Fulfilling the Promise in Students since 1966

An Education Built for 21st Century Learners

sfschool.org

Thank you for taking the time to learn

about and consider The San Francisco

School. One of the oldest independent,

coeducational day schools in San Francisco,

we have strived to fulfill the promise in

students since 1966.

When one enters the front gates of The San Francisco

School, there is a sense of intellectual curiosity, imagination,

playfulness and diversity that is immediately palpable.

Students are engaged, asking questions and sharing their

ideas in the classroom. Music cascades throughout the

courtyard and art decorates every corner of the campus.

Students of all ages are climbing trees, digging in the dirt

and building with their hands. It does not take long to

notice that they love being at school.

WEL

COM

EThe San Francisco School is a supportive and rigorous

academic environment that is committed to developing

the full and unique potential of our students.

Our faculty works tirelessly in challenging students

to try on the perspectives that historians and writers,

mathematicians and linguists, scientists and artists,

and athletes and musicians bring to their disciplines.

Upon graduation, our goal is for all students to know

who they are as learners. Please visit our campus and

spend time on our website, sfschool.org, to further

explore the many possibilities and opportunities that

exist for your child and your family.

sfschool.org

PRESCHOOL to K INDERGARTEN

We Promote Self-Direction and A LifelongLove of Learning

sfschool.org

For more than 45 years The San Francisco

School has provided students from

diverse family backgrounds a safe and

wondrous place to discover themselves

intellectually, physically and socially.

In our Montessori-inspired classrooms, children are

observed by their teachers and learning activities

are introduced to individual students based on their

developmental progress, not based on a cookie-cutter

template for their age.

Our teachers nurture the preschoolers’ hunger to learn

while challenging our kindergartners and ensuring

their readiness for elementary school. The educational

program provides an increasingly rigorous and challenging

intellectual experience that is guided by a spiral method.

Ideas and concepts fundamental to understanding topics

such as algebra and scientific inquiry are introduced to

our preschoolers and then revisited with more depth and

complexity as the children mature. Ultimately, children

are provided with experiences and activities that foster

inquiry, challenge the mind and build personal confidence.

Children work and play in spacious classrooms and

delightful adjoining playgrounds and gardens. Teachers

guide children to learn from the rich array of educational

materials, from each other, and in small groups with an

adult. Children often can choose how and where to work,

with the latitude to freely move about the classroom and

even choose whether to work indoors or outside.

We provide students the freedom to choose and

work at an individual pace. Through an integrated,

multicultural program of early academics, art, music,

movement and play, SFS provides a supportive social

and intellectual environment crucial to the growth,

development and education of the young child—

fundamental experiences that serve as their foundation

for the future.

sfschool.org

MATH

sfschool.org

MATH PERMEATES THE SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL CuLTuRE.

By combining factual

knowledge, procedural

facility, and conceptual

understanding, students

develop a rich foundation

from which they can

develop mathematical

insight and creativity

while also appreciating

the inherent beauty of

mathematics itself.

At The San Francisco School, math is

considered a powerful tool to decipher

the patterns that abound in our world.

From cooking to dancing, hard work to pleasure, life is full

of values we use to describe our physical and social worlds.

Because of this, students learn mathematics not only

in rigorous math classes, but also in classes such as art,

science, music and physical education.

Our teachers believe that all students can learn

challenging math concepts. Our teachers do not simply

impart facts, they are keen observers, sympathetic

listeners and skilled math facilitators who ensure that

each student is challenged. They create a positive

learning environment, conveying confidence in students’

capabilities. Maintaining high academic standards,

they create a mathematics environment where imaginative

thinking is the norm. They strive to find a balance between

conceptual and procedural knowledge. They construct

new ideas by moving from specific examples to general

principles. Students must justify their reasoning by

explaining to the teacher and peers what approaches

they tried, what worked, and what did not. Our students

are active in their learning of math and confident in their

ability to ask questions, tackle problems and explore

ideas. They persevere when tasks are challenging and

are able to explain their thinking in oral or written form

in collaboration with peers.

