About Our Lower School
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The Academic Program 2009-2010 (printer friendly version)
Inspiration and Exploration
Once a week, our youngest learners are escorted through a flowered archway into our Story Cottage by a costumed librarian whose outfit matches the day's reading. It's a much-anticipated literary and visual adventure for the children, and it's just one way in which joy and inspiration guide our interactions with young learners.
Children are natural explorers, and our Lower School supports their inquiry by establishing a safe environment for questions and mistakes. By encouraging and supporting children's voices, confidence and curiosity grow, along with wisdom and an appetite for learning.
Caring for Each Child
Whether the child is four-years-old or a rising middle-schooler, we make it our business to challenge students to greater and greater achievement while responding to each child individually. Each classroom, pre-k to 4th grade, has a full-time teacher and a teaching assistant. By 5th grade, three assistants rotate between five classrooms.
Fun and Challenging Work
Our youngest students learn reading and writing-readiness skills, math, music, art, and physical education. By kindergarten, the curriculum is enriched with classes in French, Spanish, and keyboarding. The 4th and 5th grade curriculum expands to include Latin and Greek studies, and a band requirement. All grades participate in our Character Education Program.
We use the phonics-based Carden Method to teach children reading and spelling. Our Everyday Math Program, used in kindergarten through 5th grade, complements our commitment to make learning derive from actual materials and experiences.
An After-Care Program and Enrichment Classes are offered to all students enrolled in W.O.W. through 5th grade. As children progress through the Lower School, they enjoy an increasing array of after-school activities, from chess, to Jump Rope Club, to Art Club to drama and intramural sports.
Our rich, hands-on curriculum and our compassionate faculty succeed every day in exciting children's interests and desire to learn. When students leave our Lower School, they move into Middle School with the confidence to ask questions and the skills to find the answers.
