Manhattan Lower School

Windward Manhattan's Lower School currently comprises grades 1-4 and provides a supportive atmosphere that enables students to explore new horizons and enhance their self-esteem. Their confidence and pride increase as they develop their core academic skills alongside their essential social and emotional skills as young learners and community members full of the most amazing potential.

The students’ day starts in homeroom where they meet with friends, organize their work before classes begin, and receive individual study help from their teachers. Lower School students have three periods a day devoted to language arts, including oral language, reading, spelling, handwriting, and expository writing. In addition, students have a daily period of mathematics and regularly scheduled periods of social studies, science, physical education, library, computers, art, and music. While class sizes are generally 12-13 students with two teachers instructing the class, both language arts and math classes are conducted with even smaller groups of students, also with the team teaching model. Computer classes for keyboarding and basic word processing skills begin in the fourth grade.

At midday there is a lunch and recess break, giving students time to play with friends or participate in extra-curricular activities. Each afternoon during "Read Aloud," students have the opportunity to listen to and discuss literature on a higher level than their independent reading levels may permit.

Since study and organizational skills are critical parts of Windward's program, students return to their homerooms before dismissal where, under careful supervision, they organize their books and materials and clarify their homework assignments. We follow a policy of using homework to reinforce skills already taught and practiced in class, so assignments are carefully designed to be manageable by students without significant parental support.

Students in grades 1 - 4 participate in a comprehensive physical education program where they are introduced to age appropriate physical fitness concepts and activities as well as locomotor skills to enhance coordination, balance and agility, and the acquisition of sports skills. In every class, the physical education teachers seek to instill important life skills such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, fair play, personal achievement and a cognitive ability to strategize for competition. In class, the students work on developing basic skills that they will then use in age appropriate lead-up games, cooperative play and scrimmages, where they will be challenged to achieve their personal best. Students are encouraged to join the After School programs where these skills are reinforced through games, intramural and interscholastic sports. The physical education department culminates the year with one of the great Windward traditions – Field Day.

At the Manhattan Campus, the Athletics program allows students to build sports skills as well as participate with friends in a variety of clinics, intramural and interscholastic sports. Students in grades 1-4 have the opportunity to participate in the after-school sports program which introduces them to a variety of sports where skills are reinforced through enjoyable drills, fun lead-up games and team play. Additionally, instructional tennis is available to our 2nd through 4th graders on Friday afternoons.

The Manhattan Lower School Clubs & Activities Program provides a broad range of clubs, activities and trips for our diverse student population. These experiences afford students the opportunities to socialize in a less formal academic setting.

During the school day, various clubs meet at recess under the supervision of highly-trained Windward faculty members. Clubs gather one or more times per week for an 8 -week session, with some spanning the school year. Students are encouraged to propose new clubs based on their interests. To date, our clubs have included:

• Chorus: 3rd and 4th graders learn to sing in beautiful harmony.
• The Yoga Club: Students are introduced to age-appropriate yoga poses as well as breathing and mindfulness techniques.

More traditional after-school activities are also an essential part of the Activities Program. The school year is divided into trimesters – the fall session commencing in September, the winter session kicking off in December, and the spring session getting underway in March. The overarching goal of the program is to appeal to as many students as possible by incorporating varied activities and season-specific sports that pique our students’ interests and promote their abilities. Instructors are trained Windward faculty members and outside professionals that provide expert instruction.

This year, several new programs will be introduced while many of our more popular programs will again be offered. These include: Chess Club, Sports & Games, Gaga, Sew Happy Sewing, Arts and Crafts, Communication Club,  Lego & Jr. Robotics Club, and Instructional Tennis.

Please contact Jessica Zimmerman, Activities Program Director, Manhattan Lower School, for further information.