Lower School
The Lower School at Saint Stephen’s includes programs for children ranging from three years to grade 3. Three-year-olds attend Saint Stephen’s Fledgling Falcons program, a pre-school designed to provide hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities for younger children. Students learn through discovery as they experience all the senses in a curriculum that addresses individual needs, personalities, and different learning styles. Our goal is to provide a language-rich environment through a thematic curriculum involving books, music, art, and play.
Fledgling Falcons teachers strive to foster a sense of safety, self-esteem, competency and respect in their young students. Positive social interactions are encouraged through sharing, cooperating, and communicating. Children are taught to celebrate cultural diversity inside and outside of the classroom.
Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten the Lower School curriculum focuses on developing fundamental skills in language arts, mathematics, social studies and science through learning projects and activities designed to encourage the natural imagination and curiosity of young students.
Lower School students learn early that community service is valued. Children visit nursing homes, go to guide dog school, and donate gifts for the needy during the holidays. School culture is also enhanced with special celebrations, such as Halloween Hootenanny, Lessons and Carols and Dads Make a Difference Day. Academic field trips and Lower School chapel enrich the learning process.
During the last two weeks of each school year, classrooms are transformed into new educational environments that help each student gain a deeper understanding of a specific subject. For example, students become astronauts as they learn about space exploration amongst hand-made planets, a room-sized rocket ship, and a star tunnel. The fully integrated curriculum encourages a love of learning that will endure as children reach the Intermediate, Middle, Upper School, and beyond.
Families who begin their relationships with Saint Stephen’s at the Lower School level realize early that they are members of a safe, caring neighborhood. Parents are encouraged to be on campus, and students often do not want to leave when the day is over.
