Lower School

During the school day, a strong emphasis is placed on the development and refinement of the ability to read, an effort that exposes students to high-quality literature as well as direct instruction in phonics and word analysis skills. Value is placed on the knowledge and pleasure that reading provides while ensuring foundational literacy skills are mastered. Creative and expository writing activities in Writing Workshop emphasize each child’s authorship and the mastery of the protocols of composition while promoting the ability to communicate ideas effectively.

The mathematics curriculum, Everyday Math, aims to develop in each student a strong understanding of mathematical concepts, flexibility in numeracy and problem solving, ability to visualize thinking, and the mastery of facts. Instruction includes manipulatives, math games, cooperative learning, and problem solving in journal work. Students are challenged to maintain open minds, be curious, think divergently, make intelligent guesses, and problem-solve for everyday situations.

Social studies integrates activities from multiple disciplines around meaningful topics and points of focus that are anchored by essential questions. The goal of the social studies program is to help children understand many communities and systems – both near and far, present and past – to which they are related, and the responsibilities that are associated with those relationships.

The Lower School Science program at St. Matthew’s builds upon students’ natural curiosity about the world. Using Next Generation Science Standards as a guide, our program is based on three dimensions, including science and engineering practices, core ideas from the science discipline, and cross-cutting concepts that merge practice and ideas. While core ideas in Science change year to year, science and engineering practices build upon and evolve developmentally year after year.

The Lower School Art program at St. Matthew’s places a great deal of emphasis on process and exploration using a variety of art materials and techniques. Using the National Core Art Standards as a framework, our students spend time in the arts engaged in the processes of creating, presenting, responding, and connecting.

The Lower School Innovation program aims to provide students with opportunities to play, explore, problem-solve, and create using a variety of low and high-tech tools. Using the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards as a guide, our program in Lower School understands that our students must be prepared to adapt and thrive in a world where technology is constantly evolving.

The Lower School Music program at St. Matthew’s has several goals: to foster enjoyment and appreciation of music; to develop skills and learn about musical concepts through active involvement; to build listening and cooperative skills; to encourage creativity; and to expose students to the cultural and/or historical contexts of music. Using the National Core Art Standards as a framework, our students spend time in the arts engaged in the processes of creating, presenting, responding, and connecting. All grade levels in Lower School have music class twice per eight-day rotation in half groups.

The Lower School Physical Education Program introduces the students to a wide variety of movement activities that develop personal fitness and motor skills while also teaching both non-competitive and competitive games based on the age of the students. Basic skills and fundamentals are taught in each unit, while students’ locomotor, gross, and fine motor skills are all enhanced through these activities. Emphasis is placed on sportsmanship and includes reinforcement of listening skills, following directions, cooperation, individual activities, partner activities, relays, lead-up games and group games. Students are encouraged to fully participate and achieve realistic individual goals, creating a setting for success. Leadership, conflict resolution, and group dynamics are all woven into activities on a regular basis.

Our Lower School Library program seeks to foster a love of reading. Using guidelines from the American Association of School Librarians, the curriculum is designed to enhance literacy and research skills throughout the lower school years. In Kindergarten, students visit the library regularly, twice per eight-day rotation. In Grades 1 through 4, library curriculum is presented by semester and visits to the library to check out books happen for all grades throughout the year.

The Religion program at St. Matthew’s Parish School begins in 3rd Grade. The goals of 3rd and 4th Grade Religion include developing a sense of living in God’s love; a knowledge of our Episcopal (Judeo-Christian) tradition; reinforcing concepts that will be explored in K-4 and K-8 Chapels; laying foundations for Service Learning activities; and giving students and their families some practical resources for practicing their spirituality in the home. There is a strong focus on the cycle of the Church Year through Scripture and Church Tradition.  

4th Graders lead the weekly K-4 chapel service. In addition, students attend the weekly K-8 chapel led by the Head of School, where each grade shares classroom news and periodically makes a presentation to the entire school.

A vital part of each child’s education at St. Matthew’s Parish School is participation in our grade-level and school-wide Service Learning programs.

Kindergarten cares for others by holding lemonade stand fundraisers to benefit our friends at St. Paul’s School in Haiti.

The 1st Grade curriculum of Community Helpers lays the foundation of the service learning project. Students hold a fundraiser that assists families at St. Paul’s School in Haiti to become community helpers and farmers.

2nd Grade social studies explores natural ecosystems, including the ocean and rain forests. Second graders serve as leaders for the School’s relationship with Heal the Bay, giving several opportunities for students to help clean up our local beach.

The 3rd Grade social studies units on world geography, the Los Angeles community, economics, and the human body all provide opportunities to explore how different social service organizations help people, who don’t have ready access to health care and educational supplies. A read-a-thon raises funds for malaria prevention in Malawi through the GAIA Foundation, an art and school supply ingathering at Christmastime supports the work of the Hollygrove Haven, and personal first-aid kits help clients of the Downtown Women’s Center.

In order to develop an understanding of the problem of local hunger, 4th Grade students support the work of the Westside Food Bank, a warehouse that distributes food to 65 social service organizations on the Westside of LA. Issues of global hunger are explored alongside studies in science about nutrition. The funds raised have helped implement a hot lunch program at St. Paul’s, our partner school in Haiti.

A dedicated Lower School Learning Specialist delivers direct support to students during their literacy classes and provides consultation and strategies for differentiation within the classroom. Three times per year, they conduct benchmark literacy screenings for all students in Kindergarten through 4th Grade. Using this data, along with observations from the teachers, they identify students who may need additional learning support or challenge. Together with our School Counselor, they meet with teachers regularly to strategize and develop support plans. Our School Counselor is also available for individual and group counseling as well as direct instruction in social-emotional learning.