But thanks to the continuity of the Lower School’s challenging academics and supportive classroom structure, third graders say the switch has been seamless.

 

“We have really awesome teachers, they make work challenging and make you think,” said Zoe Gorbachev ’27.

 

Second-grade students get a head start on the third-grade curriculum during their last trimester in the Lower School, when they begin to learn multiplication. Current third graders said this not only gave them a leg up in the first days of school, but it also made difficult math more fun to learn.

 

“Math is challenging but good,” said Darcey Kidd ’27, adding that her second-grade teacher, Jenny Olin, “really gave us a mini step up in second grade to make us feel what it’s like in third grade.”

 

Fourth-grade teacher Christine Lewis has taught in the Lower and Intermediate schools and said students are well-prepared academically for how the curriculum accelerates in third grade.

 

“St. Andrew’s works very hard to cultivate that mindset of continuous growth forward, rather than thinking, ‘I’m at the top of the class in math and that’s where I’m going to stay forever,’” she said. “If you get these kids who come in and may be scoring at the top in second grade but not at the top in third, they have some resiliency to manage that. I think St. Andrew’s Lower School works really hard to prepare them for that transition.”

 

Other constants that carry from the Lower School to the Intermediate School include Responsive Classroom practices, like morning meetings and closing meetings, which emphasize building social-emotional competencies as keys to academic success. The Lion-Cub program, which pairs kindergarteners with freshmen mentors, continues through to third grade, when their Lion “buddies” are seniors.

 

“It’s something these kids can look forward to,” said third-grade teacher Dale Kynoch. “When they walk by the senior lounge, they’re always looking for their buddies. It’s a very positive experience for them.”

 

Third grade students say they’ve enjoyed some of the changes between Lower and Intermediate School, such as having physical education every day. Lewis said dedicating time daily to physical education is developmentally responsive to young students.

 

“It continues that respect of a young person’s need to move and the connection between physical activity and cognitive processing,” Lewis said. “I think that is a great strength of our division.”

 

Earlier this week, third graders welcomed current second graders to the Intermediate School, where they previewed homeroom, Design Science, physical education, recess and lunch on the Postoak Campus. This was the first of several visits this year for second graders as they already begin to prepare for the transition.

 

“I’ve always wondered what it was like, because my sister has been telling me about it for a long time,” said second-grader Yasmin Edu, whose sister, Leila, spent three years in the IS and is now a middle schooler. “It was a lot of fun at recess and all the specials classes, and I love the cafeteria!”

 

“It was pretty amazing because there were so many things to do there,” said second-grader Matilda Hall. “I’m looking forward to learning new skills to help with my reading, writing and math.”