K - 9th Grade Program

At The Beaches School, the elementary and middle school curriculum use the state standards and state adopted textbooks as a guideline. Standardized testing is used as one measure of promotional criteria. The CTBS (Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills) is administered in grades 2nd – 5th and the SAT (Stanford Achievement Test) is administered in the middle school. Other promotional criterion consists of report card grades and teacher judgment.

From the moment you walk through the door you get the feeling of a friendly atmosphere that has your child’s best interest at heart. At The Beaches School, we want you to know that your child matters.

 

Children thrive in a school that focuses attention on their individual needs. Small class sizes, of ten to fifteen students, allows teachers to customize their teaching strategies to better meet the needs

of all students. Students are encouraged to advance through the curriculum as they are ready.

That means that we adjust the curriculum to meet the needs of the child.

 

A tour of The Beaches School would reveal many students working at various levels within a classroom, a literature-rich environment, a hands-on approach to learning, an emphasis on the arts, mathematics and science, and a technology lab with the latest digital programs and instruction.

A happy school environment is important in the social and emotional development of children. Children who love coming to school have less stress and achieve more during their day. A small private school setting provides children opportunities to develop close personal relationships with other students as well as with staff. It also promotes more opportunities for leadership and classroom participation.

 

We feel that physical growth and development plays an integral part in a child’s education. A daily recess and fitness program is offered to achieve a healthy lifestyle. After school athletic programs including cheerleading are available to upper elementary students according to the child’s interests and abilities.

 

The Beaches School recognizes that students enter middle school with a wide range of academic talents, interests and personalities.

 

It is important to recognize the middle school as a bridge to high school. We work with students in all areas of their development. A firm social, emotional, physical and academic foundation is necessary to produce a happy, productive high school student.

 

Our academic program is designed to get students excited about learning. The Beaches School offers an in-depth academic program that broadens and builds on a student’s knowledge base and challenges critical thinking skills. The academics are rigorous and the expectations are high, yet learning is easy when information is presented in a way that is real and involves the student in the learning process.

 

Small class sizes allow teachers to individualize instruction. We find that many of our students are able to work through state standards at an accelerated pace. Our focus is to exceed state standards and challenge each student to reach their full potential.

 

Students attend daily technology classes where they learn programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point. Instruction is given in basic operation skills, researching, data analysis, statistical methods and organization of data.

 

Along with our daily physical education program, The Beaches School offers an athletic program, which includes soccer, basketball and cheerleading. Our school is part of the Christian School Conference and we play other area schools of similar size. All students are encouraged to participate.

Our Staff:

Mrs. Lucy Schnellbacher was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida.  She graduated from Bishop Kenny High School and the University of North Florida.  She has been teaching for 11 years, 8 of which have been here at The Beaches School!

Mrs. Schnellbacher and her husband, Jason, have 2 daughters.  She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cheering on her daughters in gymnastics and soccer, and going to Starbucks whenever possible!

Ms. Amanda Grainger is beginning her 2nd year as a teacher.  She grew up in Asheville, NC and then moved to Charlotte, NC in 2002 to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She graduated in 2006 with a degree in Public Relations.  She quickly realized that was not the career path for her and went back to school in 2008 to pursue a degree in education. 

Ms. Grainger moved to Florida about a month ago and is so far enjoying her new life in the Sunshine State.

She was a cheerleader in high school and college and strives to bring that enthusiasm into the classroom.  She has a terrier mutt named Peppers and loves the colors pink and green.


Mrs. Kristina Takacs was born in Silverspring, Maryland, but grew up in Jacksonville, FL.  She got her Associate's Degree at the University of Tampa and her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Phoenix.  She taught reading at Forrest High School before coming to The Beaches School.

Mrs. Takacs is married and has 3 boys whom all attend The Beaches School.

Mrs. Angela Spears is a new addition to The Beaches School as a middle grade teacher.  She has her degree and certification in Mathematics Education from the University of Central Florida. 

Mrs. Spears lives in Jacksonville Beach with her husband and 4 children.  Being a native of Jacksonville Beach, she loves going to the beach to hunt for shells and/or go fishing.

 

Ms. MerraLee Block is new to our school this year and has told us how excited she is to be working in our middle school. Her background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Jacksonville University, a Master of Science from Nova University, a Florida License in Mental Health Counseling, and a certification as a Florida Supreme Court Family Law Mediator. Her prior Florida certifications in teaching include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle School Mathematics and Guidance. She brings with her over twenty-five years of teaching experience in grades ranging from first through community college. MerraLee has three wonderful grown sons.

Mrs. Stephanie Adams is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She moved to Jacksonville in January with her  husband when he got stationed at NS Mayport. She graduated in 2007, at Jefferson State Community College, with an associate in Child Development and an Associate in School Age Education. In 2010,Mrs.Adams graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education. She has 4 years of experience teaching 4K, Kindergarten, and First Grade. She was also a co-supervisor of an afterschool program grades K-8th. This is her first year working at The Beaches School.