Going to Kindergarten is a big deal! Remember when you were little and how you felt anticipating that big step? A combination of apprehension and excitement. At Lesley Ellis, we try to help our rising Kindergartners (and their parents!) with this transition by offering...

Thursday, January 19 at 7 p.m. join us for our Parent Education Series on communicating across cultures.  

Our concert for young children and families on Saturday was a huge hit among the more than 75 attendees. Families warmed up with the musical beats of popular musician, Alastair Moock. Alastair is a 2013 GRAMMY Nominee, three-time Parents’ Choice Gold Medal Winner, and...

Join us for our upcoming open house!

Join us on Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. for our middle school open house.

Join us for our fall open house this Sunday from 1 - 3 p.m. Tour the school, meet the teachers, and chat with other parents.

Fall is in the air, crunchy colorful leaves are on the ground, apples and cinnamon are simmering on the stove, and it is time to pick out your pumpkins! Are you ready for some Lesley Ellis pumpkin fun? Carve a pumpkin with Bobby and...

It's been years, literally, since the Lesley Ellis community has been able to gather in person. This morning was the first time since 2019 that our monthly assembly has been in person. Parents, caregivers, students, and faculty all met in the gym to hear...

The summer days are waning and there's a palpable shift in the air. School is just around the corner and Lesley Ellis faculty and staff are already hard at work preparing to welcome students and families for another (mostly...?!) pandemic free school year. Classrooms...

Interested in learning more about Lesley Ellis? Come to our Welcome Wednesday Open House on October 19 at 9:00 a.m. Meet our teachers, visit the classrooms, and get to know our unique learning community.

Join us on Mondays for our Little Learners Series. Aimed at our youngest learners, the Little Learners Series is an opportunity for children and parents to experience the special learning community that is Lesley Ellis. We hope to see you there!  

On the heels of the outstanding musical performances of our middle school students, get ready to hear from our elementary students. Mark your calendars and get ready to join us in person to celebrate the sounds of our elementary classes.  

Join other Lesley Ellis families as part of our annual Community Cooks event. Help the community at large by preparing a meal and dropping it off at school. Sign up below and help make a difference in our community at large. March 18th 8-...

Join us for our upcoming Welcome Wednesday Open House. Click here to register.    

The Sounds of Music In the wake of the pandemic, Julie Andrews might well have changed the words to her iconic song to "The school(s) are alive with the sound of music." Once again, the hallways and auditorium at Lesley Ellis are filled with...

With temperatures near 60 on Saturday, the atmosphere was perfect for the Lesley Ellis Mystery Book Swap. Many families turned out to select new, mysterious additions for their book shelves. Prior to Saturday, students found new or gently used books at their homes, wrapped...

Join us for an interactive and engaging talk by Jennifer Dirga on February 7 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Jennifer will present and answer questions. You may submit questions ahead of time via email. This is a free program and we look forward to...

Purple Room students at Lesley Ellis are learning flexible thinking. Guided by their teachers, they are discovering ways to look at the world that allow them to be empathetic, tolerant, and curious. Learn more about the award winning anti-bias curriculum at Lesley Ellis School....

It's baaaaack! Cabin Fever 2022! Are you restless? Ready for some fun? We've got the answer. Spirit Week at Lesley Ellis begins next week. Join in the fun and help us stamp out cabin fever! Monday is Pajama Day! It’s Monday morning. We’ll ease...

Had you been inside school yesterday you may have thought you walked into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Heads poked out of classrooms, noses sniffing the unmistakable sweet scent that was wafting through the hallways. Chocolate. It's one of the most highly anticipated middle school...

Join us for an informative and interactive presentation about healthy internet usage by our children. Internet safety expert Doug Fodeman will share his knowledge and answer your questions. Joins us. Bring a friend or neighbor. This is a free program.

Join us on Wednesday, December 8, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. via Zoom for a virtual open house. Whether you're looking at our early childhood, elementary, or middle school program we'd love to see you on Zoom! You'll take a virtual tour, meet the teachers,...

Register here  to join us for one of our Little Learners Series events. We look forward to seeing you and introducing you to our community. We will be outside weather permitting. If we can't be outside we will hold the Little Learners Series via...

