Kindergarten through fifth grade are foundational years that set the stage for a lifetime of learning, growth, and faith. The environment in which children learn shapes academic progress, social development, spiritual growth, and so much more. In the Lower School at NLA, each student is known, loved, and valued in a Christ-centered community that nurtures both faith and learning. Through a strong partnership between school and home, everything we do is designed to help students discover, develop, and use their God-given potential.
Known. Loved. Valued.
At NLA, we understand that students are uniquely created with different learning styles. Because our class sizes are kept small, we differentiate learning to meet students where they are. Our intimate classroom environment ensures all students are known, loved, and valued.
Christ-Centered Partnership
Biblical principles are integrated into everything we do, strengthening the partnership between home, church, and school. This unified approach helps students build strong character, grow in their faith, and confidently communicate their beliefs in an ever-changing world.
Community & Belonging
Community is an essential part of the Lower School experience. Through annual events, the buddy program, schoolwide assemblies, and traditions such as Spirit Week, we foster meaningful connections among students, families, and staff, strengthening the partnership between school and home and creating a culture of belonging.
Known. Loved. Valued.
Discover how NLA partners with families to ensure every student is known, loved, and valued. Explore the Christ-centered community that helps students and families build lasting friendships, develop strong character, and grow in their faith.
Lower School Programs
Our school day begins at 8:05 AM and ends at 3:00 PM. We also offer before and after-school care to meet your family’s needs!
Morning Care
(before-school care)
Begins at 7:00 AM
Available at no charge
Academy Adventures
(after-school care)
Runs from 3–5:30 PM
An additional fee applies.
We love the atmosphere and connections we’ve made at New Life Academy. Our expectations have been exceeded. We look forward to growing with NLA and sharing it with others.
WHY NLA LOWER SCHOOL?
Known. Loved. Valued.
When students feel known, loved, and valued, they thrive. That’s why relationships are at the heart of the Lower School experience at New Life Academy. Through small class sizes, caring teachers, and a Christ-centered community, we partner with families to ensure every child is supported, encouraged, and challenged to reach their God-given potential.
Faith Formation
Faith formation is woven into every aspect of the NLA Lower School experience. Through biblical instruction, prayer, chapel, and everyday conversations with teachers, students develop a strong foundation of faith and learn how God’s truth applies to their lives. When school, church, and home align, students are equipped to grow in their relationship with Christ and live out their faith with character and confidence.
Community & Belonging
At NLA’s Lower School, community extends beyond the classroom. Students grow in friendships and confidence, while families find meaningful connections, encouragement, and support within a Christ-centered community. Together, we create an environment where children and parents alike experience a genuine sense of belonging.
A Strong Academic Foundation
Our experienced teachers utilize different learning approaches, such as project-based learning, whole and small group instruction, and hands-on learning, to keep lower school students active and engaged. This approach fosters positive attitudes toward learning and peer collaboration. Each day students explore with their senses, ask questions, and make meaningful connections.
At the Lower School level, core skills are developed in:
Differentiated Reading Instruction
In grades K-5, we utilize a differentiated learning model that promotes gradual reading independence. This model has five areas: read to self, work on writing, read to someone, word work, and listen to a reader. Starting in third grade, we use the Accelerated Reader program to promote reading comprehension and reward students for their progress.
Specialist Classes
Lower school students rotate through five special classes weekly: Art, Music, Spanish, P.E., and Makerspace, with all 5th grade students participating in band. Students also visit our Innovation Center weekly to engage in our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program, which encourages creativity, collaboration, innovation, and exploration in learning.
Age-Appropriate Technology Use
We believe face-to-face, collaborative learning is more effective in the early years than screen time. However, as students grow and develop, they are equipped with 21st-century skills and guided to use technology as a tool to empower their learning.
Student Support Services
The Lower School Student Support Services team includes intervention specialists, an enrichment teacher, and a school counselor. The team works collaboratively to address the holistic needs of students.
Intervention Services
The Lower School Intervention Specialists work in collaboration with classroom teachers to identify academic needs for students. These academic intervention services are administered within the regular classroom or in a pull-out setting based on the level of need determined.
At NLA, we support most IEPs that are listed as a Federal Setting 1 (meaning they spend the majority of their day in the general education classroom). Upon applying to NLA, IEPs are reviewed on an individual basis. At this time, NLA is unable to accommodate team-taught classes (a Special Education teacher and a General Education teacher), one-to-one paraprofessional support, high behavioral needs, and high social/emotional needs.
Enrichment Program
To complement our core curriculum, the Enrichment program offers pullout classes to high-achieving students in grades 3-5. Students qualify for Enrichment based on high assessment scores, teacher recommendation, and personal motivation. Students engage in project-based critical thinking skills and activities that stimulate creativity, problem solving, and logical reasoning. The curriculum focuses on content “beyond the core curriculum” and applying knowledge in new contexts.
Counseling Services
The School Counselor supports student mental health and wellbeing and encourages, teaches, and coaches students with social skills and self-regulation. The Counselor designs and delivers school counseling that aligns with the beliefs, vision, and mission of the school, and helps students manage the school day, work through personal and interpersonal challenges, and learn to live in community. The Counselor monitors the emotional climate of the school by visiting classrooms, advocating for students, developing programs to improve mental health, character development, responsible citizenship, and personal safety. When necessary, the counselor may also intervene in a disrupted learning environment. The goal of school counseling is to help students feel and do their best at school so they can be optimally engaged in their learning.
