|
Mission Statement
Needham Elementary strives to provide an enjoyable,
challenging, and relevant learning environment where students will experience
immediate success and develop the knowledge and skills necessary for continuing
social growth, physical growth and academic achievement. Our
goal is to encourage independent, lifelong learning.
Educational Program:
Adults at Needham are involved with students, attempting to
meet their individual and collective needs. They encourage student
responsibility and accountability, using child-centered approaches.
Parents are partners with our school. Community resources are
accessed. Staff members are continually modifying or updating teaching
methods. Core reading groups offer personalized, reading strategies
for K-4, while our Open Court Phonemic Awareness/Phonics program supports
reading instruction for K-3. Teachers are emphasizing writing
skills during the 2005-2006 school year. There is an increased
focus on basic math skills, including problem-solving and concept development.
Students are using K-5 hands-on science programs, along with
project-oriented, integrative social studies lessons. As you visit our
school, you will find a growing number of technology components used to support
instruction. At Needham, you will find a busy, active media center
where students are learning effective ways to access and process information.
You will also find a newly constructed multipurpose room, additional classrooms
and small group rooms. Pay us a visit.
Special Services:
Needham has supportive programs in Music, Library, Computer
Lab, Physical Education, Spanish, Art, Special Education, Board of
Cooperative Services, Gifted and Talented, ELL, Title I Reading and Counseling.
Needham has a Parent Coordinator. There are periodic visits by
artists, authors, scientists, world travelers, and various community experts.
Needham
Staff
Classroom teachers (19), Counselor (1), Title I Reading (3),
Resource (2), Media Specialist (1), PE (1), Gifted/Talented (1), Center Based
Resource (1), ELL (1), Music (1), Art (1), Spanish (1), and Principal (1).
Personnel work in a wide range of positions
which include: school nurse, cafeteria staff, administrative assistants,
instructional aides and custodians. A number of specialists, including a
speech/language therapist, school psychologist, district nurse, social worker,
physical therapist and occupational therapist serve Needham on an itinerant
basis
Special
Programs or Activities:
Special activities include: a Kid Camp, an after-school
program, after-school Arts Force classes,
Dineh
Club, intramural, field trips, peer tutoring, seasonal Music Programs,
Orchestra, Mini-unit Fair, Knowledge Bowl, Dineh Club, drama
activities, academic contests, an annual Learnathon fund raiser, Study
Connection tutoring, Creativity Festivity, Counseling groups, Environmental
Club, Chess Club, Community Service Projects, Student Council and
more. We added a new Study Connection mentor group the past few years.
Study Connection was expanded in 2004-2005. Most students meet with tutors after
school on Mondays. Our nearby Neighborhood Network Center offers after school
instruction, as well as computer use for elementary students
Accomplishments/Highlights:
•Needham earned Colorado State Accreditation
•90% of Needham students met their Read-a-thon goal and earned
over $14,000 for our school
•Fourth year of Read to Achieve Grant
•Health Grant participation as a school site in first year of three
•88% of teaching staff earned Master's Degrees
•Installation of commemorative stained glass window at the entrance to Needham
in honor of long time teacher in first and second grades, Terry O'Karma
|
|
