English Language Arts
At NCS, we’re committed to helping every child become a joyful, capable communicator—someone who can read with purpose, write with clarity, and think deeply about the world. To get there, we offer a rigorous, research-based ELA program that blends foundational skill-building with rich, meaningful content to grow confident readers, writers, and thinkers.
- Phonics (Grades K–1): We use Success for All – Fast Track Phonics to build strong foundational reading skills. This program offers explicit, systematic instruction that helps our youngest learners develop decoding, fluency, and spelling skills from the start.
- Grades 2–4: Students transition to Lavinia RedThread Foundations, which continues to reinforce foundational skills while deepening comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency to support growing readers.
- Reading and Writing (Grades K–4): Across all grades, we use Lavinia RedThread Knowledge to immerse students in rich, content-based units that build background knowledge, vocabulary, and analytical thinking. Students read high-quality texts, engage in meaningful discussions, and develop their writing across genres. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and includes structured support to ensure all students can access rigorous content.
Together, these programs create a cohesive and aligned ELA experience that nurtures literacy growth at every stage.
Mathematics
At NCS, we’re committed to providing students with a top-notch math education aligned to New York’s Next Generation standards. Our math approach is engaging, rigorous, and designed to help students understand both the “how” and the “why” behind mathematical concepts.
In our math workshop model, students work independently, in pairs, or in small groups. Through games, problem-solving challenges, and engaging routines, they build number sense, recognize patterns, and become confident mathematical thinkers.
We use a blended approach that includes Open Up Resources, Illustrative Mathematics, Context for Learning, Savvas, and in-house-created lessons. This ensures alignment to standards while meeting the diverse needs of our learners and deepening conceptual understanding.
Students explore hands-on activities and real-world problems while developing reasoning, collaboration, and confidence. They’re encouraged to try new strategies, explain their thinking, and grow as capable, curious mathematicians.
Science
At NCS, we want our students to see themselves as real scientists—curious problem-solvers who observe, investigate, and think critically about the world around them. Our Lower School science program is designed to spark wonder while building deep knowledge through hands-on discovery and real-world connections.
We use the Amplify Science program, which blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools to empower students to think, read, write, and argue like scientists and engineers. Each year, students explore life science, earth science, and physical science, building on their understanding as they move from grade to grade.
In each unit, students step into the role of professionals—like aquarium scientists, ecologists, or engineers—to explore compelling, real-world phenomena.
Throughout the year, students collect and analyze data, build models, and design solutions. The result is a dynamic, student-centered science experience that builds knowledge, strengthens academic thinking, and inspires a lifelong love of learning.
