Lower School

The Lower School offers an enriched and nurturing environment in which young children can flourish both academically and socially. Grade level teachers and specialists work as an instructional team. Critical thinking, creativity, reasoning, and fundamental skills are emphasized throughout the program. Cooperative learning and small-group instruction maximize students’ learning. Class projects, performances, and presentations allow children to share their learning with others. The Lower School program fosters intellectual risk-taking so that students can develop confidence and competence in all areas of school life.


Students in our Pre-Kindergarten class enjoy some time sharing a story on tape.	All students enjoy regular PE classes that focus on developing skills and sportsmanship.


Grade 3 used hands-on activities to create a web, through which theyinvestigated lines, intersections, angles and shapes as part of a unit on geometry.	St. Luke's School balances teacher directed instruction with student discovery.

Lower School highlights for the 2008-2009 school year included the Grade Four play about former presidents and first ladies and the Kindergarten Insect Museum. We learned how to care for our planet in a Green Fest celebration held in April. Grade Three wrote and performed their own play about Trickster Tales, and Grade Two performed their own interpretation of a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Grade One presented dances from around the world, and Junior Kindergarten taught the Lower School about excellence in our Morning Meeting.

We have taken Field trips to Ellis Island, Tibetan Museum of Art on Staten Island, United Nations, American Museum of Natural History, several New Victory Theatre performances as well as the Bronx Zoo, and many more excellent places.

In the Lower School students explore a range of teaching and learning styles and different learning group experiences, from individual study to small group activities and simulations, to whole-class study.

Students in all grades have scheduled library time each week to browse, share and enjoy literacy.