A Day in the Life

Extended Day. I go to Extended Day before school. I like it because I get to see my friends and play. One of my favorite things to do is play on the swings.

Transportation. LJCDS provides transportation from my neighborhood. There’s a bus stop a half mile from my home, so it’s really easy to get here.

8 a.m. Students come in, put their backpacks in their cubbies and then have free choice time. We have a sensory table, Play-Doh, light table and all kinds of toys and baskets.

8:45 a.m. We gather for circle time where we review the calendar—day...

8:30 a.m. Off to PE! It’s a great way to start the day with running, skipping and movement.

9:30 a.m. We go to the Spanish room, where kids sing songs and play games, all in Spanish.

10:30 a.m. We do a group lesson—usually a...

8 a.m. I put my bag in my cubby and then go to play blocks with my friends.

9 a.m. In science, we learned about the bones in the body. I learned a new word today: sternum. That’s the bone that runs down the...

Morning Routine. When I get to my classroom, I check the board for morning work before morning meeting.

Language Arts. My favorite subject is Language Arts. I like to write and illustrate stories because I get to work on my handwriting and draw WOW pictures that impress my family when I bring them home. I worked on a fiction story about gardening.

Math. My favorite subject is math. I like learning about things like equations and arrays and doing the assignments in the...

Visual Arts. In art, we did paintings of palm trees. I used really bright colors and then dragged a fork across it to make it look like palm leaves. It came out great.

Play. Recess is my favorite part of the day. I like to play soccer with my friends.

World Language. Spanish today was all about Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead in English). We learned the different ways people celebrate the holiday in different Latin American countries and got to practice new vocabulary words.

Math. We worked in our math groups on multiplication problems. The worksheet showed different arrays, and we had to write a multiplication problem to describe it.

Science. We’re learning about gravity. We had to draw arrows to show how air pushes things in different directions.

Science. In science, we’re studying different kinds of waves, like microwaves and sound waves. We’re drawing them and learning about all the parts of the wave.

World Language. I go to the Spanish room with my sister and friend Pedro for Spanish for Fluent Speakers. I like learning more about Spanish so that I can talk to my family when we visit Mexico.

Literacy. In literacy, we’re working on a project about someone we admire. We’re making a list of questions we want to ask them, and then we’ll interview them. I’m going to interview my grandpa.

Math. One of my favorite subjects at school is math because I like to figure out how to solve complex math problems and play math games. My math teacher, Mr. D’Avanzo, makes math fun.

Performing Arts. We had music today. I like music class because I’m learning to play the trombone this year. I like exploring how to make different sounds on the trombone.

English. In English, we worked on our book project. I liked this project because I got to express myself through art while being able to teach the class about the book I read in a fun and informative way.

World Language. I love Heritage Spanish class. We are learning about different countries in Latin America. Today, we learned about Colombia.

Math. In math, I like learning about different strategies. In every unit, our teacher gives us four or five different strategies on how to solve problems. She says, “Use what works best for you.”

Design and Innovation. This is a pretty fun class. Right now we’re doing a research project on famous innovators and also getting to practice using different techniques with the laser cutter.

History. We just started a debate unit in history. You’re assigned to a team to argue for or against three topics: the military’s use of dolphins, if homework is good or bad and if the NFL should do more to prevent head injuries.

Math. My math teacher is super nice. We worked in groups to solve different proofs. It’s helpful to work in a group because you benefit from a lot of different perspectives.

Visual Arts. In art, we’re doing ceramics, which I love. We’re making cups and bowls, and it’s great because you have the freedom to design them however you want.

Physical Education. I play on the volleyball team, which practices during PE. I like how we get to work as a team and how we celebrate when somebody does something good. I like that I get to play with all of my friends.

Humanities. In English, Ms. Gheewala has us throw a softball around to control the flow of the discussion. After, she shows us a heat map of who’s been contributing to the discussion, who hasn’t as much, and then what she calls our golden moments—things...

Humanities. Mr. Dalton always makes history an interesting class. Instead of lectures, for example, we get to do things like listen to podcasts on a real-world ethical scenario and analyze it on our own.

World Language. I’m in AP Spanish this year, which is great. Spanish was my first language, so this gives me the opportunity to learn grammar and more vocabulary.

Humanities. English is my favorite class because literature is so intertwined with other subjects, especially history and philosophy. When we read The Plague by Camus, we had a great discussion and talked a lot about dignity.

Music. I play trumpet in the concert band. The people there are hilarious to be around. It’s a chance to get away from the stress that school can bring. Last year, I got to play in the orchestra for “Chicago The Musical.” It was...

Visual Arts. I took photography as my art elective. I’ve learned how to use Photoshop and about finding new angles within your frame and looking at your own photography from a different lens.

Science. LJCDS offers neuroscience—which no other school does. I wanted to take neuroscience because I have an older brother with autism and a younger sister with learning disabilities. I’ve always wondered what made their brains different. I’m really enjoying this course.

1 p.m. It’s rest time—time for students to get their mats out and rest their bodies. Some of them sleep; others will look at books.

2 p.m. More outside playtime! The kids discovered a grasshopper on the playground, which they were very curious about....

12 p.m. Pick-up time for half-day students. Full-day students have lunch and then rest time.

1:45 p.m. Outside playtime

2:15 p.m. Closing meeting, where we talk about what we did today and preview what we’ll do tomorrow.

12:30 p.m. After lunch, I like to play on the playground with my friends.

1 p.m. In art, we learned about Vincent Van Gogh, who was a very famous artist. We drew “Starry Night” and “Sunflower” pictures.

