At The Carmel School, our Lower School curriculum is designed to build essential skills for success in the Middle and Upper School programs.
Our Lower School provides a nurturing environment that fosters individualized learning and personal growth. With smaller class sizes and tailored curriculum, students receive more focused attention, which can help them build a strong academic foundation and develop essential social skills. This early, personalized approach often sets the stage for lifelong learning and success.
Welcome to Lower School, Wildcat!
Our Preschool program caters to both three and four-year-olds.
Our youngest Wildcats get the opportunity to engage in academic activities as well as recreation and rest, mirroring the Lower School schedule.
Learn more about our Preschool
Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade
For Kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5), our curriculum emphasizes developing both social and academic skills essential for effective learning.
Fostering Independent Learning
Students engage in higher-level thinking, problem-solving, technological applications, and writing processes, alongside community-building activities. This comprehensive approach aims to foster independent learning and strong community involvement.
Dedicated Faculty
In the Lower School, our student-to-teacher ratios are as follows: Preschool: 9:1, K-5: 15:1.
Our dedicated faculty and tailored curriculum ensure that each student thrives and grows to their full potential.
Join Our Community
We cultivate a love of learning in a safe and nurturing environment, where students are encouraged to explore and grow. Our innovative approach includes the use of smart technology, enhancing students' educational experience and engagement. Join our school community and give your child the exceptional start they deserve!
Highlights of our Lower School Curriculum
Programs and Platforms
Our Lower School curriculum is based on Virginia State Standards. We use a variety of evidence-based platforms to teach reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history. Our students consistently exceed state standards because we focus on teaching to the student—not just to the test.
- Starting in third grade, Lower School uses Words Their Way for spelling.
- Starting in second grade, Lower School uses Wordly Wise for vocabulary.
- Lower School teaches D'nealian style in K-1 for manuscript and then moves to D’nealian cursive starting in third grade.
- We use Reading A to Z / Razz Kids for our reading curriculum and assess students on a quarterly basis.
- Our mathematics curriculum ties in MobyMax benchmarks with Reveal Math.
- History standards allow our students to dive deeper into Virginia history and US history in both third and fourth grades, and US Geography is introduced in fifth grade.
- Offering a Christian-based education is pivotal in developing our Wildcats, and we use the Positive Action Bible Curriculum in kindergarten through fifth grade for our Bible program.
Reading Support Specialist
We pride ourselves on having an in-house reading support specialist who continuously monitors our Lower School students for both remediation and enrichment. We use Iowa State testing to assess our students.
Literacy and STEAM Week
- During Literacy Week held in the fall, our Lower School students immerse themselves in the joy of reading and storytelling, fostering a lifelong love of literacy.
- In the spring, during STEAM Week, students are immersed in creativity and critical thinking through hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, helping students make meaningful connections across disciplines.
Encore and Specials
The Carmel School prides itself on offering a rich STEAM program that aligns with standards that are being taught in the classroom. Our encore program is an enrichment program offered to first, second, fourth, and fifth graders.
We also offer specials daily for our Lower School students, and we offer physical education, art, music, library, and STEAM.
