Welcome to the Hamlin Lower School,

a place where dedicated and passionate teachers guide students who are curious about their expanding and changing world. I am hopeful that you will visit the Lower School to see first-hand the joyful learning environment here at 2129 Vallejo. Let me tell you about a few programs that have become the foundation for our work in the Lower School.

At 8:15 each morning, teachers gather with their students for the morning meeting where students hone the skills required to create a community. Here students gather with their teachers to greet one another, plan the day, discuss concerns, and learn about and support each other. This meeting offers a daily opportunity for the classroom teacher to build skills and instill the values which the school has identified as important and are stated in the Hamlin Creed:

Be respectful.
Be responsible.
Be caring.
Be honest.
Be positive.

Teachers are trained in the workshop approach to reading and writing and make decisions about what to teach a child or group of children based on careful and precise observations. This approach ensures that literacy skills are scaffolded for each child and allows for fluid grouping of children based on their needs at a particular time in their literacy development.

Trained in the Schools Attuned model, we believe that each student is a unique person with a unique learning profile. Over a student’s years in the lower school, she will build an understanding of her own learning profile and identify and develop strategies that further her intellectual capacities.

We have high expectations for every student. Our understanding of child development-- and particularly how girls learn best-- creates a safe environment where students are encouraged to stretch and step out of their comfort zone. We offer and encourage many activities where success may not be guaranteed, but where students may have new insight about themselves and their talents.

Understanding that young students learn best by doing, we create learning situations where students can explore, discover and make connections to previous learning.

In short, the Hamlin Lower School is a place for girls to explore their role as citizens of the world and to practice and build skills in academics, the arts, leadership, and athletics.

I hope you will visit this learning community and see for yourself the good and important work that we do here at The Hamlin School.

Sincerely,

Peg Brown

Head of Lower School

Assistant Head of School