Lower School Newsletter

August 8, 2025

Lower School Families,

Welcome back to school! It’s been a wonderful first week, welcoming faculty, students, and families back to school for Orientations, the Backpack Blessing Ceremony, and the first day of school for our 1st - 5th graders. PreK-3 - kindergarten class lists will be emailed to parents today!

Important Information

• New! Reporting an Absence, Late Arrival, or Early Check-out - We are thrilled to share an exciting update to our absence reporting system. All absences, late arrivals, and early checkouts will now be reported through PowerSchool. This update will align us with the Middle and Upper School reporting systems. Please see the directions in the Lower School Resources.

• Arrival & Dismissal  - Bear with us the first few days of school. Arrival and dismissal may take longer as new families and students learn these routines. In time, this will run more quickly and smoothly. Arrival & Dismissal Instructions can be found in the Lower School Resources.

• After School Clubs begin Monday! If your child enrolled in a club, these begin next week. Most clubs end at 4:15, and pick-up directions are included in the Arrival & Dismissal Instructions, which may be found in the Lower School Resources.

• Student Birthdays - We love celebrating birthdays and will include our student birthday calendar in each Friday’s parent newsletter email. The birthday calendar shows when your child’s birthday will be celebrated during Morning Meeting or a chapel service. Please join us and also join your child for lunch on this day if you’re able. No off-campus food is allowed in our lunchroom. You won’t want to miss Chef Pat’s lunch!

• Sunshine Calls - In the coming days, your child’s homeroom teacher will connect with you for a Sunshine Call. We cherish the opportunity to personally connect with you early in the year, celebrating all we’ve already learned about your student and to get an early start on establishing strong school/parent partnerships. 

• Team Talyn - Please keep Talyn, an Episcopal 5th grader, in your prayers. Recently diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, Talyn and her family are receiving excellent care at St. Jude’s Hospital. Team Talyn t-shirts may be purchased through our School Store, with all proceeds going directly to the family. Additional donations for the family may also be made through our School Store. Lower School students are invited to wear Team Talyn t-shirts, with uniform bottoms, each Tuesday this year – dedicated as Team Talyn Tuesdays, lifting her in prayer as a community. We anticipate t-shirts will be delivered near the end of August. On behalf of the family, thank you for your prayers and support.

Upcoming Events

• 8/11 Let Go Ceremony and Tears & Cheers - Monday is the special day for our early childhood students, with the Let Go Ceremony beginning at 8:30 on the Frazer playground and Tears & Cheers to follow for all early childhood parents in the QUEST Center. An adult must be with students for the Let Go Ceremony.

• 8/12 Tray Helper Training - There is one more training session for those of you new to Tray Helpers. Please consider serving as a Tray Helper this year! You can sign up in the Lower School Resources. 

• 8/12 Picture Day - Please click here to order online or return your child’s order form to school.

• 8/14 Morning Meetings Begin - Morning Meeting is held daily, except Wednesdays, in the Greer Center. This is a very special community time for PreK-4 - 5th grade students. We sing, pray, and celebrate each other … a wonderful way to begin each day. Wednesdays are reserved for chapel services. Parents are always welcome to join our Morning Meetings and chapel services. Please always check in at the Alumni House when you visit.

• 8/14 Parents’ Knight, 6:00-7:30 PM - The Lower School Parents’ Knight is an evening I hope you won’t miss! It begins at 6:00 PM with a Parents’ Guild Reception in the VPAC Lobby. You’ll also be able to meet our Special Area teachers during the reception. The Lower School program begins at 6:30 in the VPAC auditorium. Homeroom presentations begin at 7:00. This is an adult-only evening, and as much as we love your children, please make childcare arrangements.

• 8/15 5th Grade Sweatshirt Ceremony, 1:00 PM in the chapel - This long-standing tradition is also a special day, where 5th graders & parents celebrate the Class of 2033. A reception will follow the ceremony. Younger siblings should remain in homerooms during the ceremony and reception. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help with anything!

Best,

Beth Gardner
Lower School Division Head
[email protected]