Welcome to the Lower School

In a caring and supportive environment, Lower School teachers encourage independence and risk taking, and, with age-appropriate pedagogy, provide opportunities for girls to develop strong academic skills and discover answers to their questions.

Our teachers strive to make girls good thinkers. By instilling a love of reading, we create lifelong readers who have strong analytical and critical comprehension skills. Kindergarten girls study the works of selected authors and illustrators, and learn to recognize their writing and illustration styles. By fifth grade, students have the confidence and skill to critique books nominated for the Newbery Award, a prestigious children's literature award. Our girls become confident writers; they learn to use words as a powerful form of communication as well as a creative outlet. Good thinkers become good readers and good readers become good writers.

We teach math computation skills, which are important for everyday life, but our students also learn to reason mathematically and to develop analytical and critical problem-solving skills early in their education. In science, Lower School girls analyze data, formulate questions, and devise experiments about the topics they study.

Hands-on activities in both math and science are intended to help students move from concrete to abstract thinking. Our core curriculum is enhanced with the teaching of French, art, music, physical education, and technology. These valuable courses help girls discover and develop their own special abilities, talents, and interests. Whether they are on the playground or in the classroom, the Lower School girls are happy and engaged in their school day. Taking an imaginary trip to France, enjoying a pioneer picnic, organizing an international bazaar, or performing a Greek myth play are just some of the fun and motivating activities that have our girls looking forward to each day.

Lower School students also learn about leadership by gaining knowledge and practice as responsible members of their school community and the broader community. Beginning in Lower School, we emphasize respectful and caring interactions with classmates and teachers. Through the Lower School values program and service projects, students are taught to interact with their peers and adults with kindness and compassion.

I invite you to see and experience the extraordinary foundation that Bryn Mawr offers our students by joining us for a Fall Visiting Day or scheduling an individual tour. We look forward to sharing with you the lifelong joys and value of a girls' education at Bryn Mawr!

Patricia M. Nothstein
Lower School Director