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
Preschool
Labeled clearly with name:
1- Lunch Box
1 - Structured Backpack large enough to hold lunch box and folder easily
1 - Water bottle with a Spill Proof lid –even when lid is off or open
2 - large Ziploc bags with a complete change of school uniform clothes in each - 1 Pair of spare shoes are welcome too
1 - Red and blue rest mat - 1 Inch Basic mat only (for space saving purposes)
1 - Toddler roll-up nap mat
Community Supplies- (No need to label)
1 - Crayola 8 Color Watercolor Paint Set with brush
12 - Elmer’s Purple Glue sticks
1 - 10 ct washable Crayola markers - classic colors
1 - 24 count box of Crayola crayons - classic colors
1- pack Jumbo Crayola Crayons - classic colors
1 - Container of Clorox Wipes
4- packages of baby wipes (limited ingredients for sensitive skin)
Girls bring:
2 - Boxes of tissues (Pop up kind preferred)
1 box Quart size Ziploc baggies
1 box snack size Ziploc baggies
1 package of disposable forks
Boys bring:
2 - Rolls of paper towels (select a size preferred)
1 box Gallon size Ziploc baggies
1 box sandwich size Ziplock Baggies
1 package of disposable spoons
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
Junior Kindergarten
Labeled clearly with Name:
1- Lunch Box
1 - Structured Backpack large enough to hold lunch box and folder easily
1 - Water bottle with a Spill Proof lid –even when lid is off or open
2 - large Ziploc bags with a complete change of school uniform clothes in each - 1 Pair of spare shoes are welcome too
1 - Red and blue rest mat - 1 Inch Basic mat only (for space saving purposes)
1 - Toddler roll-up nap mat
Community Supplies:
1 - Crayola 8 Color Watercolor Paint Set with brush
12 - Elmer’s Purple Glue sticks
1 - 10 ct washable Crayola markers - classic colors
1 - 24 count box of Crayola crayons - classic colors
1- pack Jumbo Crayola Crayons - classic colors
1 - Container of Clorox Wipes
4- packages of baby wipes (limited ingredients for sensitive skin)
Girls Bring:
2 - Boxes of tissues (Pop up kind preferred)
1 box Quart size Ziploc baggies
1 box snack size Ziploc baggies
1 package of disposable forks
Boys Bring:
2 - Rolls of paper towels (select a size preferred)
1 box Gallon size Ziploc baggies
1 box sandwich size Ziplock Baggies
1 package of disposable spoons
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
Kindergarten
1 - Water bottle with a lid-Spill Proof (No glass)
1 - Complete change of clothes (uniform)--labeled with name, inside a large ziplock bag
1 - Red and blue rest mat
1- Toddler roll-up nap mat
2- Rolls of Paper Towels
1 - Box of Tissues
2 - Pack of Baby wipes
12- Glue sticks
4 - Expo markers (any color except yellow)
3 - 24 count boxes of Crayola crayons
2- Pack of Crayola broad line (thick) markers
1 - Pair of blunt-tip children’s scissors
2 - Polyplastic folders with pockets and holes ( 1 blue and 1 green)
2- Wide Ruled Composition Notebook
Community Supplies:
Girls bring–1 - Container of Clorox Wipes, 1-Quart Size Ziploc Bags, 1-pack of plastic spoons
Boys bring– 1 - Bottle of hand sanitizer (8oz or 12oz), 1- Gallon size Ziploc Bags, 1-pack of plastic forks
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
First Grade
1 - Water bottle with a lid–Spill Proof (No glass)
1 - Complete change of clothes (uniform)- labeled with name, inside a large ziplock bag
1 - Container of Clorox Wipes
2 - Box of tissues
1 - Ziploc Baggies each of slider quart, gallon, and sandwich
1 - Pack of baby wipes
1 - Roll of paper towels
1- 1in 3 ring binder with clear pocket cover
1 - Bottle of Elmer's Glue
12 - Elmer's Glue sticks
12 - #2 pencils Ticonderoga
2- Pack of Crayola markers
1 - Pack of Crayola colored pencils
3 - 24 pack of Crayola crayons
2 - 4 pack of Expo markers (any color)
1 - Pair of blunt-tip children’s scissors
4 - Highlighters (any color)
1 - Pack of pink pearl erasers
1-100 pack of Index Cards
1- Bottle of Hand sanitizer 8oz or 12oz
Community Supplies:
Girls- 1 pack of Plastic Forks
Boys: 1 pack of Plastic Spoons
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
Second Grade
1 - Water bottle with a lid–Spill Proof (No glass/ metal)
1- Complete change of clothes (uniform)-- labeled with name, inside a large ziplock bag
3 - Boxes of tissues
1 - Box of Quart Ziploc Bags
1- Box of Gallon Ziploc Bags
1- Set of headphones (no earbuds, please)
