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Lower School

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Challenging Every Child

Children in grades 1-4 thrive in an experiential environment designed to leverage their natural curiosity and joy of learning. Empowered problem solvers and collaborators are encouraged to think big, synthesize and test ideas and celebrate the learning process. Academics integrated with movement, fine arts, character- based leadership and faith formation are woven together into a seamless experience of personalized growth.

Experience The Summit

As an independent school, we continue our founding traditions as a Notre Dame community. The heart of our mission is to educate leaders of character who will value and improve the world they inherit. Here in a warm, inclusive culture, every child is known, their God-given talents are valued and relationships flourish.

Academic Excellence

High expectations deliver outstanding results

Spiritual Growth

Inclusive Community Fosters Values and Guides Faith Formation

Leaders of Character

MISSION CHALLENGES ALL TO BE PEACEMAKERS, CHANGEMAKERS

Physical, Social, Emotional Wellness

Vibrant Community of Highly Engaged Students

Summit Signatures

Highly-trained faculty, state-of-the-art resources and innovative curriculum have resulted in distinctive experiences that make The Summit Country Day School's opportunities unique.

All-School Programs

Available in all grades

Character Education

Character Education is the heart of our Notre Dame learning community. It is embedded in everything we do.

Learn More about character education

World Language

We believe that global literacy prepares our students to engage with diverse people from around the world as together they identify and solve 21st century challenges.

Writing

At The Summit, writing is the vehicle through which we transform our world.  We place highly competent teachers with small groups of students, so they receive deep, rich and individualized feedback.

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others.   We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Tailored Instruction

The gift of The Summit education is that we individualize our instruction in ways that challenge students to develop the specific skills they need for success.   

Montessori Signatures

18m - K

Toddler Classroom

We are one of the few schools in Greater Cincinnati that offer a Montessori experience for toddlers 18- to 36 months.

Enrichment

Your child's mind is like a sponge. That's why we start engaging your children in enrichment programs early. We explore everything from inventors to world geography to fine art to the stars.

Orff Music

Children sing, chant, dance, act, move and play percussion instruments in this method for early childhood music education that teaches listening and participation skills.

Character Education

Kindness is the foundation for Character Education in the Montessori School. Children learn how to greet each other and share materials, teachers stress the importance of having a peaceful classroom and to appreciate diversity.

World Language

We begin to introduce World Language at 18 months to capitalize on the elasticity of the developing brain by stimulating the growth of neural connections related to language.

Writing

Writing at The Summit begins in our toddler classrooms where students trace sandpaper letters as they sound out the letters - aah, buh, cuh. Before they move on to first grade, they've written short stories on what it would be like to be an alien. 

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others.   We intentionally teach social skills and at the earliest age provide ample opportunities for students to foster relationships.

Tailored Instruction

The gift of The Summit education is that we individualize our instruction in ways that challenge students to develop the specific skills they need for success.   Under the careful guidance of highly-skilled faculty, our Montessori students engage in work with natural curiosity and self-direction that helps them develop a love of learning.

Lower School Signatures

Grades 1-4

Conceptual Math

Conceptual Math, a way of teaching why math works, was developed right here at The Summit and it exceeds national curriulum standards.

Five Star Reading

When we teach your child to read, we don't focus simply on the words on the page. We make a conscious effort to help your child understand what they are reading.

Garden for the Good

Here in the Garden for the Good, we teach science, nutrition, environmental stewardship, community service and character at the same time.

Student-Led Conferences

Lower School meet annually with their parents and teachers to demonstrate their progress and identify their perceived areas of strength and areas for needed growth.

Character Education Capstones

Capstone projects are the hallmark of the Lower and Middle School Character Education experiences at The Summit. These cross-curricular research projects put character into action on behalf of others.

World Language

We believe that global literacy prepares our students to engage with diverse people from around the world as together they identify and solve 21st century challenges.

Writing

At The Summit, writing is the vehicle through which we transform our world.  We place highly competent teachers with small groups of students, so they receive deep, rich and individualized feedback. 

