Discover the possibilities: SAS Lower School Admissions 26-27

ST. ANDREW’S LOWER SCHOOL

DISCOVER

the possibilities

Our MISSION St. Andrew’s develops exemplary scholars, artists, athletes, and servants in a loving Episcopal community who are curious, courageous, and compassionate global citizens.

At St. Andrew’s, the Lower School experience is designed to provide students with opportunities to discover, create, explore, and engage with the world around them. Research shows that students learn best when they are actively engaged in learning, and our programming is built on this understanding, empowering our students to actively do, play, and participate in their own learning journey.

We understand the unique needs of our young learners and strive to meet them where they are. Our dedicated teachers create engaging and authentic learning activities that spark curiosity and joy. We establish a strong foundation of cognitive skills while fostering their social and emotional well-being.

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A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT

The St. Andrew’s Lower School program celebrates childhood while fostering curiosity, confidence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.

— Yvonne Russell, Head of Lower School

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN EPISCOPAL SCHOOL? At St. Andrew’s our Episcopal Identity grounds our work, academically, socially, physically and spiritually, teaching our students to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." Chapel is the place where those values and sacred stories are taught and shared in an age-appropriate way with all of our students.

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A WELCOMING SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY

While St. Andrew’s is grounded in and guided by our Episcopal Identity, our Chapel life intentionally includes the traditions, celebrations and stories that our students, faculty and staff hold dear. Each year, our parents and local leaders teach us about how their traditions join in dialogue with our Episcopal Identity to make us the amazing community we strive to be.

Our servant pillar is defined by respecting the dignity of every human being and demonstrating empathy through action. St. Andrew’s students embrace a responsibility to give back to their community, stewarding their gifts and talents for local and global benefit, and strive to create meaningful connections with those around them.

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A FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

KINDERGARTEN Your Child’s Journey Starts Here Eleanor Hall, our Kindergarten Center, is a vibrant hub for kindergarten students guided by a team of six exceptional teachers. This 5,000 square foot multi-faceted facility is equipped with a variety of learning spaces, a playscape, and a front deck, all designed to foster kinesthetic learning, encourage small and large group collaboration, and provide a joyful and immersive experience. Our Kindergarten Center is where makers, leaders, inventors, thinkers, collaborators, and lifelong learners are made. We’re honored to be one of the first stepping stones on your child’s learning journey.

The kindergarten experience is built around the unique characteristics of this developmental age. Children receive the attention and support they require to flourish academically and personally.

Our kindergarten curriculum lays the essential groundwork for a lifetime of learning, introducing foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, scientific thinking, and creative expression. These early academic experiences are carefully designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and establish the strong intellectual habits that define a St. Andrew’s scholar.

LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS LITERACY Foundational reading skills are developed through systematic, explicit phonics and phonemic awareness instruction, giving every student the decoding tools they need to become a confident, fluent reader.

From there, students are immersed in rich, compelling texts that nurture a genuine love of reading. They also engage in meaningful writing, creating authentic work for real audiences and growing as thoughtful communicators and storytellers.

MATH Students build deep mathematical understanding through hands-on exploration, visual models, and collaborative problem-solving. They learn to reason, investigate, and think flexibly, developing genuine agency as mathematical thinkers.

SCIENCE Students learn to ask thoughtful questions about real phenomena, conducting hands-on investigations, and drawing evidence-based conclusions. This approach develops critical thinking and genuine scientific curiosity.

SOCIAL STUDIES Students build an appreciation for history, geography, civics, and

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A LOVE OF LEARNING

economics through intentional exploration. As students get older, they celebrate different aspects of identity and engage in service learning that connects classroom knowledge to meaningful action in their community.

SPANISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION Language learning begins in Kindergarten and continues through fifth grade, building competence and cross-cultural understanding from an early age.

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SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING At St. Andrew’s, we believe that nurturing the whole child means attending equally to hearts and minds. Social-emotional learning equips students with the skills to understand and express their emotions, build meaningful relationships, and engage with others in a respectful and healthy manner.

Our approach reflects our deepest commitments to community, spiritual development, and the belief that how we learn together matters as much as what we learn.

Rooted in the Responsive Classroom approach, each day begins with Morning Meeting, a structured gathering where students greet one another by name, share ideas, and engage in activities that build trust and belonging. The day closes with a Closing Circle, a brief moment of reflection that sends students home with a sense of accomplishment and connection. Between these bookends, the work of developing the whole child continues – in Chapel lessons, in the collaborative problem-solving of the classroom, and in the simple, everyday acts of kindness so often seen among our students and teachers.

WHERE PASSION TAKES SHAPE Along with robust academics, fine arts classes complement our curriculum, with a focus on visual arts, music, and drama. In art class, students practice new skills and techniques using a variety of materials, learn about diverse artists, and focus on creating original artwork. In their music studies, students develop an understanding

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ARTISTIC AND ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITY

of rhythm, melody, and musical expression, learning to play various instruments and explore different vocal ranges.

Drama classes explore storytelling, integrate the arts into academic learning, and foster creativity through skits and productions.

We believe in the importance of movement and activity for children.

We provide opportunities for daily recess, and children engage in Physical Education several times a week. In our Physical Education classes, students participate in a wide variety of activities to develop movement and body control, manipulative skills, and sportsmanship.

Grades 3–5 also begin to focus on team sports and cultivating the qualities of a good team player.

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THE PORTRAIT OF A FIFTH GRADER Our fifth graders leave the Lower School academically and socially prepared to begin Middle School.

A fifth grader’s educational toolkit includes academic readiness, organization, and study skills strategies. It builds critical thinking and problem-solving abilities alongside self-awareness. It fosters the confidence, skills, and willingness to take on leadership roles. And at its core, it holds a kind heart and a spirit of service.

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COMMUNITY BEYOND THE CLASSROOM LOWER SCHOOL Fast Facts At St. Andrew’s, we believe learning extends beyond the regular school day. Our Beyond the Classroom (BTC) program, an extended-day program available for students until 5:30 pm, offers an environment for free play and

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presents an array of enrichment classes that allow our

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students to delve deeper into their interests and strengths.

Students can get moving with activities like tennis and taekwondo, explore new horizons with chess or cooking, or participate in academic enrichment opportunities.

student-to -teacher ratio

students on financial aid

different zip codes represented

30%

racially diverse

HOW TO APPLY Thank you for your interest in St. Andrew’s. Applications are accepted online at sasaustin.org. Priority is given to applications received on or before January 15.

To make an appointment or to inquire about our program, please contact: Priscilla Lund Director of K-12 Enrollment Management & Financial Aid plund@sasaustin.org (512) 299-9802

Kapie Breed Director of Lower School Admissions kbreed@sasaustin.org (512) 299-9846

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION St. Andrew’s Episcopal School admits qualified students regardless of race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical

1112 WEST 31ST STREET AUSTIN, TX 78705

disability, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical disability, socioeconomic status, sex, gender

Find us online at sasaustin.org

identity or sexual orientation in the administration of any policies or programs generally accorded or made available to

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@SASAUSTIN

students at the school.