School Life
Our facilities: a campus designed for learning and play
ECJ | PlayPen has always been a cutting-edge school, and this is reflected as much in the surrounding as in the curriculum.
Our school, designed by renowned architects Isay Weinfeld and Márcio Kogan, offers a series of smart and functional solutions designed specifically so the environment supports the process of teaching and learning.
Our large early years rooms have sliding glass doors that integrate indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a feeling of openness and maximizing natural light. The patio has a free-span design which makes the space safe for children to play and run about freely. Inside the school, gently angled ramps interconnect all floors for increased accessibility for all and to make a safer environment for younger children, who do not need to use the stairs.
Outdoor learning and play
Spending time outdoors in play is essential for good health, better social skills and increased motor development.
Our early years students have a dedicated patio with trees, grass, climbing walls, slides and a hygienic blue sand pit.
Elementary school students can spend their outdoor time in a hanging garden, a soccer/basketball court and a covered area with a climbing wall, ping pong and foosball tables, a jump rope station, a hopscotch area, and seating.
Our middle and high school students spend time on our roof terrace which enjoys a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The terrace has a sunny seating area, a covered seating area, a giant chessboard, and a soccer/basketball/volleyball court.
The school library
Our extensive library is open to everyone at school, from our youngest children to our high school students.
Little ones go to the library once a week with their teachers to enjoy self-directed exploration of children’s books, followed by story time. From early years 4, students can begin ‘checking out’ a book each week, this is considered ‘homework’ at this age.
From early years 5 and through elementary years, children go to the library twice a week, once during Portuguese hours and once during English hours. They check one book out in each language every week.
From first grade we use leveled readers in English, to help develop reading skills. As each individual student masters the level, the teacher approves them to move on to the next level. This way, each student can advance at their own pace.
Our older students can use the library to study, read a book during downtime, play chess, and conduct research for projects.
