LOWER SCHOOL

Our Model: 
Our Lower School program cultivates effective communicators, problem solvers, and faith-filled students by laying a strong foundation in academic excellence, character development, and spiritual growth. With a focus on fostering a supportive and inclusive community, we ensure that each child feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

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Our Approach to Learning: 
In addition to core academic subjects, Lower School students engage in cultural arts, athletics, performing and visual arts, Spanish, and technology, all promoting the development of critical and independent thinking skills.  Rooted in faith, our instruction draws from the most current research-based strategies to engage students and foster a love of learning.

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In Kindergarten through Second Grade, students build a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy. Our curriculum focuses on developing essential reading, writing, and mathematical skills through engaging and interactive lessons. 

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• In a language-rich environment, students learn the foundational skills of language arts: to read fluently, comprehend texts, and express themselves clearly in writing. Systematic phonics, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategies are emphasized to ensure each child becomes a confident and proficient reader and writer. 

• In mathematics, fundamental concepts, fact fluency, and problem-solving skills are developed through hands-on activities to build number sense, basic operations, patterns, and spatial relationships. 

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In the Third and Fourth Grades, students' skills are deepened as they transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," becoming critical thinkers who draw upon concepts and content across multiple subject areas. 

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• Students combine rich, diverse knowledge in history, science, literature, and the arts with systematic learning while reinforcing foundational language arts skills. As students write for a variety of purposes and across genres, they develop increasing competence in written expression.

• In mathematics, students build conceptual understanding, procedural skills, computational fluency, and application to real-world situations.

• Explicit instruction and practice of organization, management, and study skills reinforce the habits of mind and heart that lay a solid foundation for authentic lifelong learning.

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All students from kindergarten through fourth grade participate in religion classes, where they learn about the core tenets of our Catholic faith, explore biblical stories, and understand the importance of compassion and kindness. These classes are designed to be interactive and engaging, helping students connect spiritual teachings to their daily lives.