Our Lady of Lourdes School | Washington Heights

Liturgical Life
Catholic values are at the core of education at OLL. All students receive Catholic instruction in the classroom and plan and participate in liturgies. We hold mass once a month, as well as special masses that we encourage the parents and community to attend.

We foster a community that embraces different cultures and religions into one family.

Early Childhood Program
OLL offers an excellent full-day Pre-Kindergarten program for ages three and a half and four, and a Kindergarten program for five year olds. The children in these programs are introduced to literacy, math, social studies and science basics in a friendly environment. Lively age appropriate computer programs engage the young students in the learning process. The Early Childhood Program takes place in cheerful classrooms under the supervision of nurturing teachers.

In 2006 and 2007, OLL was one of the few recipients of an Early Childhood Literacy Grant from the Inner-City Scholarship Fund. These grants helped us to buy a variety of books, puzzles, and games to strengthen our Pre-Kindergarten program.

Our Lady of Lourdes School accepts ACD vouchers for Pre-Kindergarten.

Physical Education
We believe Physical Education fosters individual growth in a supportive environment. Athletics teach our children discipline, respect, and awareness of their physical capabilities as individuals and as team members. All students participate in Physical Education twice a week.

Library
Reading and comprehension are a top priority for all students at OLL. To supplement the professional development work of the Cooke Center, we participate in Reading A-Z, a program that helps students choose books based on their ability to read both in school and at home. In addition, all students have library time once a week during which they are either read to or browse the shelves to choose their own books. OLL’s library is generously funded by many donors including the Laura Bush Foundation, The Library Connections program, and student parents. Thanks to them, the OLL library is a warm inviting place directed by our excellent full-time librarian who expertly integrates library learning with all aspects of the curriculum.

Media Center
Our Media Center is equipped with over 25 work-stations with Internet access for the use of our students and faculty. All students are taught computer skills and have weekly periods in the Media Center. In addition, computers are also available in all classrooms.

Science Lab
Our Science Lab is being renovated this summer thanks to donor and grant support. It will enable us to teach important science concepts through hands-on activities and experiments.

Art and Music
Through generous donations, OLL is able to offer Creative Classrooms, a visual arts program, for all grades. Our professionally trained art instructor teaches children to experiment and create in a variety of art-making processes and techniques. Students explore self-expression through the visual arts and gain the skills necessary to communicate their ideas in a variety of art mediums. The students go on participate in field trips to Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art. We also offer Learning to Look that exposes students to art and encourages them to explore their own feelings and narratives in relation to art. The class uses slides, lecture, and monthly demonstrations to explore art with 2nd-4th grade students. The students and teachers then visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the original art work that they have studied.

Music is important to the curriculum at OLL. During music class students are taught the fundamentals of note-reading, tempo, and singing. The OLL Choir has performed at many different events. Most recently they sang at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.

After-School Program
Our Lady of Lourdes School recognizes the challenges faced by working parents. In an attempt to meet their needs we offer an after-school program open to all grades. The program runs Monday – Friday from 2:45PM to 5:30PM. It offers students daily homework tutorial, afternoon snack, arts and crafts, music, dance and play groups.