Bringing Lower School 2016-2017 to a Close
Dear Lower School Families,
Life in schools is always busy, but never busier than when teachers and their classes are bringing a rich and satisfying year to a close. There is almost too much to tell you about, but what follows are some highlights.
Our third graders are headed out for an overnight trip to the Clearpool Education Center in Carmel, NY this Thursday for a wonderful outdoor experience that brings together exploration, investigation, and wonderful curricular tie-ins. The first grade will be running a post office out of their classrooms opening this Thursday and running through next week and likely, as was true last year, as many as 2,400 letters to the LS community will be processed. There will also be parents in for publishing parties in the next week or two, excitedly reading their children’s recently penned research reports, in third and fourth grades. Each second grade class will be performing its original, student written 30-40 minute Brooklyn Bridge play, with accompanying music, to standing-room-only parent audiences the following week. The fourth grade is preparing for their “moving up” (to the Middle School) program, perfecting choral pieces to be performed on the Meeting House stage in two weeks. Each fourth grade class is also presently creating an exceptionally detailed 3’x5′ model of New Amsterdam, replete with windmills, ships, churches, town houses, gardens and colonists in their classrooms that are still being crafted as I type. Prior to that, they will be presenting their S.T.E.A.M. projects where they designed and built devices using littleBits, a platform of electronic building blocks that empower you to invent anything, to assist their senior citizen buddies at Heights and Hills. And, kindergarten is preparing for SPIRIT WEEK when each day will have a special theme… possibly Costume Day, Sports Day, Rock Star Day, Wear Your Parents Clothes Day, Fancy Day and Pajama Day. They will bring their year to a spirited close with a singing and dancing event in the upper gym.
As a reminder, the last day of school is Tuesday, June 13. Kindergarten, First and Second Grade children will spend the morning of the 13th saying goodbye to their classmates and teachers in the classrooms. K–2 dismissal is at 11:00 a.m. from the classroom. Third and Fourth Grade children will start their day in the classrooms at 8:15 a.m. and then proceed to the Pearl Street Meeting House at 11:30 a.m. for the Fourth Grade Closing Program. Fourth grade parents may bring younger siblings to the program, but your child must sit with you. (Third grade children will be audience to the fourth grade performance. Third grade parents do not attend this event.) Dismissal for the third and fourth graders is at 12:30 p.m. from the classroom immediately following the program. There is no Afterschool Program on Tuesday, June 13th.
We couldn’t be more delighted to celebrate your children and their many accomplishments with you as we close the year. On behalf of the Lower School Faculty – Thank You! It has been an honor to work with, support, love and teach your child. Each year, our Lower School children touch us as well – rewarding work, indeed! We wish you a safe, loving, spirited and joyful summer!
In friendship,
Jackie Condie
Head of Lower School