MuSIC

sfschool.org

Our internationally acclaimed Orff Schulwerk

program starts from this premise—every

child is musical and naturally loves to play,

sing and dance.

Children who enter at three years old bursting with musical

enthusiasm leave at 14 with their confidence intact, now

armed with refined techniques, theoretical understandings

and a repertoire of hundreds of songs, scores of dances and

dozens of pieces mastered on the Orff instruments (specially

designed xylophones played in ensemble). They know how

to work together, to listen, to contribute their ideas, to

improvise, compose and choreograph. Over three decades

of an ongoing program have proven our premise—every child

is indeed musical.

Orff Schulwerk emphasizes a communal approach which

has affirmed another premise—music can transform a school

community. Music is everywhere in the school—the sounds

of Duke Ellington, Mozart or gamelan played on Orff

instruments come spilling out of the music room, staff can be

found humming the songs the chorus sings, and our faculty

open the year with a “singing tunnel” through which the

children pass and then introduce themselves by dancing.

Music is present in every school gathering, bringing color

and life to each event. We have “a song for every occasion.”

The San Francisco School Orff music program is also

impacting music education around the world. Our music

faculty directs the largest Orff training summer course in

North America, held on the school campus and attracting

teachers from over 25 countries.

“Rhythm and harmony penetrate deeply into the mind…if education is good, they impart grace and beauty.“ — Plato

The physical, emotional and academic

growth of first through fifth graders

is a phenomenon like no other. From

young 6-year-olds to pre-adolescents,

the elementary school helps nurture

and guide the students’ ability to learn,

create and discover.

Strong academics with an integrated arts and music

program is the hallmark of our elementary program.

The elementary academic program provides engaging

and comprehensive curricula in reading, writing, science,

mathematics, foreign language, spelling and social studies

appropriate for each grade level. Students gain essential

understandings in each field while kindling their passion

for learning. They do so by honoring their own interests

and talents through special interest projects and activities.

All subjects in the elementary program are united

across grade levels and subject matter by the following

characteristics: hands-on learning, minds-on learning,

student-centered approach, integrated curriculum, infusion

of traditions, building classroom community, field trips,

equity awareness and environmental stewardship.

Our learning atmosphere allows each child to nurture their

passions, excel at academic fundamentals, and be exposed

to a multicultural community through the classroom, arts,

music and language and provides an excellent framework

for future learning and life itself.

FIRST to F IFTH GRADE

These are the outcome of giving students the freedom

to choose and work at an individual pace. Through an

integrated, multicultural program of early academics,

art, music, movement and play, SFS provides a

supportive social and intellectual environment crucial

to the growth, development and education of the

young child – fundamental experiences that serve as

their foundation for the future.

sfschool.org

Our Classrooms Extend Far Beyond Our Walls

sfschool.org

SPANISH

sfschool.org

The San Francisco School Spanish program

exemplifies the school’s commitment to

interdisciplinary learning.

A key goal is to produce life-long learners of Spanish who have

the skills and interest to use the language to enrich their own

lives and, in potential humanitarian efforts, the lives of others.

Research shows that children acquire a second language

more efficiently if exposed to that language as much as

possible before the age of eight. Therefore, Spanish language

instruction begins at age three and progresses through

middle school where multiple levels of Spanish are offered—

novice, intermediate and advanced/fluent.

The program provides a myriad of opportunities for students

to develop listening comprehension, as well as speaking,

reading and writing proficiency. Our goal is to deepen cultural

understanding; and to expand the skills and interest necessary

to continue fruitful studies in Spanish. In addition to direct

instruction, teachers use engaging, contextual activities as a

vehicle to promote learning. The program is committed to

multiculturalism and academic excellence, with an emphasis on

multi-subject collaboration. Spanish can often be heard being

taught in music and other subjects across the curriculum.

