Tzu Chi Elementary School, Monrovia

At Tzu Chi Elementary, Monrovia we nurture and educate students from Kindergarten through fifth grade. Our faculty provides an exemplary bilingual learning environment that actively models globalism and environmentalism, while creating bilingual and biliterate students fluent in English and Mandarin. In efforts to provide a complete education that prepares our students for life in a global society, our character education curriculum is employed to infuse our rigorous academic program with respect, compassion, gratitude, and love. With a highly trained faculty that is well aware of the individual needs of each student, our class sizes remain small within a diverse, inclusive, and caring community to ensure that our students receive the academic and emotional support they need to thrive.

To complement our comprehensive curriculum that highlights caring for the earth and personal well-being, we serve freshly-prepared, nutritious meals each day. Moreover, we host a variety of community service activities, which offer our students a myriad of opportunities to develop relationships with members of the local community, families, and friends while pursuing their education with us.

2017-2018 Academic Calendar

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Dual Language Program: English and Chinese

For 60% of the day, students are immersed in English Language Arts instruction which emphasizes phonemic awareness and students learn to recognize the speech sounds that make up words to prepare them for reading and writing, while letter sounds are associated with images in stories. Students are exposed to a variety of high quality literature to develop complex reading comprehension skills, while reading simpler texts on their own. Learning to decode words for reading and writing is closely integrated, and spelling is taught along with patterns and rules rather than as simple memorization. The process of writing is introduced as well, including planning, writing a draft, revising, and editing. During the remaining 40% of the day, students receive Chinese Language Arts instruction, which includes the development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in traditional Mandarin. These lessons are taught as a separate class, lasting 2 hours for each grade level, and each classroom consists of students who are fluent in either Mandarin or English to support collaborative learning and peer-to-peer tutoring.

Academic Curriculum

Our curriculum includes Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, which are taught in English. Our math instruction program is balanced with equal emphasis on conceptual understanding, computational and procedural skills, and applied problem solving. Instruction is hands-on and concrete, and students develop an understanding of mathematical concepts through manipulating physical objects. These skills are reinforced by playing game that make math fun. Our science instruction program is very hands-on and experiential as well. Science concepts are introduced while students are encouraged to develop their intuition as they engage in activities and experimentation that allow them to experience what they’re learning first hand. The focus of our social studies program is on developing students’ multicultural awareness and understanding.

Character Education

We provide meaningful character education through a program that emphasizes a deep understanding of what it means to exhibit good behavior. Instruction is integrated into all aspects of the curriculum, including daily lessons and opportunities to discuss and reinforce the values learned, supporting students as they develop positive character traits. Month by month, we explore the meaning of core virtues, including respect, responsibility, gratitude, giving, compassion, courage, contentment, and perseverance. For inspirational reinforcement, Monday Words of Wisdom Quotes related to the Character Trait of the Month are shared and discussed with students. Our faculty leads by example, modeling, encouraging, and supporting upstanding morale in all settings throughout the school day.

May 2018 Lunch Menu

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We teach with great love and care so that each student can attain academic excellence, build character, and gain the skills and confidence necessary to become a contributing global citizen.

Our faculty is dedicated to teaching analytical skills that will lay the foundation for ongoing academic success; while nurturing creativity, exploration, and a love of learning; and guiding students towards developing character, and a compassionate, respectful outlook. With love, attentive care, and patience, our educators mentor each student to develop his or her full potential, setting them on the path to life as engaged global citizens who contribute to society and protect the environment.