16661 Old Mill Road, Nevada City, CA 95959 • (530) 265-9052

Grizzly Hill School is a K-8 public school located in beautiful North Columbia. The school enjoys a family-like ambiance and is committed to a low student-teacher ratio with an average of 20 or fewer students per class. The student population hovers around 100 Kindergarten-Eighth grade students. Classrooms tend to be multi-graded depending on the student population. All classrooms have instructional assistants for 3 hours per day.

Grizzly Hill School values parent and community participation. The Site Council is very active in developing The Single Plan for Student Achievement as well as providing support and vision for school decisions.

The heart of the school is the school library. The library is lovely and boasts an impressive collection of over 14,000 books. Due to its rural setting and in keeping with its commitment to the community it serves, the District opens the library to the public each Tuesday after school between 3:00 to 6:00 PM.

The school offers a rich technology experience. Students in grades K-4 have daily access to a computer lab in the school library. Students in grades 5-8 use personal laptops in their classrooms. Teachers in grades 3-8 use Digital Edge technology to provide mobi instruction with student clickers, which allow instant response by students, instant feedback on teaching effectiveness, and an impressive selection of presentation curricula. Software includes SUCCESSMAKER, READ NATURALLY, ROSETTA STONE (Latin American Spanish), and ACCELERATED READER.

Social development is promoted through a variety of social curriculums including BEST (school-wide discipline), SECOND STEP (pro-social skill development), STEPS TO RESPECT (anti-bullying) and staff development with Non-Violent Communication.

A school garden is the focus for garden science and nutritional education. Students often “graze” in the garden after PE or after walking the school track, which is graded and surfaced to a high standard. An orchard was planted during the 2009-2010 school year and a butterfly garden and a and native plant garden were added to the campus.

Although the student population is small at around 100 students, the school has an active enrichment program. All students receive music instruction twice a week and PE instruction with a certificated PE teacher one day a week. Students in grades 2-4 enjoy Karate lessons once a week and students in grades 3-8 enjoy a choice of three electives every Friday, with current selections in singing, drama, cooking, dance, art, and study hall with their classroom teacher. Additionally, students in grades 3-8 participate in a ROPES course several days during the year. ROPES is a physical challenge course that teaches leadership and cooperation. Students in grades 3-4 participate twice each year. Students in grades 5-6 participate three-four times each year. And students in grades 7-8 participate seven times each year.

The seventh and eighth grade experience is unique at the school. Students have the opportunity not only to participate in ROPES but they also work on project based learning in partnership with Yuba River Watershed and a retired professor who is a naturalist.

The school supports a green focus and will transition to a 100% solar site by the 2010-2011 school year. The school is active in recycling and in minimalizing waste.