LIVE IT. LEARN IT.
Lower SCHOOL
Welcome
The Lower School is a formative time for the holistic development of young children. With this in mind, Lovett anchors healthy relationships— between students and teachers, among peers, and between parents and educators—at the heart of our daily work. Our strong belief in a positive family-school relationship built on trust and open communication, creates the conditions that allow our students to thrive in learning and in life!”
– James Choi, Head of Lower School
Our Mission:
The Lovett School is a community of belonging that develops students of honor, faith, and wisdom with the character and intellect to thrive in learning and life.
Our Approach to Education:
At Lovett, our students find joy and purpose in learning by doing. Guided by our distinctive approach to whole child education, Lovett faculty immerse students in intellectually rigorous, hands-on learning environments that spark character development, individual passions, and social awareness. By design, we offer students the experiences that deepen their cognitive, emotional, and social skills while inspiring an enduring enthusiasm for learning.
School Leadership
By the Numbers 488 Lower School students 1,640 total students 26% students of color 1,233 Lovett families community 70 zip codes that our students reside in 31 greater Atlanta cities where our families live 13% of Lovett students receive financial aid $4M of financial aid provided annually 230 faculty members 78 Lower School faculty members 19 average number of years teaching 60% of our faculty hold graduate degrees faculty
Associate
Assistant
For the full list
Lovett
visit: locality support
Meredyth Cole Head of School Chelle Wabrek
Head of School James Choi Head of Lower School Amy Darsey
Head of Lower School
of
leadership,
Curriculum
Lower School classrooms begin each day with a Morning Meeting. This engaging routine builds a strong sense of community and sets students up for success both socially and academically. Students and teachers gather together to welcome each other by name, share about their lives, participate in an activity that fosters group collaboration, and read and interact with a message from the teacher that focuses on the work they will do in school that day.
Following Morning Meeting, the school day is composed of both homeroom-based learning and resource classes.
Homeroom Curriculum Overview
Literacy
Reading and writing content deepens students’ understanding of the key mindsets and skills of readers and writers. It is grounded in the research proven workshop structure in which teachers model an explicit strategy that students then practice independently, in a partnership, and in a small group. Throughout the workshop time, teachers provide feedback and coaching towards students’ personalized goals. Grammar and phonics are taught within the context of reading and writing workshop as well as allotted times throughout the day.
Math
Mathematics content is taught as a means for understanding the world around us and as a tool for exploration and inquiry. Our mathematics curriculum is focused on developing students who think flexibly, critically, creatively, and accurately. Using both the Math in Focus curriculum and Lovett-designed learning progressions, students learn foundational concepts through concrete manipulatives and pictures before moving to more abstract representations.
In developing students’ mathematical ability, the divergent explorations that stem from mathematical discourse are as important as the concrete skills themselves. Lower School students learn concepts and skills in: number and operations; geometry; measurement; and data analysis. As they move from kindergarten to fifth grade, they also develop the mathematical habits of mind of problem-solving, reasoning, and communication.
Social Studies
The social studies curriculum develops empathetic community leaders who think critically about the past and the world around them. While developing understandings of self and others, students study geography, civics, historical events, and government through the lens of multiple perspectives to build complex understandings. Inquiry is used to dig deeper into specific areas of interest through research and the design thinking protocol. From kindergarten through fifth grade, students learn how to actively use their voice and research to become agents of change for themselves and their communities.
Resource Classes
Art
During visual arts, students conceptualize artistic ideas and create projects within a variety of styles. They are encouraged to create original art through focused exploration and practice. They are introduced to an array of art experiences, tools, vocabulary and processes. Through the creative process they are encouraged to look closer to the visual world around them. As art history is woven through the curriculum, students gain a greater understanding and appreciation of techniques, mediums and the world around them. Throughout these experiences, children are consistently presented with opportunities to engage in life skills that translate well beyond the classroom such as revising their work and navigating mistakes.
PE
Physical Education is based on the school-wide vision of sustaining physical wellness and developing the athlete in every Lion. It cultivates the physical, social, and emotional needs of each student through exercise and game play. Students build on learned movements and develop complex motor skills as they move through the Lower School. As students grow in self-awareness and confidence, they are empowered to transfer what they learn through play and sports to everyday situations.
Guidance
Our guidance curriculum provides students opportunities to develop their best selves by understanding the importance of self-awareness and connections with others, and how these deeply rooted social-emotional connections lead to healthy relationships. Students learn healthy habits and decisionmaking skills that contribute to the growth of their socialemotional well being.
Religious Studies
As a school founded in the Episcopal tradition, Lovett’s religious studies curriculum highlights Christian texts and stories to help students explore their theological wonderings and explore their own spiritual journey. No matter their faith, students are encouraged to draw upon their religious tradition to inform and shape their understanding of the world while also learning about and engaging respectfully with the diversity of religious beliefs and practices represented in our Lovett community. Through classes and regular chapels, students are encouraged to connect their faith to the world around them and to intentionally live out their values in their relationships with others.
