Academics: Lower School K-5

Welcome to the Lower School, where every day provides adventures in learning! In small, academically diverse classes, lower school teachers provide a warm and family-like setting where children feel safe to express themselves. Typically, classes are 10-14 students. Learning opportunities are found in every aspect of the lower school day—in classroom lessons, at recess, at lunch, in PE, and in social interactions. We focus on helping each child become a well-rounded, caring world citizen.

We begin every day with a group meeting. Students and teachers sing songs, share announcements, and discuss common concerns and current events. After morning meeting children disperse to self-contained classrooms where academic classes are taught at various times during the day. At 11:30 everyone reconvenes for Lower School lunch. This meal is served family style with a teacher heading a table of seven or eight students.

Each student receives instruction daily in Language Arts (reading, creative writing, report writing, and spelling), mathematics, science, and social studies. Physical education and fine arts also are scheduled daily.

Each year during mini-term (the three weeks between Thanksgiving and our winter break) we, as a school, examine a common theme cross-curricularly. Mini-term projects, activities, speakers, and performers bring students of all grade levels together for shared experiences. This year’s theme is Architecture.  Past mini-term themes include Japan, Oceans, Medieval Times, Puppetry, Diversity, and The Environment.