Small class sizes, the nurturing and personal/family-like setting of a lovely old estate house on a beautiful campus, combined with a dedicated, talented faculty and a diverse student body motivated to learn are ingredients that support a child’s ability to reach their full potential.
Portledge Lower School students enjoy an engaging yet challenging, research-based educational program that supports the emotional, social, and physical development of each child through a core academic program that is enriched at every level with meaningful hands-on learning experiences. Students are encouraged to think and analyze as scientists and mathematicians, to read critically for understanding and write with purpose. Our students work in a variety of media during art, learn to play musical instruments, speak a foreign language, participate in PE and play in an inter-scholastic competitive sports program. Whether a student is two years old or turning eleven, every child has access to the full curriculum at their developmental level. Within the classroom, instruction is differentiated by experienced faculty to support a broad range of learning styles.
Strong emphasis is placed on drama and public speaking at our weekly assemblies. Whether a three year old announces that she has become a big sister, or a fourth grader shares that he has won a chess tournament, our students enjoy learning about each other within this nurturing community setting.
Students take advantage of the many opportunities to become citizens of the globe and our more immediate community through community service projects as well as learning about the broad cultural and religious traditions of each other and our world as they travel through the many countries studied for World Day, an annual tradition during which each child wears traditional costumes, tastes the culinary delights, learns about traditional games and songs.
A foundation of trust and mutual respect are the basis of interactions in the Lower School. Parents are encouraged to work closely with teachers as partners in their children’s education and in various volunteer opportunities in the Lower School.
We welcome you to come and visit.