Lower Elementary: Kindergarten to Grade 2

 At a Glance

  • Ethnic diversity: 54%
  • Average elementary class size: 16
  • Elementary student-teacher ratio: 8 to 1
  • Preschool student-teacher ratio: 7 to 1

Schedule a Tour

We’d love to show you our campus! Schedule your one-on-one tour with our Director of Enrollment Management and request more information.

Joyful & Engaged Learning

Our lower school program balances core curricular subjects with enrichment opportunities. The six-day schedule rotation allows for academic blocks dedicated to literacy, mathematics, writing, and theme studies in social studies. Students also regularly engage in science, Spanish, technology, music, art, library, and physical education. Our dedicated teachers are intentional about curricular design, ensuring that the student experience is thoughtfully aligned throughout their time at Saint Mark’s. Students engage in a wide variety of learning experiences that allow for collaboration and reflection.

At Saint Mark’s, we value the competencies of each child and are committed to helping children reach their unique potential by bringing learning to life in a safe and nurturing environment. Our early childhood programs provide learning experiences that are grounded in children’s interests and are developed around learning in several disciplines.

Kelly Mancuso, Assistant Head of School

Learning with Intention

Each week includes blocks of time dedicated to literacy, mathematics, writing, and theme studies in social studies and science, as well as Spanish, technology, music, art, library, and physical education. Our dedicated teachers collaborate between classes and grade levels, ensuring a thorough understanding and application of subject matters. Class projects, performances, and presentations allow children to share their learning with their peers and gain valuable experience formulating opinions and presenting their ideas to others.

Teaching and learning in our lower elementary program is grounded in work that allows children to make meaning, create understanding, and engage in problem-solving. We lean into learning with intention, weaving empathy, perspective-taking, and inclusivity throughout a student’s educational journey. Our program allows for deep curiosity and creativity as children develop the building blocks of their educational foundation

Rebecca Russell, Director of Teaching and Learning

Chapel

Lower elementary students attend chapel once a week where they learn that each member of the school’s community is valued and celebrated, regardless of his or her race or religious beliefs. Chapel programs serve as the center of the school’s spiritual life, build community, celebrate diversity, and inspire a lifelong respect for service and citizenship.

Click here to view the Lower Elementary Curriculum Overview