16
Lower School (continued)
GRADES 4 TO 6
Grades four through six are departmentalized and students report
to dierent teachers for their classes. Subjects in these grades
also include language arts, mathematics, social studies, science,
performing arts, and special courses. In language arts, students
learn how to read closely, make logical inferences, cite specic
textual evidence, determine central ideas or themes, summarize key
supporting details and ideas, and analyze story elements. Students
continue learning how to craft a piece of writing across three types:
narrative, information, and opinion. In mathematics, students learn
how to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them,
reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct viable arguments
and critique the reasoning of others, model with mathematics, use
appropriate tools strategically, attend to precision, look for and make
use of structure, and look for and express regularity in repeated
reasoning. e social studies curriculum aims to develop historians
across four dimensions: developing questions and planning
inquiries, applying disciplinary concepts and tools, evaluating
sources and using evidence, and communicating conclusions and
taking informed action. e science curriculum develops skills and
concepts along four major domains: physical science, life science,
Earth and space science, and engineering design.
PERFORMING ARTS (REQUIRED FOR GRADES 4 TO 6)
To provide students with exposure to the performing arts, all
fourth, fth, and sixth graders must enroll in a course under the
Performing Arts Department. e following details explain the
Performing Arts Department options:
» Band (5th and 6th grade) Students receive instruction on wind,
brass, and percussion instruments to perform music together.
» Chorus (4th, 5th, and 6th grade) Students learn singing
techniques and perform at several Lower School chapel services,
as well as at an end-of-year concert.
» Contemporary Jazz Dance (5th and 6th grade) Students learn
various dance styles, including contemporary jazz and hip-hop,
to perform in our dance showcases.
» Hula (4th, 5th, and 6th grade) e hālau receives instruction
from its kumu hula and participates in various performances.
» Musical eater (6th grade) is class oers students
instruction in singing, dancing, and acting, as well as an
opportunity to perform material from an age-appropriate
musical.
» eater (6th grade) is class oers students instruction in
various aspects of theater, including acting, improvisation, and
stagecraft.
» Beginning Orchestra (4th, 5th, and 6th grade) Students learn to
play an orchestral stringed instrument and participate in several
performances.
» Intermediate and Advanced Orchestra (4th, 5th, and 6th
grade) Students with experience in playing a string instrument
will further improve their music skills and also participate in
performances.
» Or Ensemble (4th, 5th, and 6th grade) Students learn
creativity and improvisation, typically through a mix of
xylophone and other percussion instruments. is is the only
elective that does not directly continue into the Upper School
but is a good experience for students wishing to continue in
other disciplines such as band, orchestra, choir, or dance.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
ere is a kindergarten and rst-grade counselor, a second- and
third-grade counselor, a fourth- and fth-grade counselor, and
a sixth-grade counselor. Counselors provide individual support,
teach age-appropriate guidance lessons for grade levels, and support
ongoing team-building activities throughout the year. e Lower
School Chaplain’s Oce is also located in the Counseling Oce so
students and families can seek pastoral care as well. e Counseling
Department also holds weekly meetings with ‘Iolani School’s
Director of Social and Emotional Health as well as the Lower
School Dean and Associate Dean to collaborate and plan ways to
support students, faculty, parents/guardians, and families.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) PROGRAM
Students in kindergarten through fth grade participate in daily
social-emotional learning activities. e curriculum of the program
is comprehensive and research-based, focusing on building a
schoolwide community through the development of students’
social skills and SEL competencies. Lessons teach students
responsibility, empathy, and cooperation, creating an environment
where students feel known, heard, and cared for. Our SEL program
helps students learn the importance of being productive members
of our community, in which they know they matter.
Sixth-grade students participate in the Advisory Program, which
connects every student to a faculty adviser and a supportive group
of peers. e program’s goals are to create safe opportunities
for students to explore ethical, personal, social, emotional, and
academic issues to empower them as individuals within and beyond
our community.
PLANNED ABSENCES
It is important to emphasize that planned absences resulting from
travel are strongly discouraged. We deeply value the time we spend
with your children, both for their academic progress and the
personal growth fostered through our daily school routines and the
relationships they cultivate with peers and teachers. Consequently,
we request that student travel be scheduled during periods when
school is not in session.
If your child must miss school to travel, parents/guardians should
ll out THIS STUDENT ABSENCE DUE TO TRAVEL
FORM at least a month before the trip. Requests for work should
be made directly to their respective teachers at least two weeks
before the trip. Please keep in mind that this work cannot replicate
the classroom experience. Also, please remember to include the
grade level counselor in the email.
Please note that the classroom learning experience cannot be fully