L O W E R S c h ool P ro g r a m
In their words.
The Advantages of
Lancaster Country Day School
Good early education can impart skills that last a lifetime – patience, discipline, manners, perseverance.
David Leonhardt, Writer, The New York Times
From the Head of Lower School
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Of the many ways our traditions in Lower School set us apart from other area options, we elect to focus on three areas – leveraging small class sizes into better outcomes, investing in whole child development and building character through community.
At LCDS, we feel the voices of our community are especially compelling. We hope this publication inspires you to communicate directly with our faculty and our current families. Truly understanding our school can help you with what may be a critically important decision for your family. – Christina Simonds
Shared Voices on tHree Lower School Advantages 1 Making Small Class Sizes Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2 2 Investing in Whole Child Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 3 Instilling respect, trust, and initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6 Cover Quotation - “The Case for $320,000 Kindergarten Teachers,” The New York Times. 27 July 2010, page 16
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Before we came to Country
Making Small Class Sizes Work
Day, our children went to a
Recent research completed by J.D. Finn found that at each grade
shiny and new. The faculty were
level in lower school, with students of all backgrounds, by every
motivated and engaged. But over
achievement measure and in every subject, small class students
time, we sensed that, in classes
(13-17) outperform their peers in regular (22-26) sized classes.*
of about 23-25, our children’s
How?
strengths and needs were going
Students can be differentiated according to their aptitudes and
and our concerns were, perhaps
types of intelligence. Having fewer discipline problems reduces
understandably, not met. At
interruptions, establishes better relationships with adults and
Country Day, we know our
keeps students moving forward more efficiently in class. Finally,
children are moving forward
small classes provide teachers with an environment they can
efficiently and accessing the best
enjoy and a workload that allows them to put forth their best
possible education in the area.
effort with each child.
Jen & Morris Perot, Parents
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well-funded local elementary school. The facilities were great –
unrecognized. We wanted more
* Anderson C.A., (2000). Why should reduced class size lead to increased student achievement? In M. C. Wang & J. D. Finn (Eds.) How small classes help teachers do their best (pp. 3-24). Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Center for Research in Human Development and Education.
Every once in awhile, I take a break from my middle school day and stop by the Lower School to visit. At LCDS, I was introduced to school by adults who valued and respected me as a person. I think that is why liking your teachers is normal here. Emma Swartz, Student 2
Having a small class size makes all the smaller pieces fit together. With students coming from families committed to their children’s education and with bright peers providing an ongoing source of great ideas, we can make a right-sized class really hum. Close attention to each child allows us to strengthen what has been started at home. Cindy Herr, Faculty
I feel blessed that I can focus on learning and moving forward with my group of 15 rather than teaching 25 or 30 to the same test with little attention to their individual gifts. I love the team teaching. I love the flexibility to work with others. I know all the kids who go through Kindergarten and they know me.
Country Day’s small class size and low student to teacher ratio allows our children to make real connections with their teachers. All children are expected to participate in class. Students who understand concepts quickly
Our familiarity leaves every child
aren’t ignored. LCDS offers boys and girls the flexibility to accelerate. As
more accountable.
a result, our culture is different: At LCDS it becomes cool to be smart.
Betsy Hedbavny, Faculty 3
Bernadette Gardner, Parent
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Country Day is challenging
Investing in Whole Child Development
academically, and with four PE
When families travel down our Lower School hallways, attend
lower school teams, our sons are
a recital or watch our athletic teams play, they routinely notice
having an even better athletic
the natural politeness and self-assurance of our children. Years
experience than we could have
later, LCDS graduates are more likely to attend plays, practice a
hoped, with the added benefit of a
musical instrument, work out regularly and frequent art galleries
top-flight academic program.
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and museums as college students and as adults.**
How do we develop this well-mannered
classes a week, recess at least once a day and interscholastic
Ann and Jack Fulton, Parents
confidence? How do we achieve these highly valuable outcomes?
My children started playing While many schools offer a wide range of extracurricular options,
instruments in the Lower
Country Day thoroughly integrates these activities into school
School. Because their private
life. A higher degree of support from parents and peers better
lessons are part of the school day, my schedule is easier. I also like that their musical development is noticed and valued by their friends. We can see how Upper School students learn to appreciate athletics and the arts equally. Jen Sebelist, Parent
**NAIS, Independent Schools: Preparing Students for Achievement in College and Beyond, NAIS. com, http://www/nais.org/resource/article. cfm?ItemNumber=147307 (accessed October 3, 2009)
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My daughter takes voice lessons once a week during lunch. She misses her friends on those days, but the lessons led her to try out for this year’s musical. She is young and didn’t secure a lead this time, but the lessons and the process provided a lovely boost to her confidence and courage. Anonymous Lower School Parent
I have to say, the thing that sets LCDS apart from any
affirms the value of all of these pursuits. LCDS’s intimacy
other school is that we believe in
allows respect for varied skills to exist without obstacle. It is
a balance between academics,
the nature of our community – an instilled respect for one
arts and sports. This is really
another’s development – that truly cultivates self-assurance in a
important to me, and is the
meaningful way.
biggest reason I love my school. Jessica Sacks, Student
LCDS infects you with idealism. Kids there have ambitions to do great things. It is nice to grow up around such people. Greg Rogove, Wesleyan University Graduate 5
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We chose LCDS because of the
Instilling Respect, trust, and initiative...
small class sizes and enriched
Most people find it impossible to walk through the Lower School
challenging and value-centered
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without breaking into a smile. It is a place where youngsters dart through the hallways on missions of discovery. Classrooms
academics. Each of our children is seen as an individual. LCDS teachers create intimate, caring, experiences for our children. If there is an issue that needs attention, the teachers are
are alive with the sound of children finding joy in learning
making connections with me
and in each other. Where does this “right” feeling – the way a
before the news gets home to me
lower school should and can be – come from? The answer is not simple or singular. Certainly a great deal comes from the
that evening. The teachers lead the charge for relationship-based education for our children. We
personal attention of faculty, drawn to our learning community
are fortunate to have found
from around the country and set free of inefficiencies. A highly
LCDS.
educated and highly involved parent community heighten
Nicole and Bill Dannehl, Parents
students’ aptitude and motivation. In addition, Upper School students mentor the younger ones, communicating regard for intellectual growth in the process. All of these role models respect the students and work to earn their trust. Under these circumstances, initiative, independent thought and joyful curiosity can grow naturally and successfully.
We sent our daughter to LCDS because we knew she would be encouraged not just to read and write, but to dream. Most schools teach the basics. It is exquisitely more difficult to touch the spirit. This LCDS achieves because it is not only a bricks and mortar institution, but also a caring community of professionals who approach their work with respect, intelligence, humanity and a marvelous sense of wonder. Carol Turkington Kennedy, Parent 6
Summer is what you do while you wait for school to start. Jonah Rebert, Lower School Student
725 Hamilton Road • Lancaster, PA 17603 • (717) 392-2916 • www.lancastercountryday.org