Homework is brief, usually limited to reading out loud to parents, allowing for family time. If children are required to work at school for six hours, they will make amazing progress. We do not expect tired parents to do the job of getting their children to finish schoolwork at home.
We believe that the education of a child is not complete without the teaching of self-discipline, good character, and leadership skills. High standards of student conduct and modest dress are maintained through effective discipline and the teaching of responsibility. Love and respect for our country and the founding fathers are also taught.
Burke Basic School offers a traditional back-to-basics program that gives your children a comprehensive educational foundation. This program uses an exclusive curriculum with proven methods and philosophies. The curriculum has a special emphasis in reading taught with an intensive phonics-first approach, beginning in kindergarten. The basic program of Burke Basic School includes grades K - 7.
We teach kindergarten children to read. Phonics starts in a full-day kindergarten. The simple fun approach to reading has children sounding out difficult words with ease. Many of our five-year-old students are reading and spelling by January. Grateful parents share with us success stories of their children almost daily.
Our curriculum stresses the three R's and is well rounded. We use creative drill and songs for memorizing math facts, phonics and poetry. We like to brag about the fact that our students can recite 100 math facts in four minutes or less. We also teach Spanish, music and art.
Our mission is to provide a learning environment that will improve pupil achievement in the basic skills. Our commitment is to have a teacher in every classroom who cares that every student learns, grows, and experiences success every day. We take responsibility for and are accountable for the progress of each student.
Unlike other public schools that use numerical grade levels, we use ability grouping. After kindergarten, our "lower form" corresponds to first and second grades, our "middle form" corresponds to third and fourth grades, and our "upper form" corresponds to fifth and sixth grades. Because students are grouped according to ability, rather than age, all students progress more rapidly and are not held back academically.
Teachers and staff are hired on the basis of their talents, experience, and love of children. Parents are asked to evaluate the teacher of each one of their children and to evaluate other school personnel. This feedback from parents is a unique feature of Burke Basic School.
We believe in mastery based teaching that allows the student to do the work over until it is mastered.
