Lower School Specials - All Saints - Arizona Elementary Schools

Lower School

Art

The studio-based art program at All Saints' Episcopal Day School encourages students to develop self expression and confidence as they learn to communicate through art. Students acquire a sequential knowledge of the elements and principles of art. Projects within our Phoenix private school art curriculum include drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fiber, and clay. Students create two- and three-dimensional art, and use a variety of tools, including brushes, pen and ink, palette knives, linoleum blocks, wood, chalk, and charcoal. An Art Masterpiece program adds a historical component. In addition to displaying student art around campus, Special Persons Day and the Spring Art Show provide public venues for showcasing student work.

Physical Education

Physical education classes emphasize fitness, basic skill development, sportsmanship, and health. Class activities help in the development of gross motor skills, including coordination, agility, and strength. Students in fourth grade can participate in afterschool intramurals.

Religion

The inclusive Episcopal faith tradition seeks to instill love and respect for everyone. Children in Lower School Religion learn about Christian holidays, and discuss the holidays and festivals of other world religions, including Judaism, the Islamic faith, and the Baha'i faith. Lessons from Bible stories are integrated with the core values of respect and responsibility, with a genuine focus on the Golden Rule and service to others. Religion is taught in a variety of ways using many age-appropriate activities. Students listen, read, create artwork, play games, role play, discuss, and question in an open and accepting atmosphere. Classes in grades Pre-Kindergarten through fourth grade meet in the Lower School once per week, in addition to all school Chapel on Tuesday morning and Morning Prayer on Friday.

Library

The All Saints' Episcopal Day School library program focuses on helping students to develop an appreciation for literature and to learn effective research skills. The weekly library class at our Phoenix private school reinforces curricular goals. Additionally, students meet visiting authors and illustrators, and enjoy literature-themed weeks organized by library staff. The Destiny Research program provides safe and accurate database subscriptions for the use of the All Saints’ community.

Spanish

In pre-kindergarten through grade two, students are exposed to Spanish through songs, movements, games, and art. The curriculum is thematic and closely coordinates with the holidays and units of study being taught in the classroom. Instruction is once a week. Students attend class twice weekly in grades three and four with an emphasis on fostering the children’s confidence in speaking Spanish. Activities include skits, games, songs, dance, art projects and holidays of the Spanish-speaking world. Classroom activities are complemented by the use of a textbook and workbook.

Music

Self expression through music and drama plays an important role in the development of self confidence, creativity, and an overall appreciation of the performing arts. Our Phoenix private school performance-based program provides basic and sequential music theory, develops performance skills, introduces composers and their music, and fosters a love of music. Lower school students learn unpitched percussion instruments, hand bells, and recorders. Students in grades two and three participate in lower school choir, and students in grade four can audition for the Chorister program. There are many opportunities to perform including chapel, Special Persons Day, and as part of plays and musicals presented each spring.

Technology

At All Saints’ Episcopal Day School, technology is seamlessly integrated into the classroom to support student learning, enhance curriculum across disciplines and grade levels, and to provide skills that will benefit the students now and in the future. With the Lower School iPad program, kindergarten through fourth-grade students either share an iPad cart among the grade level (kindergarten through second grade) or are 1:1 (third and fourth grades). With this technology, students are given a choice in how they demonstrate and apply their knowledge, and they are able to build a deeper understanding of the content.

In the Lower School DREAMlab, students let their imaginations, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities soar. Through coding, 3D design, electronics, Legos, robotics, green screen creations and more, students are able to ask their questions, find new answers, and become innovators of tomorrow.

Interested in learning more about our lower school? Schedule a tour of our Phoenix private school campus today.

LS Specials Faculty

List of 9 members.

