Lower School
Grades Pre-K3 - 4
As a parent, you want your child to have the best start possible when it comes to education. You’re interested in more than just foundational skills like literacy, comprehension, and math fundamentals. You want an environment where your little learner feels loved and supported enough to make mistakes and to get back up again with the confidence that he or she is heading in the right direction. After all, these are some of the most influential and important years in your child’s life.
Philosophy
“We foster a safe and supportive atmosphere where students can form lasting friendships, develop a sense of belonging, and thrive.”
–Kelli Larsen, Lower School Principal
At Ben Lippen, we take a holistic, distinctively Christian approach to education. Our curriculum, culture, and community all support our biblical worldview and focus on making sure our students are prepared academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
To inspire your child’s learning experience, we continuously invest in faculty, programs, and facilities that contribute to our educational offerings. Your child will be nurtured across the 4 As — Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Attitude (spiritual life).
Approach & Culture
We take an engaging, strategic, and intentional approach to elementary Christian education.
Collaboration. We live in an interdisciplinary world so we use the same method in the classroom, ensuring students are comfortable working across disciplines. A variety of individual, small group, and large group activities are incorporated, providing opportunities for children to learn through active exploration and interaction with others.
Communication. Even with our youngest learners, we emphasize good communication skills, including in their writing and classroom conversations. In first grade, in Writer’s Workshop (part of their Language Arts curriculum), students start learning to develop their ideas and incorporate them into their writing.
Critical Thinking. Students learn to tackle a concept through closer examination by applying, analyzing, evaluating, reflecting, and reasoning. Your child will make connections between the concrete and the abstract, solidifying those critical thinking skills that are essential in secondary and higher education.
Creativity. An education isn’t complete without engaging innovative thinking by igniting the right side of the brain. Through music, art, and other enriching activities, little learners find joy in creative pursuits. Hands-on projects bring innovative thinking to all subject areas.
Community. Faculty and staff support students more than just academically — they also support them spiritually, emotionally, and socially. Teachers model Christian values inside and outside the classroom, reinforcing lessons you’re teaching at home. We live the Christian values of acceptance and understanding, giving our students a safe place to learn and grow. We also encourage open communication between parents, teachers, and school administrators. Internally, our faculty and staff share student needs, concerns, and successes.
Come and experience Ben Lippen!
“Our children are excelling academically as well as spiritually. They are growing in their faith and are encouraged to express it in their relationships (both personal and professionally). Ben Lippen is more than just a place to learn, it’s a place to grow and mature.”
– The Craft Family
One of the many benefits of a private, Christian education is the individual attention each student receives. Through small class sizes, we really get to know your child, what works for them, and what doesn’t. (Learn more about your child’s curriculum.) In addition to being surrounded by like-minded peers, your child will know Jesus Christ through daily lessons, as a biblical worldview is fully integrated into our curriculum.
Daily instruction in:
- Bible
- Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
Weekly instruction in:
- Art
- Technology
- Library
- Music
- PE
- Spanish
We put the fun in learning the fundamentals! We know little learners like to stay active and therefore incorporate proven strategies for keeping them engaged:
- Small group instruction helps limit distraction and provides more individualized instruction
- Typing skills are introduced early on
- Various field trips throughout the year
- Our dedicated STEM Director encourages an interdisciplinary approach through lessons, projects, Robotics Club, and our MakerSpace
- Interactive lessons keep little hands busy, including taking learning outdoors Various field trips throughout the year complement the curriculum and help learning come to life
- Room transformations turn classrooms into exciting learning spaces
- Lower school students are given Brain Breaks throughout the day and opportunities for movement through recess and PE
Learn more about your child’s curriculum.
Extra-Curricular
Student-centered work continues outside the classroom. Lower school is the time when our students use their innate curiosity to discover and explore both the world around them and their God-given talents and interests.
Athletics – Go Falcons! Lower school students are encouraged to participate in Youth Development Sports and various after-school athletic opportunities.
Fine Arts – In addition to studying art and music as part of our curriculum, students can perform in our lower school play, learn to play an instrument (private music lessons are available), or showcase their work in our annual campus celebration of Fine Arts.
Spiritual Life – Our comprehensive lower school Bible curriculum, Deep Roots, shows students how to apply their Christian values to everyday activities and decisions. Weekly chapel provides meaningful worship. As students progress through Ben Lippen, they have the opportunity to pursue discipleship opportunities and join our vibrant Young Life chapter.
After-School Clubs – At Ben Lippen, your child has the chance to unlock new interests through various after school clubs and activities, such as ballet, karate, cooking, robotics, or acrobatics.
Extended Schedule – We understand families need options. Our lower school operates on an 8:20 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. schedule, with early care (free of charge) starting at 7:15 a.m. Extended care is offered until 5:45 p.m.
Continuing at Ben Lippen School
So many of our families choose to stay at Ben Lippen all the way through high school graduation. We have a culturally-rich, diverse student body that’s 1,000+ strong enrolled in pre-K3 through 12th grade.
We recently finished constructing a new Arts and Science Center, home to our state-of-the-art robotics lab, art gallery, choir loft, and more. And we have expanded our incredibly talented faculty to include a Fine Arts Director, a STEM Director, and a Spiritual Life Director.
See the many benefits of a Ben Lippen education firsthand.
For more information, please contact Lil Mason, Admissions Director for Lower School, at Lil.Mason@BenLippen.com or (803) 807-4111.