Lower School

Lower School students develop independence.

Cultivating confidence. Developing competency. Encouraging students to trust in their own ability.

We lead by example and inspire a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Environment

Summit School has state of the art facilities and a thoughtfully planned campus to provide a fertile learning environment to develop the whole child. In addition to our exceptional academic curriculum that feeds the mind, Summit School has specially designed dining rooms that support our curriculum and serve nutritious food to feed the body as well as carefully designed spaces such as art studios, the Athletic Center, music rooms, computer labs, a multimedia library, two theaters, and others that speak to the creative soul of the elementary school student.

Our classrooms are spacious and designed to provide areas for individual work, group collaborations, and whole class learning activities. Technology is integrated into every classroom. The overarching theme of "community" permeates each classroom so that children feel included, valued, and safe to take risks in order to grow.

Culture

Portrait of a Teacher

The faculty of Summit School commit to these characteristics as defining features of our work in serving the needs of our students, their families, our colleagues and the school.

As an educator striving to develop the full potential of each child, I

Respect, affirm and protect the dignity and worth of all children
Understand the important stages in child/adolescent development
Observe children, giving particular attention to the unique qualities of each child and their life experiences, recognizing their backgrounds and identities
Facilitate and guide, fostering discovery, thinking, creativity and the construction of knowledge
Teach for deep understanding by designing diverse and culturally responsive curricula organized around meaningful problems, projects, and questions
Encourage students to form habits of mind as mathematician, scientist, historian, reader, writer, and artist
Cultivate Summit’s core competencies in all students
Gauge students’ understanding through multiple forms of progress-oriented and authentic assessment
Honor children as citizens, encouraging them to participate in a democratic society

As a lifelong learner committed to professional growth, I

Reflect on the art of teaching and study the science of learning, always seeking to apply what I learn
Engage in ongoing personal and professional growth, embracing its inherent change
Study the Progressive Education tradition and apply its evolving principles in my practice: both pedagogical & curricular
Strive for excellence in my planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction and professional responsibilities

As a fully engaged member of the Summit community, I

Embrace inclusivity, diversity and equity as essential facets of the Summit Community
Demonstrate an attitude of service and flexibility, and use strengths and talents in a variety of ways to benefit the entire school community
Actively engage parents in partnerships for the good of the child
Model and uphold Summit’s Code of Conduct
Participate positively and with joy in the community life of the school

Curriculum

Lower School children come to us with a healthy curiosity, readiness skills, an eagerness to learn, and abundant energy. Lower School students engage in an active learning process in which teachers provide direct instruction, guidance with hands-on activities that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, cooperative learning, and facilitation of child driven inquiry. Instruction is differentiated so that students will develop reading skills at a level commensurate with their readiness levels and abilities through whole group, flexible small group, and individual instruction.

Students spend the majority of their day in the homeroom but also travel to other parts of the campus in the afternoons to work with specialists in the visual and performing arts, physical education, and laboratory experiences.

Literacy

The Early Childhood program is a fertile environment for language: written, spoken, read and heard. Summit values the voice of each student. Young speakers are given an ear. Young writers are encouraged. Young readers are celebrated. And young listeners are captivated by a world of rich sounds, words and ideas.

Daily activities invite children to explore new concepts and to acquire new vocabulary. Children engage in sequential story-telling and poetic and dramatic expression. We emphasize pre-writing skills like sewing, cutting, folding, drawing, painting, and working with clay, all of which strengthen the muscles and coordination needed to write.

Repeated readings and sight word activities enhance our language arts curriculum.In our weekly trips to the library for story-time and checking out books, we develop the art of browsing through, selecting, and sharing books with friends and family.

Mathematics

Summit’s math curriculum strives to develop in students an understanding of concepts, an ability to apply concepts, computational fluency, logical reasoning skills, and an active engagement in using math skills.

The Everyday Mathematics program is used in kindergarten through grade 5. As described by the authors of the program, “Everyday Mathematics emphasizes the application of mathematics to real world situations. Numbers, skills and mathematical concepts are not presented in isolation, but are linked to situations and contexts that are relevant to our everyday lives. Everyday Mathematics also provides numerous methods for basic skills practice and review.” Conceptualization is strongly emphasized and topics are often repeated at different points throughout the program with increasing levels of difficulty.

In addition to Everyday Mathematics, Summit teachers use supplemental materials to meet the needs of specific students to ensure that each child is challenged to meet his/her full potential. Students needing either additional support or acceleration of skills participate in small groups either within the classroom or pull-out groups.

Social Studies and Science

Social Studies
Whether learning about countries, famous people, history, or current events, Summit School emphasizes communication skills, comparing and contrasting of ideas, critical thinking skills, and compassion and responsibility toward others and the Earth. Science topics are also incorporated into the social studies units.

Science
The Lower School science curriculum introduces students to the study of life, earth, physical, environmental and space sciences. Among the topics included over the course of the year at various grade levels are nutrition, the human body, insects, landforms, weather and climate, Earth materials, matter, energy, forces, simple machines, systems of motion, and others. Students attend science lab taught by a specialist once a week to participate in hands-on activities that relate to these topics. Emphasis is on crosscutting concepts, scientific and engineering practices and disciplinary core ideas. In addition, scientific principles are taught across disciplines.