Bikes, scooters, cars, carriages, dad's shoulders, or walking shoes. No matter how you chose to arrive at Lesley Ellis for the first day of school today, you were greeted with the same excitement and palpable anticipation. The perfect weather only added to the happiness...

At Lesley Ellis we have always known that a robust STEAM curriculum is an essential tool in educating tomorrow’s leaders. Science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics create critical thinkers and enable the next generation of innovators. Participating in our local annual Lesley Ellis Middle...

Lesley Ellis Librarian Margaret Muirhead’s picture book, FLIP! How the Frisbee Took Flight has been published! In support and celebration of her new book, the Lesley Ellis community got together through the magic of video and had an epic Frisbee toss. Check out the...

Twelve 5th grade students accepted the challenge of participating in the optional 5th Grade Science Fair this year. Starting the week before February vacation, students brainstormed questions of interest to test and then through conferencing with their science teacher, Max Utter, chose one of...

Head of School Deanne Benson put it well when she said, "What a party. What a night. We'll never forget this." She was referring to the annual auction that was held Saturday, April 10. The online event was attended by more than 300 participants...

In the wake of the shootings in Atlanta this week, we at Lesley Ellis School and Schools for Children, join the many other organizations that are expressing their sympathy for the victims, their outrage and, as educators, their responsibility to address the root causes...

Lesley Ellis School is participating in a very special virtual event and you’re invited to participate. On Wednesday, March 3 at 5 p.m., a special webinar talk will be held featuring New York Times best-selling author Ibram X. Kendi.  His talk, titled, Go Beyond...

It's January. It's cold. The pandemic is still on. And we're in the throes of an unprecedented second impeachment. We need something warm and comforting. Soup and sandwiches to the rescue! Thanks to Liam Nolan (Kindergarten teacher) and Sarah West (Grade 5 teacher) who...

At this time in our nation's history it's more important than ever that our children learn how to think critically and compassionately. The LES anti-bias curriculum is the compass that guides our community. Through our comprehensive, school-wide approach, students learn about themselves and those...

Join us at our virtual Middle School Open House on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. You'll have a chance to learn about the middle school curriculum, meet and talk with the middle school director, and connect with other middle school faculty. We hope...

Join us at our virtual Early Childhood Open House on Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m. You'll have a chance to learn about our curriculum, chat with the early childhood director, and meet other early childhood faculty. We hope to see you there! To...

The orange doors are open and once again children are back in our classrooms. More than 200 students are part of the Lesley Ellis community this year. Each morning, families arrive, check in, and students make their way safely to their classrooms where teachers...

Join us virtually for one of our Little Learners Series on the first Thursday of every month. This series is for parents and children ages 2 - 5. There will be stories, songs, and a variety of fun, educational activities. Invite a friend or...

Teachers have been working hard organizing their rooms and preparing to welcome students back to Lesley Ellis beginning Wednesday, September 9th. It will be good to have students back in the hallways and classrooms. And despite the changes in protocol due to COVID, the...

Summer is winding down and parents and students are beginning to look ahead to the upcoming school year. We have been hard at work all summer on our reopening plan for the fall. School will undoubtedly look and feel a bit different but the...

On Tuesday, July 21 at 7 p.m., Lesley Ellis School will hold an open to the public Zoom talk about how to speak to your children about race. We'd love to have you join us! See the invitation below and email Tricia Moran (tmoran@lesleyellis.org)...

The Lesley Ellis Summer Program is online this summer. Check out the offerings on our Summer Program page on the website and sign up today. There's something for everyone!

In a recent Deanne's Notebook, Head of School Deanne Benson recently shared her thoughts about racism in our country. The following is an excerpt. "As a white person, I wear my white privilege every day. My experiences are not those of my black friends....

Join us for a fun online auction to support Lesley Ellis! We hope to see you there. Watch your email for upcoming information and how to join us via Zoom.

Feeling a little restless? Looking for something fun and different to do? Join us for this self-directed, stay in your car scavenger hunt! Click the "read more" button below to get all of the details and clues about this fun for the whole family...

