Lower School

Our Lower School serves children in the grammar stage of classical education, generally ages 4-12, though parents are the best judges of readiness. This foundational phase emphasizes memorization and repetition—the “pegs” of knowledge—preparing students for deeper reasoning and discernment of truth, goodness, and beauty in later stages.

Community Day begins with Symposium, uniting lower and upper school in worship, Scripture memory, and fellowship. The Lower School then divides into two programs: Grammatica (morning) and Fundamentum (afternoon).

Grammatica — Morning Program (Ages 4-12)

Students engage in five core components:

Weekly interactive lessons in nine strands: Math, History, Latin, Science, English, Timeline, Geography, Bible, and Hymns. Families extend this learning at home.

Hands-on experiments and cross-subject connections from a biblical worldview.

Study of great artists and composers through projects and music theory.

PreK-1st share freely in show-and-tell style; 2nd-6th present on assigned topics, building confidence and communication skills.

Interactive review to reinforce long-term mastery.

Students celebrate achievement through the Golden Leaf Award (for full mastery of grammar material) and a year-end showcase.

Fundamentum — Afternoon Program (Ages 8-12)

Designed for 3rd-6th graders, Fundamentum develops excellence in grammar and writing. While PreK-2nd do not have an afternoon program, parents are encouraged to use recommended resources at home.

The program includes:

Fundamentals of Grammar - Study of English grammar, editing practice, and connections to Latin.

History-Based Writing (IEW) - Writing structure and style integrated with history cycles.

Latin Introduction - Introductory study of Latin with beginning grammar and vocabulary to prepare students for the Colloquium program.

Book Club (Fundamentum 2 only) - Monthly book discussion utilizing the 5 Common Topics

Capstone: Faces of History - students research, write, and present as a historical figure, bringing learning to life.

For more details, please see our Scope & Sequence.