Elementary School

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE & FAITH FORMATION

LM’s elementary program emphasizes foundational academic and social skills within a restorative justice framework that nurtures the whole child and helps them develop a strong community with teachers and classmates. Hands-on learning experiences provide students the opportunity to apply their learning, build knowledge, and develop critical thinking. 

Lancaster Mennonite is committed to a student-centered, holistic education that helps students thrive academically at all levels of learning. LM’s core values and faith practices are evident through our hands-on, values-driven approach to learning in all subject areas, which builds a solid foundation for social and cognitive development.

Teachers authentically integrate faith into all subjects. All grades use Encounter, an Anabaptist faith formation curriculum that emphasizes a commitment to following the life and teachings of Jesus. Students participate in daily devotions and attend chapel weekly.

PASSIONATE, CARING TEACHERS
Our dedicated teachers equip students to grow, and also to make a positive impact on the world. Teachers are certified and have a bachelors or masters degree.

The student-teacher relationship is at the heart of our programming since their interactions and development of meaningful relationships helps to foster an educational climate that puts students at the center of all that we do.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Elementary school core curriculum includes Bible, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Our instructional models include whole class, small group, and individual teaching so that students can achieve success. 

The English Language Arts program seeks to build competent and confident readers who can decode accurately and fluently, while comprehending what they read. Students also learn to see themselves as capable, skilled writers who can express ideas in narrative, informational, and opinion formats. The ELA curriculum centers on instruction from the Collaborative Classroom. 

The Math program works to develop conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills in arithmetic, data, probability, geometry, algebra, and functions. Students not only practice math skills, but they find innovative ways to apply this information to solve real problems. The Math curriculum is from Everyday Math. 

Elementary students engage with concepts in science and social studies that connect to their learning in math and language arts while providing the opportunity to use design thinking and the Makerspace.

EARLY EDUCATION – PREKINDERGARTEN
PreK lays the foundation for success in life and school. Active learning stations, free play, outdoor exploration, and structured lessons help students develop social-emotional and academic skills, while building upon the child’s natural curiosity to develop a love of learning at an early age. PreK is full-day, and parents can choose from three-day (M,T, Th), four-day (M-Th), or five-day options. PreK students must be three and a half years old and potty trained by September 1 to be eligible for admission. Learn more about PreKindergarten.

The Forest School Friday program allows PreK and Kindergarten students to take their learning outdoors to explore nature, build knowledge of and appreciation for God’s creation, and engage in child-led play. Forest School is a concept encouraging routine, child-led outdoor learning experiences to help build resilience, improve social skills and mental health, and connect to nature.

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM (K-4TH)
Our Kindergarten program balances an academically rigorous literacy and math program with built-in time for play-based learning and imaginative play. In every aspect of learning,
students grow cognitively and socially so they are prepared for future success. Parents can choose from four-days (M-Th), or five-day options. Kindergarteners must be at least 5 years old by September 1 to attend. Learn more about Kindergarten.

The elementary program builds strong academic and social skills within a restorative justice framework that nurtures the whole child, and helps them develop a strong community with teachers and classmates. Hands-on learning experiences provide students the opportunity to apply their learning, build knowledge, and develop critical thinking.

See the Middle School information on the 5-8th grade program. Learn more about Middle School.

STEAM & DESIGN-THINKING

Our STEAM program seeks to make connections between science, technology, engineering, art and math so that students can collaborate and apply learning to real-world problems.

Students at all grade levels walk through the design-thinking steps of defining, inventing, creating, and testing projects. In addition to their courses in science, math, and music, elementary students also participate in Art & Design class in the Makerspace. LM’s Makerspace is a place where students can gather to share ideas and knowledge with one another as they work on projects related to fine art and design.