The Lower School

In Barrie’s Lower School, students take their first steps in discovering the joys of learning. The Lower School curriculum is based on the philosophy and methodology of Maria Montessori, who supported the belief that all children have developmentally “sensitive periods” when they learn with the greatest ease, fueled by their own curiosity and guided by observant instructors.

The Lower School classrooms are multi-age environments filled with attractive multi-sensory materials. Montessori-trained teachers guide their children as they explore, question, and experiment their way to understanding. The opportunity to work both independently and with classmates draws children to activities that develop academic skills, problem-solving strategies, concentration, and coordination. Building trust, confidence, and independence are the fundamental goals of our early childhood curriculum.

Primary students work with specialists in addition to their classroom teachers. Painting, drawing, singing, dancing, building, and running all build confidence, instill a love of creative expression, and introduce basic skills that will support the student’s ongoing interest in the arts and language. Hands-on math, interactive online expeditions, gardening, and creative writing, are all exciting and challenging activities in the Lower Elementary curriculum geared to foster natural enthusiasm for learning.

Elementary students move beyond the sensorial period of younger years to a more complex level of reasoning. Lessons are presented to students with the goal of encouraging imaginative thinking about such subjects as the origins of the universe, the workings of the campus eco-system, and the fundamental needs of humans. Each cultural and science lesson offers an opportunity for students to apply their reading, math, and problem-solving skills in real-life situations.


Also see:
Lower School Admissions
Faculty & Staff List
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