Lower School Philosophy
Discovery and challenge are the hallmarks of the Pre-School and Lower School program at Gaston Day. The students and teachers work together to discover new concepts, master skills, learn important facts, and weave them all together into an exciting "tapestry of knowledge." The children are encouraged to become effective communicators and critical thinkers. Every task is designed to help the children take intellectual risks and become confident, knowledgeable, reflective, and open-minded. Our language arts and mathematics programs provide the basic structure for the academic day. Blocks of uninterrupted time are scheduled for instruction in these areas. This time is used for a myriad of activities allowing for individual, small group, or whole class instruction. Because children love to explore and embrace the world using all their senses, instruction extends beyond the classroom walls. Frequent field trips, special guest speakers, and virtual tours give students firsthand experiences that bring classroom lessons to life. Our multisensory approach to education extends to the world of fine arts, where lessons in music, art and drama are coordinated with units of study in the classroom. Through a deliberate program of character education we encourage our students to become caring and empathetic toward their peers, the community in which they live, and their global neighbors.