A Guide to the RPCS Lower School

T H E LO W E R S C H O O L

C U R I O S I TY. WHERE OUR S TO R Y B E G I N S .

O ur academic focus fosters inquisitiven ess and the pursuit of lifelong ambitions. Isn’t that what a meaningful education is all about?

We’re learning even when we’re having fun. I love math now!

RPCS Fifth Grader

OVERVIEW The Lower School is committed to providing an academically stimulating and caring environment for maximum positive impact upon the institution’s youngest group of students. We view each girl as an individual; monitoring and encouraging her socio-emotional, physical and cognitive development are the primary hallmarks of the RPCS Lower School.

The academic program is designed to develop strong basic and critical thinking skills and to foster genuine academic engagement. To accomplish this, teachers use a variety of traditional and innovative approaches to address individual learning styles and promote deep and long-lasting learning.

Students work independently and cooperatively with a variety of curricula that includes literature, math, science, history, foreign language, and writing. The academic program is enhanced by strong exposure to the visual and performing arts as well as physical education and sports.

Technology plays an integral part in opening the world of information and knowledge to students, and both PCand Mac-based platforms are actively used as tools in our classrooms.

Our community is a diverse and inclusive one that opens its arms to all students and their families, regardless of ethnic, religious, racial, socio-economic, family or cultural background.

A MESSAGE FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL HEAD Dear Prospective Students and Parents, In the Lower School, An Education Above means that we believe the early years provide the foundation for what is to come. Working both individually and cooperatively with peers, our Lower School students learn the basic skills that form their future learning. Girls are encouraged to think, explore, and create for themselves. They are challenged and nurtured by a faculty who teach from a neurodevelopmental perspective, allowing them to reach and inspire students who have diverse learning styles.

Faculty helps the students identify their natural gifts and explore their personal interests.

The Lower School mission statement sums it up best: We honor girls for who they are and celebrate their differences. We teach the whole child, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and self-awareness, so that all can grow into joyful, confident learners.

Come see for yourself—we look forward to meeting you!

Beth Casey Lower School Head

LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM The Lower School curriculum consists of classes in Literacy (reading, writing, grammar and spelling), Math, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, Library, Technology, Art, Music, Dance, and Physical Education. Complementing our dynamic curriculum are weekly Lower School meetings, community service projects, field trips, assemblies, concerts, and parentdaughter activities. Additionally, our students enjoy All-School Convocations, Grandparents’ Day, and participate in two concerts which celebrate music, dance, and the visual arts.

KINDERGARTEN

PRE-FIRST GRADE

FIRST GRADE

SUMMARY

Starting off each morning with Circle Time and an hour of reading, the girls move easily to classes and activities within the classroom and in other parts of the Lower School.

There is time allotted for play, indoors and out. For reading instruction, the students are divided into groups according to their level of readiness.

Pre-First is a transitional year to help students develop socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. Through a challenging curriculum and varied experiences, the child emerges confident, secure in herself, and ready to apply her well-honed skills to First Grade. The PreFirst Grade homeroom is divided into separate reading and math groups as needed.

First Grade provides a firm foundation for a lifetime of learning. In small group instruction, the students build strong phonemic reading skills and solid foundational math skills. They learn about communities and the people who work in them. As in every grade, the girls venture out of the homeroom for a variety of activities and instruction.

LANGUAGE ARTS

• Early Literacy Concepts • Phonemic Awareness • Letter Knowledge • Letter/Sound Relationships • Spelling Patterns • High Frequency words • Word Meaning and Structure • Word Solving Actions • Guided Reading • Handwriting

• Phonics • Reading: comprehension, sight vocabulary, directions, concepts, fluency, fiction/non-fiction • Punctuation • Spelling • Handwriting: D’Nealian • Grammar • Story sequencing • Prediction outcome

• Phonics • Reading: comprehension, sight vocabulary, directions, concepts, fluency, fiction/non- fiction, critical thinking skills • Punctuation • Spelling • Handwriting • Grammar • Creative/Expository Writing

M AT H

• Counting • Estimating • Representing, Comparing, Reading and Writing Numbers • Addition and Subtraction • Collecting Data and Graphing • Measurement, Money, Time and Calendar Skills • Geometry and Patterns

• Number Sense: reading, writing, sequencing and counting 0—100 • Addition • Subtraction • Time • Weight • Graphs • Counting Coins • Calendar Skills • Geometry and Patterns • Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s

• Number Order • Patterns • Addition • Time • Weight • Graphs • Money • Estimation • Compare/Contrast

SOCIAL STUDIES

• All About Me • Friendship • Family and Thanksgiving • Holidays Around the World • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • Presidents • Geography • Arctic and Rainforest • America and its Symbols • Women of Courage

