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Lower School Traditions

All Lower School

All Year

Read to the Principal - This is a program that encourages young emerging readers to develop a love of literature and books and to foster a desire for a lifetime of reading. Students in kindergarten - second grade are selected on a weekly rotational basis to come and read and share their favorite book from home or school with the principal. The event is made even more special with a "Super Reader" button, pencil, and local restaurant gift card. Each student snacks on donuts and chocolate milk as they read their stories and share their favorite parts of the books with each other.
Principal Story Share - This is an opportunity to encourage creative and expressive writing skills with students in the third, fourth and fifth grades. The students are selecting stories from their journal portfolios in their language arts classes to share with the principal as they snack on cookies and juice. The plot of the story as well as character development, story progression, and summation are discussed as each student shares with the group.
Student of the Month - Each month the homeroom teachers in third, fourth and fifth grades select a student for their leadership in the classroom and their excellent attitude and behavior. The students are rewarded with a pizza lunch, free homework pass and a restaurant gift card, as well as their picture proudly displayed in the front hallway of the school for the entire month.
Happy Principal Visit - Each month the kindergarten, first, and second grade teachers select a student for their excellent behavior and work habits in the classroom and for being wonderful role models for the other students. Each student has the opportunity to visit with the principal and receive a "happy principal ribbon", a prize from the prize basket a photograph memory of the occasion, and to make a phone call to their parents to share the "big news".

November

Book Character Day - Students come to school dressed as their favorite book character.
Autumn Motif - Students make special Thanksgiving motifs such as pumpkin flowers, autumn wreaths, pumpkin patch villages, or even an Edward Hopper, "House by the Railroad" reproduction to display at Grandparent's Day.
Indian Head Dresses - Pre-K Students will create and wear their head dresses for Book Character Day. They will then walk the campus in costume.

December

Music Christmas Program
Blown out Eggs - The third, fourth and fifth grade classes will decorate blown out eggs to use as a Christmas ornament.
Christmas Ornaments - Each Art student makes a unique seeded and or beaded Christmas ornament to take home to their family Christmas Tree.

Spring

O'Keefe Flowers - Students will design O'Keefe type flowers using various mediums and papers.
Faberge Eggs - Students will celebrate the renewal of the spring season by learning about Russian history and Faberge Eggs. Students will learn how these eggs tie into Christianity and the renewal of life.