CPS Academics
As Academic Dean, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to our school and invite you to get to know our academic offerings. Commonwealth – Parkville School is a college preparatory institution as reflected in our Mission Statement. CPS students are exposed to an ample variety of experiences that lead to university entry, both stateside and within Puerto Rico.
Students take required academic courses, as well as enrichment ones that include among others art, dance, music, and computer. In addition, they prepare well for the Stanford Achievement Tests, the Scholastic Assessments Tests given in English, and the College Board exams given in Spanish. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are an important component of our educational offerings.
CPS students at all levels have numerous opportunities to join clubs including sports and national organizations that develop teamwork and leadership. We urge all students and their families to get involved!
I encourage you to take full advantage of the following information. Once again, welcome to CPS “where learning stretches imagination”.
Mari Tere del Valle,
Academic Dean
Commonwealth - Parkville School
mdelvalle@cpspr.org
Curriculum Overview
Parkville Campus
Lower & Upper Elementary, Horizons Program
Subject Areas:
- English, Spanish, Math, Social Studies, Science
- Fine Arts: Dance, Music, Visual Arts, Drama
- Physical Education
- Educational Technology Program
- Character Education Program
- Early Childhood Development Program
Commonwealth Campus
Middle & High School, Horizons Program
Subject Areas:
- English, Spanish, Math, History, Science
- Community Service Program
- Ethics
- Fine Arts: Visual Arts, Music, Drama
- Health
- Quest
- Physical Education
- Computer Application
- Enrichment Courses
Electives CHS
Courses listed are subject to change from year to year.
Humanities Fine & Performing Arts
Journalism Art History
Songs as Poetry Art Appreciation
Mythology Art Workshop
Fairy Tales Drawing
Creative Writing Painting
Yearbook Sculpture
Sociology Jewelry
Psychology Printmaking
African-American Studies Mosaic
Cine Stained Glass
Latin American Short Stories Ceramic
Music
Science & Math Advanced Music
Robotics Audition
Monologues
Environmental Science Music Theory
Forensic Science Music History
Anatomy and Physiology Band
AP Biology Drama
Marine Biology Play Production
College Prep Math Stagecraft
Adv. Algebra & Trigonometry History of the American Musical
Pre- Calculus & Calculus Dramatic Performance
Business Math
Math in Science
Lower Elementary School Philosophy
The Curriculum Guide will respond to the Commonwealth-Parkville School system, specially the Parkville Campus Early Childhood Program, following the school’s mission of providing a “high quality curriculum in English, with a strong program in Spanish that will allow students to develop intellectually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically, within a diverse cultural context….”
The Early Childhood Program’s philosophy establishes that young children in the EDP – Kinder level are active learners in constant interaction with the physical and social environment. Their inquisitive and curious nature drives them to explore and experiment with the objects and people around them. Young children are social beings, learning to work cooperatively, beginning to show concern for others’ feelings, and discovering their place and role in their community. The program integrates the use of formal instruction, immergence of literacy, phonemic awareness, and play activities. These allow children to gain mastery of basic concepts in all subject areas. Thematic units are used at the EDP and Pre-Kinder levels. The Language Arts program in Kindergarten integrates the different subject areas through specific themes.
Play becomes an important vehicle of learning in this area. Its voluntary nature offers freedom of action, promoting the development of their imagination. It also provides elements of adventure and a base for language learning, with unique opportunities for the mastery of the physical self. Furthermore, it allows for the expression of their feelings toward themselves and others, as they explore the world within a safe environment.
As children grow and enter our Lower School Program they have been exposed to a variety of concrete experiences with their environment and have internalized this process in a way that enables them to start working at a more abstract level, while at the same time, experimenting and interacting with their physical and social environment. At this level, they have defined Language Arts, math, science, social studies, Spanish, and elective courses.
Lower Elementary School children are engaged in cooperative learning, class and individual projects, oral presentations, problem-solving experiences, as well as a language program enables them to learn and master skills through a literature based program.
Upper Elementary School Philosophy
The Upper Elementary school is composed of students in grades 3rd- 6th and ranging in ages from 8 -12 years old. Our philosophy is to educate the “whole” child by offering a rigorous academic curriculum in addition to a wide variety of non- academic courses. The non - academic courses offered are art, music, physical education.
The 3/4 ESL Program has been designed for those students who lack proficiency in the English language due to different factors. The main goals of this special group are to develop the student’s communicative and linguistic competencies in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Special attention will be focused on developing vocabulary through form and pronunciation, to promote a basic understanding of the English language. The teacher will use a variety of methods, techniques, and materials to achieve the objectives.
