Sapphire Elementary School is located at 159 Harrimn Hghts Road Harriman, NY and it serves grades K-1 in Orange County. In kindergarten and first grade developmental program is designed to help children grow and express themselves through music and various art mediums, learn about the physical world around them and develop basic concepts and readiness for later learning. The program is full-day and is housed at the Sapphire Elementary School and Smith Clove Elementary School; two facilities completely dedicated to the education of five and six year olds.
Elementary students participate in a "Specials Program" each day which offers programming in music, art, physical education, health education, computer literacy and library on a scheduled basis throughout the year. Instrumental music, band, orchestra, chorus and a variety of other enriching activities are offered on an elective basis. Instructional techniques include team teaching, independent projects, small and large group instruction, and individual student contact and discussion groups.
The school makes concerted efforts to move away from departmental/ grouping structures and towards a whole language curriculum plan which aims at specifically chosen district-wide student competencies. Major emphasis is placed on the development of basic skills along with expanded opportunities for enrichment in reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics. Concept development, as well as a hands-on approach to learning, is stressed in social studies and science.
