Lower School

Rooted in the Project Approach—a progressive model developed by Lilian Katz and Sylvia Chard—our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding through real-world, hands-on investigations. Students engage in meaningful, multi-disciplinary projects that reflect their interests and expand their thinking.

Whether they are researching the life cycle of butterflies, designing sustainable cities, or writing and presenting persuasive arguments, students take ownership of their learning in a way that feels authentic and empowering.

Core subjects are taught through dynamic workshops that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and student voice. These learning experiences are thoughtfully designed to strike a balance between academic rigor and developmental appropriateness, with specialized educators providing individualized instruction tailored to each child’s learning profile and strengths.

At St. Anne’s School, academic excellence is inseparable from social and emotional learning. Our educators are trained in the Responsive Classroom approach and integrate SEL into every aspect of the school day. Students are guided to reflect on their learning, navigate relationships with empathy, and develop essential life skills, including collaboration, self-regulation, and resilience.

Morning Meetings set a positive tone for learning and create a sense of belonging within the classroom community. Teachers model empathy, curiosity, and integrity—Core Values that become lived experiences for our students. As a result, our Lower School learners grow not just in what they know, but in who they are.

Grounded in our Episcopal tradition, Lower and Upper School students gather for monthly chapels that nurture reflection, inclusivity, and student voice.

Our Values of the Heart—Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Kindness—and our Values of the Mind—Critical Thinking, Self-Awareness, Principled Action, and Effective Communicators—guide every aspect of the program.

Leadership at St. Anne’s School begins early. In Lower School, students regularly step into the spotlight—for performance and for purpose. Each week, students from Kindergarten through Fourth Grade lead the Lower School Morning Meeting, presenting their recent research, creative work, or classroom discoveries in front of peers, teachers, parents, and staff. These moments nurture confidence, build communication skills, and teach students that their voice has value.

Even our youngest learners have opportunities to shine. Each winter, Kindergarten students perform in the Friendly Beasts Play, a time-honored tradition that offers leadership on the big stage while strengthening teamwork, confidence, and joy in shared performance.

Students also participate in service learning projects that help them connect with their broader community, take initiative, and understand their responsibility to others.

Whether they’re leading a food drive, caring for the campus garden, or partnering with a local nonprofit, our Lower School Stars are discovering their capacity to make a difference.

As the culminating year of Lower School, Fourth Grade marks an important transition into leadership. Students step into new roles as older Buddies, guiding and supporting younger peers, and they welcome Kindergarteners into the division through the beloved tradition of Kindergarten Crowning—a rite of passage that celebrates responsibility, mentorship, and community.

Our intentionally small class sizes allow for highly individualized instruction. Teachers understand not only where a student is academically, but also how they learn best, what excites them, and how to keep them meaningfully engaged. Learning is tailored, but always rooted in shared discovery and a sense of collective purpose.

This balance of intellectual challenge and emotional support empowers students to stretch, take risks, and embrace a growth mindset. They develop the cognitive, emotional, and spiritual skills they need not just for school, but for life.

Field experiences nurture curiosity, broaden horizons, and help Lower School students discover that learning can happen anywhere.

Authentic experiences extend learning well past the classroom walls. From overnight camping trips that foster independence and teamwork, to museum and historic site visits that bring social studies to life, students deepen their understanding by connecting knowledge to the real world. Children also attend fine arts performances and cultural events, gaining exposure to music, theater, and visual arts that inspire creativity and expand their perspectives.

By the end of Fourth Grade, our students are confident thinkers, effective collaborators, and joyful learners. They know how to ask big questions and pursue thoughtful answers. They are grounded in compassion and self-awareness—and they are beginning to see themselves as leaders and changemakers.

As a culminating part of their Lower School experience, Fourth Grade students participate in a powerful Peace Unit, studying the lives and legacies of influential peace activists and global leaders. Through this lens, they explore concepts of justice, empathy, and advocacy, while also learning mindfulness, meditation, and foundational leadership skills. At the conclusion of the unit, each student is ceremonially sworn in as an official Peacemaker of the Lower School, taking on the responsibility of modeling kindness, conflict resolution, and community care.

Their journey culminates in the Fourth Grade Exhibition—a milestone event that reflects months of inquiry, research, and personal growth. Each student selects a real-world issue they are passionate about—ranging from climate action and animal conservation to health equity and social justice—and presents their findings to the entire Lower School community, faculty, and parents. These presentations not only showcase academic achievement but also cultivate students’ voices, deepen their sense of purpose, and demonstrate their growing capacity to engage with meaningful and complex topics.