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Lower School

Our Lower School is known for excellent academics, personalized attention for each student, and strong partnerships between parents, teachers, students and staff. We focus on social-emotional learning by providing an environment where students feel safe and are motivated and ready to learn.

Our Lower School learning outcomes were designed to meet the unique needs and passions of gifted students.

Transitional Kindergarten: Students practice spelling and simple grammar, engage in hands-on math activities, develop fine and gross motor skills, use scientific vocabulary, learn different uses for technology, express themselves creatively through art and music, and develop important social-emotional skills.

Kindergarten: Kindergartners build reading comprehension skills, express ideas using complete sentences, understand number sense and reasoning, study community helpers, solve problems using the scientific method, explore various art techniques, play musical instruments, practice Spanish vocabulary, and participate in sports and games.

1st Grade: Students expand their reading and writing skills, learn numbers and quantities up to 100, explore geography, participate in science experiments and explain outcomes, learn about art history, develop an appreciation for Spanish culture and language, practice identifying rhythmic patterns, use robotic technology, and demonstrate knowledge of fitness concepts and skills.

2nd Grade: Students refine reading comprehension skills, practice public speaking, begin to study multiplication and division, learn about continents and geographic terminology, explore electricity and magnetism, use Spanish vocabulary with peers, describe mixed-media artwork, learn about composers, build robots using engineering concepts, and develop teamwork and gross motor skills.

3rd Grade: Students read with appropriate pacing and intonation, write multi-paragraph reports, use formulas to solve geometric problems, study the regions of California, recognize spatial relationships in visual art, practice Spanish verb conjugation, compose own music, practice typing on a keyboard, and understand the need for strategy in sports.

4th Grade: Students read fiction and non-fiction stories, write essays, solve algebraic and geometric equations, learn about early American colonies, explore photosynthesis, further develop own art style, describe self using Spanish vocabulary, reconstruct musical sounds, engage in inquiry-based technology projects, and understand how exercise and fitness play a role in their health.

5th Grade:  Students draw conclusions based upon literary evidence, write and edit thesis statements, understand number theory and fractions, explore prehistoric Southwest cultures, learn about parts of the Earth and types of rocks, develop own ideas and perceptions about art, engage in a multi-sensory Spanish curriculum, create music using modern technology, program and build a Mars lander, and show proficiency in various physical activities.