Academics

Communication  Communication among parents, teachers and the Head of the Lower School regarding a child's progress is strongly encouraged.  If a child is having serious difficulty in an area or if she shows special improvement in an area, contact will be made with the parents. Teachers may be contacted at school by phone or email if there are any questions or concerns.  If the teacher is in class, she will return the call as soon as possible.  The Head of the Lower School is also available for conferences or phone calls.  However, classroom teachers should be contacted first if there is a problem.
Grading  In the Lower School, students in Pre-School through Grade 3 do not receive letter grades.  The evaluation is based on written comments.  The 4th and 5th grades receive written comments and letter grades equivalent to those used in the Middle and Upper Schools.

In addition, a comment on effort will be included in the general comments given on report cards each trimester.

Homework Policy and Guidelines

The primary objective of homework is to provide the student with an opportunity to practice and strengthen academic skills.  Homework is to be reasonable in length, related to classroom work well defined by the teacher, and understood by the student when she leaves school.  It is the student's responsibility to complete the homework.  It is the parent's responsibility to uphold this portion of the educational program by their encouragement and support.
Homework should be a character building experience.  Managed properly by teachers and parents, homework can equip a child with emotional and behavioral skills that will be necessary to meet the complex demands of adult life.  These include the skills of responsibility, autonomy, perseverance, time management, initiative, self-reliance, and resourcefulness.
The types of homework assignments and length should vary according to the student's level:
1.  Kindergarten and First Grade: In our Kindergarten, an Activity Calendar suggesting age appropriate activities that can be done at home is used to build the home-school connection and an emergent awareness of homework responsibility.  In First Grade, although homework is minimal, students are expected to work regularly on their core spelling words and on poetry memorization.  If work is not finished in class, or a student has been out ill, she is expected to complete it at home. In addition, in January, First Graders will begin recorder and will be expected to practice for 15 minutes a day.  During Black History and Women's History Months the students will be expected to read a book at home for a report or project.
2.  Second and Third Grade: Homework is now a daily expectation in the student's educational program. The time should range between 15 to 45 minutes at the maximum.  Second Graders do homework every night.  In addition, they are given long term assignments and projects.  There are also specific assignments that require parental help.  Third Graders will usually have spelling, math, and French or Spanish each night.  In addition to practicing the recorder, Third Graders will occasionally need to complete unfinished class work at home.  In Third Grade, research papers and projects are done in school.
3.  Fourth and Fifth Grade: As the academic program becomes more rigorous, Fourth and Fifth Graders are expected to spend more time on additional assignments to further develop initiative and responsibility.  Approximately 60 minutes per day is an expected guideline.  Fourth graders have math, language arts and French or Spanish homework every day.  Many assignments are not due the next day and the students must budget their time appropriately.  Short and long term projects/assignments are occasionally given in science, social studies and language arts.  Fifth Graders have math and French or Spanish homework every day. Reading is to be done every night for approximately 15-20 minutes, in addition to alternating written assignments in language arts, science and social studies.  Long term assignments/projects are part of Fifth Grade work. Occasionally, students will need to conduct a mini science experiment at home to help them apply concepts they have been learning in class.  Work is generally not assigned over the weekend.
Stick with a study routine! To do their best in school, children need to study every day.  If they don't have assignments, they can read more, work with numbers, explore, write or play.
Learning Center is staffed with learning specialists to meet the specific needs of students. The center provides the following services:
Testing: A generic screening device (similar to Key Math) will be used to identify students who may have special learning needs. More formal diagnostic testing (Woodcock-Johnson Psycho educational Battery,  Kaufmann, Wechsler, etc.)  must be done outside of  school at parent expense. The Learning Enhancement Center will recruit and interview a list of local testers which will be made available to those parents seeking these services.  Free testing by an  Independent Child Study Team (approved and provided by the state) will continue to be available. Those students who qualify for support may receive up to 3 periods (meetings) of assistance per cycle.  If additional support is required, this must be provided outside of school at the expense of the family.
Those students who are identified through formal testing as needing additional challenge beyond the enrichment already provided in the classroom may receive up to two meetings per cycle.

Computer Usage

The use of computers in the Lower School is governed by the following rules:
1.  PRIVACY - The student will not look at anyone else's account, files, or work on the computer.
2.  ACADEMIC HONESTY - The student will not present other people's work as her own. She will give credit for other people's ideas, text, images, programs, and sounds taken from the electronic network.
3.  SAFETY - The student will not give out personal information about others or herself while on the electronic network.
4.  RELIABILITY - The student realizes that the information found on the Internet is not always accurate, current or complete.
5.  COURTESY - The student will not download programs from the Internet, or print without permission of a teacher. She will be responsible for the environment by only printing what she needs and by picking up what she decides to print out.
6.  SECURITY - The student will not damage any computer or any part of Stuart's network and will not access anyone else's account.
7.  LEGALITY - The student will not use the network for any illegal activity. If she has any question as to what an illegal activity is, she will ask a teacher.
8.  PRIVILEGES - The student understands that any use of Stuart's information resources is a privilege.
Parent-Teacher Conferences  are held twice yearly, in October and March, and all parents are expected to attend.  Dates and time of conferences are scheduled at Back to School Night.  Notice will be sent home reminding parents of their scheduled visit.  Other conferences can be arranged with the individual teacher at other times during the year.
Report Cards are sent twice a year: in December/January and June.  Parent-Teacher conferences scheduled near the first reporting time and at the beginning of March should help to answer questions regarding a child's progress.
Standardized Testing (ERB's) is administered to Grades 4 and 5 during the fall.  Parents are requested not to make doctors' appointments for their child on those days and to make sure that she goes to bed early on those nights.  No homework is given during testing time.
Textbooks will be provided for the children by the homeroom teacher.  The cost of the textbooks is included in the Lower School tuition.

THE LEONARD ETZ MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Library The Leonard Etz Memorial Library serves the Lower School.  It provides the students with materials which enhance learning in the classroom as well as books for book reports and independent reading.  Books may be borrowed at any time during the school year and may be signed out for a two-week period.  
In addition to the print resources,  Macintosh computers with CD-ROM capabilities and Internet access are available.  The computers are used for word processing, reference work and independent work using educational software.  The card catalog is fully automated and students search for books using the KidsCatalog.  They also are able to search the card catalog of the Mercer County Library System via modem.
The Library is used extensively for enjoyment and enrichment by the Pre-School and Lower School students.  Parents may also sign out books.

GYM CLASS AND RECREATION

All children are expected to participate in gym classes during the week and outdoor recreation twice a day, weather permitting.  It is assumed that if a child is well enough to come to school, she is well enough to go outside for the short recreation periods and partake (in a limited way) in gym class.  A note from the doctor is required if this is not advisable.  On cold days, the children must dress warmly.  When the ground is wet, they must have boots, and for sledding, snow pants.
For gym class, the children need sneakers, an extra pair of white socks and a sweat shirt.  In grades 3-5, gym uniforms are worn.  These may be purchased at the beginning of the school year. No jewelry is allowed in gym class.