• All About Me/My Family • Seasons • Holidays • Johnny Appleseed • Christopher Columbus • Map Skills • Safety • Our Community • Animal Facts • Black History

• Class Rules/Procedures • Getting Along With Others • Our Community • Seasons • Holidays • Map Skills

SCIENCE

• Learning to Be a Scientist • Kitchen Chemistry • Healthy Habits • Worms • Trees • Air • The Senses

• Tree Identification • Water • Hands-on Physics • Insects • Clouds

• Solids, Liquids and Gases • Weather • Organisms: plants and animals • Balancing and Weighing • Constellations • Magnifying Lenses

OT H E R

• Art • Dance • Library • Computer • Foreign Language (one trimester each of French, Spanish and Chinese) • Music • Physical Education

• Art • Physical Education • Music • Computer • Foreign Language (one trimester each of French, Spanish and Chinese) • Dance • Library

• Art • Dance • Physical Education • Music • Computer • Foreign Language (one trimester each of French, Spanish and Chinese) • Library

• Presidents • American Symbols

One day I will travel the world, but first I will explore my neighborhood.

RPCS First Grader

SECOND GRADE

THIRD GRADE

FOURTH GRADE

FIFTH GRADE

Students begin to broaden their experiences and strengthen their skills. Their small language arts and math groups allow for personal interaction and instruction. They explore the scientific method in science class.

Third Grade provides opportunities for girls to take on more responsibility for themselves and their work. The teachers and curriculum carefully guide the students to become more self-reliant and independent in their academic pursuits.

Students take on more responsibility for themselves and even their own organization.

There are long-term projects and expository writing assignments in all subjects. In addition, community service projects are planned and executed by the students instead of the parents.

Fourth Grade students assist with carpool.

Fifth Grade prepares students for a smooth transition to the Middle School by giving the girls many opportunities for leadership, as well as challenging academic experiences in all subjects. Students help with carpool and with younger students.

• Phonics • Reading: comprehension, vocabulary, concepts, fluency, fiction/non-fiction, critical thinking skills, expression, public speaking • Poetry • Punctuation • Spelling • Grammar • Creative/Expository Writing • Research Skills • Handwriting: cursive

• Reading: comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, fiction/non-fiction, critical thinking skills, expression, public speaking • Poetry • Spelling • Grammar • Creative/Expository Writing • Writing Process: write, revise, edit, publish • Handwriting: cursive

• Reading: comprehension, vocabulary, concepts, fluency, fiction/non-fiction, critical thinking skills, expression, public speaking, vocabulary • Poetry • Punctuation • Spelling • Grammar • Mechanics • Creative/Expository Writing • Writing Process: write, revise, edit, publish • Research Skills • Handwriting: cursive

• Reading: comprehension, vocabulary, concepts, fluency, fiction/non-fiction, critical thinking skills, expression, public speaking • Poetry • Punctuation • Spelling • Mechanics • Persuasive Creative/Expository Writing • Writing Process: write, revise, edit, publish • Research Skills • Handwriting: cursive • Word Processing

• Addition • Subtraction • Time • Graphs • Money • Estimation • Place Value • Measurement • Geometry • Word Problems • Multiplication • Division • Fractions

• Number Applications • Multi-Digit • Addition/Subtraction • Computational Skills • Graphs • Estimation • Measurements • Geometry • Word Problems • Multiplication/Division • Fractions • Place Value • Decimals

• Computational Skills • Data Interpretation/Graphs • Estimation • Measurements • Geometry • Word Problems • Multiplication/Division • Fractions • Place Value • Decimals/Percents • Calculator Use

• Computational Skills • Number Theory • Graphs • Estimation • Geometry • Word Problems • Multiplication/Division • Fractions • Decimals/Percents • Calculator Use • Prime/Composite Numbers • Square Root • Quotients/Algorithms • Data Organization • Exponents/Negative Numbers • Scientific Notation • Personal Finance • Small Business Skills

• Our City: Baltimore • Holidays • Ancient Egypt • Map Skills • Current Events

• Geography • Map Skills • Native Americans • Colonial Maryland • Revolutionary Maryland • Maryland and Her 23 Counties

• Our Country • Civil War • Geography • Map Skills • Study Skills • States and Capitals • Westward Expansion • Notable American Women

• Archaeology • Civil Rights Movement • Geography • Map Skills • Study Skills • Government • Immigration

• Soil and Gardening • Habitats • Moon Phases • Data Collection and Attributes • Electricity and Magnetism

• Nutrition and Gardening • Food Chains • Simple Machines • Solar System • Microscopes

• Hygiene • Compound Machines • Primates • Crime Lab • Natural Disasters

• Chesapeake Bay • Human Body and Puberty • Inventions • Electromagnetic Spectrum

• Art • Dance • Physical Education • Music • Computer • Foreign Language (one trimester each of French, Spanish and Chinese) • Library

• Art • Dance • Physical Education • Music • Computer • Foreign Language (French, Spanish, or Chinese) • Library

• Art • Dance • Physical Education • Music • Computer • Foreign Language (French, Spanish, or Chinese) • Library

• Art • Dance • Physical Education • Music • Computer • Foreign Language (French, Spanish or Chinese) • Library

F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D QUESTIONS What is a 10-day cycle?