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others.   We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Tailored Instruction

The gift of The Summit education is that we individualize our instruction in ways that challenge students to develop the specific skills they need for success.   

Middle School Signatures

Grades 5-8

Character Education Capstones

Capstone projects are the hallmark of the Lower and Middle School Character Education experiences at The Summit. These cross-curricular research projects put character into action on behalf of others.

STEM

In our Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program, you can expect your child to be able to solve problems, find and use evidence, collaborate on projects and think critically.

Latin

Our award-winning Latin Program emphasizes academic excellence in the Classics. But our studies go beyond the classroom. We have a reputation as one of the best Latin academic programs in the country.

Band

Our students learn to play their instruments with precision while developing the composure and perseverance needed to perform at high levels.

Advisement

Every adolescent needs a personal champion. Our Advisement program gives our kids that, plus the knowledge that they are not alone in a tightly knit group of peers who are experiencing the same developmental, social, emotional, physical and academic needs.   

World Language

We believe that global literacy prepares our students to engage with diverse people from around the world as together they identify and solve 21st century challenges.

Writing

At The Summit, writing is the vehicle through which we transform our world.  We place highly competent teachers with small groups of students, so they receive deep, rich and individualized feedback. 

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others.   We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Tailored Instruction

The gift of The Summit education is that we individualize our instruction in ways that challenge students to develop the specific skills they need for success.   

Upper School Signatures

Grades 9-12

Science Research Institute

Students in the Schiff Family Science Research Institute engage in real-world research with working scientists, giving them an advantage when they seek competitive college laboratory positions. Some of our students have carried on their research in college, have been published and received patents.

Latin

Our award-winning Latin Program emphasizes academic excellence in the Classics. But our studies go beyond the classroom. We have a reputation as one of the best Latin academic programs in the country.

Chapel Talks

Chapel Talks are the capstone experience of our formal oratory and leadership curricula. The talks are poignant, enlightening and surprising. They reflect the diversity of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds of our student body.

Character Education

Character Education is the heart of our Notre Dame learning community. Our Upper School students reflect on patience, humility, compassion and gratitude in classroom lessons, hands-on service learning, team-building exercises and other experiences.

World Language

We believe that global literacy prepares our students to engage with diverse people from around the world as together they identify and solve 21st century challenges.

Writing

At The Summit, writing is the vehicle through which we transform our world.  We place highly competent teachers with small groups of students, so they receive deep, rich and individualized feedback. 

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others.   We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Tailored Instruction

The gift of The Summit education is that we individualize our instruction in ways that challenge students to develop the specific skills they need for success.   

BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY: SUPERVISED EXTRACURRICULARS

Clubs: Service Club, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cheerleading.
After School Specials: Offered through our Extended Day program, children explore new activities such as yoga, dance, Chinese, chess, Scratch coding, robotics and art.
Homework Start: Certified teachers provide active assistance.
Youth Athletics: The kindergarten to sixth grade athletic program is parent-run and gives students an opportunity to learn about a variety of sports.
Before and after School Care: Available in our Extended Day Center.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Our Exploratarium makerspace bustles with robotics teams, breakout teams collaborating to find answers to social studies clues, iLab experiences in orienteering and Ozobot coding. Students tend to the Garden for the Good, learning about soil composition, companion planting and harvesting the produce they have grown to support local food pantries.

Application Process

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Meet The Teachers

Highly-trained faculty, state-of-the-art resources and innovative curriculum have resulted in distinctive programs that make The Summit Country Day School's opportunities unique.

Julia Almaguer

Julia Almaguer

Math Specialist

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Hilary Carvitti

Hilary Carvitti

Art Teacher

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Donna Doran

Donna Doran

Music Teacher, IGknight Teacher

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Elizabeth Drumm

Elizabeth Drumm

School Counselor

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Colleen Kane

Colleen Kane

Second Grade Teacher

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Michelle Sullivan

Michelle Sullivan

Math Teacher

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