Sacred Heart Lower School Overview

LOWER SCHOOL

independent all-girls school in New York City. Our community has lived the mission of our foundress St. Madeleine Sophie Barat since 1881 by inspiring generations of students to lead meaningful lives. Today, our vibrant, mission-driven Catholic school empowers each young woman to share her passion and purpose. We celebrate our Sacred Heart heritage and traditions as we strive for higher excellence and pursue a bold vision for our future.

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WELCOME

Sacred Heart is the oldest

MISSION As part of a 200-year tradition of Sacred Heart education and a global network of 41 countries and over 150 schools, 91st Street is committed to a set of principles shared by all Sacred Heart schools. Known as the “Goals and Criteria,” these principles articulate the core components of a Sacred Heart education, and charge our community with a unified educational mission. At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that each child possesses unique gifts. Our job is to unearth those gifts, nurture them, and empower each child of the Sacred Heart to share those gifts with the global community.

GOALS GOAL I A personal and active faith in God

GOAL II A deep respect for intellectual values

GOAL IV The building of community as a Christian value

GOAL III A social awareness which impels to action

GOAL V Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom 1

AT a GLANCE

Founded in 1881

Approximately 725 students

89% of faculty have advanced degrees

17+ AAIS Tournament Championships in the last 5 years

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7:1 student: teacher ratio

#1 all-girls Speech team in New York

60+ student-led clubs and organizations

159 Sacred Heart schools around the world

ACADEMICS The Lower School curriculum is developmentally appropriate and challenging at every level.

SUBJECTS • Language Arts (Reading and Writer’s Workshop) • Library • Mathematics

It benefits each student by offering an array of subject areas and academic enrichment opportunities fostering critical thinking,

• Performing Arts (Music and Creative Drama) • Physical Education • Positively Me!

effective communication, ethical judgment,

• Religion

leadership, and global formation. Our low

• Science

student-teacher ratio facilitates small group

• Social Studies

and one-on-one learning to allow each child

• Technology • Visual Arts

to advance at her own pace and to discover and explore her interests and passions.

• World Languages (French or Spanish)

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING Social-emotional learning is an integral component of the Lower School curriculum. Homeroom and Specialty Teachers, together with support from the Lower School Psychologist, integrate lessons on emotion identification and regulation, coping skills, navigating relationships with peers, and problem-solving skills. Lessons frequently involve books as a platform for discussion, as well as opportunities for learning and practicing specific skills.

Students are taught tools that focus on self-awareness, empathy, and personal responsibility.

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INTELLECT

At Sacred Heart, students join a vibrant learning community that inspires curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Encouraged to become independent learners and creative collaborators, students take intellectual risks, learning from their mistakes. At each level, Goal II inspires them to build their skills of critical analysis, creative thinking, leadership, and ethical discernment.

I love that my teachers are always there for me; they push you to do a lot of things that will help you feel more confident and be a better person.

—Grade 4 Student

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY At Sacred Heart, science and technology are brought to life by identifying real world problems, generating creative solutions, and building and testing prototypes.

The Makerspace features 3D printers, a university-grade laser cutter, a soldering station, an embroidery and sewing station, and sensors and electronics.

In addition to operational use, students develop computational thinking and digital citizenship skills. They utilize Chromebooks to learn self-regulation strategies for technology use, problem solving, and hands-on approaches to internet safety, touchtyping, and troubleshooting. Beginning in Kindergarten, every family is asked to purchase their student’s Chromebook; families with financial assistance receive the device at a subsidized rate.

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Each Sacred Heart student is valued and respected for who she is. As students grow in self-knowledge and confidence, they learn to value similarities and differences in others—both in school and beyond. Their engagement with Goal IV and the global community inspires them to stand up for what they believe and effect meaningful change.

COMM

UNITY

SPOTLIGHT:

Positively Me!

Positively Me! is a mission-based program of mindfulness, emotional intelligence, leadership, study skills, healthy habits, executive functioning skills, and character development. This program connects to our mission of focusing on the whole child and nurturing each child’s gifts. The goal of the program is to promote self-esteem and the social skills that are foundations for all healthy behavior. In Kindergarten, students practice breathwork techniques, self-soothing emotion regulation skills, and teamwork.

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A DAY in the LIFE ARRIVAL • 8 AM

Free Play..

Reading and Writer’s Workshop

Outdoor Play

Math and Snack

World Language

LUNCH • NOON

Read Aloud

Music

Science

DISMISSAL • 3 PM 3:00–4:30 pm After school for K–4

2:50–5:30 pm Extended Day for Junior K-4 11

FAIT Goal I calls us to bring the love of God into the world. Our school community nurtures the spiritual lives of all its members as they explore the values of faith, hope, and charity. Our religion curriculum encourages students to strengthen their own spirituality as they learn the Gospel values of love, compassion, and justice through literature, reflection, art projects, and drama activities.

