CURRICULUM
South Bay Junior Academy offers a full and wide range of learning opportunities for the students at South Bay Junior Academy. The curriculum for students in the elementary grades K-5 and middle school grades 6 through 8 are accredited by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists and WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). Standardized test scores reveal that South Bay Junior Academy students as part of the education system of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists score above average in every area.
Students enjoy a developmentally appropriate learning environment where everyone can learn and succeed. Math is taught at the same time for all grades so students can go up a grade level or down a grade level depending on the needs of the student. The reading program is called Accelerated Reader which is a self-paced reading system where students gain confidence in their reading abilities as they move from one level to the next.
Standardized Tests Administered
Students in Grades 3-8 take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and the Cognitive Abilities Test each year.
STEAM Education at South Bay Junior Academy – Science, Technology/Engineering, Art and Math
Science
Students participate in science learning throughout the week. Every other year we host a science fair featuring the student’s science projects. In addition, the middle school grades each have a specific science camp they attend.
Mrs. Allison Sleeman, 5th grade teacher, tending to the chickens.
South Bay Junior Academy is dedicated and committed to teaching students to live for today without borrowing from tomorrow. As a result we have produced the nations first sustainable school garden that uses multiple sources of irrigation systems to teach water conservation, grow our own vegetables used for the healthy hot lunch program and teach science in a our food laboratory on campus.
Our garden uses vertical tower gardens, wicking beds and drip irrigation to grow fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and more. In addition, we have a dedicated “butterfly” garden and a chicken coop with 6 chickens. The children love the life science learning that comes from an on-campus garden.
Technology/Engineering
South Bay Junior Academy introduced the One-to-One Apple Laptop Computer Program in 2007 placing the school at the forefront of educational technology in the South Bay, which equates to a mobile computer lab.
Currently, students in Grades 7 and 8 are using 2015 MacBook Air computers to create multi-media presenations, including video, audio work, spreadsheets and documents to do research and complete assignments.
Other after-school programs are offered to further enhance education like coding classes at the middle school level.
Art, Music and Band
Trained parent docents teach 5 art lessons per year throught the Torrance “Adventures in Art” program. Lessons have specific themes and are devoted to the use of a wide variety of art materials and creative projects. Each year the students work is showcased along the walls of the gym during the spring musical.
Additional art projects are conducted in class per grade.
Each year students are exposed to a full program of music through song, skits, talent show, 2 musical productions, one at Christmas time and one in the spring, along with learning to play musical instruments. Fourth graders learn the recorder and can go on to master a musical instrument in our SoundWaves program in the upper grades.
Foreign Language
South Bay Junior Academy has offered Spanish or French as electives in the past. In the 2015-2016 school year we offered Chinese for all grades. The foreign language program is currently being re-evaluated.
Physical Education
P.E. is offered four days a week to all grades as part of the standard curriculum. After school sports teams are being evaluated and we hope to add them in the future. Currently we are offering a competitive volleyball and basketball program to our middle school students as part of an afterschool sports program.