Academics
Using thematic units, our staff incorporates interdisciplinary and interconnected lesson plans from social studies to mathematics to language arts to science. Students are taught skills not in isolation, but in a way that encourages critical thinking and creative problem solving.
Fine Arts
Unlike many schools that concentrate
solely on children's academic growth, we recognize the
need for a balance in children's lives. In addition
to a strong academic base, we provide students with
a variety of arts and cultural experiences. For children
who are interested, we offer violin & cello lessons
as part of our instructional program. We also provide,
on campus, access to one of Oak Cliff's premier piano
instructors, Mrs. Paralee Curry. Mrs. Curry provides
instruction on campus twice a week for students whose
parents have made financial arrangements with her.
Our
visual arts program is experientially rich with heavy
cross-curricular emphasis. Students learn the objectives
of art through creative experiences and varied mediums.
Projects often connect to classroom themes and studies
of the social science, world cultures and literature.
Thematic projects are considered in historical and critical
significance and include studies of famous artists,
works of art and styles.
Physical Education
Kessler School students also receive physical education
twice a week. Physical education at The Kessler School
is not your average recess. Instead, students are required
to dress appropriately for vigorous exercise and participation
in both team and individual sports. Students begin with
an appropriate warm and stretch that includes calisthenics,
jogging and other aerobic activities. We provide instruction
in nutrition, individual and team sports and knowledge
of body mechanics to develop students who are fit for
life.
Spirituality
Most importantly, The Kessler School provides a culture
of community and respect. Beginning in our PreK Level I (3 & 4 yr olds) classes, students are taught how to communicate
with their "friends". Students are taught
to use their words to communicate emotions and to care
for each other's needs. As students mature, classes
discuss how friends help each other to be successful
and eventually how to help their fellow men & women.
School-wide service projects, as well as class and individual
projects in the upper grades, provide students with
the awareness of those in need around them and empower
students to use their unique skills and abilities to
help.
The Kessler School also provides bi-monthly chapel services
for our K-4 students with attention to non-sectarian spiritual growth in
an environment that fosters compassion and respect for
a diverse range of religious beliefs.
Spanish Language Instruction
Rounding out our education of the whole child is an
emphasis on the acquisition of the Spanish language.
All students are exposed to the Spanish language, both
written and spoken, on a daily basis. ALL Students receive daily Spanish instruction that begins
with vocabulary development and moves on to verb conjugation,
conversation and written communication. Our goal is
that students who attend The Kessler School (Preschool through 4th Grade) will be well versed in both
oral and written communications in the Spanish language.
Class Ratios
Facilitating children's well-rounded growth requires
a lot of individual attention to students' needs and
strengths. Our small class sizes allow our teachers
to spend quality time and provide quality education,
tailored to the needs of each child. As you can see
from our class ratios listed below, we are serious about
knowing our students.
• PreK Level I (3 & 4 year olds) - 10:1
• PreK Level II (4 & 5 year olds) - 14:1
• Kindergarten - 14-16:1
• Grades 1-4 - 14-16:1
our
story
begins
in 1964... more than 40 years ago when The Kessler Park
United Methodist Church began a Day School with Ms. Bertha
Mae Cox as its first teacher/ director. Her assistant,
and later the director, was Betty Zumwalt. Over
the years, young families in Oak Cliff came to rely
on the Day School for their children's preschool education.
In pursuit of the highest possible educational standards,
families began moving from the neighborhood, or would
make a lengthy drive away from the neighborhood, thinking
that was the only educational alternative. In 1999 a
group of parents, who were not willing to move, joined
together to begin The Kessler School. The rest, you
could say, is history!
Under
the current leadership of Gayla Dobbins, her outstanding
faculty, and with our NAEYC (National Association of
the Education of Young Children) Accreditation covering our early childhoood offerings (up to age 8), then our SACS/CASI (Southern Association of Colleges & Schools) Accreditation covering our elementary to grade 4 offerings, The Kessler
School is poised to produce well-educated and balanced
children who are prepared for success in education and
living.
We
invite you to join us in our journey.
our
future
North
Oak Cliff has needed a quality, independent private
school to keep families in the area throughout their
children’s educational years. In cooperation with
Kessler Park UMC this vision is now a reality. With
the additional support of the larger community, the
vision of an outstanding school is destined for success.
neighborhood
The
Kessler School is located in the beautifully treed,
rolling hills of Kessler Park in North Oak Cliff --
just minutes from Downtown Dallas. This neighborhood
has been described as a throwback from times when neighbors
really knew each other, cared about each other's children
and worked together for the betterment of their surrounding
community.
The
Kessler School is building a community within the school
through a variety of activities: community service projects, holiday programs, celebrations, parent education and involvement, teacher training, field day, back-to-school events, regular PTO meetings, fundraising and social opportunities.
