At Rowland Hall-St. Marks’ School, we believe school beginnings are powerfully important in shaping later attitudes toward school. When Beginning School teachers, all professionally trained educators, guide and nurture each child’s initial explorations, school becomes a place for positive, happy growth. Parents are welcome and encouraged to become partners with the school from the very start, whether by sharing time in the classroom or attending education classes especially for parents of little ones.

We encourage young children to learn through their senses, their minds, and their souls. The Beginning School world is a friendly environment where the joy of learning unfolds through digging, tasting, splashing, wiggling, dancing, planting, running, building, singing, sharing, and laughing. Children learn to support each other through respectful behavior and to support their community through developmentally appropriate service to others.

The Beginning School’s whole child approach to learning recognizes each student’s need for support and encouragement along the journey of self-knowledge that leads to formal education. In each child’s expanding social and emotional worlds, successes are individually paced and applauded. Our emphasis on hands-on learning provides the building blocks that will lead to mastery of math, science, reading, and writing skills. Children find music, art, creative movement, language learning, and computer time to be romping, joyous fun.

Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s School is a special place where the curriculum is seen not as an end unto itself, but as the source from which children become excited and experience themselves as successful learners. When Beginning School children take these first steps in the journey of education, they develop a love of school life and are equipped with a strong foundation for their elementary years.