Lower School
Early childhood is a time to explore, play, and learn.
We nurture each learner’s curiosity and discovery. Every day our experienced teachers engage students in lessons and hands-on activities that encourage exploration in and out of the classroom.
Our Lower School begins with our Preschool, enrolling children at age two. This robust year-round experience is designed to prepare students cognitively, socially, and physically for an effortless transition to kindergarten and beyond.
The Lower School continues with kindergarten through fourth grade, offering a rich curriculum in a nurturing and joyous atmosphere. We focus on reading and math skills, but also understand that world languages, sciences, social studies, the arts, and physical education combine to create a well-balanced experience.
The Lower School continues with kindergarten through fourth grade, offering a rich curriculum in a nurturing and joyous atmosphere. We focus on reading and math skills, but also understand that world languages, sciences, social studies, the arts, and physical education combine to create a well-balanced experience.
Above all, we prepare students intellectually, socially, and emotionally for Middle and Upper School. Our highly qualified teachers help develop concept mastery while encouraging intellectual curiosity, forming the foundation of life-long learning.
Did You Know?
- Our K-4 students have reading, writing, math, social studies, conversational Spanish, and science every day.
- FCDS is the #1 Best Private K-12 Schools in the Triad on Niche.com
- FCDS is the #3 Best Private Elementary School in the U.S. on TheBestSchools.org
Our Curriculum
List of 6 items.
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Reading
- The Journeys reading series promotes the development of a broad range of language skills including reading, speaking and listening skills, vocabulary, spelling, grammar skills, and writing skills.
- Guided reading activities allow teachers to expose students to more complex text through small-group instruction and explicit teaching. By carefully grouping students and selecting passages that students can successfully decode and comprehend with instruction, teachers can provide students with techniques that are essential for proficiency in reading.
- Through the use of leveled readers, teachers have the ability to provide students with reading activities at their instructional reading level. Research shows that these types of experiences challenge students while maintaining a student's ability to understand vocabulary and preserve comprehension of the text. Leveled readers offer flexibility within the classroom for students that need additional challenge as well as students in need of further skill development.
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Writing
- The Lower School Writing curriculum is based on Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study. Calkins is the Founding Director of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and is a professor at Columbia University.
- During Writers’ Workshop, students learn to develop skills and strategies to organize and communicate their ideas through a variety of genres and for a variety of purposes by:
- Developing, organizing, and communicating ideas- Using appropriate word choice- Developing fluency and voice- Developing control of conventions (punctuation, capitalization, and grammar usage)- Assessing their own and other’s work- Units of Study in writing are taught in approximately six-week periods of time, immersing students within a particular genre and/or strategy for writing. Through the year, students will study narrative, informational, and persuasive writing, as well as poetry. Regardless of what unit is being taught, the structure of the lesson remains the same, providing students with consistency and predictability in instruction.
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Math
- The Math in Focus curriculum is based on the Singapore math method which employs the use of an intermediate, pictorial step that helps students make connections between concrete and abstract concepts.
- Through the use of whole and small group instruction and math stations, students in kindergarten through fourth grade explore math concepts with an emphasis on concrete-to-abstract concept development, concept mastery, and problem solving.
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Conversational Spanish
- As we explore opportunities to make the world our focus, it is crucial that students develop skills in world languages. Lower School students from kindergarten through fourth grade have daily conversational Spanish classes.
- Students learn Spanish through the Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPR-S) method, which will allow Spanish vocabulary to be internalized via meaningful and engaging learning opportunities. Using this method, students learn new vocabulary structures through translation, gestures, and personalized questions, utilize these structures in a class story, and solidify these structures through class readings
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Social Studies
- Students in the Lower School receive daily instruction in the social sciences and humanities to ensure that they are able to make informed decisions and navigate an increasingly interdependent global society.
- The Harcourt Social Studies series contains information about interesting people, exhilarating places, and captivating events. In addition to the strong globally focused content of this series, students also develop essential skills in reading and critical thinking.
- Kindergarteners explore important aspects of being a good citizen, various facets of the United States including national symbols, occupations currently in their community and from long ago, the world in which they live, how things change over time, and stories of the past. First graders expand their boundaries as they learn about economics and history of cultures near and far while second grade students develop an understanding of the influences that many different groups, both past and present, have had on our world. Students in third grade explore the states and regions of the United States with a special focus on North Carolina’s geographical features and history. In fourth grade social studies, students will study North Carolina. Through an integrated study of the students’ families, homes, schools, neighborhoods, communities, state, and nation we will teach concepts and generalizations from history, geography, economics and other key social studies disciplines.
