Lower School

Serving 18 Months to Grade 4

Every child is different, bringing a trove of special gifts to our school. Our Lower School program strives to partner with families to cultivate each child’s uniqueness. To meet the different needs of families and students, the Lower School is divided into two programs: the Pre-Primary Section and the Primary Section.

Pre-Primary Section Programs (18 months – Age 5)

This section of the Lower School emphasizes the development of the whole child. It is believed that children learn best when they are actively involved in a nurturing environment which is responsive to their varying needs and focuses on their development – social, emotional, physical, and intellectual. Skills and abilities are promoted through developmentally appropriate, child-centered activities that allow each student to explore, investigate, communicate, and problem solve. Through this process, children develop a love of learning. The three half-day programs within this section include:

Early Childhood

This program provides as environment where students 18 months – 3 years can grow and develop. Our teachers stimulate skill improvement through myriad approaches and strive to document progress through detailed records and digital photographs. The curriculum gives students the opportunity to learn and grow at their own pace with both three and five-day options available. Classroom space is available in a home-like setting near our main building or on main campus in close proximity to our Montessori and pre-Kindergarten classrooms.

Montessori

Our classic Montessori program provides students age 3 – 5 years with the opportunity to learn in an experiential environment within a mixed age group of children. Harkening to the honored philosophies of Maria Montessori, our program allows students the opportunity to cultivate a love of learning through collaborative work, exploration, and multi-sensory approaches to pre-reading and group play.

Traditional Pre-K

A more traditional alternative to Montessori, our Pre-K programs provide students age 3 – 5 the chance to hone skills and explore their interests in a structured environment within a contained classroom of same-aged children. From language processing to numerical understanding, our students use their newly burgeoning social skills to investigate topics in preparation for Kindergarten.

Primary Section Programs (Kindergarten/Montessori Kindergarten – Grade 4)

This section of the Lower School emphasizes an increased love of learning through a variety of concrete, hands-on experiences. Increased independent, collaboration, self exploration, self-discovery, risk taking, and more advanced reasoning/critical thinking skills are the hallmarks of the primary section. The curriculum provides developmentally appropriate academic and social opportunities designed to nurture, challenge, and engage each learner. The programs/grades within this section include:

Traditional Kindergarten/Montessori Kindergarten

Families have a choice of two developmentally appropriate full-day programs for five year olds.  (Please see the sections above describing the two different educational philosophies available to students.) Children are taught by a lead teacher and collaborative teacher who are well-versed in best practices, research, and methods to help each child succeed in a premier educational program.

Grades 1-4

Reading, language arts, science, math, and social studies are taught within these self-contained classrooms. Children are taught by a lead teacher, collaborative teacher, and specials teachers in foreign language, art, music, movement/physical education, library, and swimming. A specialized science teacher in grades 3 and 4 and laboratory with greenhouse enhance the core curriculum of the Lower School.  Throughout these grades students develop independence and key critical thinking skills that will prepare them well for the increased demands of Middle School.

 

Extended Day Programs

Country Day has a variety of programs that extend beyond the typical school day to help meet the demands of busy families. These programs include Extended A.M., Lunch Option, Extended P.M., After School, and Enrichment Clubs. For more information visit our Extended Day page.