The Pioneers include students in 4th and 5th grade.  Academically, the Pioneer curriculum follows the Georgia Standards of Excellence.  A Student Learning Profile (SLP) is developed for each student and updated throughout the school year. Parent /Teacher conferences are scheduled in the fall and spring to update parents on students’ academic and social progress.  

  • The math curriculum for the Pioneers is taken from the Georgia Standards of Excellence. Academic content is taken from different online and text resources.  IXL is used for progress monitoring and the content is modified to fit the needs of individual students.
  • For reading and language arts, the Pioneers use the Smarter Intervention Reading and writing program. This program allows us to evaluate the student’s individual strengths and needs and match the activities to their academic level. 
  • The Pioneers will be working with a handwriting program based on the Handwriting Without Tears program.  Handwriting will be incorporated into the weekly language arts curriculum.
  • The Pioneers will be working on a 4.5-week rotation of social studies and science.  The social studies curriculum will be community based with students focusing on learning about their home and school communities.  The science curriculum will be based on earth science, biology, and physical science with students being given opportunities for hands-on experiences.
  • The Pioneers will participate in different age-appropriate field trips throughout the year.  These field trips will support students’ academic and social learning.  In the fall, the Pioneers will join the Navigators for the annual white water rafting trip, and in the spring we will be taking our overnight trip to Lake Burton. Throughout the year other trips will be planned to allow the Pioneers to interact in the community and to support academic content being covered.  Each month the Pioneers will participate in different community-based giving activities and trips.
  • All Pioneers receive direct instruction weekly in social skills and executive function, with daily support as needed from our counseling department.  Students will receive specific instruction in basic manners and dining etiquette.
  • Pioneers also have a community skills program. The purpose of the community skills, or community-based instruction, program for our Pioneer students is to learn appropriate social and life skills in the community. Students will work on skills practiced and taught at school. While in the community students will work on budgeting and math activities and making appropriate and safe choices. Some days in the community will include going out somewhere for lunch. Students will have to speak appropriately with restaurant staff and personnel.
  • The Pioneers participate in a peer mentoring program.  Students will be paired with one of our high school students based on their mutual interests.  This program will be supervised by our counseling staff and students will meet with their mentor at least twice per month.