The 2021 school year has begun and Noozhawk’s Private & Independent School Guide is sure to make things easy when planning for your child’s education! Our school guide provides you and your child with all the necessary information about private schools in Santa Barbara County.
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about which school is the best fit for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local private & independent schools for this year’s school guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Kristen Peralta, Director of Marketing & Communitcations at the Crane Country Day School to learn more about what their school offers.
Crane Country Day School
Question: What is the name of your school and what grade levels do you offer?
Answer: Crane Country Day School serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Q: How is your school operated or governed?
A: Crane is governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees who are responsible for the overall strategic vision and financial well-being of the school. The Head of School manages the day-to-day operations with the support of two divisional heads (Lower School and Upper School) as well as an administrative and teaching staff. Student Council consists of five eighth-grade students who are chosen by their Upper School peers to lead student efforts at Crane School.
Q: Are you offering in-person or online instruction this academic year?
A: All instruction for the 2021-2022 school year is in person.
Q: What curriculum is available and taught at your school?
A: For over ninety years, Crane School has maintained its founding principles as a provider of hands-on, experiential learning with a curriculum that emphasizes two hemispheres: teaching strong academics and encouraging creativity. Every day, we challenge our students to think critically, find their voices, and care for one another and the world around them. Almost a century of success has taught us that experiential education leads to a love of learning. At Crane, rigor and joy go hand-in-hand.
The Lower School (kindergarten-fifth grades) curriculum fosters self-reliance and self-esteem; stimulates curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning; and builds enthusiasm for excellence and achievement. Academic areas emphasized in the Lower School include reading, writing, math, and social studies, complemented by instruction in science, engineering, Spanish, art, drama, music, computer and library skills, and physical education. By integrating related activities in various fields of study, students begin to make and appreciate valuable cross-disciplinary connections while broadening their knowledge and experience of the world. The objective is to create responsible, independent students who work well together and are excited about learning.
The Upper School (sixth-eighth grades) program supports students in finding their own voices and caring for one another and the world around them. The rigorous academic schedule balances the traditional courses of English, math, science, social studies, and Spanish with performing arts, studio art, design and engineering, and technology. Crane’s morning Assembly allows Upper School students to shine through public speaking opportunities and Spotlight performances.
Q: Can you describe your student-to-teacher ratio?
A: Crane’s student to teacher ratio is 10:1. In kindergarten through third grade, we have two full-time teachers in the classroom with approximately twenty students, which allows for teachers to break into smaller groups or facilitate large group discussion. In the Upper School, students are placed in sections of 12-15 students for each class, with some of those classes having two teachers. Upper School elective classes are often more specialized and might have one teacher with 4-6 students writing a novel, baking, or learning life skills.
Q: How does your school select/hire teachers, and how does it invest in their continuing education?
A: At Crane School, we believe that how we teach is just as important as what we teach.
Teaching candidates undergo a rigorous application process which includes a full day of teaching live lessons and interviewing with multiple constituent groups as well as completing an in-person writing assignment. Candidates experience a typical day at Crane so that they become familiar with the community and learning environment.
Crane’s Teaching Fellowship program hires recent graduates for a two-year residential teaching fellowship. It is a hands-on teaching experience that combines a rich professional development and mentoring program with daily opportunities for practical application. Crane’s teaching fellows are new to the field of teaching and seek to immerse themselves in a dynamic and innovative educational environment in which they can gain valuable insights, perspectives, and practice in the field of teaching.
Crane encourages professional development to further the professional advancement of its employees through avenues that include coursework, seminars, workshops, conferences, and association memberships. There are many opportunities for employees to apply for professional development grants.
Q: What sports or extracurricular activities does your school offer?
A: Crane offers after-school sports teams for grades five through eight that include soccer, volleyball, basketball, and flag football. These teams participate in the Coastal Athletic League (CAL). Afterschool enrichment classes are also offered for kindergarten through eighth grade. These classes vary each trimester but often include outdoor adventures, chess, gymnastics, STEAM classes, yoga, and more.
Q: Describe how your school measures student progress.
A: Kindergarten – Fourth Grade students receive narrative reports and a 1-3 Baseline Rating System for academic and social skills to indicate progress in each of the skill areas (benchmarks) identified in each discipline. Fifth Grade is a transitional year and homeroom teachers record letter grades in core subject areas. Students continue to receive number grades in all other areas. Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade students receive letter grades and comments from all teachers. Students also receive a written progress report in the winter and spring.
Q: How does your school address special education needs?
A: Beginning with admissions and continuing to graduation, Crane’s goal is to reasonably accommodate the learning needs and academic potential of all students. A Lower School Learning Specialist and an Upper School Learning Specialist are available to assist students who require additional support. For additional support, the School’s Psychologist develops and coordinates systems, services, accommodations, and interventions to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.
Q: What opportunities do you provide for parent involvement?
A: Our faculty, staff, and parents/guardians support Crane with their time, talent, and treasure each year in any combination they feel comfortable. Many parents/guardians participate at the Board level, some are able to coordinate large fundraising events, some donate large or small contributions to our annual fundraisers or special opportunities, some volunteer to assist at school events, and some volunteer in the classroom or with the performing arts or athletics. There is something for every Crane parent/guardian.
Q: What is the cost of tuition to attend your school?
A: Crane’s tuition for the 2021-2022 school year is $31,000 for kindergarten through fifth grades and $33,500 for grades six through eight.
Q: Do you offer scholarships, and if so, what are the criteria to apply?
A: Crane School supports a very generous need-based tuition assistance program allowing the school to enroll eligible students who might not otherwise have access to a Crane education. A student must first be admitted to Crane to be eligible for tuition assistance. We offer an easy and accessible financial assistance application process through School and Student Services by NAIS. Families complete a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online and submit a copy of their most recent federal tax return.
Click here for more information about Crane Country Day School.