Science
The science curriculum is designed to develop students who actively question and explore the world around them by applying their scientific thinking and understandings. Our indoor and outdoor experiences provide children with meaningful, hands-on opportunities to make discoveries. We use an inquiry-based approach that encourages students to be observant, curious, and open-minded. We focus on concepts such as systems, patterns, and cause and effect within various units of life, physical, and earth science. All of these studies build on prior knowledge and increase in complexity each year.
Resource Classes
Spanish
Our Spanish curriculum is focused on developing appreciation, global awareness, and communication skills so that students have meaningful interactions in the target language. Throughout their Lower School experience, students focus on learning about themselves and community to gain a greater understanding of the world around them. The simulation of real life scenarios and the inclusion of current topics allow students to use functional vocabulary to communicate ideas effectively. Through engaging lessons and age appropriate, authentic resources, students maximize their oral proficiency, acquire cultural knowledge, and learn to express and respect other perspectives.
Music
The goal of the Lower School music program is to build a strong foundation of music literacy and skills using a diverse curriculum designed for enjoyable, active music learning and performing. Through these positive experiences, students will grow up to become more confident and well rounded adults who appreciate the arts and incorporate it into their lives. Beginning in kindergarten, all students take General Music. In third grade, students may choose the orchestra program, and in fourth grade, band becomes a choice as well. Social development is fostered as children experience the joy of making music individually and as a part of a group. Children deepen their passion for and knowledge of music through exposure to orchestral instruments, music vocabulary, and all genres of music. Teachers differentiate instruction to support a range of experience and to prepare these young players to perform with more advanced musical ensembles throughout their Lovett journeys. Students will successfully learn to play instruments or sing in different musical settings and have the opportunity to perform each year.
Library
The library is a space that teaches students the confidence and independence to use traditional and digital library resources, including reference materials; to help in the selection of books and other media; and to provide an atmosphere that will inspire a lifelong appreciation for literature. Towards this purpose, the librarians select and share materials which support students’ research and reading interests and promote enthusiasm for reading.
I n G en
The InGen Studio is a makerspace and inspiration hub designed to provide a flexible environment and a variety of tools for critical thinking, tinkering, and building. In this space, students wrestle with real-world challenges and learn various design processes, including Design Thinking, to innovate and build out their ideas. Instruction is centered around students working to sharpen their computational thinking and design skills alongside fostering their individual passions and curiosities. Throughout the year, students explore computer science and its relationship to our everyday world, web tools and applications to communicate their ideas, and making/ engineering to cultivate the creative problem-solving process.
The Arts
Fine Arts
Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades
• General Music
• Visual Arts
Third Grade
• General Music
• Orchestra
• Visual Arts Fourth and Fifth Grades
• Band
• General Music
• Orchestra
• Visual Arts
Additional Opportunities
• Dance - Enrichments offered Grades K-5
• Lovett Conservatory of MusicOffers private instruction for K-12 on 14 instruments and voice with 22 professional musician instructors
• Lower School Spring Arts Festival
• Fall & Spring Dance Concerts
Day A B C D E F 8am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: Morning Meeting / Class Work | F Day: Chapel | Wednesday: Late Start PE Music Phonics Spanish Phonics InGen 9am Snack Snack Snack Snack Snack Phonics Recess Reading Phonics Phonics Recess Phonics 10am Phonics Guidance Spanish PE Art PE Lunch 11am Art Quiet Time Quiet Time Recess Library Recess Writing Word Work 12pm Recess Quiet Time Quiet Time Quiet Time Quiet Time Social Studies Reading Music Writing Reading Music Library Math Math Math or Social Studies Math Story Time & Snack 1pm Spanish Snack Recess Recess Religion Every Other Week PE Recess Writing Phonics Phonics Phonics Snack Snack 2pm Closing Circle lower school schedulesKindergarten Note: This is a sample schedule.
Day A B C D E F 8am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: Morning Meeting / Class Work | F Day: Chapel | Wednesday: Late Start Math Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar 9am Math Writing Spanish Math Guidance Math Recess Spanish Library Word Study 10am Science InGen Recess Spanish Social Studies Recess Recess Recess Lunch 11am Read Aloud Read Aloud Social Studies Music Recess Music Religion EOW: Word Study Writing Reading 12pm Music Writing Math Writing PE Recess Word Study Science Read Aloud 1pm Read Aloud Reading / Writing PE Recess PE Writing Word Study Art Science Reading Reading PE 2pm Math Word Study Social Studies Reading Mystery Reader Word Study lower school schedules 1st grade Note: This is a sample schedule.
lower school schedules 2nd grade
Day A B C D E F 8am
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:
Meeting
Class Work
Day: Chapel | Wednesday: Late Start Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time
Time Learning Time 9am Recess Learning Time Recess Recess Recess PE Art Library PE Guidance Spanish 10am Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Recess Recess 11am Lunch Science Spanish InGen Music Science Learning Time/ Mystery Reader 12pm Recess Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time 1pm Recess Recess Recess Music Religion Every Other Week Learning Time Recess PE Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time Learning Time 2pm Recess Science Art Learning Time PE
Monday,
Morning
/
| F
Learning
Note: This is a sample schedule.