At RPCS, we structure our K-12 schedule based on ten-school-day cycles. In the Lower School this means that courses are evenly distributed on the calendar, providing more consistency in instruction.

What is the homework policy in the Lower School?

Homework is assigned in all grades on a regular basis.

RPCS teachers believe that: • H omework helps students develop time management skills, discipline and responsibility.

• Homework should provide practice and reinforcement of skills taught in School.

• Homework should be a successful and positive experience.

Following careful study of the body of research on the benefits and limitations of homework, the Lower School faculty has developed the following guidelines for Lower School homework.

Kindergarten • Read to your child daily or have her read to you • Practice sight words and handwriting Pre-First • Read to your child daily or have her read to you • Practice spelling and sight words • Spend ten minutes on another assignment Grades 1-5 • Read to your child daily or have her read to you • Practice spelling and math facts • Spend time on other assignments (1st grade: 10 min; 2nd grade: 20 min; 3rd grade: 30 min; 4th grade: 40 min; 5th grade: 50 min.)

What foreign languages are offered?

In Kindergarten, Pre-First, First, and Second Grades, the students take a trimester each of French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. In Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades, the students are given the opportunity to concentrate in one of these languages.

Is there an after-school program?

RPCS offers an After-School Program that operates from 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for an additional fee. Play time, snacks and crafts are available, as well as a supervised study hall for the girls to complete their homework.

How do you report to parents?

RPCS believes that close communication between home and School, both formal and informal, is vital to the strong development of each student. In addition to regular email and in-person communication between teachers and parents, we have four marking periods, or quarters. At the close of each quarter, reports are posted online. The report consists of a skills progress report each quarter and written comments from teachers at the end of quarters 2 and 4.

Formal conferences between teachers and parents at the end of quarters 1 and 3 keep goals defined, clarify student needs and progress, and create an even closer partnership between parents and teachers. We encourage parents to confer with teachers informally throughout the academic year.

Are there opportunities for parents to volunteer?

Parent volunteers are welcome and appreciated at RPCS. Volunteer opportunities include serving as a Network Rep, working on Parents’ Association projects and helping in the School Store, a Lower School classroom, or the Lower School Killebrew Library.

Are there opportunities for private music lessons?

RPCS offers private music lessons in a wide variety of instruments to our students as an extracurricular activity.

Please see our website for more information.

Are there other after-school opportunities?

For an additional fee, we offer various Lower School Clubs such as Drama, Newspaper, and Robotics. Please see our website for more information.

What are the uniform requirements?

The following is the required uniform for the Lower School: • Blue uniform jumper • White short/long sleeved polo shirt or turtleneck with RPCS logo • Red gym shorts with RPCS logo • White socks or navy blue knee-highs • Navy blue tights • Navy blue or black full-length leggings • Navy blue sweatpants with RPCS logo • 100% white, low-top sneakers with or without Velcro® • Navy blue cardigan, V-neck, or cable knit sweater with RPCS logo • Navy blue or red crewneck sweatshirt with RPCS logo • Navy fleece vest or red fleece pullover with RPCS logo • No jewelry, except stud earrings and necklaces that are worn under the shirt • Clear nail polish only

A T Y P I C A L D AY I N LOWER SCHOOL 7:30 a.m. Arriving students are greeted with a smile and a handshake on their way in to school each day.

Students go to their lockers and homeroom to get ready for the day.

8:00 a.m. Students engage in either homeroom activities or a Lower School morning meeting for all homerooms.

8:20 a.m. Classes begin 10:35 a.m. Snack time. Students bring healthy snacks from home that can be eaten while spending time with friends.

10:50 a.m. Classes resume 1:00 p.m. Half-hour lunch and half-hour recess.

Students can bring lunch from home or—for those in Second Grade through Grade Five— purchase lunch in the Dining Hall.

2:05 p.m. Last class of the day 3:15 p.m. Dismissal. Children leave by car, wait for older siblings, walk, or stay for the Lower School After-School Program or other Lower School activities.

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