Lower School
An Overview

Philosophy Day School's approach to education is based on the premise that joy in learning is essential. By providing a nurturing and supportive environment in beautiful and harmonious classrooms, we encourage children to discover their individual gifts. All of this takes place in an atmosphere that is loving, warm and rich in content.

A fully integrated and rigorous curriculum stressing the basic skills of literacy and numeracy, physical, artistic and scientific expression, as well as social awareness, is designed to foster in each child a joy for learning. Special programs in art, drama, music, Sanskrit and physical education are all taught by subject specialists and reinforce the work being done in the classroom. In addition special programs, featuring outside speakers, performers and field trips take advantage of the educational richness that New York City has to offer, are interwoven throughout the curriculum and round out the full program for the Lower School child.

Students are encouraged to become contributing members of their class, the school community and the broader society. To this end, children are taught how to listen, to show respect for others, to try to understand others’ needs, to offer compassion and to cooperate with their peers. Lower School teachers support and encourage the children to develop their intellectual, social, athletic, artistic, and musical gifts.  Teachers function as guides, facilitators and role models.

The classroom teachers collaborate closely with the teachers of the specialty subjects to ensure an integrated curriculum, where skills and concepts introduced in one area are reinforced in another. Regular communication among a child’s teachers and with the Headmaster means that opportunities for learning are maximized.

The goals of the Lower School curriculum can only be achieved through a full partnership of parents, teachers, and administrators. Regular parent-teacher conferences are held towards the end of the first trimester and again in the spring, but may take place at any time to assure that the child's needs are being met. It is during the Lower School years that the school and the family are forging a relationship that will serve the child throughout their time at Philosophy Day School.

All elements of the Lower School program aim to achieve the development of literacy, numeracy, and interpersonal skills that will provide the foundation for future learning. It is important that our students develop their intellectual skills, as well as the capacity for community responsibility. Educators, together with parents, take responsibility for supporting and nurturing these goals.  Philosophy Day seeks to create a learning environment, which allows its students to develop honesty, integrity, character and a life-long love for the pursuit of wisdom as a foundation for a happy, successful and generous life.