Specialty Classes

Our specialty classes are essential, enriching elements of the TK-8 curriculum, woven into each day.

Art, Physical Education, Music, Library, and Maker Education Classes complement students’ academic learning and encourage children to develop a creative outlook and out-of-the-box thinking. Students bring their unique imagination and abilities to each and every lesson.

Highlights From Our Specialty Classes

Art

Art at Hausner consists of three educational areas: Art History, Elements of Art, and Technique. Students explore diverse art styles and individual artists within their historical context; gain an understanding of important basics like line, shape, color, and balance; and develop their talent for creating their own art in a variety of mediums.

Students are asked essential questions that guide their art education over the course of the school year. In our lower school, we ask questions like: What do we use to make art? When did people begin making art? How has art changed throughout history? How do we tell stories through art?

In upper school, we ask: How does the evolution of technology affect art? How do Eastern and Western art differ? What is Jewish art, and what makes it Jewish? What is unique about Israeli art?

Physical Education

Hausner’s Physical Education activities promote a healthy attitude toward fun, fair play, and respectful interactions.

We emphasize sportsmanship and positive self-esteem while enhancing fitness skills and encouraging lifelong participation in individual or team sports.

Lower school students play a variety of team and individual sports, including basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, gaga, jump rope, dance, and gymnastics.

Upper school students participate in all of the above, along with ultimate frisbee, badminton, pickleball, and speedball. Upper school students also learn about the importance of nutrition and physical activity and their impact on the body and mind.

Library

Hausner’s Lehmann Library consists of over 15,000 volumes, intended to support and enhance the General Studies and Hebrew and Jewish Studies curriculum, as well as nurture and expand our students’ love of literature and reading. Students discover new worlds, and learn more about their world in the library – in books and online databases, in English and Hebrew.

In addition to general fiction and nonfiction, the library has a rich collection of Judaic picture books and nonfiction; and Hebrew picture books, chapter books, and nonfiction to serve all levels of Hebrew readers. Our library also has a dedicated reading room for our upper school students. Classes come to the library each week for lessons in library and research skills. Students are encouraged to check out books for pleasure reading as well as for school work.

Music

Hausner’s Music program is a unique dual-language, interdisciplinary and literature-based curriculum, primarily using the Orff-Schulwerk and Dalcroze Eurhythmics processes – which are hands-on, experiential and child-centered.

In music classes, students create, perform, respond, and connect using their voices and instruments from all over the world.

Upper school students are given the opportunity to learn an instrument of their choice or to join the school choir.

Maker Education

Maker Education is an innovative and integral part of the Hausner curriculum, which invites students to test out their most creative theories and ideas.

Students tackle hands-on projects and experiences that engage their curious minds and unique creative expression.

With a wide variety of tools and materials – like finger knitting, Legos, and laser cutting, just to name a few! – students develop lifelong skills, including collaboration, communication, perseverance, problem solving, and resilience.