Welcome Letter

From the Head of the Primary School

Welcome to the Holland Hall Mary K. Chapman Primary School.  Our students begin their educational journey in the preschool three-year-old program and continue through the third grade.  We have designed an academically rigorous curriculum while being mindful of the age-appropriate skill levels of our learners, the children’s interests, and their maturation rates.  Each learning environment is a busy active place with students using all learning modalities at some point during the day’s lessons.  Learning occurs both indoors and outdoors as classroom activities are enriched with the accessibility to our one hundred sixty-two acre campus.  Innovative classroom instruction based on brain research and child development includes hands-on learning experiences, stimulating class discussion, partner and small group projects, and interesting off-site field trips that challenge our students to stretch their understanding and gradually become more independent learners.

Character education and the development of personal values enhance our children’s educational experience and their sense of emotional safety in our community.  We live by four important words in the Primary School – friendly, helpful, respectful, and responsible.  These values are instilled and reinforced as our students go about their daily learning.  We acknowledge and honor when a child is demonstrating them in our classrooms and during weekly community meetings for kindergarten through third grade.  We solve problems and resolve conflicts by basing our decisions and future actions upon them.  Close personal relationships with the adults in their academic community foster a trusting environment where students take risks and view mistakes as learning opportunities.

Physical education classes and in-depth opportunities to develop musical and visual artistry and appreciation are important parts of a Holland Hall education beginning in these early grades.  Imagine daily PE, a weekly alternation of art and music classes, and the learning that takes place when exploring and exercising our imaginations while playing on each grade’s age appropriate outdoor playground.  All are an integral part of a Holland Hall Primary School education.  We invite you to make an appointment to come visit and see us in action.

Jo-An Vargo
Head of the Primary School