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Science
- Lower School students in kindergarten through fourth grade receive daily science instruction utilizing a student-centered curriculum built around the Science Fusion series. Using an integrated approach, students explore units in chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science at increasingly greater depth and complexity.
What Makes Our Lower School Special
List of 6 items.
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Learning Opportunities
In addition to a wide range of hands-on activities here on campus, students take advantage of learning opportunities off campus well including:- All-a-Flutter Butterfly Farm in High Point
- Greensboro Science Center
- N.C. Zoo
- Old Salem Museum & Gardens
- North Carolina Transportation Museum
- Reed Gold Mine
- Raleigh museums
- Carolina Raptor Center
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Partnership with Parents
Parents play a vital role in their children’s education and FCDS enjoys a supportive and interactive partnership with parents. Through the formal Parents' Association, parents may take part in school-wide activities, or may volunteer in specific areas, such as the library, or in individual classrooms. Parents support the instructional program in a wide variety of ways.Throughout the year, the school hosts informative parent nights to help keep parents informed about curriculum changes or program developments. In addition, teachers provide quarterly feedback regarding individual student progress. Twice yearly, the school hosts formal conferences. Each teacher maintains informative web pages. -
Our Learning Environment
Students in Lower School enjoy large classrooms, each equipped with SmartBoards and extensive learning materials that support our dynamic curriculum.
Dedicated spaces for science, world languages, music, and art enhance the program. Lower School students enjoy a full-size gymnasium in addition to extensive outdoor play equipment and spacious open, grassy areas as well as the natural playground and the push and pedal playground. The separate Jeanette M. Smith Lower School Library and Lower School computer lab serve the needs of our students. Finally, Lower School students dine in their own cafeteria, the Brown Lower School Dining Hall, which features tables, chairs, and serving stations designed for young people. -
Before & After School Activities Program
The Before School Activities Program (BSAP) is available to assist families who need care for their children before school starts. The program begins at 7:15 a.m. and there is a nominal cost for students in grades 1 through 4. Preschool through kindergarten students may attend and the cost is included in their tuition.
The After School Activities Program (ASAP) consists of age-appropriate planned programs that include outside activities, art projects, and study time. Nutritious snacks are provided in a warm, relaxing environment. This program is an opportunity for children to develop social skills, try out new ideas and friendships, and gain independence and self-confidence.
ASAP for the Preschool begins at 2:30 p.m. and is included in tuition. It is also available to kindergarten students starting at 3:15 p.m. and is included in tuition. Students in grades 1 through 4 can attend ASAP for a nominal cost beginning at 3:15 p.m. ASAP ends at 5:45 p.m. For further information, please contact the Lower School office. -
After School & Arts Enrichment
FCDS Enrichment provides opportunities to explore interests, hone skills, and gain confidence throughout the school day and beyond.
After School Enrichment offers sports and visual art activities to Preschool through eighth grade students.Arts Enrichment offers a wide variety of private lessons on piano, voice, guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, as well as private dance lessons in tap, jazz, and ballet. All of our instructors are highly qualified and have a variety of schedules to meet a family’s needs.In the summer, students may take part in Summer Enrichment, which offers a wide variety of personal and academic enrichment activities for students. Along with courses for academic improvement, our offerings include visual arts, science and technology, and athletic classes for students of all ages. -
Our Peanut/Tree Nut Policy
The Lower School is peanut/tree nut-sensitive. Please refer to this SnackSafely guide for a list of snacks free of peanuts, tree nuts, and eggs. The list will be updated throughout the year. Click here for a clarification of our peanut/tree nut policy.
What Our Parents Say
“The teachers know who my children are in every aspect. They have helped them grow in ways that we could not have imagined. My boys have a love for learning because of their teachers and all that this incredible program has to offer.” - Megan, Preschool and Lower School parent
Forsyth Country Day School (FCDS) is a private, college preparatory, independent school for preschool through high school located in Lewisville, NC, just outside of Winston-Salem. Students benefit from a challenging academic curriculum, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
