Your Lower Schooler will learn many lessons this year, and not all of them will take place in the classroom. Through physical education and recess, he or she will learn sportsmanship, cooperation, problem-solving, and how to turn to God to meet suggestions of limitation. Music and art will teach lessons about grace, confidence, and working toward high standards. Lunch will provide opportunities to grow in the ability to be polite, converse with others, and make sure everyone is having a good time. In the classroom, he or she will be able to demonstrate vigorous thinking, set goals and achieve them, learn how to organize and meet deadlines, and discover how one’s education can be a blessing to mankind.

The Lower School program supports these four intended outcomes of a Principia education:

An effective Christian Scientist
A public-spirited citizen
An inspired learner
An individual of refined moral character

The Lower School years provide a wonderful opportunity for development of the whole child in a nurturing atmosphere. The teachers look forward to working closely with you in support of your child’s educational experience.

Warmly,

Michael K. Moyle
Lower School Director

This site contains basic information and guidelines for you and your Lower Schooler. You may call the Lower School office any time between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. for needed information: 314-434-2100, ext. 3595, or 314-275-3595.

The joy and success of your child’s experience are based upon our mutual understanding and cooperation. A strong, open relationship between the child, the school, and the parents is the basis for our successful work together.

We look forward to sharing with you all the joyous activities and growing experiences that take place in Lower School

Playground or gym, depending on weather, is open from 8:00 to 8:15 a.m. Classes begin at 8:20 a.m. with a classroom chapel. It is important for students to arrive by 8:15 in order to unpack their bags and be in their seats ready to participate in the morning chapel.  

Classes are dismissed at 3:20 p.m. for all grades. Playground is open until 3:55 p.m. daily, except when it’s raining or snowing or when temperatures are too cold, in which case the gym is used. The library is open for study and reading until 3:55 p.m. on most afternoons. All children should be picked up at the Lower School entrance by 4:00 p.m. It is preferable for children to leave school promptly at 3:20 p.m. in rainy or inclement weather.

The After-Four Care Program is available until 5:30 p.m. There is a charge for this program. Lower School students may not be elsewhere on campus after school without direct adult supervision.

Please call the Lower School Office for information. We urge you to make family pick up arrangements before your child comes to school, rather than using phones during the day. This will help avoid any last-minute confusion. Also, notify the adminstrative assistant by 3:00 p.m. if another person is picking up your child.

Please request a copy of the current policy from the Lower School office.

Whenever it is wise for a child to be excused from outside play or to have some special consideration because of a physical problem, please make the request in person, by note, or by telephone to the Lower School Office. If he or she has had a difficult night, it might be better for the child to remain at home the next day. If your child is going to miss school, please notify the office by 8:45 a.m. You may request homework assignments, to be picked up between 3:15 and 4:15 p.m. After an absence involving a belief of contagion, the student must have a note from a Campus House Christian Science nurse before he or she is permitted to attend classes. Students reporting to school late need to get a tardy slip from the office upon arrival. We appreciate families’ helping with an orderly start to our school day by arriving on time. Please be sure to read information below regarding health matters.

Please dial the school information hotline directly 314.514.3000 to get up-to-the-minute information regarding school closings and start times. You can also get this same information by dialing the switchboard before it opens or after it closes at 314.434.2100 and choosing option #9.

OR tune into one of the following radio and television stations for confirmation of closing:

KMOX (1120 AM) 5:30 am & 6:30 am
KSDK-TV (channel 5) 5:30 am - 8 am
KMOV TV (channel 4) 5:30 am - 8 am

In addition, you can access the Principia web page (www.prin.edu/hotline) and find the link to current information regarding school closings.

Late Starts
A late start usually means that school will open at 9:30 am. The radio and television stations will state whether Principia is closed or will have a late start. This information will also be posted on the web and hotline.

During the school day, if severe weather (ice/snow) occurs, you will be notified about early dismissal in time to pick up your child. Please consider that our students travel from a very wide geographical area, where weather may be inclement in one area and not in another. Also, the safety of children traveling on the Elsah buses is of primary importance.

