WHY LOWER SCHOOL AT
OPEN WINDOW
Gifted children are curious, intense, and full of big ideas. They ask complex questions, make unexpected connections, and often think in wonderfully nonlinear ways. At Open Window, our Lower School is designed to meet these learners with both challenge and support.
We create an environment that nurtures intellectual curiosity, supports social and emotional growth, and encourages students to explore, wonder, and be fully themselves.
THE HEAD
Gifted children not only learn faster but they also learn differently. They crave depth and complexity, and light up when they’re engaged in meaningful work. Our Lower School, serving Kindergarten through 4th grade, is designed from the ground up for gifted learners.
Academic instruction is typically one year advanced in math and literacy, and our approach goes beyond pacing. We prioritize conceptual understanding, inquiry-based learning, and opportunities for creative problem-solving, so students are not just absorbing information, but applying it in ways that matter to them. Our curriculum encourages students to think deeply, ask questions, and pursue their interests with purpose.
Classes in science, Spanish, innovation and technology, art, music, drama, PE, and library add richness and complexity to the week. Often work done in these specialist classes integrates with work being done in core classes.
Every subject offers a different lens for learning, and every teacher is tuned in to the needs of gifted students.
| Each lower school classroom is also staffed with both a lead and an associate teacher, so students have more individualized attention and support throughout the day. |
THE HEART
Giftedness often comes with asynchronous development - when a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social growth don’t all move at the same pace. This is expected, and our program is built with this understanding at its core.
Our integrated social-emotional learning (SEL) program helps students build self-awareness, resilience, and strong relationships. A dedicated counselor works closely with teachers and students, leads classroom lessons, and partners with families to support each child’s journey. Classroom communities are intentionally shaped to foster kindness, inclusion, and connection.
Gifted learners may have big feelings, strong opinions, or a deep sense of justice. At Open Window, these traits are embraced as part of who they are. We take the time to listen, to understand, and to support each student in developing the tools they need to thrive.
Explore Social-Emotional Learning
| Open Window is a place where giftedness is seen as a strength to be nurtured, with passionate teachers, small class sizes, and a program that values the whole child. |
