What a fantastic first two full weeks of school! It has been wonderful to see our lower school students settling into routines, building new relationships, reconnecting with friends, and embracing the many opportunities for learning and discovery that each day brings. I am especially grateful to all of our families who participated in our grade-level Parent Coffees and Hopes and Dreams Conferences. These opportunities to connect, listen, share perspectives, and learn more about your children are truly valued and welcomed. The partnership between home and school is an essential part of creating a meaningful and successful year for every child, and I look forward to continuing to build these strong connections throughout the year.

As we move into the weeks ahead, please know that my door and the doors of our entire lower school faculty and staff are always open. Whether you have a question, an idea, a concern, or simply something you would like to share, we welcome your communication and partnership. Your insights and perspectives help us better understand and support your children. I also look forward to seeing everyone at Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 30, at 6:30 p.m. We will begin together in the lower school gym before transitioning into classrooms for an informative evening designed to give you a closer look at your child’s school experience, classroom routines, curriculum, and the many ways we will work together throughout the year. 

Thank you again for a wonderful start to the school year. We are so grateful to have you as partners in this important journey!

Warmest regards,

Christine D’Alessandro
Head of Lower School

Lower School Garden Club Update

We are excited to officially announce the launch of our Lower School Garden Club! Our garden will serve as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory where students can learn, explore, create, and connect with nature through meaningful, hands-on experiences.

Our mission is to cultivate a vibrant outdoor classroom and living laboratory where students explore science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics, and nature through hands-on gardening and environmental stewardship, while bringing together the entire school family around a shared commitment to sustainability, learning, and community growth.

Growing Together
We are thrilled to welcome Amber Boissonneault P’36 as our Garden Club Parent Liaison. Boissonneault will help support our garden community and, from time to time, may be found working with students in the garden during recess. Students are welcome to join her, lend a hand, and help with seasonal garden maintenance and care.

Beginning Monday, September 28, the garden will be open to all lower school students. Their experiences in the garden may vary depending on their age and developmental level. Teachers may incorporate the garden into their programs and curriculum, while students may also choose to visit and work in the garden during recess or morning time. In both settings, the garden provides meaningful opportunities for students to learn beyond the classroom, observe and connect with the natural world, and participate in caring for a shared space. We hope the garden becomes a place where curiosity grows right alongside the plants!

Join Our Garden Community
We would also love to connect with members of our school community who have a passion for gardening, nature, sustainability, or environmental education and would like to share their knowledge, skills, or enthusiasm with our students.

If you have gardening experience, a special area of knowledge, or simply enjoy getting your hands in the soil and would like to be part of this experience, please reach out to Charlotte Walsh, cwalsh@kingschoolct.org, or Jen Argo, jargo@kingschoolct.org, our STEAM Coordinators and garden leads.

We look forward to watching our garden and our students grow throughout the year. Thank you for helping us cultivate a space that brings together learning, stewardship, creativity, and community. 

Professional Development for Lower School Faculty

This summer, lower school teachers participated in an exceptional professional learning opportunity, “How Sensory Perception and Movement Work in Children (3-11 Years): Autonomous Learning and Developing Competence Indoors and Outdoors,” led by consultant Tommaso Lana. The experience provided teachers with a deeper understanding of how children learn through sensory perception, movement, exploration, and meaningful interactions with their environments. Through hands-on experiences and thoughtful reflection, teachers explored how intentionally designed indoor and outdoor spaces can foster independence, confidence, problem-solving, and the development of competence. The professional learning encouraged us to look at our learning environments through the eyes of children and consider how we can create greater opportunities for authentic, self-directed learning and discovery.

Equally valuable was the opportunity for lower school teachers to learn, reflect, and collaborate as a team. The experience brought teamwork and collaboration to life as teachers shared observations, challenged one another’s thinking, and connected new learning to the unique needs of our students and school environment.

Conversations extended beyond the professional development sessions as teachers considered how these ideas could translate into everyday practice and how our indoor and outdoor spaces could better support children’s development. This shared experience strengthened our collective understanding and reinforced the importance of working together to create learning environments where children can move, explore, take appropriate risks, make choices, and develop a strong sense of independence and competence.