LOWER PRIMARY

Our Lower Primary (Years 1–3) classrooms are lively and active spaces that respect and reflect the social, emotional, and cognitive needs of young learners. From the start of the school year, we strive to become a community that works and plays together, respects differences, and tackles challenges. We offer students a balance of individual, small group, and whole group learning experiences.

Each day begins and ends with a group meeting during which important daily routines are established. Opportunities arise throughout the day for students to make decisions, imagine creative approaches to challenges, and contribute to solving problems. We celebrate moments of individual accomplishment, and the satisfaction that comes from working together toward a common goal. We structure both formal and informal activities for cross-age interaction in and out of the classroom on a regular basis.

English Language Art

The goal of our English Language Arts (ELA) and literacy program is to enable students to confidently and fluently express themselves in spoken and written English, as well as instill in them a lifelong love of reading. Our students build a strong foundation for reading through the language skills of phonemic awareness, phonics, and word analysis. Coursework includes reading age-appropriate books to build students’ comprehension, develop their abilities to make predictions about text, and enable them to respond to questions before, during, and after reading.

Mathematics

Our mathematics program provides our students with the foundation in number sense and basic mathematical concepts necessary for success both in upper-level mathematics courses and analytical problem-solving throughout life. Both the fundamentals of arithmetic and more complex concepts like geometric shapes and figures, measurement concepts, and how to read data representations are covered through hands-on projects, iPad learning, and guided interaction with older peers.

Social Studies

Our social studies program cultivates in our students an understanding of both their local community and the world as a whole, as well as a deep love of investigation and exploration into their own culture, others’ cultures, and all that defines civilization. Through reading and responding to social studies text, social studies coursework will reinforce the literacy skills developed in ELA coursework.

Science

Our science program draws upon the natural curiosity of children to guide them in a critical exploration of our natural and physical world, including flora and fauna, geology, the elements, and space. Our students learn through interaction, experimentation, and application of scientific concepts, and will reinforce the literacy skills developed in ELA coursework by reading and responding to scientific texts.