Elementary School Highlights
December 12, 2005
Curriculum Activity Highlights
"Literacy" remains a focus for the students and staff at Seward Elementary. We are committed to being a "school of readers" with all students reading at the proficient level. Since the 2001-2002 school year, the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill reading series has been used for the reading instruction in grades one through four. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, the kindergarten component of the reading series will be implemented as well. The series is designed to meet individual student needs based on an integrated approach. The subjects of reading, phonics, language, and spelling are incorporated within the series. This integrated approach establishes meaning with the reading material and the study of the skills necessary for effective reading.
The literacy committee continues to serve our school in an advisory capacity. As its name implies, the committee is dedicated to the literacy efforts of our school. The committee is composed of one teacher from each grade level, the special areas of resource and Title I, and the principal.
Seward Elementary maintains a Title I reading program that relies upon the collaboration between the classroom teachers and the Title I teacher. The Title I teacher reinforces skills and concepts taught in the regular classroom. The Title I program is a supplemental pull-out program that does not replace the regular classroom reading and writing instruction.
The math program, Everyday Mathematics, continues to be highly successful. This non-traditional series relies upon verbal interactions, the extensive use of manipulatives, and the on-going use and development of problem solving skills to meet the established outcomes of the math curriculum that has been aligned to the state standards. The home/school connection remains an essential part of the math program as well. Parents and students have the opportunity to work together on a math concept through Home Link activities.
A number of other curriculum enrichment activities were scheduled throughout the 2004-2005 school year:
- Famous authors visited our school during the Plum Creek Literacy Festival.
- Red Ribbon Week was celebrated during October to emphasize the importance of a drug-free lifestyle for students.
- The Senior High School Key Club sponsored a multi-cultural fair for all elementary students.
- Preschool, kindergarten, and first grade students visited the FFA petting zoo at Seward High School.
- "Hitting the Literacy Trail" was the 2004 - 2005 school-wide theme selected to further promote reaching achievement and literacy throughout the school. An indoor rodeo was held in May to celebrate student achievement and success!
- A "Good Touch, Bad Touch, Secret Touch" program was presented to all first grade students in an effort to teach them to be assertive and independent regarding someone who may want to hurt them.
- The Character Counts program continued to highlight the importance of building good character traits --- trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
- A Character Counts Council was a first for the elementary! The purpose of the council is to help promote positive leadership skills and the six pillars of character in our classrooms, school, and community. The Character Counts Council consisted of 2 students from each 4th grade classroom and 1 student from each third grade classroom. Fourth grade teacher, Amanda Reinert, served as the Character Counts Council advisor. The Character Counts Council had a busy year by sponsoring many worthwhile school and community activities!
- 'Friday Friends' is a school-wide reading activity to further support the school's literacy efforts. Each student is paired with another student from a different classroom and/grade level to read together for a small amount of time. This activity is scheduled on the last Friday of each moth.
Parental Involvement
- The Seward Elementary PTO sponsored a very successful Club's Choice food products fundraising event in November.
- The PTO sponsored the annual Fun Fair in April.
- The PTO volunteers assisted with the annual health screenings and provided evening meals for the elementary teaching staff during the parent/teacher conferences.
- The PTO sponsored the Scholastic Book Fair in October.
- Many parents and other adults volunteer their time and assistance in the elementary classrooms.
- Parents were trained and assisted with the implementation of the reading interventions, Stepping Stones and Sound Partners, for students who were identified as needing extra reading support.
Student Events
- Each grade level presented a musical performance.
- Kindergarten 'graduation' was held in May.
- Elementary students participated in two competitive events: the Seward County Spelling Contest and the Seward County Reading classic.
- Each grade level held parent meetings at the beginning of the 2004 --2005 school year.
- Seward Elementary honored Seward County veterans with a Veteran's Day program.
- The FCCLA sponsored a 'lunch buddy' program for first grade students. High school FCCLA students were paired with a first grader and together, they became 'lunch buddies'. Once a week the 'lunch buddies' ate lunch together.
- The Middle School Builder's Club read with first and second grade students the fourth Wednesday of each month.
