Highland’s Lower School (PK through Grade 4) provides an environment filled with varied opportunities for students to explore the endless opportunities that come with a quality, student-centered education. The program develops happy, confident, thoughtful and well-educated students through special area classes, opportunities to perform in class plays and programs, experiences gained from assembly presentations and understanding the act of giving through community service.

Students at all grade levels participate in the School’s community service program, which includes collecting food at Thanksgiving for needy families, providing books and mittens to Head Start children at Christmas, raising money for our sister school in Kenya, adopting various endangered animals and supporting local causes as they arise.

The Touch Math and Handwriting Without Tears programs are introduced in PK, and the Step Up to Writing program is introduced in Kindergarten. These programs continue throughout the Lower School years. The FOSS Science curriculum begins in Grade 1 and continues through Grade 4.

Speech and Language therapy resources are available to all grade levels.

Three or four field studies each year enhance the Lower School grade level experience.

Lower School Director Lise Hicklin has been teaching and administering at Highland School more than 23 years. She embodies Highland School’s educational philosophy, in which teachers consider the changing needs of each child and determine what is needed to develop both their educational and whole-person experience. This ensures that students are in an environment that simultaneously challenges them while also allowing them to feel secure and self-confident.

“What I love about Highland’s curriculum is that we’re able to provide a balance of academic challenges along with other special area classes that round out the educational experience and ensure that each child has a chance to achieve success,” said Hicklin.

Please click here for some important highlights by grade.

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