Differentiated instruction addresses a variety of learning

styles and levels of proficiency, ranging from novice to

heritage speakers. Re-entry of previously introduced and

learned material maintains long-term memory, as do Spanish

notebooks both at home and in class. Cultural traditions and

values are often the vehicle to stimulate learning and promote

lifelong interest in language development.

ART

sfschool.org

CHILDREN GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY.

They explore with chalk,

paint and clay. They splash

out bold colors. They

hammer out whimsical

sculptures. They weave with

precision as they play their

way into understanding

fundamental art concepts

and techniques. Combining

the fantastic world of their

imagination with increased

control of materials, they

learn to speak art like

a first language.

While children focus on specific

projects in the art room, their art

is everywhere in the school.

They are surrounded by their own creations.

Every discipline has an artistic component and every

day the children show what they know, deepen what

they know and discover what they do not yet know,

through the pleasure of making art. Most importantly

art gives meaning and order to the children’s lives.

The art curriculum is project-based. Students build on

skills and concepts in a refreshing variety of mediums.

In age-appropriate ways, the historical and cultural

context of their studio work is brought into play.

Cultural studies come alive as children make art

inspired by artifacts, techniques and approaches

from those cultures.

Children use thinking and problem solving skills

developed in art class across the curriculum.

For example, building with clay or cardboard provides

a real life, hands-on opportunity to use the principles

of physics. The exploration of patterns in art class

enhances the study of mathematics and music.

Middle school years are a time of

transition: searching out one’s identity

and role in society, defining one’s

personal value system amid the pulls

of the peer group, and developing and

refining one’s academic skills.

The goal of the middle school is to offer a balanced

program that teaches, solidifies and refines academic and

study skills; strengthens critical thinking and problem-

solving abilities; and builds global community as well as

self-awareness and advocacy. SFS middle school students

learn accountability in an atmosphere that continually

asks them to make decisions and to reflect on the wisdom

of their choices. The middle school community meets

weekly to celebrate students’ passions and achievements

and to discuss topics of importance to our community.

The advisory program supports the social and emotional

development of students and offers a structure in which to

practice healthy decision-making. Students are also given

opportunities to become involved in activities that matter

to them through participation in student government

and the service learning program. This includes school

policy-making, school and neighborhood improvement

projects, and social activism.

sfschool.org

SIXTH to E IGHTH GRADE

As students enter adolescence in the SFS middle school

program, the goal is to create a stimulating environment

that is safe and comfortable, while also challenging each

individual to grow intellectually and emotionally. The SFS

middle school program – with its caring network of adults

who understand the particular needs of adolescents—

is specifically designed to nurture and guide students on

their journey to becoming responsible, thoughtful and

actively engaged adults.

A Place toTake Risks

sfschool.org

SCIENCE

sfschool.org

HOW DO I INFLuENCE THE EARTH?

How does the earth

influence who I am?

With SFS’ commitment

to cultivating humanitarian

promise, science is taught

with purpose and ethics

in mind. Science helps

us understand our

world, but it also allows

humankind to control

our impact. The study

of science is also fertile

ground for developing

service learning projects

that meld science and

social action.

The science program at The San Francisco

School is based on the premise that

learning to think and work like a scientist

is the most important curricular goal of

the program.

The big overarching principle for the entire 11 year career

at SFS is a deep understanding of the scientific method.

At the preschool level, the focus is on observation and

questioning. At the lower elementary, the focus moves to

data collection and close observation, and in the upper

elementary onto asking provocative questions, forming

good hypotheses and designing experiments. In middle

school, attention turns to carefully controlling variables,

challenging apparent results and rigorous analysis.

No matter what the topic, from looking at a fish in the

preschool to global warming in middle school, students

are learning to think and act like scientists.

sfschool.org

The San Francisco School humanities

program builds skills and understanding

in the critical areas of reading, writing,

listening and speaking.

While these subjects are seamlessly melded in middle

school, a more focused and direct approach is taken with

these disciplines in preschool and elementary levels.

