Viewpoint’s Lower School is a vibrant and thriving community where students develop confidence in their learning, a strong sense of self and community, and growing independence as they explore their interests and discover their passions. Elementary education is often described as a progression from learning to read to reading to learn; as students enter Viewpoint’s Lower School, they are prepared to read to learn, and academic expectations deepen each year. While Third Grade remains a self-contained classroom for core academic subjects, beginning in Fourth Grade students benefit from subject-specific instruction delivered by teachers who are experts in their disciplines. Our teachers’ enthusiasm and mastery inspire curiosity and a love of learning in their students.

Another defining strength of the Lower School is the depth and breadth of the educational experience. Committed to educating the whole child, students engage in a rich curriculum that includes core academics alongside physical education, science, music, library, art, technology, Spanish or French, innovation and makerspace, and a comprehensive character program. Within this supportive and nurturing environment, students are encouraged to explore their passions, take intellectual risks, and grow into confident, well-rounded learners and leaders.

Our Future

The world our students are preparing to enter is unknown and constantly evolving. That’s why we teach in a way that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, real-world problem solving, and the appreciation of diverse perspectives alongside a strong foundation in core academics. These skills equip our students with the resilient identity and courageous mindset to thrive in any future. Our students are not only world ready, they are future ready.    

Our Priorities

In Lower School, educating the whole child is at the heart of everything we do. With a new school counselor joining our seasoned learning specialist, and a leadership team bringing expertise as a Math Specialist and accomplished writer, we collaborate weekly in professional learning communities with classroom and enrichment teachers. Together, we design dynamic, integrated learning experiences, support students’ social and emotional growth, and continually implement innovative best practices. Our goal is simple: for every child to find joy in learning, embrace challenges, and celebrate growth every step of the way.

Our Uniqueness

The Lower School intentionally cultivates independence and confidence in students from Third through Fifth Grade. Our vision, where tradition connects us and innovation propels us, is beautifully reflected as students in all grades participate in assemblies in our theater, honing public speaking skills in front of hundreds of peers and families. Third graders navigate a larger campus with expanded opportunities and rising expectations. By Fourth Grade, students transition between classes for all core academic subjects, learning from teachers who are masters in their fields, while taking on leadership roles through the Student Action Committee and spearheading meaningful service-learning projects. In Fifth Grade, students expand their experiences even further by learning an instrument, completing a business project, and hosting both the holiday program and the final assembly, reflecting on past experiences while celebrating achievements and growth.

Our Academics 

Math

Our Mathematics curriculum is anchored in the Singapore Mathematics program and thoughtfully enhanced with expertly curated lessons, projects, and instructional practices drawn from a variety of sources. Students develop strong mastery of foundational skills within a collaborative and flexible learning environment known as the Thinking Classroom. In this setting, students are challenged not only to learn mathematics, but to think like mathematicians.

Through critical thinking and exploration, students seek patterns, examine why methods work, and often discover algorithms on their own. This approach transforms math from a set of memorized procedures into a dynamic process of inquiry and understanding. By engaging in authentic mathematical thinking, students build essential skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, pattern recognition, and perseverance. These are skills that extend far beyond the math classroom and prepare them for success across disciplines and in the world beyond school.

Reading and Language Arts 

Our Reading and Language Arts program is grounded in the readers’ and writers’ workshop model, an approach that places students at the center of authentic experiences. Through daily mini-lessons, independent practice, small group instruction, and teacher conferencing, students develop strong comprehension skills such as identifying themes, analyzing characters, making inferences, and citing textual evidence. In writing, students learn to generate ideas, plan and organize their work, draft with purpose, revise for clarity and voice, and edit for conventions, while growing across multiple genres, including creative storytelling and narrative, informational, and opinion writing. In both reading and writing, the workshop model builds fluency, vocabulary development, grammar and syntax skills, and stamina, while fostering independence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of reading and writing.  

Social Studies

Our Social Studies curriculum immerses students in California and U.S. history through engaging simulations, art, debates, and perspective-taking exercises. Students read and research from primary sources, textbooks, and scholarly articles, developing the skills to interpret historical events thoughtfully and critically. They go beyond the surface to analyze multiple viewpoints, consider whose perspectives may be missing, and explore why these voices are absent. The goal is not only for students to learn history but to understand its interpretive nature, fostering critical thinking and curiosity. By bringing the past to life, our curriculum inspires students to connect with history in meaningful and enduring ways.

Our Athletics 

Lower School Athletics spark a love of movement and the excitement of team play. In Third Grade, students build strong foundational skills through engaging Physical Education units that prepare them for success in team sports. In Fourth and Fifth Grade, students can dive into a variety of interscholastic sports teams during PE, with three seasons each year offering the chance to try something new or deepen their skills in a favorite sport. Practices happen during PE, culminating in games after school against opposing schools. In this supportive and encouraging environment, students are inspired to explore new sports, uncover hidden talents, and build teamwork, perseverance, and confidence which will empower their success in school, in sports, and beyond.

Our Team

Ninety percent of our Lower School teachers have been at Viewpoint for fifteen years or more, and all faculty with children have chosen Viewpoint for their own families. Our teachers are deeply committed to the transformative power of a Viewpoint education and strive to bring its promise to life every day. We value strong collaboration, not only among staff but also with families, ensuring that each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth remains at the center of every decision. Together, faculty and families continue to learn and grow, imagining an even greater future for our students as we uphold our school’s core values of love, honor, excellence, imagination, and optimism.