A Primary Grades Experience That Shapes the Whole Child
Our Primary Grades program, K–5, is where curiosity thrives, confidence grows, and foundational skills take root. With a focus on whole-child development, we blend rigorous academics with hands-on learning and social-emotional growth. Every student is supported in a way that ensures they feel seen, heard, and inspired to explore the world around them.
Personalized Learning That Meets Your Child
No two children learn the same way, and that’s why our approach is built around individualized attention. With small class sizes, dedicated educators, and daily opportunities for small-group learning, we meet students where they are and challenge them to take the next step forward.
Beyond core academics, Primary Grades students engage in specialty subjects that spark creativity and curiosity, including:
- Science lab with hands-on experiments
- Global language immersion
- Technology and creative problem-solving
- Visual arts and music
- Physical education and movement-based learning
Our classrooms are not just places of instruction. They are spaces where students actively engage in critical thinking, collaboration, and self-expression.
Developing Social and Emotional Confidence
A strong education is about more than just what happens in the classroom. At EDS, we focus on helping students develop the social-emotional skills that build resilience, empathy, and leadership. Through daily interactions, structured SEL programming, and ample outdoor time on our wooded campus, students grow into confident, well-rounded individuals.
How we support the whole child:
- Three recesses a day to encourage movement, play, and socialization
- Integrated SEL curriculum that teaches emotional intelligence and decision-making
- On-campus Youth First social worker to support student well-being
- Community service initiatives that instill a sense of purpose and responsibility
A Well Rounded Primary Education
Learning is more than memorization. It’s about exploration, creativity, and leadership. Our hands-on learning experiences and signature projects ensure students build confidence while applying what they learn in real-world ways.
- Mathematics – A conceptual, hands-on approach that builds strong number sense and problem-solving skills through engaging activities like real-world budgeting and interactive group challenges.
- Science Lab – Students use our dedicated science lab and 40-acre campus to conduct hands-on experiments, study ecosystems, and explore the natural world as young scientists.
- Creative Arts – Through visual arts, music, and theatre, students explore self-expression and creativity. The Grades 3-4 musical allows young performers to build confidence on stage, while the visual arts program encourages students to communicate ideas through artistic exploration. A hands-on music program helps students develop an appreciation for rhythm, melody, and performance.
- Signature Projects – Each grade takes on a yearlong research-based project, from first graders interviewing community helpers to fourth graders running the Giving Fair, fostering leadership, inquiry, and presentation skills.
- Leadership & Community Engagement – Fourth graders lead Morning Meetings and Kindness Krew, promoting kindness, responsibility, and a sense of belonging.
- Book Buddies & Clubs – Students connect through reading partnerships, chess and Pokémon clubs, and engaging school traditions like International Dot Day and the Veteran’s Day Program.