A high-quality hot lunch program is available in the Lower School cafeteria. However, many students choose to bring their own lunch. Your child may also purchase milk, soup, salad, or dessert separately. Occasional full lunches may be purchased in the cafeteria line.

Classroom sets of texts in reading, mathematics, social studies, English, and science are made available, and a list of school supplies is available from the Lower School office and on the school's web site before school opens. Parents are encouraged to purchase the supplies at local stores rather than the school bookstore, since the bookstore is primarily for boarding students. The Principia Parent's Association also allows parents to order the supplies in a kit in the spring.

All children in grades 1–6 carry books and papers to and from school. We recommend that a tote bag or backpack with the child’s name on it be brought daily to carry these items.

School clothes should be appropriate for the academic environment. A dress code will be provided prior to the start of school and is available on the web site. Parents are urged to avoid fads in planning a school wardrobe. Clothes should be clean and in good repair. Extreme hairstyles are not acceptable.

Please mark with name tapes or indelible laundry ink all articles of clothing that may be taken off during the day or are to be left at school. Children and parents should periodically check for lost items in the Lost and Found box in the Lower School hall.

Your child must keep a sweater, fleece, or sweatshirt at school. We require grades 1–6 to wear coats, hats, and mittens, or gloves when the temperature is below 40 degrees. All students need boots for when significant snow is on the ground, and first-graders need snow pants. Outdoor boots are not worn inside during the day.

A smock or large shirt that completely covers school clothes is needed for art (grades 1–6).

Every Monday morning a chapel program is provided for all Lower School students and any parents who may wish to attend. Speakers from the Christian Science community (such as parents, teachers, or practitioners) offer inspirational messages that set the tone for the week. A calendar helps keep you informed of general assemblies and programs that might be of interest to you.

Written reports are provided in the fall, spring, and at the end of the school year. Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year. We will keep you advised of your child’s special needs and invite you to call the office for information or to ask for a special conference any time you think one would be helpful.

We encourage you to visit your child’s classroom once or twice a year. The visit should be scheduled during the months of October, November, or January through April. In December check with the teacher, since there are often special schedules because of the Christmas program. Visits will be scheduled as long as they do not interfere with the work going on in the classroom. Please contact the office at least a day in advance to request a visit.

Homework is assigned at each grade level in progressive amounts. It is important that students learn to complete homework in a high-quality and timely manner. In the rare instance when family needs do not allow the child to complete the homework, the parent should inform the teacher of the situation and request a one-day extension. Also, if a child is absent, he or she will be given a one-day extension for each day of absence.

When arriving by car, please observe several simple safety-related rules:

1. Pull right up to the curb to let your children off. Letting them off in the passing lane to save a few seconds is not a safe practice. Please be patient and do not pass cars in front of you.
   
2. Never leave your car unattended at a white curb. The white curb is a fire lane and should be kept clear for emergency vehicles.
   
3. Use the parking lot if you are parking for an extended period. There is no parking on the curb in front of the Lower School during drop-off and pick-up times.
   
4. If you are picking up your child and he or she is not in front of the school, circle around to let other parents pick up their waiting children. It is important to arrange with your child in the morning when and where you will pick up.

Every car driven on campus must be registered with the Facilities Office, and the identification decal issued for each car affixed as requested. Members of your family who drive on campus are asked to be familiar with campus driving regulations.

Daily transportation between the Elsah and St. Louis campuses is provided by a reputable bus company. Lower Schoolers have an adult chaperone on their bus. More detailed information about arrival and departure times, routes, and rules is provided to all Illinois-area families in August.

When the Elsah buses are parked and have their red lights flashing, all cars must stop and wait until the lights go out.

The charge per semester for food includes a hot noon meal and a drink. A beverage-only program is available for those who want to bring their lunch. Charges will be billed to the student’s account. Occasional lunches may be bought in the cafeteria line with cash or charged to the student’s account. Soup, milk, salad, or dessert may be purchased separately each day.

Charges for bus transportation for day students traveling between Elsah and St. Louis are billed to your account at a monthly rate

We request that the Lower School Office secretary be given the name of a local practitioner listed in The Christian Science Journal whom you would want us to call in case of an emergency if we are unable to reach you. The office also needs to know parents’ business phone numbers and cell phone numbers, as well as any address or phone number changes.

