Programs
Our goal for every Country Day School student is that each become thoughtful, compassionate, and actively engaged in their community and the world around them. To support their growth, our co-curricular programs are integral to the overall RHCDS experience. We continue to offer and develop programs in the following areas:
The Arts
Active participation in the Arts enhances a student’s natural creativity and is fundamental to life skills such as stress management, self awareness, time-management, public speaking, and problem-solving. Additionally, art is one of the many ways that students are encouraged to learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of the United States and other countries.
Singing, painting, and drawing are incorporated into our students’ studies beginning in Kindergarten. As an example, Second Grade students study the works of the masters such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Cezzanne. Here is an example of their duplication of Rembrandt’s Old Man. The Second Grade completes their study of the masters by visiting the Getty Museum where they are able to identify the works they studied.
The Fourth Grade California travel journal is unique to RHCDS. Students paint their own canvases featuring a California landmark. These beautiful canvases are then displayed until they are finally sent home as keepsakes. Fourth Grade students continue their studies of California history by performing a play called “Oh, California!” for their fellow students and a special performance for their families. These are two ways in which the Arts are interwoven into our school’s curriculum.
Opportunities to participate in live performances abound, including an annual Middle School Musical. Directed by teacher Peggy Johns-Campbell, the middle school has produced and performed musicals such as Frozen, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Annie and many more! Over 30 Middle School students are involved in putting on this fabulous Spring Musical. For the Lower School, each grade level offers its own holiday performance with the highlight being the Third Grade performance of the Nutcracker.
Facilities include:
- Music Room
- Art Studio
- Multi-Purpose Room for live performances
Community Service
Community Service is an integral part of Country Day School. Our mission is to expose our students to the needs of those in their local community and in the world around them. We encourage them to be active participants by giving from their hearts to make the world a better place and to perhaps make life a little easier for someone else.
There are a variety of activities in which our students become involved throughout the year, whether as part of their classroom experience or out in the community.
For instance, throughout the year, we have holiday giving programs that collect food and gifts for families at Amestoy Elementary School in Gardena for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also have a food drive to supplement local food banks. In the past, our students have also collected coats and shoes and delivered those items to neighboring schools. Students have also participated in local environmental awareness programs at the Ballona Wetlands and local beach clean ups. Additionally, the school hosts a book drive, Halloween costume and candy drive, and bake sales that help raise funds and awareness to causes that our student council brings to the student body.
Our students visit local assisted living facilities to perform and make very touching connections with seniors citizens.
Lower School students participate in the annual Country Day Mileage Club, which combines community service with physical education and global studies. Students raise funds through donations and per-lap pledges, which correlate to the number of laps they run during Physical Education class. The funds from each grade are then donated to charities who serve causes in the different countries that each grade studies or an organization that helps those in need. For example, Grade 1 studies Brazil and made their Mileage Club donation to the Gibson Foundation, which provides musical instruments to children in impoverished parts of the world, including Brazil.
Middle School students are required to complete two hours of community service every year. Students have the opportunity to complete these hours on campus if they choose the Community Service Friday Elective, which focuses on making fleece blankets to donate to a local women’s shelter.
Regardless of the activity, the children find great value in the outreach and service opportunities.
Outdoor Education
All Country Day School students in Grades 4 through 8 participate in our Outdoor Education Program. Outdoor education allows children to learn outside the classroom in a natural outdoor setting. Each trip is unique in its setting, environment, learned skill sets, and challenges, but all of the Outdoor Education trips focus on students’ development of self-reliance and team-building skills. Country Day School graduates often report that their outdoor education experience was one of their most memorable, and the friendships formed and strengthened during the week-long program can last a lifetime.
Below you will find a list of the outdoor education experiences.
Grade 4: Outdoor Adventure in the San Bernardino Mountains
Hiking, archery, ropes course, rustic cabin experience in the San Bernardino Mountains; two days, one night; During the spring in the middle of May.
Grade 5: AstroCamp
Astro Camp, San Bernardino, CA; three days, two nights; physical science camp. During the fall in early September.
Grade 6: El Capitan with Boojum Institute
Camping, hiking and kayaking at El Capitan State Beach along the California Coast. During the fall in late October.
Grade 7: Catalina Island Marine Institute
Catalina Island Marine Institute, CA; one week; diving/snorkeling daily along with island ecology to study marine habitat. During the fall in early October.
Grade 8: Olympic Park Institute with NatureBridge
Week-long trip to Olympic Park Institute in Washington state. Throughout the week, students will have a chance to learn about the rainforest, Native American culture, and more via guest speakers and hands-on activities. During the fall in early October.
