Lower School

Providing a unique student experience

While play still occupies a formative role - especially in Kindergarten - it’s gradually replaced with carefully designed active-learning projects that students execute increasingly on their own.

We enrich the abilities and consciousness of Kindergarten to 4th grade students through our curriculum, teaching approach and learning goals.

During Lower School we introduce students to a Learning Plan, which motivates them to take charge of their goals and achievements. We hold parent-attended Learning Plan conferences in the spring and fall, and beginning in 3rd grade, students play an active part in planning them.

By the time they finish 4th grade, students are acquainted with the foundations of the academic process. They enter Middle School equipped with the self-confidence, curiosity, and know-how to take on increasingly sophisticated work.

“EA enabled my son to bring all of his talents and strengths to the surface. I am not sure that would have happened at a public school.”

Current EA Parent

Michelle Matalone

Lower School Director

"As the Early Childhood and Lower School Director at Elgin Academy, I am committed to providing a child-centered learning experience that is unique and individualized. I believe in fostering a nurturing environment where children can flourish and grow, not just academically but also, emotionally and socially. Together, we create a place where curiosity is celebrated, kindness is paramount, and learning becomes an adventure that lasts a lifetime."
- Michelle Matalone

Academic Excellence

In addition to focusing on the educational building blocks of reading, writing and arithmetic, we begin hands-on and in-depth learning at a very young age.

Immersion

In Lower School each year a country is selected for an intensive Immersion program. Teachers conduct mixed-grade level workshops to help students learn about the culture, language, literature, history, and geography of the chosen country. Sessions on cooking, music, art, and recreation are especially popular and give the students plenty of hands-on learning opportunities. The program culminates in a Closing Day Celebration with dancing, food, and sports from the featured country.

World Languages

All K-4th grade students participate in Spanish instruction during the course of the school week. Spanish classes at each grade level meet 3 times per 7-Day cycle for 45 minutes.

Library

All K-4th grade students attend Library class once per 7-Day cycle. Students are introduced to different literature genres and encouraged to find books to borrow and bring home to share with their families. Fourth grade students may participate in EA’s Battle of the Books team, coached by our LS Librarian, as an extracurricular activity.

Physical Education

All K-4th grade students attend Physical Education class 4 times per 7-Day cycle for 45 minutes. The Physical Education classes are designed to teach motor skills and movement patterns necessary for participation in both organized sports and general recreation. There is an emphasis on teamwork and team-building.

Fine Arts

Lower School students receive weekly classes in music and visual art. At a young age, we are already striving to help our students discover the joy of the arts as a lifelong pursuit.

Visual Arts

The Kindergarten visual arts classes focus on basic art skills including drawing lines and basic shapes, color, cutting, pasting, and general art awareness. As students move into 1st and 2nd grade, they work more on drawing skills, expanding color awareness, assembling art projects, learning about artists and art history and exploring media. By 3rd and 4th grade, students move into more sophisticated concepts and media, while strengthening drawing and design foundation. Students’ artwork is exhibited on campus regularly.

"A solid foundation for rhythm is very important for the young music student. Students love hands-on experiences like playing on bucket drums!"

- Brian Wrightson, Music Teacher

Music

Lower School music classes encourage children to explore music through play, song, and dance. Students actively create, improvise, perform, and learn about the world around them through music. By the time students complete 2nd grade, they have been exposed to the instruments of the orchestra, and various musical genres, are comfortable playing pitched and unpitched instruments, and can read rhythmic notation and understand simple solfege. In the 3rd and 4th grades students achieve greater musical independence in their ability to read and play a piece of music.

Theatre

Though there is no specific theatre curriculum in the Lower School, theatre skills are an important part of other classes. All students Kindergarten through 4th grade engage in public speaking opportunities as they present research on various topics across the core content curriculum. Additionally, all K-4 students participate in multiple Music Concerts during the school year for families and friends in the Kimball Street Theatre on campus.

Afterschool Options

Lower School students are welcome to stay on campus after school as a part of our Extended Day or Afterschool Enrichment programs.

Extended Day

If a Lower School student is not involved in a supervised after school enrichment program, they can stay on campus each day until 6:00 pm in the Extended Day program. Registration for Extended Day is an additional fee.

Afterschool Enrichment

We partner with outside vendors to provide various enrichment class offerings throughout the school year. These are typically 8-week sessions with classes meeting once per week. There are additional fees associated with all of the enrichment class offerings. Families may register through our website.

Meet Our Lower School Faculty & Staff

“We found some wonderful teachers who were caring, engaging, and personalized. You know those once-in-a-lifetime teachers you get? At EA, we got them multiple times.”

Parent of an EA Graduate

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Lisa Gallery

Kindergarten Teacher

BA, St. Mary's College

I am excited to be a part of the creative and caring community here at EA. In kindergarten I love learning every day along with my students.
-Lisa Gallery

Heidi Hamilton

Lower School PE, Extended Day Coordinator

M Ed, University of Minnesota
BS, University of Minnesota

My hope is that my students will understand the importance of life-long physical activity and fitness. I want my students to enjoy participating in physical activities in the hopes that they will be life-long participants.
- Heidi Hamilton

Amy Maly

Early Childhood Teacher

BS, Illinois State University

Each day I commit to challenging the children to grow and do so in a fashion that considers where each child is developmentally. By personalizing my interactions and facilitating opportunities for that growth to take place, I am delighted when they emerge into the young person that exemplifies their "true self".
-Amy Maly

Kiana McDarrah

Early Childhood Assistant

BA, Thomas Edison State University

Working with our youngest learners is a great joy and a chance to see the world through the passionate and creative eyes of a child. Each day at Elgin Academy, I strive to help our students reach their full potential, meeting where each child is developmentally to assist in creating memorable learning opportunities that will grow into a lifelong love of learning.
-Kiana McDarrah