A unique and formative experience
Sequoyah's K-8 Program
One word often used to describe Sequoyah is joyful. We are a vibrant community that strives to build belonging while providing opportunities for children to grow into mindful, active citizens, from kindergarten and beyond.
Learn about the many aspects that make a Sequoyah K-8 education: from mixed-age classrooms to teaching specialists, from camping to conflict resolution, each student actively experiences their Sequoyah School education in very distinct, personal ways.
Encouraging a student’s motivation to learn is at the heart of Sequoyah’s teaching.
Deeper Learning
Deeper learning structures grade-level skill development in a meaningful context, blending foundational knowledge with real-world inquiry. This reciprocal process fuels curiosity and inspires further learning. Sequoyah students are encouraged to be creative, idealistic, and practical, both in class and within the community. Project-based learning emphasizes critical thinking, connection-making, and content application.
Critical Thinking
Hands-on, project-based learning fosters critical thinking, connection-making, and practical application of content. By tackling real-world problems, students practice essential skills: forming questions, gathering and evaluating information, developing and testing solutions, and reflecting on their learning to build future strategies.
Social-Emotional Learning
At Sequoyah, children are valued for their individuality in a diverse, supportive community. Teachers view each learner’s unique experiences, motivations, and interests as assets. In this nurturing environment, students build social-emotional skills, self-confidence, and a positive approach to learning.
"We are committed to getting our hands dirty—whether building new gardens, experimenting in labs, cooking in the kitchen, or working in the field. We celebrate diverse and unique perspectives, encouraging each other to think differently. We engage with complexity, listen actively, and care deeply about our world, taking action in even the smallest ways.
"As Sequoyahns, we embody a multitude of roles—scientists, artists, comedians, athletes, questioners, rebels, huggers, writers, musicians, dreamers, and more—creating a vibrant tapestry of creativity and collaboration."
Learn More Today
We’re excited about your interest in Sequoyah School! Visit our Admissions page to learn about open houses, information sessions, and application requirements.
Curriculum
Sequoyah follows a progressive educational model. There are some key components: student agency and ownership drive their work. Studies are child-centered with opportunities for their interests and curiosities to drive deeper thinking and studies.
Guiding Principles
Hands-on experiential learning integrates multiple subjects to deepen understanding and highlight interdisciplinary connections. Student interests, community issues, current events, and real-world learning expand critical thinking and community engagement from kindergarten onward, growing in complexity over time.
Core Programs
Sequoyah’s curriculum emphasizes concept understanding and skill mastery. All students are valued as writers, readers, mathematicians, and scientists with important stories and ideas. Our integrated curriculum introduces academic disciplines in meaningful contexts, allowing time for exploration, investigation, and discovery. Each study area includes core knowledge and concepts, with students demonstrating mastery through real-world problem-solving.
Teaching Specialists
Lead and associate teachers are supported by teaching specialists in Spanish, science, library and research, health and wellness, field studies, visual arts, music, theater, and physical education. Each specialist focuses their expertise on experiential learning in their subject area for each grade level.
Extracurriculars
Athletics
Enrichment
Sequoyah’s After-School Enrichment program provides students with focused, small-group opportunities to follow their interests and build their skills in areas beyond those studied during the school day. It’s an exciting program with a variety of subjects offered by a variety of instructors – from Sequoyah teachers and parents to local community members – all passionate about working with kids. Classes have included chess, woodworking, music, yoga, movie-making, and debate. Because many of these classes are open to a range of ages, students get the opportunity to engage with students from other classrooms in a directed learning environment, allowing them to lead and collaborate, demonstrate and learn, expand their learning circles, and make new friends. Classes are offered in three 8- to 10-week sessions through the school year.
Daycare
The Daycare program for elementary and junior high students is designed to be a school-based home-away-from-home – a place for kids to explore their interests, expand their social connections, deepen their creative play, continue their schoolwork, or just have a quiet moment alone after the school day ends. Tasty, healthy snacks are provided twice during the afternoon – a light snack, often a fruit or vegetable, and a warm substantial option for students staying until 5:30 p.m. With a multitalented staff and a rich environment filled with resources, Daycare has always been a program that students request to be a part of, regardless of need. It’s like a big, fun playdate!
Daycare Hours
- Mornings: 7:45 a.m. until class time
- Afternoons: Monday – Thursday: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Friday: 3:15 to 5:30 p.m.
Conflict Resolution
Nurturing our students’ social and emotional growth by acknowledging and actively resolving interpersonal conflicts is a fundamental part of our program. Conflict can be an opportunity for students to develop healthy communication skills.
Community Building
Sequoyah students find meaning in programs that demonstrate their ownership of campus life and their care for the community. Stewardship is a program whose purpose is to give back to the community in a variety of ways – hot lunch clean-up, composting, reading to younger students, creating and executing events for the school. While we encourage stewardship on a daily basis from all students, we also have a designated time to demonstrate its importance and foster its development.
Mixed-Aged Classrooms
Our K-8 classrooms are mixed-age to facilitate academic, social and emotional learning. Grouping students in mixed-age classes supports social, emotional and academic growth by increasing social opportunities over the years and encouraging students to share learning with each other.
Meet our Faculty!
We are expert designers of hands-on, project-based learning that emphasizes critical thinking, making connections, and applying content knowledge.