Meet a Teacher
Laurie Dahlen
“I absolutely love teaching. Working with students means that every day is a brand-new experience. I love the energy and excitement my students bring to the classroom each day. I am always looking for new ways to make learning exciting and engaging for them. I don’t ever want to be a boring teacher and do things the same way year after year. I want to continue to learn and grow as an educator so that my last year of teaching is my best year.”
See for Yourself!
Discover a community where students are known, loved, and valued in a Christ-centered environment that partners with families every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQs-
What leadership opportunities can elementary school students participate in?
New Life Academy provides meaningful leadership opportunities for Lower School students, helping them develop confidence, responsibility, and Christ-like character from an early age.
Student Council: Lower School students can run for Student Council positions, where they represent their peers, plan school events, and develop skills in communication and collaboration.
Buddy Program: Upper-grade Lower School students are paired with younger students as buddies, giving them the opportunity to model kindness, patience, and encouragement in a meaningful mentoring role.
Classroom Leadership: Teachers regularly invite students to take on leadership roles in the classroom, such as leading morning routines, helping peers, or managing classroom responsibilities.
Eagles of Excellence Award: Students in grades 4–5 can pursue this recognition, which honors growth in academics, health and fitness, and spiritual development and service. Earning this award reflects a student’s commitment to excellence and leadership in multiple areas of life.
Service Opportunities: Students participate in school-wide service initiatives like food and clothing drives, helping them grow in generosity and servant leadership from a young age.
Learn more about our Lower School program and faith and service opportunities.
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Do students have homework in elementary school?
In Kindergarten and Lower School, homework is kept intentionally light and purposeful. Reading aloud together at home is always encouraged as a meaningful way to build literacy and connection. In the early grades, formal homework is minimal — the focus is on learning through play, hands-on experiences, and classroom instruction. As students move into the upper elementary grades, occasional assignments may reinforce classroom concepts, but we are intentional about honoring family time and avoiding unnecessary stress. Our goal is to ensure that homework, when assigned, is meaningful and manageable. Families are always encouraged to reach out to teachers if they have questions about expectations at their child’s grade level. Learn more about our approach in our Lower School program.
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How do you challenge advanced learners in elementary school?
New Life Academy is committed to meeting every learner where they are, including students who are ready to go deeper and move faster. In Lower School, teachers use differentiated instruction to ensure that advanced learners are consistently challenged and engaged. This includes offering extension activities and enrichment opportunities within the classroom, small-group instruction that allows teachers to work with advanced students at a higher level, access to more complex texts and math problems that match their readiness, and project-based learning and independent inquiry that allow students to explore topics in greater depth. Our Innovation Center and Makerspace also provide rich STEAM challenges that stretch creative and critical thinking for students at every level. Small class sizes allow our teachers to know each student’s strengths and adjust instruction accordingly. We believe every child — including those who are ahead of grade level — deserves to be appropriately challenged and consistently growing. Learn more about our Lower School approach.
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How do you handle discipline and classroom behavior in elementary school?
At New Life Academy, our approach to discipline in Lower School is rooted in a biblical understanding of grace, respect, and responsibility. We believe that children are image-bearers of God who are still growing, and our goal is to teach rather than simply punish. Our teachers establish warm, structured classroom environments where expectations are clear, consistent, and communicated with care. When behavior issues arise, teachers first seek to understand the root cause and respond with empathy and firmness. Common strategies include restorative conversations, natural consequences, and collaborative problem-solving with students and families.
Our school counselor plays an active role in supporting students’ social-emotional development and helps students build self-regulation, conflict resolution, and community-living skills. We partner closely with families, keeping them informed and involved when behavioral concerns arise. Persistent or serious behavioral issues are addressed through a collaborative process involving teachers, administration, and parents to ensure students receive the support and accountability they need to grow. Learn more about our Lower School program and school values.
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What’s your approach to teaching character and values to elementary school students?
At New Life Academy, character and values are not a separate program — they are woven into everything we do in Lower School. Our approach is grounded in Scripture and focused on helping students understand what it means to love God and love others (Mark 12:30–31). Bible classes, daily prayer, Scripture memorization, and worship give students a strong faith foundation. Teachers intentionally model Christ-like character and look for opportunities throughout the school day to reinforce kindness, honesty, perseverance, and respect. We celebrate Christian Character Award recipients who demonstrate these values in meaningful ways. The buddy program pairs older students with younger ones to model mentorship and servant leadership, and school-wide service initiatives help students live out generosity and compassion. Families are seen as partners in this work, reinforcing character at home so that values are lived consistently across every area of a child’s life. Learn more about our Lower School program and faith and service.
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What makes your elementary school different from others in the area?
New Life Academy’s Lower School stands apart because we combine rigorous academics with a deeply Christ-centered community where every child is known, loved, and valued. Small class sizes allow teachers to build meaningful relationships with every student and differentiate instruction to meet individual needs. A rich specialist schedule — including Art, Music, Spanish, Library, PE, and weekly STEAM Makerspace — ensures students grow as whole people, not just academically. Bible is integrated into daily routines, with Scripture memorization, prayer, and character development woven throughout the week. Our buddy program creates mentoring connections across grade levels, and service initiatives teach students to love and serve their neighbors from a young age. We also partner closely with families through regular communication, parent involvement opportunities, and a shared commitment to raising children who love God and are prepared for what comes next. Learn more about our Lower School program.