lower school schedules 3rd grade Day A B C D E F 8am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: Morning Meeting / Class Work | F Day: Chapel | Wednesday: Late Start Library Spanish Science Religion Math Math 9am Recess Math Recess Recess Recess Social Studies Social Studies Social Studies Math Math 10am Recess Art PE Music Writing Social Studies Social Studies 11am Lunch Science Math Writing Recess Science Art 12pm Reading Recess Guidance Writing Recess Recess Reading PE 1pm InGen Spanish Writing Reading Writing Social Studies Writing Recess Music 2pm PE Reading Reading WS/SS Reading Note: This is a sample schedule.
lower school schedules 4th grade Day A B C D E F 8am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: Morning Meeting / Class Work | F Day: Chapel | Wednesday: Late Start Art Music/PE Split PE Science Social Studies Math 9am Recess Math Math Reading Spanish Math Science 10am Music Reading Recess Recess Religion Social Studies Word Study Reading Writing 11am Recess Word Study Recess Lunch 12pm Music/PE Split Science Guidance Art Reading/Writing Reading/Writing Recess 1pm Library Recess Math Word Study InGen Music/PE Split Writing Word Study Social Studies Math Social Studies 2pm Music/PE Split Spanish Recess Recess Recess Note: This is a sample schedule.
grade Day A B C D E F 8am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: Morning Meeting / Class Work | F Day: Chapel | Wednesday: Late Start Recess ISM ISM Music Guidance Humanities 9am Humanities Humanities Recess 10am ISM Recess Recess Recess PE Spanish Art Library 11am Recess Lunch 12pm ISM Recess Recess ISM Class Meeting Class Meeting Humanities Learning to Learn Spanish Music or PE 1pm Recess InGen Music or PE Humanities Recess Recess 2pm Religion Music Spanish PE Art Note: This is a sample schedule.
lower school schedules 5th
After School Activities Program and Enrichments
Learning doesn’t stop at the end of the school day. Lovett’s After School Activities Program—ASAP—begins at 2:15 p.m. for our kindergarten students. Here, they select between several educational activities that are generally theme-based, like using basic math and critical thinking skills to count the number of pollinators in our garden for the Georgia Pollinator Census!
At 3:15 p.m., our youngest Lions are joined by first through fifth grade students. Ample time is provided for homework, snacks, and activities that involve gross motor skills.
Lovett also offers enrichment classes for Lower School students. These classes encourage students to learn, grow, and have fun, and are always led by experienced instructors on campus. Offerings vary throughout the year, but include art, chess, basketball, gymnastics, karate, swim lessons, volleyball, and yoga!
Fifth Grade Leadership opportunities
• Chapel Ushers
• Kindergarten and 5th Grade Buddies
• Library Book Shelving
• PRIDE (carpool leaders)
• Student Leadership Council
Community
Engagement
• Chinese Grade-level Field Trips to Chinatown
• Chinese New Year Celebration
• Fifth Grade Trip to Nature’s Classroom in Mentone, Alabama
• Holiday Cheer Cart
• Janitorial Staff Appreciation Dinner
• Lovett International Alliance International Day
• Lower School Service Expo
• Lower School Trip to Siempre Verde in Ecuador
• Student Service Council (third-fifth grade)
Student Clubs & Leadership Opportunities
• Student Service Council
• Vestry
One Lovett Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Members of the Lovett community share in mutually beneficial expectations, practices, and commitments to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, which allow us all to thrive. As an inclusively Christian school, we are a community rooted in love and belonging for all, with a profound respect for diversity, service to others, and moral awareness. We share the knowledge that we are richer given the unique and individual identities within our Lion family.
Our community wholeheartedly believes that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging significantly enhance the outcomes and experiences of and in a Lovett education, independent of their background and or identity. We recognize that striving to be a diverse and inclusive community is an ever-evolving imperative that requires empathy, a growth mindset, and skill.
Pictured: The Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Council hosts a Backyard BBQ every fall to strengthen bonds and forge new relationships with Lovett’s Black and multiracial alumni, students, and parents.
Groups & Alliances
Affinity Groups and Alliances
Middle and Upper School students have the opportunity to participate in affinity groups, which are designed for students to develop and strengthen their own racial, ethnic, or group identity, and alliances, which are also open to students outside of the identity group.
Parent Groups
The Office of Engagement supports parents through regularly scheduled coffees, book studies, and family gatherings. The Lovett International Alliance (LIA) is a parent-run organization that is committed to expanding international awareness by offering events and programs for the entire community.
Programs & partnerships
Multicultural Programs, Services, and Community Activities
• Black History Month Celebration
• Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
• Lovett International Alliance Book Fair
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
• Religious and Cultural Celebrations
• Unity in Heritage Art Exhibit
• WorldFest
Partnerships
• A Better Chance
• Agape Youth and Family Center
• Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
• Breakthrough Atlanta
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The Lovett School
4075 Paces Ferry Road, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30327-3009 (404) 262-3032 | lovett.org