Lower School
We know Lower School girls. And they ENERGIZE us.
At Agnes Irwin, the very youngest among us gain a sense of belonging from day one, surrounded by a nurturing community and engaged in a balanced curriculum that adapts to each girl and her unique skills and personality. In our Lower School, students’ academic, social and emotional identities begin to take shape, and girls emerge joyful, curious, and fearless!
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The Agnes Irwin Lower School is an incredibly joyful place. We are not about marching through content. Our girls are building a foundation of critical skills to ready them for the Middle School. We’re cultivating a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and purpose.
– Melanie Slezak, Director of Lower School
Leadership in the Lower School
Our proprietary Leadership Toolkit is a physical toolbox focusing on nine key attributes of a modern leader, making abstract concepts tangible for young learners.
- Responsibility: “I know what to do and I do it.”
- Honesty: “I am truthful to myself and others.”
- Communication/Listening: “I listen and speak to others thoughtfully.”
- Reflective Thinking: “I think about what I’ve done and learn a lesson from it. I think about what I’m going to do and make a good choice.”
- Problem Solving: “When I don’t know what to do, I figure it out.”
- Collaboration/Cooperation: “I work well with others to get something done.”
- Kindness: “I care about others.”
- Independent Mindedness: “I think and act for myself. I’m not afraid to be different.”
- Resilience: “When things don’t go my way, I bounce back.”.
Lower School Programs
Our research-based Lower School curriculum (Pre-K to Grade 4) balances rigorous academics with a strong focus on wellness, helping girls thrive in daily math and language arts, as well as in science, STEAM labs, art, music, and P.E.
Core Programming
Math, Literacy, Social Studies, Science, Co-curricular (Art, Music, PE, Spanish, Library) "Let's Care" (Social Emotional Learning)
iWonder STEAM Lab
In our iWonder Lab, girls explore design thinking, engineering, and hands-on problem-solving through activities with robotics, circuitry kits, and creative materials. From an early age, students build critical thinking, collaboration skills, and a lifelong enthusiasm for STEM.
Signature Programs
- PreK: Spark of Genius Showcase
- Kindergarten: Invention Convention
- First Grade: Author’s Tea
Second Grade: Thanksgiving Balloon Parade - Third Grade: Maker’s Fair
- Fourth Grade: Interdisciplinary Showcase of Learning about the American Revolution
Before & After School Care
Early morning drop-off for the Lower School starts at 7:30 a.m. After Session runs from dismissal - 6:00 p.m. Led by a faculty member, the program includes homework time, supervised activities, free play, and a snack. Financial assistance is available for families receiving tuition assistance.
An Agnes Irwin Lower School foundation
sets girls up for future success
40%
of AIS graduates who started in Lower School went on to Top 25-ranked colleges, compared to 1.75% nationally
57%
of AIS graduates who started in Lower School went on to Top 50-ranked colleges, compared to 6.65% nationally
56%
of AIS students inducted into the national Cum Laude Society started their Irwin’s journey in our Lower School
Lower School Life
Lower School at AIS is about more than just academics — our traditions and milestones create memories that last a lifetime. Discover more here.
Outdoor Classroom Exploration
At Kirk’s Run, students participate in a year-long exploration of a living ecosystem. By observing seasonal plant growth, changes in the creek, and the animals that inhabit it, the girls learn science through direct experience. Catch-and-release investigations emphasize respect for wildlife and the importance of environmental stewardship. It also helps students build curiosity, care, and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
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Early Childhood at The Agnes Irwin School
The Power of Play
At The Agnes Irwin School, play is vital to our PreK and Kindergarten experience. In our all-girls environment, we nurture confidence, curiosity, and collaboration from day one. Research confirms that purposeful, interactive play fuels cognitive development, social-emotional growth, and long-term academic success. At AIS, students benefit from a balanced approach that blends teacher-guided academics with meaningful, structured, and unstructured play. Our teachers thoughtfully observe, question, and guide, helping girls deepen their learning, develop leadership and problem-solving skills, and build strong social connections. Whether constructing block towers, painting, exploring nature, or reading together, our students grow their critical thinking and expand their vocabulary — all through the joyful power of play.
Meet Our Lower School Director
Melanie Slezak
Lower School Director
Melanie Slezak has called Agnes Irwin home for 39 years and considers her work her “calling.” A dedicated educator and leader, Melanie has shaped the Lower School both inside and beyond the classroom. She is a key contributor to Agnes Irwin’s own Living Leadership initiative and Agnes Irwn’s Leadership Toolkit. Before stepping into her current role, Melanie served as a dedicated Kindergarten teacher and then as Lower School Dean, building strong connections among students, teachers, and leadership. She holds both her B.S. in Early Childhood Education and M.Ed. from the University of Delaware. A proud mom of two (including an AIS alumna, Class of 2011), Melanie is also a devoted animal lover, enthusiastic gardener, avid reader, and enjoys long walks. She finds reasons for gratitude every day.
The Agnes Irwin Lower School is an incredibly joyful place. We are not about marching through content. Our girls are building a foundation of critical skills to ready them for the Middle School. We’re cultivating a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and purpose.
- Melanie Slezak