Yoga, Tai Chi and meditation skills are some of the many activities offered to kindergarten through sixth graders at Integral Elementary School.
The private nonprofit institution, which opened in fall 2006, uses a constructivism approach to learning mirrored from founder and principal Prapanna Smith’s experiences in India.
Integral Elementary recently received a combination of grants totaling $110,000 to help fund its unique programs, according to Carla Gerstein, the school’s executive administrator.
“All the money is geared toward start-up operating costs,” she said. “Some of the money is going toward upgrading school rooms, new carpeting, new paint and furnishings, and classroom materials.”
The New Consciousness Foundation of Fremont, Calif., donated $30,000 and The Grosvenor Family Foundation of San Diego gave $60,000, both distributed over the next three years. Two members of the Center for Integral Elementary also donated an additional $20,000, according to Gerstein.
The school has an 11-1 student-teacher ratio and hopes to more than double its staff and student population for next fall, according to Gerstein. Integral employs three full-time teachers and has 20 students enrolled, she said.
Smith, who also founded sister school Rainbow Kids Integral in Mira Mesa, taught in Pondicherry, India, for close to three years and is a pioneer in integral education in the United States, he said.
Part of the school’s method includes smaller class sizes, mixed age groups based on skill level and a collaborate team-teaching effort, according to the founder.
“We also have an approach to designing curriculum where we consult with children and find out what their interests are and let the children develop questions about topics,” Smith said. “Our approach is more transactive ” there is a give-and-take between teachers and students. Teachers don’t answer questions but instead guide children to find answers to their own questions.”
With the recent funding, the school is just starting to establish itself within the community and will be holding an open house each month to give people an opportunity to learn more about its philosophy, Gerstein said. The next open houses will be March 17, 3 to 5 p.m., and March 20, 6 to 8 p.m.
For more information, or to schedule a private tour of the school, contact Integral Elementary, (858) 450-4321, or visit ww.integralelementary.com.
Integral Elementary is located at 8660 Gilman Drive.