Elementary School Education

Wheeling Country Day School’s Elementary program is a unique and premier group of classes that include ages 5-12. During these years, we continue their fundamental education and introduce our students to a variety of experiences that prepares them to thrive as they approach middle school and high school.

Students in elementary school at Wheeling Country Day are ready to work in a more independent way with careful guidance by their teachers.

Reading skills, comprehension, and vocabulary may be taught through novels and literature as well as traditional readers. English, spelling, and writing are integrated into the language arts curriculum. Students make weekly visits to the library to learn skills and take out books for enjoyment and reports. All students have the opportunity to write paragraphs and stories as well as factual reports and projects.

The mathematics curriculum follows a traditional text but is augmented by using manipulatives, games, and computer activities. With the school’s integrated curriculum, the students’ math abilities play a part in other subjects as they create charts and graphs both by hand and on the computer. Math centers in all the classrooms enhance students performance with both remedial and enrichment activities.

Social science is taught in all grades with an emphasis on understanding. Students study current events as well as history and geography as they learn to see the connections between the natural world, past events, and the development of civilizations. Field trips and special reports, including State Reports for third graders, Native American Culture Day for fourth graders, and World Culture Day for fifth graders, round out this curricular area.

Science may be integrated into other subjects or taught on its own, but it is an important part of the students’ school experience. Every science unit includes a hands-on facet. Again, field trips and guest speakers add to the students’ background and understanding. Keeping science journals helps third graders prepare for the more sophisticated requirements of upper elementary science projects. Fourth graders learn the scientific method by completing group science projects in school, guided by their teacher. The fifth graders are more independent in designing and completing their projects, but the teacher still supervises and consults on a regular basis. Because of the natural surroundings, students can study nature right on campus. The school is also in the process of constructing a community garden to provide a living context to the principles of science.

The teachers in the upper elementary department work closely together to help design and implement a flowing curriculum that meets the needs and goals of the students.

It's Possible Here.

Wheeling Country Day School is a safe place to try a new skill that could become a life’s passion, to connect with an adult who will forever believe in you unconditionally, to balance the vulnerability, to lead with the empowerment of being part of a team and something greater than yourself.

Creative & Skill-Based Courses

In addition to the traditional subject areas, students participate in fine arts, physical education, foreign language, and technology classes. An emphasis on the fine arts has been a part of the school since its inception. Biweekly classes in art and music are highlights in the children’s experiences. Daily physical education classes enhance physical development, while the morning intramural program fosters team relationships across grade levels. Children learn to use both the library and the computer as valuable resources for information. 

An Emphasis on Character Development

Character development instruction highlighting respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship complements the academic offerings. Each teacher weaves this special program into the class’s regular curriculum.

Technology & Culture

While being part of the Wheeling Country Day School community, children prepare for an increasingly global, technological society with language and culture classes as well as technology instruction. In addition to studying Spanish and Japanese, students explore the rich cultural heritage represented by the school’s families. Special school-wide and classroom activities throughout the year expand this understanding of the relationship between self and community. At the same time, students receive computer instruction preparing them for the world’s technology and their participation in it.

Clubs & After School Activities

Wheeling Country Day School extends its curriculum by offering students a variety of clubs that they may join. These clubs are scheduled at various times during the school day so that participating in them does not interfere with students’ after school activities.

First Grade

The bedrock of the first grade curriculum is learning how to read. This goal is reached through a predominately phonics-based curriculum which also emphasizes writing. Phonics is taught and applied in a systematic manner. High frequency and sight words are also utilized. Differentiated instruction is used to meet the needs of the students. Big Books, leveled readers, and a classroom library are also utilized to meet the interests of all learners. Science and social studies are integrated through the subjects touched upon in the reading series.

Second Grade

The second grade is based upon a rich variety of themes, integrating learning in several content areas. The children continue to write in journals and expand their writing experiences in other content areas. A special feature of the second grade language arts curriculum is the yearlong poetry study. The children study poetry in many forms and memorize and recite a variety of poems during the year.

Third Grade

 

Language arts, mathematics, and social sciences, coupled with technology, are the basis for this curriculum. The language arts program emphasizes various methods of reading, comprehension, and skill development as well as offering many opportunities to gain experience with all forms of writing. Public speaking, independent reading, use of high-interest literature selections, and writing in a personal journal are a few methods used.

Fourth Grade

Fourth grade marks a clear transition in a student’s academic progress with increased expectations for student responsibility and self-directed learning. The reading component focuses on vocabulary, comprehension, and analysis of character and plot in a broad range of selections including fiction, historical fiction, and non-fiction. Writing continues to be a central part of all learning activities including journals, book reports, and research papers.

Fifth Grade

The fifth grade curriculum emphasizes learning strategies: how to prepare reports, how to outline, and how to organize and prioritize for long-term assignments. Unique themes integrate content areas, and students use the library and computers as resources for both regular topics and special research work. Cooperative group skills become a focus with the students working together on small, short-range projects and on yearlong ventures.

Before & Aftercare Programs

Our before and aftercare programs are designed to help the student and the parent. Drop your students off early or pick them up a bit later and feel comfortable knowing they are safe and still learning.

Tutoring & Multisensory Learning

Edge at Wheeling Country Day School is an on-campus instruction center for students with language-based learning differences. 

Middle School

Wheeling Country Day School offers a Middle School experience like no other. For students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, WCDS will challenge and prepare you for high school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages/grades are offered at WCDS?

Wheeling Country Day School has programs for children ages 2-14. Our We Two program is offered as a once-a-week offering, while our preschool through 8th-grade programs provides full-day options. 

Is Wheeling Country Day School Accredited?

Wheeling Country Day School is fully accredited by the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS).

Do you provide Financial Aid and Scholarships?

Wheeling Country Day School offers Need-Based Flexible Tuition to enroll students who could not otherwise afford to attend. No qualified student should be deterred by financial restraints from applying to Wheeling Country Day School, and families who feel they need assistance are encouraged to apply.

Do you provide Before and After Care programs?

Wheeling Country Day School offers Before School Care for students from 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM. 

After School Care is provided until 5:30 PM. 

Before and After Care are optional add-ons to your monthly tuition. 

Learn More About Before and After Care Programs

Application

Apply Now

Applying online is easy with WCDS. Complete and submit your online application. This application confirms your interest and prompts the school’s consideration of your child. You can download and submit the records release form if your child currently attends kindergarten or above. 

Schedule Your Visit

Schedule Now

The school takes great pride in the fact that the Head of School meets with each family to engage in a mission/philosophy conversation. Admissions Events offer this group opportunity or you can contact the Admissions Office for special arrangements. 

Experience WCDS by coming to the campus for an age-appropriate visit with faculty and peers. 

Diversity Statement

Learn More

WCDS seeks to purposefully build an environment that reflects and honors diversity. We honor the dignity of every human being, and we respect and value differences including but not limited to socioeconomics, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, and family composition. Our community is committed to ongoing dialogue, education, and reflection to develop understanding and inclusion of every member.

Experience WCDS

Schedule a School Tour or Classroom Visit

Observe our curious and engaged students and teachers in their classrooms and throughout our spacious campus with its grass playing field, classroom courtyard, and outdoor amphitheater. Sit in on classes that give great attention to a curriculum that matches the optimum times for learning within a child’s first ten years.

Upcoming Elementary Admission Events

There're no item that match your search criteria. Please try again with different keywords.