Math. In math, we’re working on counting by 2s, 5s and 10s. 10s are my favorites.

Design and Innovation. In first grade, we get to have Design and Innovation. It’s iPads and computers and other stuff. It’s fun and you get to learn a lot of things.

Dignity Traits. Today, I got a Torrey Traits sticker! You get that when you show one of the six Torrey traits. I got a sticker for helping people clean up without being asked.

Design and Innovation. We played games on code.org. You have to help different characters get to different places by writing code.

Physical Education. In PE, we’re playing volleyball. It’s fun. I got a Torrey Traits sticker for caring because I helped a new student who hadn’t been to PE before.

Literacy. My favorite subject is literacy. We’re working on essays about “The Best Part of Me.” I’m writing about my hair.

Physical Education. In PE, we’re playing striking games with Slo-Mo inflatable balls. It’s fun.

Visual Arts. We’re making drawings of aquariums in art. I really like art because it’s fun to be creative.

Dignity Traits. I earned a Torrey Traits sticker this week for showing initiative. I got up to line up for library when I saw the librarian come into the room.

Play. After lunch, we have recess. I usually play football with my friends.

Visual Arts. My favorite art project was making stop-motion videos. My sister and I did “how to form a pig with clay,” which was fun.

Dignity Traits. I got a Torrey Traits sticker for helping the community. I helped my teacher clean the tables before class started.

Design and Innovation. In Digital Literacy, we’re learning how to use Google Docs and Google Draw.

Science. In science, we’re learning about the volume of different objects. We had to figure out how many units would fit in an object.

My favorite classes are theater and art. I enjoy these electives because they allow me to be creative and...

Service-Learning. I like that we get to work on community service projects. Last year, we painted playhouses for Habitat for Humanity. My group’s theme was A, B, Cs and 1, 2, 3s.

World Language. I decided to take Mandarin because I’m half Chinese. I like it when we do a candy challenge, which is speaking or pronunciation practice. If you get all of them right, you get a little bit of candy. It’s a good motivator...

Math. I’m ahead in math, so I take Algebra II in the Upper School. A couple of other 7th graders are in my class. It’s interesting, and it’s a lot more challenging.

Science. I really enjoy science because I find chemistry super fascinating and fun. In lab, we mixed zinc and zinc chloride and made a penny turn gold.

Life Skills. In Life Skills, we talked about cliques, how it feels to be left out of one and the aftermath of what it does to a person. My favorite part about the class was that it was a safe space and a stress-free...

Design and Innovation. In Design and Innovation, I used the 3D printer to make shelves for my locker, which are really useful. I like woodworking, designing and those sorts of things.

Torrey Mindful Learning. We’re learning about executive functioning skills and how we learn best. It’s interesting.

Biology. My favorite class is biology. In lab, we did an experiment on cellular respiration, which we studied—and now got to see in action. We put beads into vials of water and potassium hydroxide and then pumped in oxygen to see how much they...

Design and Innovation. My favorite class is Design and Innovation. I personally enjoy the free-flowing creativity and the combination of art, design, and innovation. I’m so invested in learning about every tool and material in the room: 3D printer, laser cutter, milling machine, plus...

Service-Learning. I serve on the Community Service Board. We do a lot of fundraising and organize volunteers. The field hockey team just did a fundraiser for leukemia; volleyball did Dig for the Cure for breast cancer. We also have the Giving Tree every year....

Flex. I’m in the Economics and Investment Club, where we’re investing actual money. Each student can pitch a stock to the rest of the group with a presentation, and then we vote on it. If we vote yes, it gets added to our portfolio.

Flex. Model UN gives me the chance to learn about things from all different regions and practice my writing and public speaking skills. In January, I participated in The Hague International Model United Nations.

Flex. At Future Doctors and Scientists, we went over how to use a micropipette, which is the basis of all medical labs. We practiced adjusting the micropipette to a certain amount of volume, pushing the water out onto wax paper and then sucking it...

Flex. My brother has autism, so I created a club called Sib Strong, which is for students who have siblings with disabilities. Though the group is small, we find it beneficial to learn from and lean on each other.

5 p.m. Pickup time for Extended Day students. It’s been a fun-filled day.

Music. I had orchestra after school today. I play the violin. I’ve been playing for four years. I like all the songs we do.

Athletics. I do cheer and soccer, which I really like because all of my friends are there.

Service-Learning. I did a community service project on my own, where I started a Little Library right in my own neighborhood.

Athletics. I run cross country for PE. I like it because I can talk to my friends when we run. Also, I noticed I got a lot better. So it’s really satisfying to be able to run faster than I used to.

Service-Learning. A couple of years ago, when everyone was still wearing masks, I decided to make mask lanyards and sell them for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Athletics. I run cross country, which I love. I love just how motivating the coaches and my teammates are. I find myself consistently improving each week and running more miles than I ever thought I could.

Service-Learning. Through Country Day, I’ve volunteered with Lucky Ducklings Foundation, distributing food and water to unhoused members in San Diego.

Athletics. I love fencing. You have to really think about what your next move is going to be. And the thing about me is that when I want to do something, I usually just do it. So in fencing, I have to take a...

Football. I play football, which I really enjoy. It’s a community—coaches and peers—that’s filled with love for each other and the sport. I also like that I can still play in the band. My friend, Isaac, and I stash our instruments under the bench,...

Mock Trial. I’ve been part of the Mock Trial team for two years. It’s a ton of work and also a lot of fun. Our team placed in the top 10 in this year’s competition, and I was named as an outstanding prosecution witness.