Welcome to Lower School
Transition to the PYP International Baccalaureate Program: Grades 1 - 4
“The Lower School classrooms are vibrant and loving places of learning. We believe that students learn best when they are empowered and feel ownership in their classrooms.”
Whitby Lower School is a time filled with the excitement of having new teachers, studying new subject areas, going off-campus for field trips, performing in student-led assemblies, experimenting with various educational technologies, exploring big concepts in IB units of inquiry and making new friendships.
The Lower School classrooms are vibrant and loving places of learning. Students care about what they learn, they have a voice in their classrooms, posing questions of interest to them and bringing their individual strengths to the process. Through inquiry and exploration, the program engages students in their learning while continuing to build their fundamental skills in all subject areas. We believe that students learn best when they're empowered and feel ownership in their classrooms. This translates into a joy of and a passion for learning that explains why Whitby students love coming to school.
Lower School Fast Facts
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Our informed teaching and learning model allows us to truly know each student |  |
Co-teaching teams provide targeted instruction to small groups of students. |
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Students are inquirers who explore, expand their knowledge base and form world views. |
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Students develop the 21st century skills to think critically,& problem-solve. | 
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Active student participation in their learning assessment. |
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Integrated technology education across all learning units |
Assessment at Whitby
Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning at Whitby. The word assessment stems from the latin word "assidere" which means "to sit beside." We view assessment as an opportunity "to sit beside" your child to help them understand where they are at in their progression of learning and to help them set learning goals.
Academics
The way we plan and structure our curriculum in Lower School is why our students love to learn. Our approach and practice is founded in the belief that students learn best when they can see connections to big ideas, they can come to their own conclusions, they can construct meaning through inquiry and they are allowed to take risks.
We take this belief and create six conceptually based IB Units of Inquiry to provide opportunities for students to contextualize their learning, to make connections to other ideas and to inquire into the world around them. Students develop knowledge and understanding of big ideas, underpinned by traditional subjects like math, reading, writing, social studies and science. Instead of teaching traditional subject areas in isolation they are tied to bigger concepts making them more meaningful for the students.
Arts
Visual arts and music are integral to learning at Whitby. They are powerful modes of communication through which students explore and develop a much deeper understanding of self-expression and perspective. Each one of these programs ignites opportunities for discussions on trust, respect, point of view, conflict, and camaraderie.
VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM
Creative skills, verbal and nonverbal expression, empathy and aesthetic appreciation are all developed through our Visual Arts program. Students are encouraged to draw on their imagination, providing them with opportunities to communicate distinctive forms of meaning, develop their technical skills, take creative risks, solve problems and visualize consequences.
MUSIC CURRICULUM
Our Music curriculum is designed to help students develop an understanding and appreciation of music, as well as acquire the practical skills needed, to cultivate a life-long source of enjoyment and personal satisfaction. Students learn music composition basics through various games, folk dances and rhythmic activities.
Physical Education
Whitby's approach to PE helps is to stimulate children to grow – physically, socially, and emotionally. Skills are developed through a wide variety of physical activities and designed to ensure maximum participation by all.
The PE program is internationally designed as an opportunity to develop cooperation, teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving. Our creative Adventure Challenge requires groups to work together collaboratively to solve problems and accomplish a common goal. In Movement Composition, students broaden their understanding of how physical activity can be used for the development of basic motor skills, as well as how movement can be used to communicate feelings, emotions, and ideas. In Games, students also learn to recognize the challenges presented by games, the importance of rules, and how they define the nature of a game. Individual Pursuits and Health-related Fitness balance our PE curriculum by developing basic motor skills and recognizing and appreciating the value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Technology
Your child will begin using a variety of age-appropriate educational hardware and software technologies in the Lower School to enhance their learning, support them in the inquiry process and to develop their conceptual understanding. Lower School students are assigned Chromebooks to practice typing skills, reinforce key math concepts, create presentations, read eBooks and learn coding.
We have adopted a flexible learning model that encourages collaboration and team teaching between the classroom teachers, the Librarian/Media Literacy Specialist, and the Technology Specialist with support from the Director of Technology to identify technologies that can be used to enhance, engage and support student learning.
After School Enrichment Program
Your child can continue their learning after the normal school day ends by enrolling in our fee-based enrichment class offerings, referred to as WECCP classes (pronounced we-chip). The goal of the WECCP program is the same as during the academic day—to meet the spectrum of whole child development—cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically, focusing on the traits identified in the learner profile.
The program is a wonderful opportunity for the student to explore something new, pursue a passion, enhance their skill and develop new friendships with classmates. The after school program has the added benefit of supporting families who want an extension of the academic day to support their needs.
We offer an average of 30 classes each fall, winter and spring semesters. The classes are taught by Whitby faculty and outside instructors who are highly experienced and fully vetted by the WECCP Program Director.
HERE'S A SAMPLING OF THE EXCITING COURSES WE OFFER THROUGH OUR WECCP PROGRAM:
- Chess
- Engineering
- Tennis & Golf
- Coding
- Digital Photography
- Hip-Hop Dance & Ballet
- Creative Arts
- Baking
