Academics

Lower School

Lower School: Grades 1-4

Country School celebrates the exuberant curiosity of children. We believe true understanding is acquired when children have time to experiment, converse and create. 

Engagement, Curiosity, Motivation and Hard Work

In Lower School, our students are developing focus and self-control. They are capable of a higher level of academic challenge while still experiencing the joy and wonder of learning. Our curriculum builds upon the foundational skills of literacy and computation through the exploration of literature, math, science, social studies and Spanish.  
 
Just as important, through the use of class discussion, teachable moments and individual attention, our faculty helps students negotiate their budding social, emotional and behavioral growth.

Introduction, Practice, Mastery

Teachers intentionally design hands-on experiences and direct lessons to provoke thinking, engage conversations, foster relationships and connect ideas and concepts.
 
In Lower School, students continue to practice and master foundational skills while tackling more difficult concepts in deeper, more advanced levels of the same subject or in different situations in new subject matter.
 
Our subject-specific curricular objectives in the Lower School include:  
 
  • Language Arts: Learn to read effectively and write skillfully through a balanced approach that combines literature and phonics instruction.
  • Mathematics: Learn math concepts using hands-on materials before being introduced to the corresponding abstract algorithms. Students use geometry, surveys, graphing, games and everyday problem-solving to make mathematics relevant to them.
  • Science: Explore a variety of scientific fields, learning to observe and investigate the world around them.
  • History and World Culture: Study cultural traditions, history, celebrations and stories which are integrated to complement social studies curriculum.
  • Art/Music: Engage in movement, song and instrument play and begin to lay the groundwork for music literacy and aural skills. Older children play recorders and Orff instruments , sing in weekly chorus and are introduced to traditional band instruments. 
  • Foreign Language: Continue the study of Spanish, which is integrated into stories, songs, games and skits. 

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Meaghan Mallin

    Meaghan Mallin 

    Head of Lower School
    Bio

Mrs. Mallin's Corner

  • Hopes and Dreams in Lower School

    by Meagan Mallin, Head of Lower School
    What a wonderful beginning we have shared! It has been a pleasure to welcome your children into our spaces and to have our classrooms and hallways properly buzzing with the joyful laughter and excited chatter of children.
     
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  • The Starfish Story: Making a Difference

    by Head of Lower School Meaghan Mallin
    At a recent assembly, I shared The Starfish Story with your children. For anyone unfamiliar, the story (adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley), goes like this:
     
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  • The Gift is in the Giving

    Head of Lower School Meaghan Mallin
    I wanted to share our latest Lower School community project with you, as we will be carrying it out in these weeks before break. If you have been to LS assembly, you have likely noticed that we always open our gathering with important messaging of community. We talk overtly about what it means to be kind, how we can practice gratitude, and what it means to be our best selves.
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  • Only One You Project Rocks Lower School

    Meaghan Mallin, Head of Lower School

    Lower School has engaged in an inspiring and dynamic community-building project that quite literally rocks. This project, stemmed from the book Only One You, by Linda Kranz, has culminated with the creation of a meaningful and child-centered Lower School rock garden, which has our mission at its heart.

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  • Grade 1 Immersions – Beginning with Mindfulness

    Meaghan Mallin, Head of Lower School

    Immersions is a new curricular initiative for our Grade 1 students designed to offer enrichment learning experiences and a deeper-dive into aspects of our program. 
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  • Making Maker Comes Alive in Grade 1

    Meaghan Mallin, Head of Lower School

    Innovative, hands-on, challenging, and engaging. These are just a few of the words that can be used to describe the Grade 1 Maker Program.
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Lower School News