While the assignment of homework doesn’t officially begin until fourth grade, all lower school students are expected to engage in activities outside the classroom that will help support the growth and development of their skills, particularly in the areas of reading and writing. In addition, teachers in junior kindergarten through third grade will occasionally assign a project for students to work on with family members. 

We do not use numerical or letter grades to assess lower school students. Instead, the parents/guardians of junior and senior kindergarten students receive reports from teachers at the end of the school year that provide detailed information about their child’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. 

For students in grades one through four, reports are sent home twice a year that feature formal, written assessments of each child’s progress. Teachers and parents/guardians also have two scheduled conferences per year to discuss how students are doing. With that said, teachers meet with parents/guardians at other times throughout the year to talk about various issues related to the growth, development and success of our students.

Physical activity and exercise are integral parts of Latin’s lower school curriculum. Students in junior kindergarten through second grade participate in structured physical education classes every day for 30 minutes, while third and fourth grade students attend physical education class every other day for one hour. Lower school students also have recess on a daily basis. 

In addition to the scheduled physical activity that is built into the school day, lower school students can join the Rising Romans athletics program starting in third grade. This program includes cross country, intramural basketball, volleyball and soccer. There are also After School Resource opportunities that involve sports and games.

Latin is a peanut/tree nut allergy aware school, which means we do not purchase, produce or provide food items in any of our cafeterias that contain these types of nuts. Additionally, every effort is made to keep peanuts, tree nuts or derivatives (nut butters, nut oils) out of our buildings. With this in mind, we ask that faculty, staff, students, parents/guardians, vendors and other visitors not bring these items into the lower, middle and upper schools.

Families play an instrumental role in the success of our students. One of the best ways families can be involved is to share important family traditions, celebrations or careers with their child’s class. Family members may also have the opportunity to volunteer for a special project or field trip.

We recognize the importance of providing students with access to differentiated instruction and assistance. Our classrooms are structured so that students receive whole-group, small-group and one-on-one time with teachers. Our Reading Resource and Math Intervention programs are designed to ensure that students have the support they need to be successful. In addition, we have a Learning Resources program that serves students with diagnosed learning differences.