Published: 9/7/2016 6:36:56 PM
WHATELY — Teachers at the town’s elementary school are gearing up for the upcoming school year, and preparing a curriculum that school Principal Peter Crisafulli said will bring a few changes.
The school opened for the 2016-2017 year Wednesday.
“At Whately Elementary School we are excited to continue our efforts in maintaining a positive and joyful climate for our staff and students,” Crisafulli said in a statement. “This year we will proceed with the great work started by our climate committee (which looks at the environment of the school) last year and follow-up on the very positive results we received from our Climate Survey.”
Crisafulli said the theme this year at the school is “each one of us is responsible for creating a culture of positivity and kindness.”
“Our School Council will focus their efforts on this climate initiative as well as a district-wide initiative around meeting the needs of diverse learners through differentiated instruction that works,” he continued in the statement, adding that the school will also provide teachers with refreshers on concepts of responsive classroom.
According to www.responsiveclassroom.org, “Responsive Classroom is a research-based approach to K-8 teaching that focuses on the strong link between academic success and social-emotional learning.”
The school’s lunch program this year, as in past years, will include healthy alternatives such as a salad bar and homemade soups.
This year, the school will also hold all-school monthly meetings “that include a sing-along” as well as student and staff-driven agendas.
As far as programs, Crisafulli said the school will “continue to offer art, music, physical education, string and band instrument instruction and organic gardening on our campus.”
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