The Child's Primary School (TCPS) A private school in San Diego for K-8 private education.

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The Big Event

Every year, our students and staff present a special program known to all as The Big Event. This program focuses attention on one area of the curriculum and culminates a year's study. Even though the program spotlights one area of the curriculum, we integrate all areas of study-from math to language arts to art-into the final production.

One of the rewarding elements of every event is the sense of community our children feel working in "cross-age" groups. Students from Kindergarten through Grade Eight work side-by-side, learning from and helping each other. The end result is an event that is truly the work of all the students.

The Big Event does not represent just a month or two of work, but reflects the year's focus on a particular theme. The students and staff love to keep the preparations a secret. On the day of The Big Event students are excited to share this major project, which always underscores that "children can and do!"

1985 - Our First Big Event presented artwork inspired by Rousseau, El Greco, Calder, and other artists. Poetry recitations included works by our students and by other better-known writers!

1990 - A Continental Journey was chosen to foster a better understanding of geography and one's sense of responsibility for the environment.

2002 - The #1 Big Event featured several plays based on numbers. Our 7th and 8th grade "authors in residence" wrote plays while the whole school created sets, scenery, and costumes for The Wizard of Odds, Whoville and the Inch, Ruler Hood and His Band of Measure Men.

2005 - Art Galleries Classrooms were transformed into art galleries that featured the individual and group art projects students worked on throughout the year. Paintings, ceramic tiles, sculptures, and totem poles were among the hundreds of items on display. There were solo and group vocal performances, as well as instrumental performances on the piano, saxophone, and violin.

So long as enthusiasm lasts, so long is youth still with us. David Starr Jordan