Lower School at B’nai Shalom Day School

Two women dressed as clowns with face paint and striped costumes, laughing together. One appears to be a child and the other an adult. They are sharing a joyful moment.

Small by design. Big on impact.

At B’nai Shalom Day School, our Lower School program is rooted in our mission to inspire curiosity, critical-thinking, confidence, and a connection to Jewish values. Serving students in Kindergarten through 4th grade, our intentionally small class sizes allow for personalized, differentiated instruction that meets each child where they are—academically, socially, and emotionally.

A Rich and Well-Rounded Curriculum

B'nai Shalom's Lower School offers a rigorous, personalized academic foundation built within intentionally small class sizes that allow our students to thrive. Our Language Arts program draws on research backed curricula including Arts & Letters, Really Great Reading, and Geodes to build strong literacy skills alongside a genuine love of language and literature. 

Students in grades K through 4th learn math through the internationally respected Singapore Math curriculum, which emphasizes deep conceptual understanding over rote memorization, while science comes alive through Mystery Science's hands-on experimental approach that keeps curiosity at the center of every lesson. Social Studies, powered by TCI, invites students into inquiry based exploration where history becomes a living conversation. 

Beyond core academics, students engage in Art, Music, Drama, Physical Education, Technology, and Library Science and spend time in our state of the art FabLab maker space, where cross disciplinary projects cultivate creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking from the earliest grades.

A Strong Foundation in Hebrew and Judaic Studies

Hebrew and Judaic Studies at B'nai Shalom are taught by dedicated specialists who bring both passion and deep expertise to their classrooms. One teacher works exclusively with Kindergarten and 1st grade, meeting our youngest learners where they are through age appropriate storytelling, songs, and joyful exploration of Jewish traditions. A second teacher guides students in grades 2 through 4, building on that early foundation with deeper text study, Hebrew language development, and meaningful engagement with Jewish history and values. This intentional, developmentally focused approach ensures that every child receives instruction tailored not just to their academic stage, but to their spiritual and cultural growth as well. The result is a warm, nurturing environment where students don't simply learn about their heritage, they grow to love it.

A young boy wearing a colorful hat and a blue shirt is celebrating a birthday. He sits at a table with a white tablecloth, holding a silver goblet, and smiling. The table has two lit candles on silver candle holders, a bottle, and a colorful cloth or paper with a nature scene.

Community, Leadership, and Joy

At B'nai Shalom, we believe that nurturing emotional intelligence is every bit as important as academic excellence. Social emotional learning (SEL) is woven thoughtfully into the fabric of daily classroom life, helping students develop self awareness, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills. Our teachers complete SEL professional development so they are equipped to support students in real time, whether navigating friendship challenges, managing frustration, or celebrating everyday kindness. 

Beginning in PreK, our School Counselor leads weekly SEL lessons in every class, focusing on emotional regulation, communication, and problem solving in a safe, supportive setting. Each month, the community spotlights a "Character Strong" trait such as honesty, empathy, perseverance, and gratitude, intentionally aligned with the Jewish calendar so students can draw meaningful connections between their personal growth and Jewish values. Through this values driven approach, B'nai Shalom students learn not only how to be excellent learners, but how to be good people.

Children are playing outdoors on a basketball court, with two adults supervising, some children holding toy water guns, and a woman wearing a hijab in the background.
A woman with sunglasses on her head and three boys wearing white and blue hats with smiley face patches, smiling and posing together on a grassy field at an outdoor event with inflatables in the background.
A teacher helps a young girl with a number matching activity at a classroom desk, surrounded by children working on similar activities, with school supplies on the desks.