Lower School Student Life

Student life in the RPCS Lower School can be summed up in one word - joyful. Our girls are as passionate about their learning as they are about their play. Their relationships grow and change organically over time, and as an institution, we provide them with the tools and resources they need as they navigate childhood and eventually grow into young women.

All About Lower School Student Life

D.E.A.R (Drop Everything And Read)

The D.E.A.R (Drop Everything And Read) program is part of our Reading Revolution. Every day, the girls participate in independent reading. This means, they choose their own book and everyone sits down for 15 minutes and reads silently. For the younger girls, teachers choose a book for fun and read to the class. The purpose of D.E.A.R is to encourage lifelong readers. Studies have shown that individuals who read for pleasure have higher test scores, including the SATs, boast a more robust vocabulary, show more empathy, and live longer, among other benefits. Learn more by watching our video that highlights our Reading Revolution.

After School Clubs & Organizations

In an effort to encourage relationship building, an active lifestyle, and personal learning, RPCS offers our Lower School girls after school clubs and organizations. Our clubs are offered on a trimester basis: fall, winter, and spring. The organizations, including affinity groups, are year round. Some of the offerings include:

CLUBS
The after school clubs that we offer our Lower School girls are inspired by their interests; the topics range from chess to dance, from an eco-explorers club to running. For a full list of the available clubs, visit our School's Out page.

AFFINITY GROUPS
Roland Park Country School welcomes, celebrates, and embraces differences from the very youngest of ages. As such, our ‘Branches and Leaves’ program seeks to affirm the brilliance, power and strength of our students who may not always be in the majority. In order to do so, we have affinity groups that we refer to as ‘Branches and Leaves’. You can learn more about our Lower School affinity groups here.

Traditions

With all of our students under one roof, the all school events that we host are truly an essential part of the RPCS community. These annual events transcend generations of students and are looked forward to by all students (and staff!) all year long. The Lower School itself also has traditions - some newer than others - that make the Lower School experience unique to RPCS. Even at the events that are hosted by a particular grade also includes the rest of the Lower School as either audience members, customers, of general supporters. At RPCS, we lift each other up, and that core value begins in Lower School.

Harvest Feasts (Fall and Spring)

Halloween Trunk or Treat

1st Grade Poetry Festival

2nd Grade Marketplace

4th Grade Talent Show

5th Grade Book Fair

Maypole Celebration

Community Service/Service Learning

Our Lower School students are passionate about their community, both in our local neighborhoods and throughout the world. Lower School students participate in school-wide service learning initiatives such as the Think Pink All School Walk, which raises money for cancer research, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. There are also Lower School-specific fundraising initiatives led by the students themselves. Some examples include:

Used Book Drive
Canned Food Drive
Community Connections Project through Perfectly Me

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