About KHA

Kingston Hill Academy (KHA) is dedicated to providing students with the opportunity for an inclusive, individualized, and challenging curriculum that supports them to reach their full potential.

Kingston Hill Academy Educational Goals

  • Student proficiency rates will increase by at least each year as indicated by student performance on the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS).
  • Standards-based practices will be used in each classroom.
  • Our curriculum and instructional methods will meet the academic, social, physical and emotional needs of all students.
  • KHA’s objectives and goals are aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a national effort to define the knowledge and skills that students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate from high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. KHA has utilized the standards as a framework from which to derive measurable and objective outcomes for students across content areas and sub-skills. Thus, the KHA staff is able to report the skills that students can actually perform, and under what circumstances, as opposed to more abstract “understanding” of content area which is typically reported in public schools. 

What makes Kingston Hill Academy a Special School?

  • Each classroom has a full time teacher assistant who serves as a co-teacher. Instruction is able to be differentiated for each learners individual needs, whether those are above, at, or below grade level within the classroom on a daily basis. 
  • Teachers set high expectations for every student.
  • Learn more about our curriculum below.
  • KHA is a very close community of learners.
  • Students work with other classrooms and teachers on a regular basis through reading buddies, in-school Exploratory Learning Programs, after-school programs, regular school-wide events, and events from our fabulous PTO.
  • KHA is an inclusion school this means that all students are welcome in age-appropriate, regular classes and are supported to learn, contribute, and participate in all aspects of school life.
  • Exploratory Learning Programs (ELPs) held on Fridays. ELPs are special classes held for the last hour of the school day on Fridays. They allow students the opportunity to interact with other students and teachers across the school and to choose an area of interest to learn about that may not normally be taught in a regular classroom. Recent ELPs that have been offered include Line Dancing, Harry Potter Club, Cooking, Board Games, Soccer, Yoga, Sewing, Karate, Gardening, Team Sports, Sensory Play, Bird Watching, and much more. ELP offerings change throughout the school year.
  • KHA Kares Club offers before and after school care from 7:45-8:30 and 3:30-5:30 right at KHA. The mission of this Program is not only to provide childcare, but to also provide a safe, enjoyable atmosphere to students at the end of the school day. On a daily basis, students are provided with a healthy snack, a block of time to play (indoors/outdoors, as the weather permits), and a block of time to focus on homework, if applicable. See more in KHA Parents section.

Literacy & English Language Arts

Literacy/English Language Arts at Kingston Hill Academy focuses on providing high-quality instruction, identifying reading difficulties and developing literacy skills so that students may become life-long readers.

KHA chose the EngageNY system because of the professional learning tools and resources that support educators their mission to reach a college and career ready education for all of our students.

EngageNY.org supports the implementation of key aspects of the New York State Board of Regents Reform Agenda including the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS), Teacher and Leader Effectiveness (TLE), and Data-Driven Instruction (DDI).

Mathematics

Every student needs and deserves a rich and rigorous mathematics curriculum that is focused on the development of concepts, the acquisition of basic and advanced skills and the integration of problem-solving experiences. 

Kingston Hill Academy encourages educators to provide such challenging mathematics opportunities to foster the growth of intelligent, thoughtful and mathematically-literate members of society. At KHA, we use an integrated approach to mathematics to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the tools and strategies learned.

 

 

A typical day at Kingston Hill Academy also includes...

All classes are team-taught by teachers and assistants and feature multi-sensory learning techniques while utilizing the latest in educational technology.

Scientific literacy prepares students to be capable life-long learners who are equipped with the skills to access, understand, evaluate and apply information in various contexts. Kits in Teaching Elementary Science (KITESsupports national standards for science and an inquiry-centered approach to learning science.

 

We also use FOSS (Full Option Science System) in our classrooms at KHA. This research-based science curriculum for grades K-8 developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley has guided the development of successful active-learning science curricula for more than 40 years. The FOSS Program bridges research and practice by providing tools and strategies to engage students and teachers in enduring experiences that lead to deeper understanding of the natural and designed worlds.

Smartboards and Chromebooks are used in our classrooms. The mission of the Technology program is to provide a modern learning environment and to boost students’ capabilities of learning anytime and anywhere. Online access in classrooms significantly broadens the scope of any learning exercise, triggering information pursuit, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration.