Middle School Philosophy
Grades 7 ~ 8
With the integration of seventh and eighth grades to Commonwealth Campus in academic year
2002-2003, the middle school curriculum along with the learning experiences has proven to be an asset towards the academic, social, and emotional development of these students.
The continuous offerings of professional development workshops related to attending the particular needs of the middle school students provides the faculty with the necessary tools and updated information which will help them better assess these students’ learning needs along with their social and emotional development.
Students are encouraged to indulge in leadership positions and they participate in parallel activities similar to those of the students attending high school.
High School Philosophy
Grades 9 ~ 12
Commonwealth High School is an educational institution with an enriched curriculum that is highly innovative and under constant review and analysis. As an English-speaking language school, it provides students with a challenging learning environment established on the philosophical grounds of forming a well-rounded student. In addition, it offers a solid education in the Spanish language, which gives the students the competitive advantage of mastering both languages at once, which eventually places alumni in the higher edge of the professional markets. The school has a strong college placement program that places alumni in the most prestigious universities in Puerto Rico, United States, and abroad.
In addition, CHS counts with a competitive sports program which is constantly developing and reinforcing athletes in terms of foundations and physical conditioning. The school is a member of the Puerto Rico High School Athletic Association (P.R.H.S.A.A.) and participates in volleyball, soccer, indoor soccer, basketball, baseball, track and field, and cross-country. Our students lay for the Comets football team, which for many years has had a reputation of being among the top teams in the Puerto Rico High School Football League.
- Students are encouraged to develop leadership skills either through participation in clubs, students organizations or extra-curricular activities. The school has taken the initiative of adding community service project hours as a graduation requirement in order to reinforce the students’ sense of citizenship and enhance their human values.
- Commonwealth High School is a well-rounded school, which offers quality education with a very special teacher-student relationship.
Horizons Program Philosophy
CPS innovative and highly recognized program offers to our students with mild learning differences special assistance to develop compensating strategies to become successful with grade level material for each subject taken in the Horizons setting. To that end, we provide the necessary adaptations and accommodations for each of our students. Our teachers are conscious of the learning style of their students and the needs they have through the psycho educational evaluation and professionals’ recommendations.
While we do not offer remediation or therapies in Horizons, children do learn compensatory strategies as they are taught course content. When teachers oversee filling out the agendas, they are teaching organizational skills that eventually become habit. Comments are made daily by all the teachers about the things a child must do to succeed. Over time, students become aware of their own learning style and how to use the knowledge in class and at home. They begin to better structure their materials and study time. Horizons teachers are very accessible and are the key to providing not only the encouragement, but also the reminders and hints the child needs so that independent work becomes a possibility.
Teachers are justifiably proud when a child is mainstreamed, but also are careful to assure that the move is a successful one and does not lead to frustration and/or failure. The receiving and sending teachers meet to discuss the child’s needs before mainstreaming occurs and both must agree that the child is ready. Although we hope that all children coming to Horizons will be mainstreamed one day, the reality is that that is not what is best for some of our students. There are a few who will continue to need support of Horizons for years, at least in the classes that are most affected by their learning differences.
For further information, please contact Ms. Sonia
M. Colón our Horizons Director at (787) 765-4411.
Fine Arts
CPS
has an active arts program. Art, music and drama are offered
throughout the year and are considered an important part of
the students' education. Musical and theatrical performances
are scheduled during the school year, and we make it a point
to display the children's artwork around the school. Emphasis
in the Lower School is on creativity and developing technique
in a variety of mediums, as well as being introduced to well-known
artists and works of art.
Music and art play a big part of Middle and Upper School students' daily program. In addition to academic studies, students are exposed to various forms of art from drawing to playing a musical instrument or participating in a theatical productions
Extra Curricular &
After-School Programs
It is the intent of CPS to provide healthy and wholesome sports and activity opportunities for students to be actively engaged after school in a variety of ways.
At the Parkville Campus, an after-school program is offered for all students at a nominal fee. See list below and/or contact Ms. Monse Rivera, After- School Director, for more information and applicable fees at (787) 720-3992. In addition to the After-School Program, individual courses and sports are offered. These usually carry a minimal charge to parents and are paid directly to the instructor.
At the Commonwealth Campus, sports play an integral part in the After- School Program. Additional activities include: Forensics, “Oratoria”, Drama, math tutoring, after-school study hall, and other activities. The Director of Commonwealth Campus, Ms. Evelyn Collazo, oversees all programs. Each activity is coordinated by a faculty member.
Programs Offered School Year 2007-2008
- Homework Supervision and Care Program
- Athletic Program - (clinics and competitive sports - seasonal)
- Music Lessons (Guitar, Piano)
- French
- Tutoring
- Dance (Ballet and Jazz)
- Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
- Mad Science
- Knitting
- Art Lessons
- Cheerleading
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