacher conference days.

Curious, confident, and ready to excel.That is the goal for all of our students. We achieve this through a deep commitment to individualized attention and knowing and caring for every child. We also focus on how children learn, not just what they learn. All St. Benedict’s teachers undergo ongoing professional development, including being trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach.Your child has so many gifts. We will help her/him grow into them.

Come grow with us.For more information or to plan your visit, call 678.279.4300 or email Anne Shamanski, Assistant Head of School and Director of Admissions at a.shamanski@stbs.orgFollow us on Facebook and Instagram2160 Cooper Lake Rd | Smyrna, GA | 30080 | stbs.orgSt. Benedict’s Episcopal School is a school of choice for Preschool through 8th grade families focused on inspiring learning, nurturing growth, and embracing the values of Episcopal education.Inclusive and DiverseCommunityCollaborativeLearningEnvironmentLove, Faith and RespectAcademicExcellence