Social Studies at Kingston Hill Academy are focused on the development of language-based skills, like reading, writing, speaking and listening. A rich and diverse set of historical and modern-day content that is enhanced by our literacy program drives our curriculum and provides students with multiple opportunities to think critically, express their views and develop the necessary skills to participate in the modern world.

 

Visual Arts is focused on design and technique. Students are able to create and express their perspectives, critically evaluate artistic pieces and develop an appreciation for various art forms – all while learning methods and techniques that artists use to create.

Music at KHA is intended to teach students about an art form based on creating, performing and responding to better enjoy the experience. We explore methods of artistic expression and enhance personal creativity.

Cross grade-level cooperative learning experiences, such as chorus, drama, etc. are also available.

Students are grouped by interest levels. Students get to rank their top choices for a six-week class taught by a teacher or consultant. 

 

 

Classes have included specialized sciences, creative writing, music, gardening, mural painting, digital technology, furniture refurbishment, puppetry, tumbling, and many others.

The goal of Physical Education at Kingston Hill Academy is to verse students in the concepts associated with health and wellness and provide students with the tools to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students learn about various exercise and sports techniques, health issues, cooperation and self care. Emphasis is also placed on teamwork and good sportsmanship. KHA’s physical education program complies with all governing state laws and regulations. We are also thrilled to have a full-time nurse at KHA.

Our Classrooms also feature Spanish Integration. We offer a full-time kindergarten program as well as After School Enrichment programs with activities such as sports, drama, garden art, etc.

 

Our school-wide Behavior Plan serves to keep our students safe and healthy. 

State Testing: RICAS is administered to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students each spring. This test is an assessment of student aptitude in the areas of Language Arts (Reading and Writing) and Mathematics. The Next Generation Science Assessment is administered to 5th graders each spring. Students are expected to meet proficiency levels in all areas of the test. KHA’s overall approach to its curriculum is designed to help students achieve at proficient levels on these assessments.

Methods of Instruction

The Kingston Hill Academy curriculum encourages the use of a variety of pedagogical methods to meet the diverse needs of our students. Teachers regularly evaluate students and make appropriate modifications to the curriculum based on individual needs. The wide range of student abilities makes this type of pedagogical responsiveness and differentiation necessary for student success. Kingston Hill Academy seeks to motivate students by creating relevant and meaningful learning experiences in which all students can experience success.

 

 

Kingston Hill Academy seeks to impart curriculum in a constructivist frame. That is, the students actively construct their understanding while interacting with the content, the teacher and each other. They are responsible for their learning. The staff is there to guide, to hold high expectations, to organize a series of relevant experiences and to present content and information. The staff models appropriately for students and provides multiple opportunities for students to practice new skills and demonstrate success.

This curriculum at Kingston Hill Academy is a living framework, changing and adapting to student needs and state standards, as required. Kingston Hill Academy believes that a curriculum must address the very real demands of the world we live in, and, we are systematically refining and improving the curriculum in purposeful and meaningful ways.

Reinforcement Programs and Assessment Tools

Freckle is a web-based program that continuously adapts for student practice in math or ELA activities, while offering teachers the ability to focus practice on grade-level standards. Freckle adapts at the “just-right” level, with student-friendly incentives and age-appropriate designs to provide a balance of fun and learning.

Math and Reading Practice

Lexia Core 5 provides explicit, systematic, personalized learning in the six areas of reading instruction, and delivers norm-referenced performance data and analysis without interrupting the flow of instruction to administer a test.

Reading Instruction & Assessment

The third edition of the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA3) offers educators the tools they need to observe and document student reading level and helps inform instructional practice.

Reading Level Assessment

STAR 360 is a comprehensive K-12 assessment solution, allowing educators to screen and group students for targeted instruction, measure student growth, predict performance on Smarter Balanced exams, and monitor achievement on Common Core State Standards.

Testing & Assessment Tools

Above all, our teachers utilize these tools to develop an inclusive, individualized, and challenging curriculum that supports them to reach their full potential.

Adaptive and individualized, Reflex is the most effective system for mastering basic facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division for grades 2+.

 

Full of games that students love, Reflex takes students at every level and helps them quickly gain math fact fluency and confidence. And educators and parents love the powerful reporting that allows them to monitor progress and celebrate success.

Mathematic Fluency Drills

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