Studio Classes

Lower School students participate in specialty classes that develop alternate regions of the brain and provide skills that contribute to success in other areas. Students attend the classes for a block of consecutive days.

Students participate in art, music, pottery, and guidance classes during studio. Scheduling classes in blocks allows for more continuity in teaching and learning than with the traditional weekly scheduling of special classes. For example, if the children are working on a painting project that requires mixing paint colors, they can spend five days in a row on that project rather than meeting on one day and then having to wait a week to use those mixed colors.

World Languages

Wellness

The Wellness curriculum emphasizes not only the physical development of the children, but also mental prowess, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Research shows that regular physical activity helps students concentrate and perform better on academic tasks.

The Athletic Center has two gymnasiums, a well-equipped gymnastics room, a dance studio, and a weight room for older students. Students work with a different P.E. teacher during each of three terms.

Technology

Co-curriculum

Find out more about Curriculum

After School Options

Summit Afterschool strives to engage the whole child with a carefully designed schedule that gives students plenty of time to create, play, move and learn. Experienced staff members supervise all programs and diligently oversee the safety and well being of each child. Students have the chance to experience school with a little less structure and enjoy an extra dose of hands-on indoor/outdoor activities. There is a built-in study time for older students and opportunities for each child to explore and develop his or her own interests. Parents and students can choose from a variety of program options to create the ideal schedule.

Programs

Beforeschool, 7 to 8 am (Eaglets - 9th Grade)

This program is designed to give students a positive start to the school day. The instructor is sensitive to the individual needs of younger and older students as they make the morning transition from home to school. The program is a relaxing place to make new friends, catch up on homework and enjoy the quiet activities. Students are dismissed or escorted to their classrooms at 8 am. Students will be grouped according to grade for this program.

*Eaglets are students enrolled in our 3 year old program

Bathroom policy. All students enrolled in Afterschool must be potty trained. We request that children come to school in underwear – no diapers or pull-ups. If a child needs to be changed while at school, a parent or guardian may be asked to come to school to do so.

Eaglet's Bridge 12:30 to 1:30 pm (Eaglets)

This hour-long program is designed to bridge the 12:30 pm Eaglet dismissal until 1:30 pm. This allows Eaglets to be picked up with JrK and K siblings. It also connects Eaglets with the extended Afterschool day. Children are supervised by the same teacher each day.

Early Childhood Afternoon, 1:30-3 pm (Eaglets, JrK and K)

Eaglets, Junior Kindergarten, and Kindergarten students will stay with their grade-level peers during this 90 minute program. Children socialize and work together as they build, create, relax, and play. This early afternoon program ends with a play period on the front playground followed by dismissal at 3 pm. All Eaglets have a rest time on mats during the second half of this program.

To enroll in this program Eaglets should also register for Eaglet’s Bridge.

Early Childhood Full Day, 1:30 to 5:15 pm (Eaglets, JrK and K)

This option includes the features of our Early Childhood Afternoon program and continues until the end of the day. Eaglets, Junior Kindergarten, and Kindergarten students will remain in their grade-level groups. Children socialize and work together as they build, create, relax, and play. They also spend time enjoying the front playground including the music station and sand boxes. All Eaglets have a rest time. At 3 pm, these children enjoy a story time before splitting up into teacher-led activity groups including art, outdoor exploration and games. The program ends with more time on the playground or in the gym.

To enroll in this program Eaglets should also register for Eaglet’s Bridge.

Lower School Full Day, 3 to 5:15 pm (1st - 5th Grade)

At the 3pm dismissal, 1st-5th Graders stay with their grade-level groups for indoor/outdoor play and snack. Our 2nd-5th graders have a 30-minute study time before splitting up into activity groups led by Afterschool teachers focusing on tinkering, outdoor exploration, and games/sports. The program ends with more time on the playground or in the gym. At the end of the week, students enjoy Fun Friday with special events and no study time.

Three-Thirty Express, 3 to 3:30 pm (Eaglets - 5th Grade)

This program is designed to supervise Lower School students until the Upper School dismissal time. The Three-Thirty Express is a helpful service to parents who prefer one pick-up time for Lower and Upper School students. At 3 pm, children gather in a designated room to relax, socialize or work on homework. At 3:30 pm, our Three-Thirty Express teacher supervises their dismissal. Eaglets, JrK and K students are eligible for this program, but rather than moving them to the Three-Thirty Express room, they remain with their Afternoon group until the 3:30 dismissal.

Late Stay, 5:15-5:45 pm (Eaglets - 5th Grade)

Extended Day Program, 3:30 to 5:45 pm (6th - 9th Grade)

This is a supervised drop-in Afterschool program for Upper School students who are not involved in athletics or other school-sponsored activities. At dismissal time, students report to the Dining Hall for check-in and snack. Students have plenty of time to study, socialize and engage in outdoor activities under the supervision of the Afterschool Extended Day teacher. This is the perfect place for athletes on seasonal break or students waiting for a late ride home. Students can join this program throughout the afternoon as clubs and sports come to an end. Parents can sign-out students by calling the main Afterschool room.

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Our New Playground!

Learn about the construction and completion of our new playground including the student involvement in the design process and Summit’s history of unique play structures.