1 - Bottle of Elmer’s glue
12 - Glue sticks
1 - Pair of safety scissors
24 - #2 Ticonderoga pencils
1- Pack of Pencil top Erasers
1 - Pencil box or pouch
2 - Pack of Crayola colored pencils
1 - 16-24 pack of Crayola crayons
2 - Pack of Crayola markers
1 - Pack of Chisel Expo markers
1- Pack of fine tip Expo markers
1- Whiteboard eraser
1 - Pack of highlighters
2 - Pink pearl erasers
4 - Composition books (wide rule)
1 - 1 inch hard binder with pockets (1 inch only, please)
1 - 2 pocket plastic folder with holes - blue
1 - Beach towel for outdoor lunches (does not have to be new)
Community Supplies:
Girls bring–1 - Container of Clorox Wipes, 2- Roll of Paper towels, 1- pack forks
Boys bring– 1 - Bottle of hand sanitizer (12oz. or larger), 2- Container of baby wipes, 1-pack spoons
Optional:
1- pack of water bottles
1 - Pack of heavy-duty page protectors (Optional)
1- Spiral Notebook
1- Plastic Pencil Sharpener
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
Third Grade
1 - Water bottle with a Spill Proof lid, even when open(No glass)
1- set of headphones
2- boxes of tissues
2- rolls of Paper Towels ( 1 per semester)
2- 2 inch hard binders- Heavy Duty D Ring binder with front clear pocket
2 packs of 6-tab dividers with pockets -Blue, Green, Purple, Yellow, Red, and Orange
1- pencil pouch/box
2- packs of colored pencils
1- pack of regular colored markers
48- #2 pencils
2- highlighters (light color)
1- pack of 4 or more dry-erase markers
8- Large glue sticks
2- packs of loose leaf paper (wide rule, reinforced holes preferred)
2- pack of pencil cap erasers
1- pair of large scissors
1- plastic pocket folder with holes (to clip into binder)
2- packs of 100 white flashcards
1- wooden ruler with centimeters & inches
1- Composition notebook journal
2- Large container cleaning wipes
1- pack multiplication flash cards through 12x12 & Division Flashcards
Community Supplies:
Girls bring: 1 small pack of plastic forks (48 count), 1 box sandwich-sized zip lock bags
Boys bring: 1 small pack of plastic spoons (48 count), 1 box quart-sized zip lock bags
Ten dollars for the purchase of a recorder. All recorders will be purchased at once by the school to assure we all have the correct recorder.
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
Fourth Grade
1 - Water bottle with a lid–Spill Proof (No glass)
1- bottle of hand sanitizer (12oz or larger)
2- containers of Clorox Wipes (1g. 75ct)
2- 1.5inch three-ring binder–Heavy Duty
2 packs of 6-tab dividers with pockets -Blue, Green, Purple, Yellow, Red, and Orange
1- NIV Bible
3- pocket folders with holes to clip in binders
2- pack wide rule loose-leaf notebook paper with reinforced holes
4- packs of #2 pencils (24ct)
2- packs of pencil cap erasers
2- pack of erasable colored pencils
2- pack 8ct markers- 1 wide, 1 thin
2- boxes of 24ct crayons
1- wooden ruler with centimeters & inches
4- Highlighters (any color)
2- large pair of scissors
10- large glue sticks
3- pack of 4 or more dry-erase markers
2- boxes of tissues
1- pair wired headphones or earbuds
2- roll scotch tape
1- pack of multiplication flashcards to 12 (for practice at home)
1- roll of Paper Towels
Community Supplies:
Girls bring- 1- pack of forks
Boys bring– 1- pack of spoons
*All Grades: Tennis shoes must be worn to participate in P.E. class and indoor recess.
Fifth Grade
1 - Water bottle with a lid, spill proof (no glass)
1 - pack of gel highlighters for Bible (optional)
1 - Bible, NIRV suggested
2 - composition notebooks
1 - 1.5 inch binder
4 - Single subject spiral notebooks
1 - Two pocket folders
1 - pencil pouch, no boxes please
4 - packs of #2 pencils
1 - pack of three or more highlighters, any color
1 - pack of colored pencils OR pack of crayons
2 - pack of 4+ Expo (dry erase) markers
1 - roll of scotch tape
1 - ruler with inches and centimeters
1 - pair of scissors
12 - glue sticks
1 - basic calculator
1 - set of headphones, no earbuds please
1 - pack of pencil top erasers
2 - packs of lined paper
Community Supplies:
Girls: 1- pack of spoons, 1 box tissues
Boys: 1- pack of forks, 1 box sandwich bags
Please know that having a computer is optional for fifth-grade students. The fifth grade uses Google Classroom and having access to a computer at home is very helpful as students can save login data and other documents easily, helping with classroom time management.