Right across the hall from the Lower School office is our “quiet room.” This is a spot set aside for the rest and prayer a child might need during a physical or emotional challenge. There is a bed, a set of marked Lesson books, Christian Science periodicals and pamphlets, and always a loving adult to help get a child settled and calm.

Principia’s special care facility, Campus House, is conveniently located near the headmaster’s home and the two dormitories. Campus House is staffed by class-taught Christian Science nurses who are available to assist students who have had an accident or have other special care needs. Campus House does not provide child care to day students who are needing to be at home.

If a child needs special care, parents are notified by phone of the nature and extent of the problem. All phone conversations are intended to inform, interpret, encourage, support, and motivate. A diagnosis is not made by the Christian Science nurses. They support the healing work being done by parents and the Christian Science practitioner on the case.

Under circumstances where medical attention may be requested by the parent, it may become necessary for the student to be away from Principia during this reliance period. Each case will be reviewed by the school administration.
Principia’s Care Department appreciates working closely with parents in caring for a child’s special needs. If you ever have any questions, feel free to call the nurse on duty: 314-434-0732 or 314-275-3590.

While you’re a Principia family, it is expected that you and your children attend church and Sunday School regularly and that at least one parent is a member of The Mother Church and a local branch church. This encourages fulfillment of Principia’s purpose — that of serving the Cause of Christian Science.

Missouri has a law requiring children attending public, private, parochial, or parish schools in the state to be immunized against a prescribed list of what are termed communicable diseases. Schools are held responsible for keeping records on each student in this matter. The law also states: This act “. . . shall not apply to any child if one parent or guardian objects in writing to his school administrator against the immunization of the child.” However, it should be noted that in the case of a potential communicable disease outbreak, the health authorities have the right to exclude students who cannot prove medical immunity.

In order for Principia to enroll your child, each year we must receive from you by the opening day of school the required “Immunization Exemption Form.” This form (which is included in the enrollment packet) gives you the option of either submitting a record of all the required immunizations or requesting exemption from immunization. In making this objection, it is wise that we all — school, student, and parents — actively, consistently, and prayerfully support the stand on which our objection is based, acknowledging God’s unceasing protection of His children from discord of every sort. We know that this kind of daily inspirational support has been our students’ protection in a most wonderful way for many years and that it will continue to be so.

Any Principia student presenting such a problem is required to leave school and be under the care and responsibility of parents until the healing is complete. Principia acknowledges the power of divine healing without limitation and, in so acknowledging it, must assume the responsibility for requiring that a complete healing be evidenced before the student can return to school. A student who has been absent with a suspected contagious disease may return to classes when all symptoms and signs of disease are no longer in evidence and when there is every indication of complete healing. No student may return to school as long as there are physical symptoms or signs of disease. If parents request that their son or daughter who still shows signs of the contagious belief be allowed to return, Principia can consider approving the return only if the family wishes to obtain a physician’s approval. Please contact the Campus House nurses if you have a question about this section.

There are branches of the Parents' Association for every school level, including Pre-School and Lower School. The officers of the association are eager to make the acquaintance of new parents at Principia. New families will be contacted by the Mothers’ and Dads’ Club hospitality chairperson and paired with a host family to help orient them.

The Parents' Association sponsors such activities as speakers, welcome packets for new families, classroom parties, calendars, general meetings, receptions, and telephone chains. The executive board meets monthly with the principal to communicate parents’ ideas and to plan for special activities. The association gets involved in special service projects in support of the campus.

Principia sponsors Boy Scout, Cub Scout, Girl Scout, and Brownie Scout troops if parents are available to organize the troop activities. If you have a son or daughter interested in Scouting, please call the office for the name of the appropriate troop leader, who will be glad to welcome your child to this activity, usually held after school or in the evening.

Is there anything else you want to know about Lower School?
We have attempted to make this website as complete as possible. If after reading it you have any questions, please contact the Lower School administration or the Admissions Office for answers. We are glad you are going to be a part of the Lower School family and are looking forward to getting to know you and your children better this school year.