Pre-K – Grade 4
Our youngest learners may be small, but their imaginations are larger than life. And you can see it written across their faces; they’re genuinely happy to be learning here.
Down the road from our Upper Campus sits our Lower School. Having a separate campus for our youngest learners provides them with an environment tailor-made to support their development. Each day we celebrate the joyful curiosity of childhood both inside the classroom and out on the 13-acres of land surrounding the campus. Nestled on a nationally certified wildlife habitat, nature is practically part of the classroom. Thanks to our beautiful location, and guided by research supporting the benefits of nature on brain development, we spend as much time outdoors as possible!
Our curriculum is strong and creative with instruction matching a variety of learning styles. Through an emergent curriculum, our Lower School teachers have the flexibility to harness the interests of students and adapt our program to make learning relevant, engaging, and fun. We set high standards and work to nurture an enthusiasm for learning that will last a lifetime. Every step along the way is marked by the importance of play, the outdoors, and curiosity.
Leave Everything and Play (LEAP) Day 2024
After-School Program
We offer an after-school program for students wishing to squeeze a little bit more out of the school day. Activities include everything from art to outdoor adventures to creative play. The program is available Monday-Thursday from 3:00-5:00 p.m.
To learn more about our after-school program, please contact Amanda Halloran.
Ascend Program
The Ascend Program is a literacy support program that is designed to help students diagnosed with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or expressive language issues, learn how to turn their differences into superpowers. Our literacy and learning experts work with students five days a week to bolster their skills and help them to better understand their unique learning profile.
For questions regarding enrollment in the Ascend Program, please contact Amy Tedder.
Experiential Learning
The Lower School is all about building relationships. Relationships that connect students with their peers, with their teachers, with the campus, and with the community. Relationships are also built between the curriculum our students learn and how it relates to the world around them. A key element of our Lower School experience is our “Mountain Time” where students join our Director of Outdoor Adventure and Education, Eliza Statile, on the Upper Campus to explore our mountain. This time gives students the necessary resources to connect what they learned in the classroom to their surroundings and helps foster a love and curiosity for the outdoors. We also prioritize adventuring outside whenever we can by holding classes in our field, at our pond, and taking field trips to give our students hands-on experience in their areas of study. Recent trips include:
- Mystic Aquarium
- Trevor Zoo at Millbrook School
- Fairfield Farm at the Hotchkiss School
- The Connecticut Science Center
Family Involvement
At IMS, we know that family is an integral part of a child’s growth and success. That is why we welcome parents, guardians, and loved ones into our school to participate in numerous activities throughout the school year. Every Friday, parents of Lower School students are invited to our Morning Circles. These meetings offer valuable public speaking opportunities for our young learners to share what they are passionate about with their peers and parents. This is also an important time for building connections and community as families are invited to learn with and from their children.
Additional opportunities for parent involvement are advertised throughout the school year, including Food Fridays in our Pre-K classroom, book read-aloud sessions, and chaperoning field trips.