Lower School Viewbook 2024-25

Joyful Learning, Ignited You want your young child to love learning, especially at this pivotal age. Children marvel at the world’s small details that we grown ups have ceased to notice, and you so appreciate their youthful wonderment. You watch as joyful learning happens every day, a child’s curious mind craving knowledge as much as their growing body desires frequent movement. You’re looking for a school that will prioritize getting to know your family. A school that will gently, but relentlessly nudge and nurture your child. A school that will spark their joy for learning and maximize their potential. Welcome to St. Anne’s-Belfield Lower School.

Testimonials “One of the first things we liked at St. Anne’s-Belfield was the strong academic curriculum. We knew our boys would be challenged, motivated, and guided to try new things.

We also knew about the school’s core values, which are so important in this social media filled world. But nothing really prepared us for the amazing community that received us. Being the mom of four boys with totally different personalities, I can truly say my boys are known. They have not only made incredible friendships with their peers but also with their teachers. The faculty and administration are always ready to help with any questions I might have about my kids. I’m so grateful for all the opportunities and experiences the school has given my kids.”

— Antonia Silva, P. ’26, ’28, ’32, & ’34

Testimonials

What Our Grade 4 Students Say “I was new last year. It is a magnificent learning opportunity and a chance to have great friends, also a great place to discover your creativity and explore new talents and skill.”

— Maxwell E. ’33 “There are so many traditions like community meetings in Brennan Hall, the Poetry Festival, Lessons and Carols, Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day, and so many more. But overall, the friendships you’ll create at St. Anne’s are lifelong and meant to last.”

— Wilson N. ’33 “In FAB Lab we got to make a board game, a tennis iMovie, and a pinball machine. Another thing I like about St. Anne’s is its energetic teachers. They help us learn in fun and challenging ways.”

— Camden D. ’33 “For families with curious kids, St. Anne’s-Belfield is a great place to go to school. Resources like our library and science lab have helped me explore new interests.

The teachers introduce interesting topics that make me want to learn more.”

— Isabel A. ’33 “Students really make new kids feel at home. For example I saw a new kid and on their first day they were nervous, but then I saw that same kid the next day with some friends. Another thing I like is the teachers...if two kids worked different ways the teachers could adapt to both of their learning needs. The third thing I like is the staff, the kitchen staff for instance, when I thought I had a food allergy they made me gluten free food and were very understanding. St. Anne’s-Belfield School is a welcoming and kind community that teaches students very well.”

— Simon J. ’33

Did You Know?

Chapel Buddies is a signature program of the Lower School. Kindergarten and Grade 4 students are paired for Chapel and other key moments throughout the year. These pairings continue as the students progress through the Lower and Middle School.

“Something that I love about St. Anne’s-Belfield is that we have Chapel Buddies. You make such strong connections with your Chapel Buddy that will stick with you for a long time. I love the different activities that you do with them. I love Chapel Buddies because you get to watch each other grow throughout the year. ” — Ella V. S. ’29

Our mission: “We wish our students to become strong in body, broad of mind, tender of heart, responsive in soul.”

— Mary Hyde DuVal, Founding Headmistress

Statement on Inclusive Excellence

St. Anne’s-Belfield School believes that exemplary citizenship and visionary leadership are best nurtured in a welcoming School community based on equity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of excellence. Our School provides a well-balanced educational experience that affirms the richness and diversity of humanity, creates an expectation of belonging based on shared human dignity, and encourages a desire to learn about and from each other.

Our vision: to inspire and prepare the next generation of exemplary citizens and visionary leaders.

Our Portrait of a 2036 Graduate articulates the habits, mindsets, and skill sets we believe are essential for our graduates in the present and the future. Learn more about it at portrait.stab.org

Lisa Keeler, M.Ed., P. ’15 & ’16 “Often in the Lower School, lessons begin with a wonder. Why do birds migrate each year, and how does that connect us to communities in South America?

Can we build a structure out of cardboard and straws that can withstand an earthquake simulator? Students then deepen their learning through investigating and questioning and researching, culminating in a project or activity in which concepts are applied. In this

collaborative manner, every student at St. Anne’s-Belfield is helping to shape the learning environment. It’s a joyful academic experience where mistakes are embraced as a valuable part of the learning process. Our curriculum is informed by national standards and the latest research on early childhood education. Our Lower School lays the foundation for students’ discovery of who they are as learners and as members of a larger whole.”

Philosophy

Meet the Division Head

Distinctive Academics In addition to a full complement of core academic classes that include Science, Math, Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, and Writing Workshop. Students also receive instruction each week in Spanish, Music & Movement, visual arts, and weekly time in the library. Recognizing the vital importance of outdoor and exercise time, students also have daily P.E. along with twice daily outdoor recess times. The Lower School also has a reading specialist, academic and learning support specialist, and school counselors.

One of our most important responsibilities as educators is to teach students how to think, not what to think. Our Social Studies curriculum, InquireEd, is the vehicle in which we teach history, civics, and geography. Each unit begins with a question and culminates in an action project. Students build content knowledge through rigorous and sustained investigation.

Writing Workshop

Our writing program establishes a clear connection between reading and writing as our students become readers who write and writers who read. Writing Workshop provides students with developmentally-appropriate instruction in the genres of narrative, opinion, and informational writing. Students strengthen their understanding of craft and conventions through the study of mentor texts and the creation of stories, essays, poems, and other pieces.

Grades 3 & 4 FAB Lab

The adult world — and increasingly childhood, too — is full of “should dos.” Between packed schedules, traveling to and from activities, and to do lists, it can be hard to keep time for pursuing interests or areas of curiosity. As our students become older and take on more academic and extracurricular agency, FAB Lab is a time for student-driven inquiry and learning. Grades 3 & 4 students choose an area of interest, pose meaningful questions, seek answers to problems, and teach others what they learn.