Grade 8: Rafting and Camping on the American River
Eighth Graders embark on a three day trek as they raft and camp on the South Fork of the American River – traveling through and learning more about the historical gold mining country as they navigate class II and III+ white water. During the spring in late May.
Athletics
Physical Education
Physical Education is a vital part of the core curriculum at Country Day School. The fundamental goal of the physical education program is to prepare students for life’s challenges by providing them with the skills and knowledge to be physically active as part of a healthy lifestyle. Developing these life skills is a very significant component of physical education at RHCDS. Throughout the school year students will actively pursue lifelong physical activities that meet their own personal needs. Through a variety of selected activities, students gain enjoyment and appreciation for physical activity. All activities are age-appropriate to ensure full participation. It is our belief that developing these skills benefits a student’s health and well-being far beyond their years at RHCDS.
After-School Athletics
The RHCDS competitive sports program provides our Middle School students with an opportunity to participate in the following sports:
- Co-Ed Water Polo
- Co-Ed Swim Team
- Boys Soccer
- Girls Soccer
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
- Boys Volleyball
- Girls Volleyball
As part of the South Bay Athletic League, our goal is to produce competitive sports teams. Our teams are comprised of the best student-athletes that RHCDS has to offer. The athletic department encourages all eligible students to sign-up, try-out, and be a part of the sports program. Final rosters are determined at the discretion of the coach. Participating in the RHCDS competitive sports program is considered a privilege and all student-athletes are expected to maintain the academic and personal conduct standards of RHCDS.
Intramural Sports
Intramural Sports are offered to Grade Four and Grade Five students. Activities emphasize competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We feel it is especially important for students of this age to be equipped with the tools necessary for dealing with both winning and losing. During intramurals, we place a strong emphasis on the phrase, “It’s not who wins, it’s how you play the game.” Teams that display good participation and enthusiasm, coupled with sportsmanship and teamwork, can earn more points than the team that scores the most goals. The skills that are acquired during intramurals provide for a smooth transition to Middle School competitive sports.
Computer Lab
Rolling Hills Country Day School supports and encourages the student use of computers, electronic devices and internet resources. The foundation of student learning will be grounded by the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Students:
Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
Communication and Collaboration: Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
Digital Citizenship: Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
Technology Operations and Concepts: Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.
Students in Kindergarten through Grade Five attend computer class once a week in a state-of-the art computer lab equipped with Apple computers. Students in Grade Six through Grade Eight attend computer class twice a week. The students are involved in various project-based learning opportunities that will support their appropriate grade-level curriculum. The students will become competent in Microsoft Office Applications, The Print Shop publishing software and are given time to improve their keyboarding skills by using the self-paced “Mavis Beacon” software. In addition, the students in Grade Six through Grade Eight will be introduced to web design, learn Adobe Photoshop, iMovie, GarageBand and Prezi (a cloud-based presentation software).
After School Programs
Country Day School respects and is sensitive to the changing and developing needs of our families. Our goal is to support the dynamic modern day family by offering options for after school care for our students. We have several programs available to accommodate our families. Programs include:
Homework Club
Homework Club is a fee-based program where students in Grades 1 through 5 work on homework in a teacher supervised environment. Homework questions are answered by a faculty member; however, Homework Club is not a one-on-one tutorial session. The schedule for Homework Club is:
Grades 1-3: Monday-Thursday 3:10-4:10 p.m.
Grades 4-5: Monday-Thursday 3:20-4:20 p.m.
After Care
After Care is offered from dismissal to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students are given a light, healthy snack, and are encouraged to do homework after which they are allowed to play on the field until they are picked up. Our After Care is available to students for a minimal hourly fee. Parents may arrange for After Care supervision for their child on a regular basis or they may call the Front Office on any day prior to dismissal.
Freestyle Aquatics
Freestyle Aquatics is a year-round swim program offering private or semi-private lessons to students and members of the local community. Instructors are experienced and dedicated to improving the skills of each swimmer from beginning to advanced levels.
Freestyle Aquatics also offers a “workout lane” for those intermediate to advanced swimmers that wish to prepare for the LA County Junior Guards program or an organized club team.
For more information, please call Todd Gordon at 310-377-4848 ext. 7014 or email tgordon@rhcds.com.
RHCDS is also affiliated with a USA Swim Team called the Rolling Hills Armada. Click here to visit the swim team’s website.
Competitive Team Sports
RHCDS Middle School students may try-out for our school teams. Our school participates in the South Bay Athletic League and competes against other private schools in the area.
Sports that are offered to Middle School students include:
- Co-Ed Water Polo
- Co-Ed Swim Team
- Boys Soccer
- Girls Soccer
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
- Boys Volleyball
- Girls Volleyball