Lower School

Size

The Lower School at MCDS consists of Kindergarten, first and second grade. There are three homerooms at each grade level. Each homeroom has 18 or 19 students, one full-time head teacher and one part-time assistant teacher. There are 162 students in the Lower School.

Program

Young children grow and learn in different ways and at a varying pace. The Lower School program is designed to meet a wide range of developmental needs and abilities. Classrooms are highly interactive and work to foster a love of learning.

Learning must be meaningful. It is most meaningful when it occurs in context as part of a bigger whole. Therefore, at MCDS we strive for an integrated curriculum, one in which children learn important and necessary skills through the investigation of challenging and intriguing topics.

The kindergarten program introduces students to the big world of Marin Country Day School and provides an introduction to lots of different experiences. The program centers around a study of farms, including integrated topics like paper, fabric, apples and eggs. Using these topics as a base, students further their knowledge of science, math, language and the world around them. Though the program is ‘print rich’, and there are loads of opportunities to develop reading skills, we do not expect children to learn to read by the end of kindergarten.

In first and second grades, the curriculum narrows in focus. Students study fewer topics in greater depth. The snail study, the people study, influential African Americans, and studies of geology, the creek and the bay are important units in these years.

Project based learning and the inquiry method are hallmarks of our efforts to provide a personalized approach to learning. However, this is balanced with a formal introduction to the reading, writing and mathematics skills that are essential tools for effective learners. Students learn phonics, grammar, punctuation, spelling, computation and problem solving skills each day.

Lower School students have two periods of music and art each week and 3-4 periods of physical education. Each class visits the library each week. Energy Time, a unique blend of aikido, music and movement is taught three times a week in kindergarten and once a week in the first and second grade. Energy Time (ET), fosters self-awareness, social skills, conflict resolution skills.

Service Learning

MCDS has a strong Service Learning program. In the earliest grades, we model the importance of showing respect and compassion to those who are close to us. In addition, we look for concrete, hands-on ways for young children to care for others. Awareness of ourselves and our opportunities to care for each other is a cornerstone of our educational goals. As children and adults in our community, we seek ways to help others. “Service Learning” is the satisfaction of doing something for others while learning more about ourselves and our world in the process.

Teachers

We are committed to providing opportunities for all our teachers to be life-long learners. Teachers are encouraged to participate in a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the year. Teachers work as teams within each grade level to develop curriculum, to plan activities and to monitor and support children.