Community Day School Love the learning, Live the Values 

Lower School: At A Glance


Community Day School Lower School (Kindergarten-Grade 3) takes children along a path through hands-on exploration, creativity, technological experiences, engaging academics, and vital socio-emotional support. A learning environment of small classes with individualized instruction reflects the educational philosophy that children are unique and develop at their own pace. As educators, we join together with families to create a strong guiding partnership to nurture students through this life-changing journey. 

Kindergarten in Take It Apart center
Lower School students perform during Thanksgiving program
Lower School students on playground
Lower School students during tefillah
Kindergarten students at work
Lower School students use balloons to study Hebrew letters
Lower School student examine skeleton model
Lower School student at work
Lower School students painting
Lower School students reading
Lower School students on Black and Gold Day
Lower School students during Tefillah

General Information:

  • School day: 7:55 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. (2:35 p.m. on Fridays)
  • Before care: Free supervised care beginning at 7:30 a.m.
  • Extended Day: Runs until 6 p.m. (5 p.m. on Fridays with earlier end time in the winter due to Shabbat)
  • Facilities: Athletic field, educational gardens, playground, gymnasium with performance stage
  • Technology: SMART Boards and iPads, with PC and Apple desktops and robotics in the Legacy Learning Lab

Curriculum Overview:

  • Science: Inspire Science curriculum by McGraw Hill, built to the Next Generation Science Standards focusing on literacy and math integration, real-world problem-solving, and STEM activities/careers
  • Math: Everyday Math in K-1 and My Math curriculum in 2-3
  • Language Arts: Units of study from the Writing Workshop model developed at Columbia University and Fountas and Pinnell Classrooms program for phonemic awareness and phonics, fluency, vocabulary, grammar skills, and spelling patterns
  • Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears method of instruction in Kindergarten-Grade 3. This multi-sensory approach offers a variety of hands-on strategies to develop writing fluency
  • Hebrew: iTalAm spiraling curriculum accelerates language learning and makes the study of Hebrew and Judaism fun and relevant, incorporating digital tools for personalized learning
  • Jewish Studies: Daily tefillah, holidays, and Torah
  • Specials: Art, music, library, computer science/robotics, physical education
  • Extracurricular activities: After-school clubs and programs such as fencing, chess, garden club, Mad Science, and Little Medical School