Specials
Building Skills, Cultivating Passions
At Wood Acres School, we believe learning goes beyond traditional subjects. Our specials allow our students to explore new skills, engage with diverse cultures, and find out what they love to do. From mastering Spanish and discovering the magic of STEM to giving back to others, they grow into well-rounded individuals ready to make a positive impact.
Spanish Language and Culture
At Wood Acres School, our students start learning Spanish at just two years old. We offer a truly bilingual learning space. By the time they finish 8th grade, they are ready to speak, read, and understand Spanish. Our 8th graders also can take part in our optional trip to Spain in the spring.
Our Spanish program has two parts:
- General Learning: Students learn Spanish as part of their regular lessons. Teachers use Spanish in class so children hear it, speak it, and practice it every day.
- Language and Culture: Students learn about Spanish-speaking countries, their traditions, and how people there live. Our program applies the National Standards for Spanish Learning. In addition to learning how to communicate using Spanish, they learn to compare Spanish and English words, connect Spanish to other school subjects, and use Spanish in real life.
Our teachers use a formal sequential curriculum to help our students become great at speaking Spanish. Our students learn vocabulary and basic grammar to talk about their school, home, clothes, food, and family.
They also learn about Hispanic traditions, celebrations, and geography. They discover how amazing the culture is, with its mix of old and new traditions. They quickly see that Spanish is everywhere—in their homes, schools, neighborhoods, and beyond. Our teachers use Spanish to help our students with early reading and math. They grow up learning two languages naturally! Our families and teachers work together to make this bilingual learning fun and exciting.
Our students in 6th through 8th grade use advanced Spanish workbooks and books to practice reading, writing, and speaking. They start with short stories and nonfiction. By the end, they can read chapter books in Spanish! They also learn about science, history, and other subjects while reading in Spanish.
Our middle school students become “language detectives.” They figure out how Spanish and English are similar and different. With help from their teachers, they learn tips and tricks to study Spanish on their own. As they practice more, speaking and understanding Spanish gets easier. They begin to use the language without even thinking about it.
Academic Excellence
Student Honors
We are proud to take part in several national honors programs. Our 5th and 8th graders can receive the President’s Education Award. This award is from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. To earn it, students must meet academic and conduct standards. Winners receive a certificate, presidential letter, and a pin to show off their outstanding achievement. Every year for the past decade, Wood Acres students have proudly earned this award.
Graduating from our school is also a big honor. Our diplomas are recognized by both private and public high schools as a symbol of academic excellence.
STEM Program
STEM at Wood Acres is so exciting! Our students get to explore, create, and learn by doing hands-on Maker Space projects. A STEM expert leads fun activities where our students work together to solve problems, think creatively, and try out new ideas.
In our STEM lab, our students learn by building, trying new things, and asking questions like real scientists. They work in teams to solve problems, test their ideas, and complete projects. It is all about thinking, learning, and discovering. Attending Wood Acres through 8th grade helps our students learn and grow in a steady, strong way. This is the Wood Acres advantage!
Community Service