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Diversity, Equity, and Community Life

Service Learning

Rooted in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred

to action, compelling them to

Heart education, Sacred Heart values diversity,

look beyond themselves and to see

equity, and inclusion (DEI) as integral parts

Sacred Heart students are educated to a social awareness that impels

their ability to impact and influence the larger world. In the Lower

of educating and empowering young women

School, students are provided with

to lead lives of purpose that integrate faith,

age-appropriate, meaningful oppor-

intellect, social action, community, and

tunities to raise awareness within the Sacred Heart community, as

personal growth in an atmosphere of wise

well as to help others both locally

freedom. In addition to studies of annual

and globally. Service learning

heritage months and cultural holidays, students

opportunities include:

participate in lessons and conversations about

• Terence Cardinal Cooke Nursing Home

identity and diversity. Every child deepens her

• All-School Service Days

understanding and appreciation for who she

• MyFace Wonder Project

is and who her peers are, preparing her for

• Heifer International

meaningful dialogue about and engagement

• Swim/Walk for our Sacred Heart School in Uganda

in justice and action. Teachers incorporate anti-bias frameworks into units of study, read alouds, and interdisciplinary projects. Beyond the classroom, students engage in DEI through workshops, presentations, affinity spaces, and all-school events.

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The people at school are part of your Sacred Heart family.

It reminds me that we’re all part of a big family.

—Grade 1 Student

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As students grow in social awareness, compassion, and character, they discover a deep sense of purpose, drawing upon Goal III and their own unique talents to impact the world. They emerge from the school’s transformative social justice program as leaders passionate about creating meaningful change and confident that they can do so.

SPOTLIGHT:

Herstory

In a culminating interdisciplinary project, aptly named “Herstory,” Grade 4 students conduct an in-depth study of and embody a notable woman in history. This project includes research, writing, art, creative drama, and public speaking. Students develop a wider range of knowledge as well as a deeper appreciation for these incredible women, what they endured, and why their historical legacy or present-day impact is so important. Students also have a greater understanding of activism, and how, even at a young age, each of us has a responsibility to advocate for what we feel is important.

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The Sacred Heart community embodies care for one another. People are so welcoming and happy to lend a helping hand when needed. Being a part of this community has allowed me to grow the love and joy I have in being an educator.

—Eunice Kim Lower School Dean of Operations

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In line with Goal V, students are continually supported as they grow and learn, celebrate successes, and make mistakes.

As they develop empathy and exercise resilience in meeting challenges, they discern what gives them a sense of meaning and learn how to lead change within their communities.

PERSO GROW

ONAL WTH

After School Our Extended Day program is available for all students (JuniorK–Grade 4) until 5:30 pm daily.

Programming Options • Chess

Starting in Kindergarten, students can choose from a variety of After School classes which are

• Musical Theater • Ballet/Creative Dance

offered on a trimester basis. These classes are

• Sewing/Crafts

taught by Sacred Heart faculty in conjunction

• Tennis

with Upper School student volunteers and

• Science

outside experts. Financial Assistance for both After School classes and the Extended Day

• Lego/Robotics Engineering • Gymnastics • Scratch Jr.

program is available.

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• Ice Skating

Arts The extensive visual and performing arts (both creative drama and music) programs are key components of the Lower School curriculum.

Students are offered a wealth of opportunities to grow their knowledge, exercise their imagination, trust their intuition, and grow in patience and self-control.

From Pre-K to Grade 4, Lower School students regularly participate in Art, in which they experiment with different mediums and elements; Drama, where imagination and creativity come to life through vocal, physical, and emotional expression; and Music, which emphasizes storytelling through the exploration of pitch, rhythm, melody, and instrumentation.

Aquatics As part of the Physical Education curriculum, Sacred Heart’s robust Aquatics program begins in Pre-Kindergarten when students learn the basics of swimming, floating, and water safety.

In addition to developing specific swimming skills like strokes, flipturns, and diving, students learn healthy behaviors and attitudes towards competition, teamwork, risk-taking, good sportsmanship, and safety.

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“Drama is my favorite class! I love acting and singing and dancing.

I really like being in front of an audience—sometimes I get a little nervous when I’m in a play, but I love it.”

—Grade 2 Student

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Our FACILITIES Buildings 1 and 7 The school is housed in two historic mansions which provide an extraordinary learning environment.

Lower School 7 East 91st Street

Middle School and Upper School

1 East 91st Street

FutureLab On the lower level of our 91st Street buildings, our FutureLab houses the science and technology classrooms for the entire school. The students can also eat in the cafeteria or use community spaces to collaborate.

Makerspace #2 S.T.E.A.M. Labs

Makerspace #1

Atrium Cafeteria Life Science Lab Chemistry Labs

Athletics and Wellness Center Completed in 2014, the Athletics and Wellness Center is a state-of-the-art, 60,000-square-foot facility that allows students of all ages to swim, play sports, work out, or dance.

Dance Studio and Training Facilities

Full-size Gymnasium

25-Yard Pool

406 East 91st Street

Convent of the Sacred Heart 1 East 91st Street New York, NY 10128-0689 212.722.4745 www.cshnyc.org

Convent of the Sacred Heart admits students of any race, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs.