Lower School

When you walk through the ramps and courtyards of Graded’s Lower School, you will be greeted by a lively and warm community of teachers and learners.

For our 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, it all begins on the red benches, where they wait each morning for school to start. These Montessori pre-primary students start off tentative and clinging to a trusted adult, but through a program steeped in building independence and self-directed learning, they become confident six-year-olds, ready for their transition to first grade.

Once there, they truly become a part of our larger community, moving to single age classrooms, using more technology, and joining the “big” playground. Students then move up the ramp into second grade, and before you know it, they are third graders settled in our bustling, central courtyard.

Our fourth-graders take an even bigger leap with their first overnight trip. Our fifth graders prepare for their transition to the Middle School with two main teachers, one for math and science and another for humanities. Through all these years, students explore music, get their hands dirty with art, and develop in myriad ways through physical education.

From the red benches of the Montessori experience to the changing classrooms in fifth grade, we truly believe our children are at the center of their learning, and strive to be empowered, ethical, and engaged citizens in a dynamic world. We hope you will join us!

Vance Boisjoli
Lower School Principal