Specialist Programs
Physical Education
All students receive direct instruction for thirty-forty-five minutes once a week. The time allotted for each content area is age appropriate. PE instruction includes: social development, movement skills & movement knowledge, self-image, personal development and health. With community and parental support, physical education is able to expand beyond the general program. Through partnerships and volunteerism, we are able to offer a bicycling program, tennis, work with the UCSB women's basketball team, golfing, track and field, lacrosse, and more. Our bike certified teacher is amazing!
For more information about our PE program, click here.
Design Center
All students will receive instruction for forty-five minutes to 60 minutes weekly in the Design Center. Students will create innovative projects. Many projects such as light boxes are part of a collaboration between the Art, Music, PE, and Design (AMPeD).
Students may complete projects using word-processing and Internet skills with the use of peripherals such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, scanners, laser printers, 3-D printers, and appropriate design programs such as Tinker cad.
For more information about our design program, click here.
Fine Arts
All TK through sixth grade students receive weekly formal art instruction for thirty to forty-five minutes. Adams art program projects build skills from year to year. Projects have varying entry points for students with different skill levels and experience.
For more information about our art program, click here.
Music
All TK-6th grade students receive weekly formal music instruction. All TK-2nd grade students receive formal vocal instruction. All 3rd grade students are taught how to play the recorder once a week. All 4th grade students have violin music lessons once a week. All 5th and 6th grade students have instrumental music lessons once a week. 5th and 6th grade students select an instrument from a menu.
All 5-6th grade students are invited to participate in the SBUSD’s Bravo program every Tuesday and Thursday beginning in October from 3:10-4:30pm at Adams.
We are excited to bring back the after-school theater club after school. The club is run by the Music Teacher, Elizabeth Callahan and Asher Hammer. This includes weekly rehearsals with a Spring performance. The club is open to all students in grades 2-6. There is a small fee but scholarships are available and the fee can be waived. Look for more information in the December Principal's message for details.
2025 Production: Space Pirates Produced by Abigail Pryor and Karen Dutton
2024 Production: Imagine a Dragon Produced by Abigail Pryor, Asher Hammer, and Karen Dutton
Technology
We currently have a 1:1 ipad program for grades 3-6. All iPads remain in the classroom and are not sent home. The Transitional Kindergarten through second grade classrooms contain ipads to support small group rotations. Every Kindergarten-6th grade classroom is equipped to support student engagement with a 60 inch LC Television, Apple TV, document camera and an iPad tablet.
We strictly follow the SB Unified School District policy entitled "Off and Away". Phones must be in backpacks from the moment students step foot on campus to the moment they are dropped off at the bus stop or picked up by their family.
Field Trips
Field trips provide students with experiential learning aligned with the academic standards. In order to participate in field trips, students must submit a permission slip signed by his or her parent or guardian.
GATE
Adams has a site-based Gifted and Talented Education program for all students of exceptional ability, including those identified by the District GATE test given each winter to second grade students and older student by request. We do not have program that separates students. Instead, at Adams, students receive differentiated instruction on a daily basis, especially in language arts and mathematics.
GARDEN
Our Outdoor garden instruction occur in 5-8 week cycles. Grade levels cycle through the garden. In this way, teachers can select a schedule for their class to align with earth science and life science modules from FOSS. Thanks to the generous contributions of the PTA!