Lower School | Pre-K–Grade 4

Relationships matter deeply. Our experienced early childhood educators are not only experts in the classroom—they are caring partners who know how to connect with young children and their families to foster their sense of belonging. Small class sizes mean every child receives individual attention, with teachers, instructional assistants, and specialists working in close-knit small groups. Young children pair with our older students through our Pals program that meets once a month, and these friendships blossom into eager waves and big smiles as they cross paths on campus. Every child is seen and heard; every child gets exactly what they need.

Our Projects Curriculum is at the heart of this work—integrating science, social studies, the arts, and physical education into rich, hands-on investigations. Whether becoming historians in a living museum, scientists studying weather patterns, or engineers designing water filtration systems, students dive into topics that engage both their intellect and their imagination. This cross-curricular approach helps children see the world as an interconnected whole.

Small class sizes mean every child gets exactly what they need. Our workshop model for reading, writing, and mathematics allows the majority of learning to happen in small, targeted groups led by classroom teachers, instructional assistants, and learning specialists. Students benefit from individualized attention, targeted skill-building, and the confidence that comes from being known and supported.

Along the way, we help students develop public speaking skills in a developmentally appropriate way at every grade level—through activities such as sharing ideas in morning meeting and presenting project work to authentic audiences. Families are a student’s most authentic audience at this age, so at the end of major units of study, we invite families into the classroom for Celebrations of Learning so students can proudly share their discoveries, creations, and skills, making learning visible and building confidence in sharing their voices.

Lower School life is rounded out with Spanish, music, visual arts, physical education, and library and digital learning specials—all designed to inspire joyful learning and personal growth. Weekly Community Meetings bring our community together to share successes, celebrate each other, and strengthen our sense of belonging.

We believe in educating both minds and hearts. Our Social Emotional Curriculum is as important as reading, writing, and math, teaching students the skills to collaborate, show empathy, solve problems together, and be thoughtful, responsible members of our school community. Programs like Open Circle, Responsive Classroom, and our cross-grade Pals foster connection and belonging.