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knowledge, skills, and understanding. Teachers at each grade level meet regularly to discuss curriculum and instruction and develop consistent standards and expectations for student work. Student progress reports are sent home mid-way through each trimester.
Our report cards are issued on a trimester basis, and are based on standards established through the Vermont Framework and the Grade Expectations. Parent-teacher conferences are held two times each year. At these conferences, parents can expect to view samples of student work and see how an individual child’s work compares to a model, or “benchmark” that shows what is expected of students at that grade level.
Under the Federal “No Child Left Behind” law, each school district must develop a system of standardized testing. Each year our students take various standardized tests that are a part of this accountability system. Please see the Appendix for a description of this standardized testing.
Discipline, Behavioral Expectations, and
Social-Emotional Learning
Our school vision states that we will create a community of caring, responsible, and respectful learners. To realize this goal, we have worked to develop a consistent approach to supporting the social and emotional development of our students. We have three simple expectations for everyone, students and staff alike:
Be respectful
Be responsible
Be caring
In addition, we work to support the positive development of character through Project SCOPE (Safe, Civil, Orderly and Positive Environment), which is a nationally recognized character education program. Our teachers use a framework developed at the University of Vermont known as The Supportive Classroom. Through this framework, teachers incorporate instruction in social skills and character development within the academic curriculum. We have chosen five Core Concepts of healthy character development to focus on. These are Belonging, Caring, Respect, Responsibility, and Trust. Through service learning projects, literature, civic education, student leadership, and creative lessons, our students learn what it means to be a caring citizen and community member.
Each classroom introduces our expectations and Core Concepts to students. Our goal is to help all students make behavior choices that will allow us to work together in an orderly and safe environment. Additionally, students help establish classroom rules and articulate behavior that disrupts the school environment. Our philosophy of discipline is stated below:
Discipline will be consistent, fair and just and will support a safe atmosphere with respect for the dignity of all. To create positive and orderly learning environments everyone will be responsible for his/her own behaviors. The entire school community, both adults and children will participate in and support the discipline procedures. Families and community will play an active role in promoting the discipline philosophy.
