SPECIAL FEATURES of SEABURY'S PROGRAM
Physical Education : A commitment to helping children make healthy choices and experience the joy of moving their bodies is central to Seabury's physical education program. At the lower school, teacher Nancy Nelson uses her experience as a physical education teacher and an adventure / challenge learning facilitator in a program that includes physical conditioning, adventure learning challenges, teambuilding and problem solving. Seabury's middle school PE program focuses on fitness, balance, and lifelong healthy choices. PE for middle school students takes place at the downtown Tacoma YMCA adn Edgeworks Climbing Gym, as well as through outdoor activities. Seabury's physical education program is uniquely suited to the healthy development of students' minds and bodies.
French: Seabury’s dynamic French teacher, Mme. JoAnn Olliphant, is widely known throughout the region for her innovative approach to teaching a second language. Author of the books, Total Physical Fun: Activities and Strategies for Learning Language Through Play, and Strategies and Activities for Learning Language through Song, Rhythm and Play, Mme. Olliphant has created a program that makes learning French exciting for students in all grade levels. Mlle. Halley Griffin, a Seabury graduate who studied French at the University of Washington and at Sciences Po in Paris has joined Mme. Olliphant in providing a dynamic French language learning at Seabury.
Music: Seabury’s unique music program allows students to explore concepts such as rhythm and movement. Lower school music teache, Jakob Breitbach, a local professional musician and teacher, encourages students to explore, create and perform both vocal and instrumental music. Twice a year, students showcase their learning in a performance for parents and the community.
Library: Seabury is a small school with an extensive, 11,000+ volume library collection thanks to our school librarian, Ms. Becky Young. Ms. Young is an expert in children’s literature, and is the children’s book reviewer for the News Tribune newspaper in Tacoma. In addition to helping children find books they will love from our large collection, Ms.Young teaches research and information-gathering skills, helping students access information from a variety of sources, including the Internet. Click here to view Ms. Young's library blog. In addition, Seabury's middle school partners with the Tacoma Public Library, and students visit the library weekly.
Arts at Seabury Middle School: Seabury's middle school students are immersed in a variety of experiences in the arts through partnerships with local organizations and artists.
All School Gathering: Once a week, the school gathers to honor student achievements, sing, and celebrate the talents of Seabury students through S.O.S., "Seabury on Stage." Gathering is a special time of coming together as a Seabury family.
Field Experiences: Seabury students often extend their learning through a variety of field trips and field learning experiences. Field study is at the core of Seabury's middle school program, where the community serves as an extension of the classroom. Intermediate grade students in Seabury's lower school program participate in an annual three-day trip to Olympic Park Institute at Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. Lower school students also work together to care for and learn from a "backyard habitat" in the backyard of Seabury's Media Center, that includes a native plant garden and a vegetable garden. Field trips enhance the curriculum by allowing students to go and “see for themselves” in the community.
After School Activities: The selection of after school activities offered varies depending on the interests of students. Clubs include Chess Club, Color Collisions watercolor class, drama, garage band, choir, Mad Science, Destination Imaginagion, and more. Seabury's Chess Club has been very successful and since 2005, members of its Chess Club have qualified to compete at the state chess tournament.