Lower School

Research shows that students who have choice in what they work on are more motivated to learn. Teachers base learning on topics that are meaningful to each student and challenge them appropriately. Whether it’s a 1st grade dinosaur unit inspiring young archaeologists by digging for bones in the Adventure Playground, or a collaborative 2nd grade unit inspiring children to be ornithologists in local habitats, the learning experience at SFS aims to get students engaged and challenged.

Our students develop a respectful awareness of difference, an inclusive attitude, and the skills to build understanding between people. This begins early in Lower School as students explore our multicultural world and their own identity through literature, classroom studies, music, art, field trips, and language. 

In the kindergarten activist unit, students identify an issue that they care about, create signs, and participate in a march through campus. In their study of identity and differences, students also learn about marginalized groups and practice being upstanders. Community is a major focus in early lower school, where students think about creating a kind, respectful, and fair world; compose a set of community guidelines; and learn about social justice on a larger scale, e.g., in the context of the colonization of California and current affairs such as global refugees. The 5th grade spends a full week with The Mosaic Project where students come together from multiple schools that differ socioeconomically, racially, and ethnically. This immersive education program places students in diverse groups within a neutral setting and directly addresses issues of difference while building self-esteem and community.

Our intimate school size enables regular cross-grade interactions which allow students to learn from one another and foster a sense of community. Grade levels meet biweekly with students in a “buddy class” and students meet weekly with mixed-grade family groups. Younger students develop social skills and build positive relationships with role models and mentors, while older students develop compassion, responsibility, and leadership skills. Lower School students sing together daily, play together during recess, and come together weekly for Lower School Meeting. 

There are numerous opportunities and traditions throughout the school year that bring students from different grades together -- kindergarteners write and illustrate hero stories with their 6th grade co-authors; 5th graders lead lunchtime interest-based clubs for younger students during the year; and lower and middle school buddies skate together at the annual K-8th ice skating excursion on the last day of the fall semester.

The School’s emphasis on outdoor education offers unique opportunities for STEAM experiences, campus stewardship, care for animals, and a love of nature. The Field Station in the Adventure Playground frequently serves as an outdoor classroom with its solar battery providing power, wifi, and running water. Many lessons about ecology are taught in the natural garden, and students are delighted to learn about the flora and fauna (including our on site bee hives, barnyard animals, and wild birds). Whether it’s climbing trees, foraging for berries and fruits, or reading quietly in a secluded nook, our city kids on an urban campus have a deep appreciation for nature.

Additionally, students regularly venture off campus to deepen their studies. SFS is fortunate to be located in walking distance to McLaren Park’s 313 acre public space with trails, six playgrounds, an amphitheater, lake, and vast natural spaces. Beyond the Portola, the 2nd grade visits parks and wetlands as part of their bird unit and 3rd grade studies environmental science on an overnight program with NatureBridge at Rodeo Beach. Our 4th grade visits not only Toluma Farms in Marin County, but they bring back two baby goats to live in our Adventure Playground each spring. They also venture to the Coloma Outdoor Discovery School to experience Gold Rush California. Our 5th grade blends local history with honing their wilderness skills on a four day camping trip to China Camp.

SFS students develop confidence in public speaking and performing. This ability is crucial for developing communication skills, confidence, and critical thinking which allows them to develop leadership skills, make social connections, and enjoy better academic performance.

This is integrated into daily routines and in special performances, for peers and teachers as well as friends, families, and others. Each morning, pairs of kindergarten students ask the kitchen chefs about the day’s menu; they write it down and then present it to their classmates. All lower school students attend a weekly meeting where they frequently make announcements or give presentations. There are frequent performances in daily K-5th Singing Time as well as all-school heritage and holiday celebrations. 

Through the vibrant Music and Performing Arts curriculum, students are involved in developing scripts, rehearsing, and participating in rich, multicultural, joyful plays. In all core subjects, students present their work to classmates, at Lower School Meeting, or to their families in celebrations such as publishing parties, poetry readings, or science exhibitions. Through these activities and more, SFS students find their voice and learn to advocate for themselves and on the behalf of others.

With Strategic Plan 2017-2022: Living Our Humanitarian Promise and its “Empathy in the Age of Acceleration” initiative, STEAM programs have reflected the School’s core values. The instruction of technology and engineering frequently intersects with the arts, humanities, current events, and social justice. Digital citizenship skills are essential for navigating an increasingly digital world and participating in it responsibly. Building on their empathy and interpersonal skills, students understand the connection between real life social relationships and their online behavior. They consider responsible and respectful use of tech with intermittent use of devices in class. Age appropriate topics such as online safety, cyberbullying, privacy, digital footprints, news, and media literacy are taught. 

In addition to being ethical consumers of technology, SFS students are tech creators, becoming facile in meaningful design, editing, graphic arts, 3D design, animation, podcasting, and musical composition. In the youngest grades, the focus is on human coding and the creations of basic algorithms (e.g., following instructions such as recipes), and iPads are thoughtfully introduced as learning tools for projects as needed. A 1st grader learns to use an iPad to take a photograph of their work and record their thoughts about it, creating a digital portfolio. Older students are assigned iPads with keyboards for in-school use, learning to type, research, and access to select learning apps (e.g., Dreambox) to provide differentiated learning by allowing students to work at their own pace and receive individualized assignments. As tech creators, they use drag-and-drop coding, explore robotics, and more.