Welcome from the Head of Lower School

I am delighted to be a part of this very special place—the Lower School at Bancroft. My morning begins by welcoming children and teachers, who are brimming with excitement for the day ahead. When I visit them later in their classes there remains a buzz of energy coupled with active participation as children eagerly share with me what they are doing and draw me into their world of learning. Once again, at family seating during lunch, we share tidbits about our daily lives. As the day winds down with my other duties, I look forward to being reinvigorated by the children the following morning.

The Lower School (Grades Pre-K – 5, with about 150 students) is an integral part of the larger Bancroft community and we provide a firm foundation for our Middle and Upper Schools. A continuum of education fosters the growth of each child while building a strong sense of self and community. Most importantly, we value and support strong ties between home and school through regular communication, Parent Connections, and other gatherings.

Both in architecture and in spirit, the Lower School is an open and welcoming community where children are respected, valued, nurtured, and encouraged to develop their full academic and social potential. We provide an environment where children tap into their innate curiosity, seek answers to their questions, think critically, experience joy in making discoveries that enhance their knowledge, strengthen confidence, and promote a lifelong love of learning.

Small class sizes allow us to devote much attention in assisting each child to formulate and realize goals, exercise good citizenship, and develop resiliency. Our academically challenging curriculum in language arts, math, central subject, and science, emphasizes the much needed 21st century skills. Further, rich programs in music, drama, art, library, French/Spanish, computer skills, and physical education meet the needs of the “whole child.” Our experienced teachers are actively engaged in professional development and collaborative practice to keep the curriculum current, with particular attention to developmentally appropriate instruction and assessments.

Many special traditions are to be found here, such as Camp Kieve, the 5th grade play, Kinderbuddies, Senior/First Grade project, to name a few. Of course, the highlight of the week is the Friday Assembly where all Lower School students gather to sing songs, share projects, display talents, and learn from each other. Further, the Lower School Common Read inculcates a love of literature and binds us together as a community.

I invite you to visit us in person to get a true sense for what makes Bancroft such a unique and exciting place.

Lower School is where the journey begins!

Jyoti Datta
Head of Lower School
508-853-2640, ext. 222
jdatta@bancroftschool.org