Lower School Program
The Lower School offers developmentally appropriate educational experiences for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Experienced teachers provide a strong background in language arts, math and social studies through hands-on, teacher-directed and student-centered lessons. Children are exposed to a variety of teaching methods such as experiential learning, cooperative learning, small group learning, and personalized programming. Class sizes are small with kindergarten typically enrolling 16 students and all other grades typically enrolling 18 students. Each child's day is also enriched with classes in science, physical education, Spanish, music, art, and library.
Character education is as important a component of the Lower School program as academics. The school day begins with Morning Meeting, a time for children to learn about and focus on the two virtues being studied each month of the school year. Virtues such as self-discipline, responsibility and compassion are fostered in a nurturing environment. Cultivating a spirit of service in the students begins at the Lower School. Students are encouraged to participate in both school-sponsored and individual service-oriented activities such as volunteering at the Central Missouri Food Bank and tutoring younger students.
In addition to daily classroom experiences, the entire student body benefits from monthly in-school Discovery Learning Presentations such as naturalists from the Runge Nature Conservation Center, storytellers, and a live hot air balloon launch. Students enjoy their own and outside choral and theater performances and annual celebrations such as the Read-a-Thon and Author's Tea. Students also participate in local and regional field trips as extensions of classroom learning. Children complete the Lower School with a belief in themselves and with a desire to actively participate in their own educational development.
Lower School Curriculum (all subjects studied daily unless otherwise noted)
| Reading |
| Written Expression |
| Spelling |
| Math |
| Science* |
| Social Studies |
| Practical Life Skills |
| Physical Education (three times a week) |
| Spanish* |
| Music* |
| Art* |
| Library (once a week) |
*Specialists in these areas work with each class twice a week for an hour
Typical Daily Schedule
| "Breakfast" for Your Brain (optional critical and creative thinking activities for students dropped off prior to the start of school) | 7:30-8:05 |
| Morning Meeting | 8:05-8:25 |
| Morning Classes | |
| K-1 Lunch and Recess (all students bring lunch from home) | 11:30-12:10 |
| 2-3, 4-5 Lunch and Recess (all students bring lunch from home) | 12:00-12:40 |
| Afternoon Classes | |
| Dismissal | 3:15 |
