Find your path to excellence. LOWER SCHOOL
Lower School At-A-Glance Head of School: Mark Anderson, appointed 2011 Head of Lower School: Libbie Zimmer, appointed 2010 Director of Physical Education and Health: Shannon Helmecki, appointed 1996 Director of Performing Arts: Clint Williams, appointed 2006 Director of Visual Arts: Betty O’Regan, appointed 1980 Lower School Counselor: Suzanne Humphreys, appointed 1998 Director of Admission: Jaime Morgan, appointed 2013 Assistant Director of Admission: Heidi McGregor, appointed 1984 Total Number of Students (PreK–12): 580 Lower School Students: 160 Typical Class Size: 15 students 2016–2017 Tuition: PreK Half-day: $12,315 PreK Full-day: $16,465 Kindergarten–Grade 1: $18,310 Grades 2–4: $20,595 Merit Scholarships available for new kindergarten students.
School Day PreK–Grade 3: 7:55 a.m.–2:55 p.m. Grade 4: 7:55 a.m.–3:05 p.m.
Extended Care Complimentary morning care begins at 7:00 a.m. Extended day available every school day and holiday until 6:00 p.m. A wide range of after-school enrichment programs are available for Lower School students.
Welcome to Sanford! As Head of Sanford’s Lower School, I am thrilled that you are getting to know our school community! As a school leader, I strive to create a vibrant learning environment where we aspire to know your child as a collaborative learner, a kind friend and an invested citizen. We offer a rich, challenging curriculum that encourages students to reach their academic, social and emotional potential in a supportive environment that embraces family, community and citizenship. Lower School teachers cultivate meaningful relationships with children to make the learning experience extraordinary. Our students want to come to school each day, and are ready to participate in a series of interdisciplinary experiences that make learning come to life in all aspects of the educational journey. Parent/teacher conferences and communications forge strong partnerships between home and school, an essential component in a young learner’s success. Preparing children today for their future is a charge we take seriously at Sanford. The Lower School curriculum creatively guides students through a sequentially ordered set of academic skills to teach children to: • Learn
for deep understanding, not simple recall;
• Build
trust and relationships that allow intellectual risk taking;
• Respect
others and understand the significance of one’s actions;
• Discover
how mathematical data can be applied to solve real problems;
• Discover
cultural similarities and differences in our global society;
• Collaborate
creatively with engagement and purpose.
Sanford’s 100 acre campus lends itself to rich learning opportunities: walking the trails to the outdoor classroom, planting seeds in the Lower School garden, sketching near the Cab Calloway pond, square dancing at a pioneer cookout. Whether indoors or outside, the Lower School faculty carefully plans and executes student-centered lessons that ensure engagement, understanding and excitement. Sanford’s Lower School provides the expertise, the setting and a program rich with authentic hands-on activities to create a place where children learn best. My best to you,
Libbie Zimmer, Head of Lower School
Building a Foundation for Future Success PREK HIGHLIGHTS Our goal is to help children become independent, self-confident, and inquisitive learners. Mathematics: Our students are actively involved learning the fundamentals of mathematical concepts, skills and symbols through child-centered activities, manipulatives, and games. Language Arts: The intentional design of our language arts curriculum supports the development of all emerging literacy skills. Our curriculum engages children in a variety of language-based activities that include recognition of sound/symbol relationships, phonemic awareness, and developmental writing in individual journals. World Language: Middle School students introduce the PreK class to French, Latin, and Spanish words, songs and games. Science: Our PreK scientists visit the science lab on a regular basis for hands on experimentation and explore the natural surroundings of Sanford’s 100 acre campus with ponds, streams, and gardens. Community: Our youngest students are part of the larger Sanford community where they observe good habits, gain a positive sense of themselves and feel a sense of belonging. Full and half-day PreK programs are available.
KINDERGARTEN - Grade Four HIGHLIGHTS Sanford Lower School students engage in a series of creative and cross-curricular units that inspire natural curiosity and collaboration while building academic concepts and skills
Language Arts and Literacy: Our balanced literacy program empowers students to discover the joy in reading. Our approach is developed through small group instruction based on ability levels with the help of a reading instructor and classroom teacher. These guided reading groups meet daily and are a basis for individual skills, including reading fluency, phonetic skills and comprehension strategies. Mathematics: Individual and group work engage students in a multilevel environment, allowing teachers to differentiate instruction to understand mathmatics at their highest potential. Our students are engaged in problem-solving and student centered learning along with Singapore Math’s concrete, pictorial, and abstract learning progression. Science: Lower School students strengthen their foundation of scientific concepts, methods and skills recording their observations in a science journal which includes questions, drawings and blueprints. Students take advantage of Sanford’s outdoor area while learning skills of a naturalist. World Language: Our World Language faculty conduct Lower School classes mainly speaking in French, Latin and Spanish to encourage listening and speaking. Students engage in cultural explorations, discovering the diverse and collective experiences that celebrate our similarities and differences. Communication: In partnership with you, your child’s teachers are committed to guide each child’s growing cognitive skills, while paying close attention to the development of selfesteem, acceptance of others, and love of learning. You can expect frequent and on-going communication with your child’s teachers.
Celebrating Individual Strengths and Passions
Play is an essential component of the Lower School experience. Morning and afternoon recess are built into our students’ daily schedules. What are “Specials” and why are they important? Each Lower School student has a homeroom teacher and a team of teachers for the special classes (“specials”) that children look forward to each day. Whenever possible, special teachers in science, technology, library, art, music, physical education, health, and world language design curriculum that connects to grade level thematic study.
Specials per 7 day schedule cycle Number of Teachers
PreK
Kindergarten
2.5
1st Gr.
2nd Gr.
3rd Gr.
4th Gr.
2.5 2 2 3 3
Reading 1 1 1 1 1 Instructors Specials Per Cycle Science 1
1
2 3 3 3
Technology 1
1
2 2 2 2
Library
1
1 1 1 1
2
2 2 2 2
3
3
Art Music
1 In classroom 3
3
3 2/2*/1**
Physical 4 4 4 4 4/1 4/1 (Health) (Health) Education World Language– 1 French, Latin, (MS Buddies) and Spanish
2
2
2
2
2
Our students have access to private music lessons during the school day. Band and group instruction begins in Grade 4. *Band, **Choir
Music: Our students sing songs, respond rhythmically to music through creative movement and explore our classroom instruments. Our music teachers provide formal lessons that include basic rhythm, pitch and beats to various notes. Our students participate in two performances each year showcasing their skill development. Physical Education: Our main objective is to have fun through movement and physical activity that includes active participation for every student. While developing movement concepts and motor skills, students also learn to follow instructions, work cooperatively within a group, and participate with enthusiasm. Technology: Visits to the technology lab and makerspace for direct hands-on instruction help students gain a strong foundation in technology and tools which seamlessly integrates homeroom projects. These skills give students the ability to innovate using the latest technology. Visual Art: Students are introduced to a myriad of media, techniques and styles as they are challenged to complete projects and develop their own style of visual expression.
World Language: Our World Language program offers students the opportunity to develop age-appropriate listening and speaking skills in French, Latin & Spanish.
Our school is nestled in a 100 acre campus that is a canvas for discovery.
6900 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 / 302.235.6500
sanfordschool.org
LS082014