Every Lower School child starts the school day with a handshake and greeting from the Class teacher. This greeting provides a moment of connection, a personal exchange, upon which the richness of the day unfolds together.

Class Teacher

The Class teacher ideally stays with the class for the journey from Grade 1 to 8, getting to know each child very deeply. Strengths and challenges of each child are respected and considered in the presentation of course material. Over the years the curriculum emerges as a whole, as material from one year is referenced in the following year, and the disciplines are woven together.

Main Lesson

For 3 to 4 weeks at a time, a subject such as botany, astronomy or history is the focus of the morning Main Lesson. At 1 1/2 to 2 hours in length, each lesson is an immersion in the material. Verse, music, movement, drawing, writing, and story telling are used to bring the material alive for the students.

Main Lesson Books

An integral part of the learning is each student's creation of their Main Lesson books. Their personal recording of their journey with the academic material, students record observations, compositions, drawings and diagrams to chart the path taken. Each student produces a beautiful personal account of the lesson material.

Specialist Lessons

Teachers who are specialists in their fields teach French, German, music, orchestra, handwork, woodwork, gardening, physical education, eurythmy (a movement class) and art. These lessons round out the day and provide a comprehensive, balanced education. See Curriculum for details of lessons for each grade.

Lower School Themes

Heart first, then Head

Students of this age (Grades 1-8) relate to the world through their emotional responses to events around them. TWS draws on the power of students' feelings to engage them in learning. Story telling, drama and artistic presentations call on the child to feel such emotions as joy, sorrow, fascination or excitement. The intellectual aspect of the curriculum is built upon the students' emotional responses to the lesson. The feelings generated by the presentation engage the student and result in greater retention of the material. The heart feels, then the head learns.

The presentation method changes on the journey from Grade 1 to Grade 8. Lessons move more quickly to the thinking or intellectual aspects of the curriculum, reflecting the progress of the child's development.

Beauty and Good in the World

A strong artistic thread is woven through the presentation of the curriculum. Painting, modelling, movement and drama bring forth beauty in the world of the child. As children are led to experience the beautiful, positive aspects of the world, they see that each child is able to produce beauty in some way. The broad, integrated curriculum provides opportunities for every child to demonstrate beauty - be it in movement, singing, painting or mathematics. A child who sees beauty and good in the world can embrace it to bring forth change.

Community Building

The continuity of a TWS class, in which many students will stay together from Grade 1 through Grade 8 and beyond, presents rich opportunity for a warm, supportive community. Teachers lead students through appreciation of personal differences, flexibility, conflict resolution, working together and building friendships that last a lifetime. Class continuity leads to perseverance in bringing about change, a skill much needed in our world today.

Our After-School Program

The after-school program is for children in kindergarten through grade 7. The program, conducted by TWS staff, runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on all regularly scheduled school days. For more information or to apply, visit the main After-School Program page.

(Please note: the after-school program is not available for nursery children.)

For further information, see Events (tours, Open House) and Admissions (application process, tuition).

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