Ami Beiriger

Director of Athletics, Physical Education Teacher

Joined All Saints' in 1990
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Ami Beiriger received a scholarship to play point guard on the women’s basketball team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree. After college, she explored the business world by managing a Mexican restaurant. In 1985, she moved to Arizona and quickly realized the teaching profession is where she belonged. She has been teaching and coaching for over thirty years. Coach Beiriger has been at All Saints' for twenty-eight of those years and has won three state volleyball titles and thirteen CYAA titles. She was named Coach of the Year in the CYAA and received the Arizona Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Award. In 2002, she was inducted into the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame. However, her biggest accomplishment is as a three-time cancer survivor. She believes it is important to be a good role model for her students. She takes pride in being active and physically fit, so people can see she believes in and lives what she is teaching. An avid bike rider and dog lover, most of her free time is spent riding her bicycle, playing with her five dogs, and just staying active. She believes the most important thing she can teach her students is a love for lifetime wellness.
Joshua Block

General Music Teacher

Joined All Saints' in 2017
Ellen Bond

Art Teacher

Joined All Saints' in 2013
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Ellen Bond began at All Saints' in 2013 as a member of the art department. After briefly leaving in 2018, Ellen return to All Saints' in 2020 as a member of the fourth-grade team. In the fall of 2022, she returned to the art department and currently serves as the art department chair. A native of Phoenix, she attended St. Gregory’s Catholic School and St. Mary’s High School. Ellen received her B.A. from Arizona State University in elementary education. She is certified in elementary education, art education, and English as a Second Language. She enjoys art, sports, jogging, music, and spending time with her family.
Jennifer Donnelly

Librarian

Joined All Saints' in 2021
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Jennifer Donnelly joined the All Saints’ community in 2021 as a first-grade teacher. She has a B.A. in History from Boston College, an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Boston College Lynch School of Education, and an M.A. in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Jennifer has a wide range of teaching experience in the United States and abroad in Spain, Italy, and the Czech Republic. She has taught second, third, and fourth-grade homerooms, first through sixth drama and public speaking, and English as a Foreign Language. In addition, she was the longtime director of an after-school musical theatre workshop program. Jennifer enjoys the arts, hiking, reading, travel, and spending time with family and friends.
Margaret Dunlop

Art Teacher

Joined All Saints' in 2022
Beth Lederman

Spanish Teacher

Joined All Saints' in 2005
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Beth Lederman began her time at All Saints’ as a parent when her daughter was enrolled as a student in kindergarten. In 2005, she joined the music faculty, part-time, teaching music to students in Pre-K and kindergarten and helping with special productions. She became the full-time Spanish teacher for students in lower school in 2008 and the assistant for students in Pre-K for art in 2014. An accomplished pianist, Beth assists with music at the School when needed and is actively involved with the Committee for Inclusion and Multi-Cultural Education. Beth has a B.A. in Music, cum laude, from Arizona State University. She loves to hike, sea kayak, read, travel, and has her own band, Jazz con Alma, which performs valley-wide.
Ashley Mitchell

Physical Education Teacher, Sixth Grade Girls Athletics Coach

Joined All Saints' in 2010
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Ashley Mitchell is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and she graduated from Camelback High School in 2001. She played volleyball for Alcorn State in Mississippi and graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education. Ashley joined All Saints’ in 2010 as a part-time P.E. teacher. The following year she taught P.E. and assisted the kindergarten teachers. Currently, she is teaching P.E. to students in second through eighth grades. Ashley also coaches sixth-grade girls athletics at All Saints’. Ashley likes to play volleyball, hike, read, travel, swim, and do hot yoga.
Mark Wagner

Director of Physical Education, Physical Education Teacher

Joined All Saints' in 1997
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Mark Wagner joined All Saints’ in 1997. He earned a B.A. in Physical Education at the University of Wyoming. Mark teaches kindergarten through eighth grade P.E. as well as serving as the Physical Education Department Chair. Mark’s coaching duties include the varsity boys flag football, basketball, and baseball teams. Mark also enjoys coaching the youth sports teams of his All Saints’ son. Mark loves traveling to his home state of Wyoming during the summer to enjoy the mild weather while golfing, fishing, and visiting family.
Tracey Williams

Design Thinking and Technology Specialist

Joined All Saints' in 2007
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Tracey Williams joined All Saints’ in 2007. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara. In 2002, Tracey earned her M.S. in Education from Bank Street Graduate School in New York City. Before joining the Technology Department, Tracey taught third grade for seven years at All Saints’. She now spends her days teaching technology in the Lower School DREAMlab and helping teachers integrate technology consistently in their classrooms. Tracey enjoys spending time with her family, the outdoors, and visiting her home state of California as much as possible.