What can happen over 3 days and 19 hours of online Zoom meetings? The annual Lesley Ellis Science Fair! Despite the new model of teaching and learning that we’re all subject to these days, our intrepid scientists could not be deterred. With the guidance...

It's the final installment of our Lesley Ellis LIve! series. This time featuring music teacher Rob Lesley. Join us by emailing admission director, Tricia Moran: tmoran@lesleyellis.org.  

It's an extraordinary time. We're all learning new ways of living, working, and interacting with one another. First responders and health care workers are on the front lines when it comes to battling COVID19. It's been well documented that supplies for health care workers...

It's been a tradition for several years. And it continues this year, even though we are remote learning. Cabin Fever week festivities are happening virtually. Students, faculty, staff, and even parents are participating in the fun. Each day features a different sartorial theme. Check...

Preschoolers and Electricity. Doesn’t sound like the best combination, right But at Lesley Ellis the study of circuitry is not only educational but fun….and safe! Wondrous phrases such as, “On, off, on off” or “ "Touching the motor makes my finger dizzy!" or “Put...

Do you have a little one who is about ready to start Kindergarten? Do you have questions about Kindergarten programs and what environment is best for your child? On February 4 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lesley Ellis School, get all of your...

What is Gaga? Is it the feeling you have when you see your beloved? The sound a newborn makes? Or maybe it's how you feel when you first smell and then taste a warm chocolate chip cookie. Gaga is all of those things. But...

Whether you choose to call more than one octopi or octopuses (both are accepted!), when combined with an energetic preschool class, adept teachers, and dedicated parents, the result is a memorable learning experience. One of the students in preschool this year has been captivated...

Did you hear? Green Week is happening at LES the week of November 18th. During this week we are encouraging every family to make a small commitment to do something greener in their lives. During Green Week, stop by the table in the front...

It was a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon and the hallways and classrooms at Lesley Ellis were filled with kids and parents. Faculty and staff were also at school to welcome the more than 40 families who stopped by the fall open house. Fall is...

What do Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall, John James Audubon, and Rachel Carson all have in common? According to Howard Gardner, the famed Harvard education researcher, they all had an especially high naturalist intelligence. According to Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, students with a high naturalist...

We hope you'll join us at  our upcoming open house Wednesday, December 11, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Join us for this open house during the school day for parents of prospective students in preschool through grade eight. Visitors may stop by for a tour...

Getting to Lesley Ellis is now easier than ever! We offer a morning bus service with a route through Cambridge and Somerville, convenient to surrounding towns and the T. Centralized community pick-up locations allow for efficient and time-saving transportation right to our front door....

Feet in the hallways. Laughter on the playground. Bouncing balls in the gym. The gentle sound of the piano drifting up from the music room. These are all signs that school is back in session. Smiling and (mostly!) eager students and families arrived bright...

The tent was up, the rain abated just in time (thanks to a shift in the timing of graduation!), and sixteen graduates of the Class of 2019 proudly took the stage to be recognized for their achievements. Family and friends gathered to hear faculty...

On June 4th, the Washington Post published an article about transitional kindergarten and featured Lesley Ellis. The transitional kindergarten program (TK) at Lesley Ellis is one of its defining programs. Very few schools in New England offer such a program, aimed at young 5...

The gym was silent this morning. Wide eyed preschoolers and Kindergartners sat in rap attention. Unfolding before them was a fairy tale come to life in the most enchanting way. Puppets danced, played instruments, juggled, transformed, and even flew through the air, all set...

Congratulations to all of our eighth graders who took the National Spanish Exam this year. Nine of them received awards ranging from honorable mention up through a gold medal, achieved by Miriam Stodolsky. “Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the...

The cheers from spectators and the bright colors of the runners, helped to warm the spirits if not the actual bodies of all of those who turned out for the annual 5K Cause and Event road race in Arlington yesterday. Despite the rain, wind...

It’s been quite a spring for many of our middle schoolers as they participated in three different academic competitions: the Noetic Learning Math Contest, the National Spanish Examination, and the regional Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair! The Noetic Learning Math Contest is conducted biannually...