A student’s literacy journey begins in preschool where he

or she encounters a curriculum full of books, reading aloud

and early literacy activities, and it concludes with a critical

reading of Shakespeare during the eighth grade year.

At every grade level each student is encouraged to read at his

or her individual reading level and is given much instruction

and support to progress to the next level. The focus of the

reading program in the upper elementary grades and in middle

school is on critical thinking and interaction with literature.

Writing is carefully and appropriately linked to reading.

Instruction begins in the preschool years, where students

develop their fine motor skills and are encouraged to discuss

stories they hear. As their critical skills develop, students

learn to evaluate the writing of well-known authors, as well

as their peers.

HuMANITIES

STuDENTS KEEP JOuRNALS, WRITE POEMS, ACT IN PLAYS AND CREATE SHORT STORIES.

At The San Francisco School,

students write critical essays

and learn to edit their own

work. They read widely

and exchange ideas about

books, authors and the world

around them. Through these

and other activities, students

learn and practice their skills

in both reading and writing.

Student athletes unite with their peers and provide

inspiration through their competitive spirit. It is an

experience where diversity meets common ground,

where individuals come together for common purpose.

Together they celebrate victories, together they console

losses, and together they endure with resiliency the

challenges that come their way.

sfschool.org

PHYSICAL EDuCATION & ATHLETICS

The physical education and athletics

program is designed for each student

to experience joy and success while

engaging in physical activity.

The curriculum is based on age and developmentally

appropriate goals and objectives. Additionally, there is an

emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving through

the various individual and group activities.

SFS provides a variety of competitive athletic opportunities,

which allow our students to learn lifelong lessons beyond

the classroom. By participating in our athletics program,

student athletes acquire an appreciation for teamwork,

sportsmanship, physical fitness and wellness. Additionally,

our student athletes develop physically, socially and

mentally to prepare them for their next stages in life.

The School currently offers four interscholastic sports for

our middle school students: Cross Country and Volleyball

(Fall), Basketball (Winter) and Futsal Soccer (Spring).

We also offer intramural and skill-building opportunities

through our Extended Day program. Break dancing and

hip-hop, fencing, golf, chess, flag football and tumbling

are examples of past offerings.

sfschool.org

PHYSICAL EDuCATION & ATHLETICS

We Strive for Collaboration and Teamwork

sfschool.org

PREPARING FOR H IGH SCHOOL

In addition to their rigorous academic

life, SFS eighth graders work through the

demanding high school application process.

The role of the high school placement counselor at The San

Francisco School is to gently guide both students and their

families through the application process by providing timely and

relevant information, as well as individual counseling to help

identify the best fit for each student. The placement process

begins with an informational meeting with students and their

parents/guardians in the spring of seventh grade. In the eighth

grade year families attend additional high school meetings and

also meet individually with the counselor to discuss their child

and the various high school options. Throughout the high school

season, both the students and their families are provided with

necessary information, guidance and support.

Our middle school graduates are consistently accepted into

top independent, parochial and public schools and almost all

are accepted into one of their top choices for high school.

The feedback we receive from both families and the

high schools is that San Francisco School graduates are

well-prepared, confident and excited about learning.

Below is a sample of high schools our graduates

currently attend:

• Andover

• Archbishop Riordan

• The Bay School

• Drew School

• International High School

• Lick-Wilmerding High School

• Lowell High School

• The Menlo School

• Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

• Saint Ignatius College Preparatory

• School of the Arts

• Stuart Hall High School

• University High School

• The Urban School

sfschool.org

300 Gaven Street, San Francisco, Ca 94134 p: 415 239 5065 f: 415 239 4833

sfschool.org facebook.com/thesanfranciscoschool @sfschool

The San Francisco School cultivates and celebrates the intellectual,

imaginative and humanitarian promise of each student in a

community that practices mutual respect, embraces diversity,

and inspires a passion for learning.