Community Day School Love the learning, Live the Values 

Lower School (Kindergarten-Grade 3)

Welcome to CDS Lower School!

We subscribe to the belief that children at very young ages are capable of highly complex thought and analysis, and our primary grades allow time and space for such complexity. Our warm, caring faculty in Kindergarten to Grade 3 help our students to navigate the broader horizons of independent learning and to explore their broader world using their increasingly sophisticated skills. 

The opportunities for building a solid foundation for lifelong learning in primary school are recognized worldwide. We invite parents into collaboration with our educators as together we nourish our students’ hearts and minds during these formative years. We ignite their imaginations and love of learning, confidence in themselves as thinkers, and belief in themselves as people who can make a positive difference. 

CDS Lower School takes students along a path through hands-on exploration, creativity, technological experiences, engaging academics, and vital socio-emotional support. Being part of Community Day School also means being part a vibrant, dynamic Jewish learning community, where kindness and "menschy" behavior are fundamental to our daily life. As educators, we join with families to create a strong guiding partnership to nurture children through this life-changing journey.

Enjoy the time you spend learning about CDS, and we look forward to welcoming you here to see our Lower School in action. 

Learn more about
Lower School

Headshot of Andrea Erven-Victoria

Andrea Erven-Victoria was appointed Head of Early Childhood and Lower School at Community Day School in 2019. "Morah Andrea" holds a Master of Science degree in Early Intervention with Special Education Certification from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, Elementary Education, from Bowling Green State University. Prior to joining the CDS family, she worked extensively with infants, early childhood programs, and K-6 schools, as well as teaching education courses and supervising dozens of pre-service and in-service teachers as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh at the undergraduate and graduate levels since 2001. She has a proven track record of success in a wide variety of disciplines that are relevant to the goals we have for our youngest learners, all focusing on the core belief that pedagogy must always be considered in the context of relationships.