Lower School

From the Head of Lower School

Children in the Lower School are endlessly curious about the world around them. Our program immerses young students in active study that draws on their natural interests while enabling them to delve deeply into the subject matter.

First graders interview a staff member for a school study and learn more about the community that is their school; third graders begin learning a foreign language and experience another culture firsthand. Fourth graders test Hudson River water for an environmental science project and see that their community extends beyond school walls. Using an inquiry-based approach, teachers fully engage their students in learning, giving them the confidence to pursue knowledge independently. In the supportive and educationally stimulating environment of an all girls’ school, students in the Lower School feel free to express themselves and to develop their individual voices. Girls at Spence know they are a vital part of the community and that they have the power to accomplish and achieve their goals.

Teachers in the Lower School are skilled, experienced and passionate educators, ensuring that their students develop their minds, hearts and bodies in a nurturing environment. They possess a strong knowledge of the curriculum and an understanding of how children learn, meshed with a deep caring for the students. Our faculty works closely with the families to meet the individual needs of each student, understanding that communication between home and school is critical to her success. And because our faculty reflects the diverse nature of the student body, they bring their own points of view to each classroom, and recognize and celebrate the experiences and thoughts of their students.

Our overall goal is for each child to see herself as a citizen of the Lower School community and later of the larger world she lives in. We believe children learn best in a stimulating and supportive atmosphere, one where each student is encouraged to be an active and responsible participant in the classroom and the school. The Spence curriculum exposes students to hands-on experiences in all subjects. Children, with their natural sense of discovery, are active learners and when they learn by doing, they begin to connect one idea to another, a process that continues as they grow and develop into more abstract thinkers.

Elizabeth Causey
Head of Lower School