Computer Science

Through coding and computational thinking, we give our young learners a jump start on the skills they will need not only to excel in the modern world, but also to develop a sustained love of STEM. Imagine studying earthquake impact followed by building your own earthquake simulation in Science class.

Or playing arcade games created through coding

by Middle School students who also help explain the game and their creative process. CS curricula is incorporated into the school day, with open labs and after-school enrichment classes offering more opportunities to tinker and explore.

Sample Schedule 7:30 – 8 a.m.

Morning Care

8 – 8:45 a.m.

Homeroom Time and Morning Meeting

8:45 – 10 a.m.

Reading & Language Arts

10 – 10:30 a.m.

Snack and Recess

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Social Studies 11:15 – 12 p.m.

Arts/Spanish/Science/Library

12 – 12:30 p.m.

Lunch and Recess

12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Math 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. Physical Education 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. Writing Workshop 3:15 p.m.

Dismissal Saints After School (SAS) Available Until 5:30 p.m.

Academics

Social Studies

Academics, Continued Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Toolkit

Imagine how much better off we’d be if everyone were taught from a young age how to navigate their emotions, handle disappointment, maintain relationships, and be a good citizen?

Every child who goes through our Lower School grows their own SEL toolkit, developed by one of our teachers, Lindsay Rubin–. teachers integrate the SEL toolkit into all parts of the curriculum to help young learners develop skills, strategies, and language to learn how to be collaborative and contributing citizens in a community. Tools include the perspective tool, and the calm down tool, the think it through tool, focus tool, make a plan tool, and others.

Singapore Math

We teach math using the Singapore Math curriculum in Kindergarten – Grade 6. Students first encounter mathematical concepts through the use of concrete, hands-on manipulatives. Then, they move on to the pictorial stage in which pictures are used to model problems. Later, when students are familiar with the ideas taught, they progress to the abstract stage in which only numbers, notation, and symbols are used.

The approach equips students with a strong foundation in math by encouraging a flexible growth mindset, covering topics in depth, and teaching to mastery.

“We feel it is a school where all three of our children can excel and be part of a wonderful community of families. We love that the well-rounded academic and co-curricular program focuses on the health and potential of the whole child across academics, the arts, and athletics.”

— Ashley Gundersen, P. ’28, ’30, & ’34

Academics Our K – 4 students get structured and unstructured time outdoors every day.

The Saints Community

At St. Anne’s-Belfield School, we are first and foremost an academic community.

Our community reaches beyond the classroom to build strong, intentional relationships with the whole family.

Highlights: • • •

60+ Parents’ Association volunteer positions 86 all-school parent/guardian volunteers 392 annual Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Day visitors

Community

Chapel

Chapel has existed at St. Anne’s-Belfield since our founding in 1910. While today’s Chapel is nondenominational, it remains one of the sacred traditions of the School. In the Lower School (LS), we gather every-other week to sing together, listen to a message, celebrate highlights, and build community.

Student voice is an important component of our Chapel program.

Parent/Guardian Programming

Wednesday Wellness webinars connect child development experts with our parents and the larger community; Curriculum Night gives parents and guardians a peek into the K – 4 academic program; and various parent/guardian chats during the school year focus on a variety of topics relevant to raising young children.

Parent/Guardian Partnership Meetings

Our Parent/Guardian Partnership Meetings, the first of which takes place prior to the start of school, enable faculty and family caregivers to form an important connection and build strong communication between home and School.

Community Events

Cheer on our Saints athletes, bring the family to an arts performance, attend a lecture, come decked in maroon for our Fall Family Festival or Maroon & White Party, roll up your sleeves and volunteer alongside a local organization during Saints Serve Saturday— our School community loves to come together. In the Lower School, Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Day is a treasured tradition that allows students to share their favorite parts of the School with special people in their lives.

The Parents’ Association (PA)

The Parents’ Association provides many opportunities for families to become involved. In your student’s class, parents and guardians serve as grade level reps, support special events, volunteer in the library, and more.

Interaction Across Grade Levels

From their first day of school through the time they are initiated into our expansive, global alumni network, all Saints know they are part of a caring and vibrant community. With students from age 2 to Grade 12 and representing 25 countries, your student will have the opportunity to interact with students of all ages and backgrounds through programs like Chapel Buddies.

St. Anne’s-Belfield School At A Glance located in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, VA

55

Top Schools & universities

acres of land between two campuses around the corner from University of Virginia

Lower School

16

average homeroom size

237

Lower School students

27%

“Sandbox Kids” in the Class of 2025 (joined the School by Grade 1)

25

countries represented in the student body

11 countries and 10 U.S. states in the Residential Life Program

Quick Facts

4911

21

107

54

667

100%

living alumni from 49 states and 48 countries

competitive sports teams

Advanced Placement (AP) exams offered on campus

family households

U.S. zip codes represented schoolwide

980

students age 2 – Grade 12

K – Grade 4 students participate in arts and physical activity

Class of 2024 College Success 71% UVA in-state

88% Class of 2024

admission rate vs 25.5% global rate

enrolled in their first or second choice college

1314

average SAT vs. 1028 national average

27

average ACT vs 19.9 national average

38% UVA out-ofstate admission rate vs.

13% global rate

1 in 2

will enroll in a very selective (<25% admit rate) college

The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, sex, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, or any status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the privilege to participate in the educational programs generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, or any status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admission or its educational programs.

799 Faulconer Drive | Charlottesville, VA 22903 admission@stab.org | www.stab.org | (434) 296-5106

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