LCDS Early Childhood and Lower School Advantages

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LANCASTER C O U N T R Y D AY SCHOOL

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Early Childhood

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ancaster Country Day School’s Lower School Early Childhood program is designed for children ages 3-5 and consists of half- and full-day options. Led by caring, nurturing teachers, students are encouraged to realize their full social, physical, intellectual and emotional potential. This helps instill a lifelong love of learning in each child.

MEANINGFUL PLAY HAS ESSENTIAL EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS: LANGUAGE, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES

The active classroom consists of learning centers that allow children to choose from a variety of activities to explore individually or in small groups. Meaningful play is a significant element of learning at LCDS. Children process and understand their world when they run, jump, dig, paint, draw and interact with their peers and the world around them.

The Early Childhood program provides a safe, stimulating atmosphere where children can explore, discover and learn at their own pace.

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With the highest per-child investment in specialized faculty and facilities in the region, Lancaster Country Day’s uniquely balanced program of academics and substantive fun fully prepares each child for a lifetime of academic success.

MEANINGFUL PLAY FOSTERS PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

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E A R LY C H I L D H O O D

“ The decision to have both of our children attend LCDS from kindergarten through 12th grade was one of the best decisions we have ever made as parents. The small class sizes, the caring and committed staff and faculty, and the boundless opportunities they each received allowed them to blossom and grow into adults.”

During Take A Child Outside Week, sophomores lead preschoolers on a scavenger hunt.

Scott and Francy Bailey, Parents

While the Early Childhood curriculum includes a great deal of meaningful play, it also comprises traditional academic subjects and takes full advantage of all the school’s resources. This means that in addition to exercise in the classroom and Lower School playground, children also have physical education classes in Country Day’s two gymnasiums, borrow books from the dedicated Lower School library, take art and music classes in any of several art and music rooms, and rehearse performances in the school theater.

One of the most distinctive aspects of the Early Childhood learning program includes exposure to the Spanish language. Students who stay at Country Day will have studied Spanish for seven years by the time they reach fifth grade.

In Lower School, students take:

A rt Music • Physical Education • Library • Spanish • •

THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING PROGRAM INCLUDES EXPOSURE TO THE SPANISH LANGUAGE

Part of what makes Country Day’s Early Childhood education so effective and special is the combination of small class sizes and close parent involvement. But parents aren’t the only ones stopping by the classrooms to enrich the experience of our youngest students. Every week, a buddy program brings seventh graders into junior kindergarten to spend time and play math games, while preschoolers have a fourthgrade buddy, as well as a rotating troupe of Upper Schoolers who visit class to put a fun twist on learning and make the children feel part of the larger school.

Preschool and junior kindergarten teachers consider the parents partners.

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Lower School

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n Lower School, Country Day students become truly immersed in a comprehensive education that not only encourages their physical and emotional maturation from childhood to adolescence, but inspires their scholastic growth and confidence across a broad range of subjects. Our warm and dedicated faculty embrace a teaching philosophy called Responsive Classroom, which begins by engaging students’ interests and cultivating a sense of belonging, while giving teachers the flexibility to tailor lessons to the needs and aptitudes of individual students.

RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT THE RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM APPROACH IS ASSOCIATED WITH: • HIGHER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT • IMPROVED TEACHER-STUDENT

At Country Day, we place a premium on educating the whole child.

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Educating the whole child means that our teachers expand the scholastic focus of the Responsive Classroom to help facilitate a child’s complete development, both inside and outside the classroom. Because teachers know their students well and enjoy the freedom to adapt to each child, they are able to encourage the shy student to become more self-confident while at the same time helping a boisterous student succeed in sitting still through a lesson. The result is a class where students and teacher are mutually engaged in helping the children learn while also leading each other to grow together.

INTERACTIONS • HIGHER QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN MATHEMATICS

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LOWER SCHOOL

“ Since joining the LCDS family, our children’s minds have been opened. They are asking to be involved more in the arts and have a greater appreciation for music, drama and languages. They are also exposed to a great variety of athletic activities.”

In the Lower School, teachers use the iPad to complement the curriculum.

