Beginning & Lower School Quick Facts
Our Beginning and Lower School nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning through small class sizes, engaging homerooms, and a wide range of specialist-taught subjects. Key details about daily routines, teachers, learning spaces, and programs that support our youngest learners are outlined below.
Beginning School (Preschool & Kindergarten)
Homerooms
- Preschool student-teacher ratio of 20:2 + 1 teaching assistant
- In a typical year, Kindergarten student-teacher ratio of 19:1 + 1 teaching assistant
- On average, 20 students total in preschool and 38 students total in kindergarten
School Day
- 8:20 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Daily outdoor recess. Students explore campus, occasional local trips to nature areas and parks
- Daily choice to bring or purchase lunch
Teachers and Specialists
- Homeroom teachers: Literacy, Mathematics, Inquiry
- Specialist teachers: Woodshop, Music, Studio Art, Wellness, Library Skills
- Full-time counselor and literacy specialist
Conferences and Communications
- 3 parent-teacher conferences annually
- Written student reports biannually
- Weekly newsletters from homeroom and leadership
Learning Spaces
- Three large homerooms with distinct learning areas and kitchen
- Covered outdoor space and new dynamic playground
- Dedicated art studio, woodshop, music classroom, mini-gym, and library
Extended Day Program
- Before School runs from 7:20-8:20 a.m. (included in tuition)
- After School runs from 3:00-6:00 p.m. (additional cost)
Traditions
- Friday Sing (students and grownups), seasonal parades, Eagles Field Day, Heritage Day, Lantern Walk, Spring Fest
Lower School (Elementary Grades 1-5)
Homerooms
- In a typical year, student-teacher ratio of 21:1 + 1 TA and intern per grade
- Homeroom class sizes range from 20-23
- Two sections in each grade level
School Day
- 8:10 a.m.-3:10 p.m.
- Daily recess outdoors; day trips throughout the year; annual class trip, which may include an overnight stay (grades 3-5)
- Daily choice to bring own lunch or purchase school lunch
- Community meetings and small, mixed-grade advisory groups
Teachers and Specialists
- Homeroom teachers: Literacy, Mathematics, Social Studies
- Mandarin and Spanish teachers
- Specialist teachers: Art, Music, Science, Wellness, Woodshop, Technology, Library Skills, Tinkering
- Full-time counselor, learning specialist, math specialist, literacy specialist
Conferences and Communications
- 3 parent-teacher conferences annually, one student-led
- Written student reports biannually
- Community meetings
- Small, mixed-grade advisory groups
- Affinity groups for grades 3-5
- Weekly newsletters from homeroom and leadership
Learning Spaces
- Two large homerooms with distinct areas for learning activities per grade
- Art studio, music and language classrooms, science lab, woodshop, and library
- Dynamic playground and orchard
Technology
- Structured access to age-appropriate technology
- Emphasis on digital literacy, online safety, and responsible use
Extended Day Program
- Before School runs from 7:20-8:00 a.m. (included in tuition)
- After School runs from 3:10-6:00 p.m. (additional cost)
