Academics

Lower School

A Lower School With a Higher Purpose

The early years of a child’s education are critical to establishing a strong foundation on which all other learning is built. That is why Norfolk Collegiate's lower school offers the perfect blend of comfort and challenge for students in pre-Kindergarten 3 through Grade 5. Through purposeful play and innovative activities, our students question, explore, think and solve problems while having a lot of fun!

We also understand every child learns differently, and success comes in many forms as your child grows and develops, so we work hard to unlock the full potential in each student. We lay the foundation for academic success by maximizing your child's potential, curiosity and enthusiasm through our challenging student-centered programs. For Norfolk Collegiate's smallest Oaks, we explore proven, technologically advanced ways of teaching through age-appropriate applications. Our instruction centers on each student as an individual with distinct interests, skills and varied paths to success.

We focus on the whole child at Norfolk Collegiate. Our children spend their days being nurtured in a caring community by adults who truly know each child as an individual. Children learn in varied ways and at different rates, so our teachers meet them on their respective developmental levels. To assure each child's progress, we use multiple instructional methods, regularly asses and adjust skill levels or groupings, and differentiate assignments in math, reading and spelling. We empower students to learn in ways suited to their unique learning styles, thus deepening their skills and love of learning, while striving for a future of high achievement.

Additionally, we teach students to honor, respect and love one another, while also leading them to be compassionate, responsible members of the school and the greater community. We create opportunities throughout the year for our younger students to work with their peers and our middle and upper school students through learning opportunities and school events.

We partner with our parents to ensure that each student is getting a great education and an even better experience.

Lower School Administration

List of 4 members.

  • Photo of Catherine Thomson

    Dr. Catherine Thomson 

    Head of Lower School
  • Photo of Katherine Garris

    Mrs. Katherine Garris 

    Lower School Dean of Students
  • Photo of Deb Kraus

    Mrs. Deb Kraus 

    Lower School Administrative Assistant
    Old Dominion - Bachelor of Science
  • Photo of Pannill Titus

    Mrs. Pannill Titus 

    Lower and Middle School Counselor

Middle/Upper School Campus

Lower School Campus