Lower School Grades K-5

Class sizes are intentionally limited for a low student-teacher ratio, enabling teachers to meet the needs of each individual student.

Grades K-2 have an average 9:1 student-teacher ratio (varies by year and class). 
Grades 3-5 have an average 12:1 student-teacher ratio (varies by year and class).

Paraprofessionals assist teachers in all grades. Every classroom in preschool through second grade has full-time paraprofessionals working alongside teachers and students. Grades 3-5 employ a full-time paraprofessional for each grade level. A lower school counselor supports students during classroom guidance lessons, small groups, and individual sessions to foster and encourage social, emotional, academic, and spiritual developmental growth.

Wednesday chapel in lower school is the highlight of the week. Students gather in the Kristi Lynn Theatre for praise and worship led by various musicians, as well as a Bible lesson or word from a special speaker. The entire school participates in all-school chapels, held once per semester.

The annual MPCS Family Serve Day allows lower school students to put servant-leadership into practice with on and off-campus service opportunities. Our lower school students also serve in various ways throughout the year with grade-level projects, food drives, and collections for partner ministries.

Lower School Clubs:

• Afternoon Chorus (Grades 3-4)
• Campus Clean-Up Club (Grades 2-3)
• Eagle Robotics (Grades 3-5)
• Fishing Club (Grades 4-8)
• Homeless Pets Club (Grades K-5)
• Kid Chess Club (Grades K-5)
• K-Kids Service Club (Grades K-5)

Other Opportunities for Community Engagement:

• Murray Arts Academy after-school dance and music lessons
• Grandparents' Day
• Scouts and Girl Scouts
• Visual @rtFest and music performances
• Lower school musical (grades 4-5)
• MPC football Blue & Black Bash pre-game tailgates for all families

In fifth grade, students are offered orchestra, band, or chorus to enrich and expand their exploratory options. Exploration of music is proven to foster cognitive growth. Fourth and fifth-grade students are eligible to audition for the annual lower school musical. Lessons in music and dance are also offered after school through the Murray Arts Academy. And we offer the option for students in grades 2-5 to take dance during the school day as part of P.E.

Fifth-grade students are also eligible for multiple no-cut sports on specific teams, which compete in the Metro 10 league. Third and fourth-grade football and cheer is offered to students and children in the community.

MPCS is pleased to provide an on-site, certified, and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist to serve lower school students with speech needs during the school day. In the areas of articulation, language, voice, and fluency, we evaluate and provide appropriate services to meet the individual communication needs of our students.

Each grade plans curriculum-specific field trips, both on and off campus. Our field trips engage learners with authentic experiences related to what is studied in the classroom. The lower school garden and Bluebird Trail brings science to life.

Unique in-school STEAM and themed experiences take place each semester to add excitement and fun to the instructional process. Events such as Grandparents' Days and Field Days are highlight moments for the students. Fifth-grade enjoys a capstone trip to finish out their lower school years with a culminating learning experience.

MPCS lower school students have the unique opportunity to interact with students in upper grades through school activities, tutoring, classroom mentorships, and athletic events. The 11:1 program in high school allows older students to spend time in classrooms each month to foster those mentor relationships unique to a PK-grade 12 school. Moreover, cross-disciplinary collaboration opportunities enable some lower school grade levels to work directly with upper school classes on special projects.

The Zone After-School Care Program (grades PK-8) is offered every day until 6:00 p.m. Active play and focused, hands-on activities are always taking place in The Zone! There is an additional fee for this service. 

Though school begins promptly at 7:50 a.m. (and 8:35 a.m. on Late-Start Wednesdays), parents may take advantage of Early Care starting at 7:00 a.m. for supervised study halls.

Explore After-School Programs

As a covenantal Christian school, every subject is taught through the lens of biblical truth. Students participate in weekly chapels, daily Bible instruction, and prayer. Monthly Bible verse memorization serves to help children develop study habits while learning to hide God's word in their heart.

Students receive standards-based instruction in Bible, math, language arts (reading, grammar, writing including cursive), science (STEAM), and social studies. The school week includes an exploratory rotation and recess.

Curriculum exceeds all state requirements and prepares students with the qualifications needed for entrance into the MPCS middle school. While MAP testing is administered each semester to assess student progress, it is not the target of instruction. Project-based learning is foundational in our lower school STEAM class.

Students participate in a different exploratory class each day:

• Spanish
• art
• music
• critical thinking/makerspace
• STEAM (science/technology) with Project Lead The Way®
• P.E. and/or recess is offered every day of the week.

Technology is integrated across the curriculum during daily instruction. Students utilize iPads and Chromebooks for specific learning goals.  STEAM exploratory also provides various opportunities to learn simple coding and robotics concepts.  Students in grades 3-5 learn keyboarding skills.

Students have full access to check out books, so they may dive deeper into their learning and nourish their love for reading! Additionally, students participate in the Accelerated Reader Program and engage in Makerspace activities to challenge and inspire their creative thinking. An annual book fair takes place each spring during Grandparents' Days. 

Advanced language arts and math are offered to eligible fifth-graders. 

The ENCORE program is designed to serve qualified gifted students in grades 3-5. This enrichment program was created to challenge, stimulate, and stretch gifted and high-achieving students with a focus on problem-solving, logical thinking, learning at a deeper level, and feeding natural curiosity through in-depth discovery. 

Exceptional Learning

MPCS was founded on the philosophy of working with different types of young learners to provide appropriate challenge and individual success. The Directed Studies program helps students with mild learning differences develop a clear and confident understanding of their God-given gifts (such as dyslexia) so they may pursue their passions and be successful throughout their journey of learning. Explore more about our various exceptional learning opportunities.

Exceptional Learning

In partnership with our preschool, MPCS offers a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. After completion of PreK-4, this program provides an extra year of learning for young five-year-olds or children that may need additional time for developmental or academic growth. To learn more about the TK program, housed in our preschool cottage, click here.

For the fifth year in a row, MPCS faculty have won the "Best Teacher" accolade in the MDJ/Cobb Life Best of Cobb honors. Congratulations to Mrs. Kelly Moss (grade 1), Mr. Kevin Cunane (grade 7), Mrs. Angela Coleman (grade 9), Mrs. Lyn Bennett (TK), Dr. Billy Flood (grades 5-12), Mrs. Leigh Taylor Timmons (K), and Mrs. Maranda Speaks (high school)!

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