Beyond the Core
At The Banner School, our core academic offerings are just part of our well-rounded educational program. Our students participate in a wide variety of specials and electives that complement and enhance their core learning experience.
Visual Arts
At Banner we believe that every individual is an artist; a child simply needs the encouragement and the opportunity for this lifelong creative pursuit to blossom. From drawing and painting to ceramics and sculpting, Banner students discover the joy of artistic expression.
While exploring their own creativity, students also learn about art history, artists from around the world, and numerous styles of art and the media used to create them. Banner students’ work is displayed each year in Frederick’s Delaplaine Visual Art Center, and students often participate in local and national art contests. Extending beyond the art room, lessons in history, Spanish, math, science, and literature also incorporate traditional and digital art techniques.
Music
Music is an amazing way for children to express themselves. We foster this self-expression and develop students’ musical skills through song, rhyme, and rhythm through movement. As our students grow, they expand into learning instruments including drums and ukuleles.
Spanish
Our Spanish program emphasizes engagement, communication, and culture. Language learning is built through, song, call and response conversation, literature, writing, and art. Through learning high frequency vocabulary and basic grammar structure, our students build their understanding and appreciation of the language.
As our students move into their later Middle School years, the curricular content prepares students for entry into a Spanish II high school class.
Physical Education
At The Banner School, we believe that a strong and healthy body is an essential complement to a strong and healthy mind. Our Physical Education classes emphasize movement with fun activities often linked to the learning in our students’ classrooms.
Traditional sports are mixed with inventive games that keep the kids moving. Health science and making healthy choices is integrated throughout the curriculum.
Library
The Banner School has a large, inviting library on campus. Students partake in library classes, and also use the library space and its abundant content within a variety of classes throughout the year.
We want students to love books and love reading! Students are encouraged to check out books regularly and contribute ideas for how to grow the collection. Our parent organization, the BSPO, also hosts two book fairs annually that support reading and the library’s collection.
Technology
Technology is integrated into our classrooms and our curriculum. Primary students use school Chromebooks for some assignments; while our Middle School students bring their own devices to use as needed.
Importantly, our students learn to become goo digital citizens, become familiar with software applications, and discover how to navigate the internet, use AI responsibly, researching topics effectively, and identify reliable resources.
Middle School Electives
Our 5th-8th grade students choose one elective each term to pursue their individual interests and expand their learning. Beyond music, theatre, production, and art electives, recent additional elective offerings have included Latin, Creative Writing, Financial Literacy, Coding, and Yearbook.
Ready to Learn More About the Banner Experience?
Our innovative and inclusive coeducational learning community nurtures each individual student, developing their unique skills and talents to achieve personal excellence and truly let their light shine.