Lower School

CSN’s Lower School students enjoy a program rich with daily opportunities to explore and learn. The curriculum includes visual and performing arts, physical education, technology and foreign language in addition to language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Core subjects integrate a balanced literacy program that includes a writer’s workshop methodology emphasizing the writing process. The reading program incorporates phonics and shared and guided reading practice with small group instruction, enabling children to move through reading levels at their own pace.  The mathematics program uses a spiraled approach; skills taught are sequential and progressive, and students build on concepts previously taught.

Keeping in mind the important benchmarks of childhood development, the learning environment combines enrichment and support. Differentiated instruction is at the core of CSN’s Lower School philosophy, and children are continually assessed to ensure their academic and social needs are being met. Assessment informs and ultimately drives the curriculum. Most importantly, days in the Lower School are filled with friends, learning and fun!

Lower School Highlights:

• Faculty partners with Columbia University Teachers College’s  Writing and Reading Project
• Technology-infused curriculum
• Spanish Instruction begins in Pre-Kindergarten
• Lego Robotics Program
• After-school program until 6pm