Jeff Grove, Parent

Students in every Lower School grade learn Spanish, art and music as an introduction to our interconnected world, and all three are an intrinsic part of the Lower School week. In fifth grade, students spend a trimester studying French and Mandarin, as well. This introduction to languages helps students make a better informed decision about which language to pursue in Middle School.

One can find some of the most entertaining examples of Country Day’s commitment to nurturing children’s creativity in a first-grade Writers’ Workshop class. Beginning in junior kindergarten, students devote a portion of each day to becoming more confident and capable writers.

Private instrument lessons are available, and interested students can play in the Lower School band or orchestra. In addition to multiple weekly physical education classes, Lower School students can also compete in interscholastic sports.

While other schools might offer extracurricular options, Country Day integrates its wide range of activities into school life and has an exceptional curriculum and facilities.

OUR LOWER SCHOOL WILL HELP CHILDREN BECOME: • PHYSICALLY ASSURED • INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS • PASSIONATE ABOUT LEARNING

Students put their science and technology skills to work in Lower School using iPads to conduct research and assemble multimedia presentations on ancient civilizations for classmates. In another class, students learn American history by collaborating in a group role playing game.

Two dedicated specialists teach science and technology beyond the ordinary science curriculum each week.

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“ They’re here to learn.

There is an underlying expectation of purpose here. All in all, it’s a place kids want to be.”

LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Admission Office 725 Hamilton Road Lancaster, PA 17603 717-392-2916 www.lancastercountryday.org

Todd Berner, Faculty

LCDS FACTS

ARTS

• Coed, college preparatory

•L CDS has an extraordinary arts program with inspired, professional artists teaching theater, ceramics, fine arts, dance and music

•6 07 students under one roof in preschool through 12th grade • Average class size: 13 • Student-faculty ratio: 8:1 • 1 00 percent of seniors accepted to four-year colleges/universities •$ 3.1 million in financial aid awarded in 2015-2016 ACADEMICS • High academic standards •S upportive faculty who provide individual attention to all students •E mphasis on substantive reading and writing in myriad genres and styles • 1:1 iPad program for grades 8-12 •V ariety of teaching methods to stimulate students’ creativity and critical thinking •R egular review of preschool through 12th-grade curriculum ensures the material keeps a natural sequence and flow

•P rivate music lessons are available during the school day for students in all grades for a fee ATHLETICS •S tudents in preschool through fifth grade have four to five physical education classes each week; sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders have three •B eginning in the third grade, students can compete in team sports •W ith our after-school fitness program and a wide selection of varsity, club and co-op teams, students interested in athletics have a wealth of options DIVERSITY

•G eographic — Students from six counties and 38 school districts

• Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop

• Racial — 25 percent students of color

• Skill-based grouping in math

•S panish language instruction begins in preschool

This program is designed for children ages 3-5, and consists of half- or full-day options TRANSPORTATION •P rovided by public school districts within a 10-mile radius of LCDS •A lso available from Berks, Dauphin and York counties for a fee •C arpooling may be arranged from most other areas TUITION & FINANCIAL AID 2015-2016 • I n the 2015-2016 school year, LCDS awarded more than $3.1 million in financial aid •A ny family may apply for financial aid, with scholarship grants awarded according to need. A limited number of merit scholarships are also available. Please call the Admission Office for tuition details

•E conomic — 31 percent of students receive financial aid

LOWER SCHOOL

•E ducation of the whole child, with art, music and physical education as important as academics

PRESCHOOL AND JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

FACULTY •N early 80 percent of full-time faculty and staff in the Upper School hold advanced degrees •L CDS faculty have earned professional development grants as well as national and international recognition through programs including the Fulbright, Klingenstein, Christa McAuliffe Fellowships, AARMS, N.E.H. seminars in the U.S. and Europe, the Whalen Chemistry Award and the U.S. Chemistry Olympiad

The mission of Lancaster Country Day School is to encourage each student’s growth within a challenging and supportive academic environment that inspires enthusiasm for learning, the joy of accomplishment, and commitment to community.

LCDS fosters the individual’s thinking skills, physical and emotional well-being, and creative expression with an emphasis on personal integrity, mutual respect, and social responsibility.

•C ountry Day has two fully endowed faculty chairs to honor outstanding teachers at the school

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