Lower School

The Lower School, comprised of Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 through 5, offers a traditional curriculum of reading, composition, mathematics, science, social studies, Spanish, Physical Education and enrichment classes.  The Lower School curriculum focuses on the mastery of fundamental skills in the academic subjects.  Students are given opportunities to apply these skills in group projects and creative activities, which encourage them to communicate learned concepts with self-confidence.  Teachers assign children homework to strengthen and reinforce daily classroom lessons.

Students visit the library weekly to participate in literature-based activities that foster a love of reading and build general knowledge.  They also learn to use library resources effectively. As the children mature and progress, besides checking out books to read for pleasure, students learn basic research techniques.  They locate information and organize their findings into oral presentations and written reports.

Students study Spanish in 1st through 5th grades, training the ear to comprehend spoken Spanish and acquiring a good accent. While attending Spanish classes three times a week, children develop vocabulary and learn gender, numbers, pronouns, introduction, and basic dialogue. In the 3rd through 5th grades, students study conjugation and grammar.

Physical Education classes and athletic activities form a regular part of the daily schedule. Students build self-confidence and an appreciation of teamwork as they develop motor skills. Formal activities beginning in 3rd grade are designed to teach fundamental instruction and sportsmanship, together with encouraging physical fitness and positive recreational pursuits.

Enrichment programs, including Christian Education, Computer, Music, Art , and  Outdoor Education are also integral parts of our Lower School curriculum.

The 5th grade is a transition year preparing students to progress to the middle school.  The links below provide course outlines in PDF file format for the various subjects taught at the 5th grade level.  If you cannot access the outlines, you may need to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.