The Basics

Learning at Sisters Elementary School is a journey that builds year after year. From a child's earliest school experiences through fifth grade, students progressively develop the academic skills, independence, confidence, relationships, and learning habits they need to be successful. Each year builds intentionally on the one before it, while recognizing that children grow and develop at different rates.

Have questions? Please contact Sisters Elementary School for more information or assistance.

Building the Foundation

In Preschool Promise and Kindergarten, the foundation begins with belonging. Students learn classroom routines, build relationships, practice patience and empathy, take turns, communicate with others, and discover what it means to be part of a learning community. Hands-on, collaborative, and engaging experiences help children develop independence alongside important early academic, social-emotional, and physical skills.

In Kindergarten, the beginning of the year places particular emphasis on relationships, routines, and learning how to be a student; as children grow, instruction becomes increasingly differentiated to meet their individual needs.

Growing Confidence & Independence 

In First Grade, students build on those foundations while becoming more confident and responsible learners. They continue learning how to manage themselves, communicate with peers, solve problems, work as a team, set goals, manage emotions, and learn from mistakes. Social-emotional learning is intentionally woven throughout the day, including through GEM (Growing Early Mindsets) and Leader in Me. Positive reinforcement and goal-setting help students recognize that growth comes through effort, responsible choices, perseverance, and sometimes making mistakes along the way.

By Second Grade, students begin using many of the skills introduced in earlier grades with greater ease. Rather than simply acquiring foundational skills, they increasingly apply what they know to more complicated learning. This is an important developmental step: children become more fluent, analytical, and independent while continuing to receive the support and instruction they need when concepts are not yet fully mastered.

Making Connections & Thinking Deeper 

In Third Grade, the pieces begin coming together in new ways. Students are increasingly expected to draw upon what they have already learned, make connections, organize their thinking, and complete work more independently rather than relying on the explicit step-by-step direction common in earlier grades. They begin moving from simply learning information toward analyzing, explaining, questioning, and applying it. Socially, students are also developing a greater understanding of relationships, consequences, communication, and conflict resolution.

During Fourth Grade, learning becomes increasingly integrated, experiential, and connected to the world beyond the classroom. Students take greater responsibility for their learning while strengthening their ability to analyze information, solve problems, collaborate, and communicate their thinking. Experiences such as Oregon history studies, Oregon's First People, Lewis & Clark, Oregon pioneers, the overnight Oregon history field trip, and the Storyline method bring learning together across disciplines and help students see connections between subjects rather than experiencing each one in isolation.

Taking Ownership & Preparing for What's Next

By Fifth Grade, students are drawing upon everything they have developed throughout their elementary years. Assignments and projects require greater planning, organization, perseverance, and independence, while students take increasing ownership of their learning. Fifth grade is also an important period of social and emotional development as friendships deepen, students begin navigating new responsibilities and changes, and the transition to middle school comes into view. Teachers and families play an important role in supporting students as they develop confidence in the individuals and learners they are becoming.

The K-5 Journey 

Across every grade, the progression is intentional: belonging and exploration grow into confidence and foundational skills; foundational skills grow into fluency and application; and application grows into independence, deeper thinking, and ownership of learning.

By the time students leave Sisters Elementary School, our goal is not simply that they are prepared academically for middle school, but that they see themselves as capable learners, thoughtful problem-solvers, responsible community members, and curious young people who are ready for what comes next.