Lower School Home
Interior Hero
Our Lower School, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, gets students off to a strong start towards being successful in school, in college, and later as global leaders and thinkers by featuring:
- Strong academic foundation in core subjects
- A safe, nurturing community
- Small classes that allow close individual attention
- A child-centered environment which fosters an enthusiasm for learning
- A flexible, inquiry-based curriculum
- Significant hands-on project work
- Art, music, Spanish, science, library, technology, and physical education taught by specialists
![Ringing in the New School Year at the Belltower Ceremony]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1725479616/oregon/efumszfp04eeprbxvgt1/Belltower24thumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1725479616/oregon/efumszfp04eeprbxvgt1/Belltower24thumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1725479616/oregon/efumszfp04eeprbxvgt1/Belltower24thumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1725479616/oregon/efumszfp04eeprbxvgt1/Belltower24thumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1725479616/oregon/efumszfp04eeprbxvgt1/Belltower24thumbnail.jpg","width":1600}])
The whole OES community gathered around the Belltower to celebrate the start of the new school year.
![Campers Enjoy Summer at OES]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1725570847/oregon/ivfgfxjiu5fe6u0pwzkw/SummeratOES2024thumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1725570847/oregon/ivfgfxjiu5fe6u0pwzkw/SummeratOES2024thumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1725570847/oregon/ivfgfxjiu5fe6u0pwzkw/SummeratOES2024thumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1725570847/oregon/ivfgfxjiu5fe6u0pwzkw/SummeratOES2024thumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1725570847/oregon/ivfgfxjiu5fe6u0pwzkw/SummeratOES2024thumbnail.jpg","width":1600}])
Summer at OES was enjoyed by youngsters from OES and throughout our community.
![Head of School Shares the Importance of Civil Discourse]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1715893174/oregon/wo3vlr2lkkoznpetb9pg/Michael-Spring-main-story-1600-1200.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1715893174/oregon/wo3vlr2lkkoznpetb9pg/Michael-Spring-main-story-1600-1200.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1715893174/oregon/wo3vlr2lkkoznpetb9pg/Michael-Spring-main-story-1600-1200.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1715893174/oregon/wo3vlr2lkkoznpetb9pg/Michael-Spring-main-story-1600-1200.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1715893174/oregon/wo3vlr2lkkoznpetb9pg/Michael-Spring-main-story-1600-1200.jpg","width":1600}])
Rev. Spencer recently published an article entilted: The Purpose of School: Sustaining Democracy and Cultivating Humanity for the NAIS “Independent Ideas Blog,” where he reflects on the need to cultivate teachers as leaders in the civil discourse needed to uphold democracy.
![Fifth Graders Become Middle Schoolers]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1718320730/oregon/lj6yw9l8xi17zrbzfslq/5th-grade-promotion-2024-2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1718320730/oregon/lj6yw9l8xi17zrbzfslq/5th-grade-promotion-2024-2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1718320730/oregon/lj6yw9l8xi17zrbzfslq/5th-grade-promotion-2024-2.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1718320730/oregon/lj6yw9l8xi17zrbzfslq/5th-grade-promotion-2024-2.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1718320730/oregon/lj6yw9l8xi17zrbzfslq/5th-grade-promotion-2024-2.jpg","width":1600}])
The class of 2031 was promoted to the Middle School on June 13.
![Second Graders Share Their Cultures]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717627548/oregon/csoi6hoinxwplwcjauwa/Thumbnailforculturalcelebration.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717627548/oregon/csoi6hoinxwplwcjauwa/Thumbnailforculturalcelebration.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1717627548/oregon/csoi6hoinxwplwcjauwa/Thumbnailforculturalcelebration.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1717627548/oregon/csoi6hoinxwplwcjauwa/Thumbnailforculturalcelebration.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717627548/oregon/csoi6hoinxwplwcjauwa/Thumbnailforculturalcelebration.jpg","width":1600}])
Students celebrated learning about diversity around the world.
![Focus on Commitment: Fifth Graders Create Welcome Projects]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717105014/oregon/c16g63nflmo5fd1boemd/Welcomethumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717105014/oregon/c16g63nflmo5fd1boemd/Welcomethumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1717105014/oregon/c16g63nflmo5fd1boemd/Welcomethumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1717105014/oregon/c16g63nflmo5fd1boemd/Welcomethumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717105014/oregon/c16g63nflmo5fd1boemd/Welcomethumbnail.jpg","width":1600}])
Students are welcoming refugees to the Portland area with creative actions during the Season of Commitment.
![Upper and Lower School Students Share Their Insights Into Refugee Lives]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717093175/oregon/tkhkjmtwqjice4t6kwh2/ThumbnailRefugeeClass.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717093175/oregon/tkhkjmtwqjice4t6kwh2/ThumbnailRefugeeClass.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1717093175/oregon/tkhkjmtwqjice4t6kwh2/ThumbnailRefugeeClass.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1717093175/oregon/tkhkjmtwqjice4t6kwh2/ThumbnailRefugeeClass.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717093175/oregon/tkhkjmtwqjice4t6kwh2/ThumbnailRefugeeClass.png","width":1600}])
Fifth and ninth grade students talked about what they’ve discovered from books they are reading about refugees.
![Young Aardvarks Explore New Interests on Discovery Day]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1716495986/oregon/hkmhkznofkuylzj2asge/DiscoveryDaythumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1716495986/oregon/hkmhkznofkuylzj2asge/DiscoveryDaythumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1716495986/oregon/hkmhkznofkuylzj2asge/DiscoveryDaythumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1716495986/oregon/hkmhkznofkuylzj2asge/DiscoveryDaythumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1716495986/oregon/hkmhkznofkuylzj2asge/DiscoveryDaythumbnail.jpg","width":1600}])
Students enjoyed a variety of hands-on activities during Discovery Day.
![Kindergarteners Put Their Learning on Display at Annual Celebration]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1715897348/oregon/itkvgqg0nvnxtqdxmi3a/Learningcelebrationthumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1715897348/oregon/itkvgqg0nvnxtqdxmi3a/Learningcelebrationthumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1715897348/oregon/itkvgqg0nvnxtqdxmi3a/Learningcelebrationthumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1715897348/oregon/itkvgqg0nvnxtqdxmi3a/Learningcelebrationthumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1715897348/oregon/itkvgqg0nvnxtqdxmi3a/Learningcelebrationthumbnail.jpg","width":1600}])
The children shared their work with their parents, much to everyone’s delight.
![Tibetan Monks Share Their Wisdom with OES]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1715279956/oregon/koebgpr2jcypobdg6mno/Monksthumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1715279956/oregon/koebgpr2jcypobdg6mno/Monksthumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1715279956/oregon/koebgpr2jcypobdg6mno/Monksthumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1715279956/oregon/koebgpr2jcypobdg6mno/Monksthumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1715279956/oregon/koebgpr2jcypobdg6mno/Monksthumbnail.jpg","width":1600}])
The Tibetan Buddhist Monks left a lasting impression on all who met them during their visit.