Lower School

List of 6 items.

• Our Community

  We are a diverse community that is enriched by a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Students and parents form tight-knit friendships in the Lower School, many of which last a lifetime. The School community is one that sticks together and supports each other throughout life's challenges and celebrations.

• Differentiated Learning

  Our teachers are highly trained in differentiated instruction. They use formative assessment in all academic areas to better understand each child's strengths and weaknesses. These assessments are used to engage in both small group and individualized instruction to advance all learners. In addition, we have a Student Services department that helps meet the academic and emotional needs of all learners in our school.
  

• Experiential Learning

  Learning isn't just limited to the classroom. Our students are active participants in the world around them and should have experiences that reflect that! Across the grade levels, students are encouraged to develop ideas and support them with research and evidence, ultimately presenting to an audience. Innovation, technology, Jewish values, real world problem solving, and hand-on critical thinking are incorporated into learning across both Judaic and General studies. SAA fosters self efficacy, independence, and confidence, helping to develop future Jewish leaders and a strong sense of self. 

• Highly Trained Teachers

  Our teachers are life-long learners, and SAA supports their strong commitment to professional development. Our faculty attends and presents at prestigious conferences and workshops, including Columbia University Teachers College, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Prizmah Annual Conference, and the Association for Technology Leaders in Independent Schools. We also have teachers in mentorship programs at American Jewish University (AJU), Hebrew Union College’s DeLet program, and Brandeis Legacy Heritage Teacher Leadership Fellowship. Our educators are trailblazers in just about every field, including earth science, poetry, art, algebra, and computer coding, just to name a few. 

• Social Emotional Learning

  Our Lower School deeply values social emotional learning as an integral part of the curriculum. One core example of this is Responsive Classroom, an educational philosophy that is widely used throughout K-5th grade and can be seen in morning meetings and the ways that teachers use language when they interact with students. Students achieve more when they feel like an active part of a classroom community.

• J-STEAM

  J-STEAM education is Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, infused with Jewish values. The program encompasses both project-based learning and design thinking to provide opportunities to explore, collaborate, and create. Students are encouraged to identify and solve problems through brainstorming, experimenting, and working towards mastery in an environment where it is safe to take risks. Additionally, students learn technical and scientific principles such as coding and circuitry, all while developing real-world skills that they will use throughout their education.