It's an annual tradition at Lesley Ellis. Highly anticipated every year. It's the gently used clothing sale. Join us tomorrow, Saturday, April 27, from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Lesley Ellis gym. Browse the huge selection of clothes, including shoes, from toddler...

The annual spring musical by grades 1 and 2 was held today and it didn't disappoint. The gym was transformed into a jungle and a variety of wild (but friendly!) animals were on the stage. They sang and danced and displayed mighty stage presence!...

Spring Fever Week at Lesley Ellis concluded on Friday with an exuberant display of Lesley Ellis spirit. Spiritwear Day featured students and faculty (and even some parents!) in a wide variety of colorful Lesley Ellis clothing. Thanks to everyone who participated in Spring Fever...

If you haven't had a chance to check out the beautiful pinch pots that the grade 1 and 2 students created, take a walk through the hallway near the Crosby Field doorway. They're on display and are a beautiful example of the boundless creativity...

Ever have one of those days that starts off on the wrong foot? Where everything goes wrong? Today was one of those days at Lesley Ellis. Everyone had their clothes on backwards! As part of Spring Fever Week, today was Backwards Day and students,...

The freedom that faculty have at Lesley Ellis to develop creative assignments results in engaged students who are more likely to remember what they're learning. At every level, the professional expertise of teachers is expressed in myriad different ways. One such inspired assignment occurs...

Remember when clothes were just clothes? When the most exciting element to a piece of clothing was a wild pattern or an unusual color? Now clothes have become creative, organic billboards. Whether it's a designers name, the name and logo of sports teams, social...

It was as if a Dr. Seuss book had come alive. The striped outfits donned by students, faculty, and parents today were fanciful and imaginative. Pants, shirts, hats, sock, and even backpacks all had stripes. Fat stripes. Thin stripes. Different colored stripes. Creativity was...

April 1 is a day for kids. It’s also a day for adults who are kids at heart. April 1 is April Fool’s Day. Whatever silliness you may have been the subject of or subjected others to, nothing compares to the deliciousness that marked...

Join us for an engaging and interactive talk about early childhood education and the benefits of transitional kindergarten. The program will be held Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Lesley Ellis and is free and open to the public.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. take a virtual tour of Lesley Ellis School, meet with members of the Lesley Ellis community, and find out more about our programs, curriculum, and community. To participate, email admission director Tricia Moran...

Mark your calendars and join the Lesley Ellis community on Sunday, May 12th at 8:00 a.m. to walk or run the Cause and Event Boston 5K right here in Arlington! It's a great event for the entire family and at least half of the...

A recent New York Times article reminds us of the importance of the arts. For educators, this comes as no surprise. And at a school like Lesley Ellis, the article highlights a long held foundational educational philosophy -- that the arts are integral to the academic...

Come One, Come All! Once again, the thespians of grades 5 and 6 are about to entertain the Lesley Ellis community with their highly anticipated annual original musical. On Wednesday, March 13, two performances of The Curious Case of Oliver Chase will be held in...

Love is in the air and on the internet. For the second year in a row, Lesley Ellis has been voted the most loved independent school in the Boston area. Thanks to all the friends of Lesley Ellis who voted over the last few...

And they're off! More than 40 students are participating in the ski club this year and today, as light snow fell in the morning, students and parents staged their alpine gear in the hallways of Lesley Ellis. Brightly colored skis, boots, poles, hats, and...

Learning about American history. To many students, it may seem like a slog. Positively ancient events with little relevance to their lives. At Lesley Ellis School, history is contextualized and the process is, dare we say, fun. Just ask the third and fourth graders...

At the recent (November 13 -17) National Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference in Washington DC, which brings together early childhood educators from all over the country and world, one of the pre-conference all day workshops was “Making, Tinkering, and Engineering...

#GivingTuesday is a global movement that brings philanthropy to the forefront in communities big and small. This year, we hope you will generously contribute to Lesley Ellis Annual Giving to mark #GivingTuesday! To celebrate this day, we've created a video asking our community one...

Lesley Ellis is a very special community. From the moment you enter our orange doors, you'll feel something special in the air. Whether it’s the sound of singing in our music room, a spirited game out on the field, or a warm “hello!” in the...