EPCS empowers children with both the knowledge and flexibility to adapt and help shape our ever-changing world.
Critical thinking, communication as well as solid basic academic skills are vital to children's success. I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand. In keeping with that old adage, the charter school seeks to empower children in their construction of knowledge. Key areas of ongoing concentration are parental involvement, basic skills mastery and fluency, critical thinking, and classrooms that are safe for risk taking; which models skills for collaboration, interdependence, democracy, conflict, resolution, negotiation, and mediation.
Respect is the thread that holds the school together; respect for one another, respect for diversity, respect for uniqueness, respect for the materials we use and respect for our work. Children and teachers work in an environment in which they are valued, and they value one another.
Class Size
EPCS educates children in grades Kindergarten through five. There are just 18 children in each class and two classes per grade level. Each class in grades K to 2 has a teacher aid.
This 18:1 student teacher ratio is an important part of our approach, allowing the teacher to spend more time on each student's individual requirements.
Curriculum Summary
EPCS uses a child-centered classroom approach to learning. The EPCS curriculum allows each student to obtain a strong foundation. Our structured classes and an extensive advisory system allow us to offer individual attention to each student as they master a rigorous program. EPCS is committed to educating the whole person, to fostering a deep love of learning, and to preparing our students to contribute to a changing and challenging world.
Report Card And Grading Procedure
Students in grades 1st through 5th will receive a letter grade on their report card for each core subject area (i.e. Reading, Spelling, Math, etc.) that is being assessed. This letter grade represents the student's overall performance for that specific marking period.
Students will receive a grade of E=Excellent, P=Proficient, S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement, U=Unsatisfactory, or (-)=Not assessed at this time for each identified skill area.
Students in Kindergarten do not receive letter grades on their report cards.
Kindergarten students receive the following for effort, work habit, and conduct:
+=Demonstrates mastery of the skill, AM=Almost mastered, still needs practice, (-)=Developing skill, still needs instruction, U=Unsatisfactory, N/A=Not assesed at this time for each identified skill area.
All report cards will be distributed within four making periods.
Grading Scale for grades 1st - 5th
100-97
A+
79-70
C
96-90
A
69-60
D
89-80
B
59-0
F
Honor Roll
Gold Honor Roll - A+ 100-97
Silver Honor Roll - A+, A
Bronze Honor Roll - A+, A, B
Technology
Computer Labs:
We have a Computer Lab comprised of 18 computers, one for every child. The Lab is outfitted with Dell computers with Windows XP as the operating system. Applications installed are Microsoft Office Professional suite; which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. Mavis Beacon typing and Learn to Type Jr. are also used to teach keyboarding. Internet filtering software is installed on each computer together with Norton Internet Security and Norton Anti-Virus.
Computers:
In addition each classroom has 3 computers, making the ratio of children to computers 6 to 1.
Internet:
Every computer in the school is networked for internet access. Internet filtering software is installed on each computer. Parents and teachers can rest assured the children are not accessing any undesirable websites.
Computer Instructions:
All students are taught typing and how to position themselves, how to search and do research on the Internet, and how to use programs in Microsoft.
