W. W. Ashurst Elementary School
Jan Weiss, Principal
Resource Classes
Students attend art classes each week for 50 minutes. The program is designed to challenge the child's natural creativity and presents a rich and varied program which includes a variety of materials and techniques. An old shirt or smock (Dad's old t-shirt is good), with the student's name on the front, is required for art class.
Each spring, an art display is presented representing the children's work throughout the school year. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and set-up this display and to assist during art classes. Please see the art teacher or leave your name and phone number with your child's classroom teacher, if interested. No art experience necessary!
Students may also participate in the Allstar Arts, an incentive program which encourages attendance at professional live arts performances and exhibitions. Watch for the monthly Art Newsletter for more information and suggestions about Allstar Arts and other art-related news and ideas.
Students come to the computer lab for technology integration for 40 minutes each week. The Educational Technologist (ET) and classroom teacher collaborate to plan lessons that infuse technology into the curriculum. In addition, classroom teachers may sign up for additional times in the lab.
The reading specialist facilitates the developmental reading program for kindergarten through third grades. The objective of the program is to help each child develop and enhance his or her reading skills. A variety of instruments and teacher observations are used to assess the students' progress. The Scholastic reading series, and other supplementary series, along with trade books, are used in the school reading program. Selected third grade students are involved with a 90-minute, daily reading support activity entitled, Read 180. Beginning the school year 2006-2007, the new Enterprise Edition of Read 180 will be used.
Read 180 delivers effective reading, writing and vocabulary instruction through individualized computer software allowing the reading specialist to differentiate instruction to meet individual student needs. Read 180 software continually adjusts the level of instruction based on student performance.
Throughout the year, small groups of students come to the reading center to address needs as determined by the classroom teacher and the reading specialist. Lessons may include work on remediation and/or enrichment.
A variety of materials are used to support, strengthen, and enhance reading skills. All children are involved with the reading specialist in either small group or whole class activities.
The reading program will support and encourage student reading to meet the DoDEA Standard for each child's grade level. Incentives will be provided through the reading program to encourage all student participation.
The educational technologist (ET) is responsible for planning and implementing the integration of technology with all curricular areas as prescribed in the DoDEA/DDESS Technology Plan.
All students use the computer lab for technology integration for 40 minutes each week. The classroom teacher and the ET collaborate to plan lessons that support technology in the curriculum. Students are provided instruction in skills, such as keyboarding, and in the use of application software, such as word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, computer art, desktop publishing and multimedia.
In addition to working with students, the ET provides weekly computer training sessions for the teachers.
At Ashurst Elementary School, a Differentiated Educational Plan is used to provide for general intellectual and specific academic aptitude.
The gifted education resource teacher works collaboratively with classroom teachers to assist them in appropriately differentiating the curriculum to meet the needs of those students requiring gifted services.
The gifted education resource teacher also provides direct service to students. Various options are available including academic extensions provided within the regular classroom setting and additional appropriate instruction in the resource room.
The resource program provides a learning environment that promotes the development of creative and critical thinking, problem solving, logical thinking, self-directed learning, and research skills.
The elementary guidance counselor addresses guidance topics with all children in grades kindergarten through third in the classroom. Topics such as career awareness, organization, study and test-taking skills, social skills, anger management, friendship, responsibility, conflict resolution, self-esteem, individual differences, tolerance and learning to deal with emotions are discussed in a large-group setting. The focus is on a different word each month, i.e., respect, self-control. Students are also referred by school personnel and/or parents for individual and group counseling.
The elementary guidance counselor serves as a consultant to teachers in helping assess students' educational/emotional and social needs and also confers with parents and assists them in understanding their child's needs and capabilities.
The counselor is the school coordinator for standardized testing and is a member of the Student Support Team which discusses the learning needs of students.
The Ashurst school library/media center is open each school day from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Each week, kindergarten classes are scheduled for 35 minutes, grade 1 for 40 minutes and grades 2-3 are scheduled for 50 minutes.
Books may be checked out for one week on the automated circulation system. Students may renew media for an additional week. Parents should provide a safe place for their child to keep his/her library books, encourage the child to use the library materials properly, and remind him/her to return materials on time. Overdue notices will be sent out periodically.
Parents are invited to checkout the library materials as well. Parents may enhance the library program by becoming part of the volunteer program.
All children participate in music classes each week for 60 minutes. The curriculum includes a variety of musical activities on different levels designed to develop an understanding of music, nurture creativity, and develop performing skills. These activities are correlated with other subject areas such as social studies, art, and physical education.
Musical performing opportunities are available to the children in assemblies, programs, and special class presentations.
Music technology will be integrated with the music curriculum.
All children participate in the physical education program at Ashurst. The curriculum includes a variety of activities designed to develop physical fitness, basic skills, rhythm and good sportsmanship. All classes have two physical education periods per week and one period of health instruction per week. Health instruction will stress a wide variety of health related and personal hygiene topics.
Students are expected to wear rubber-soled shoes and appropriate dress for gym classes. Please send a written excuse if your child is not permitted to participate in gym classes. A doctor's excuse is necessary if the child is to be excused for an extended period of time (one week or more).
Progress in physical education classes will be evaluated in the following areas: performance of basic skills, exhibiting good sportsmanship and following directions/participating willingly.
W. W. Ashurst Elementary School provides a resource class for moderately and mildly handicapping conditions. For some handicapped students, the inclusion model is utilized. Scheduled resource time varies depending upon the learning pattern of the student. All handicapped students attend classes in art, science, social studies, music, physical education, computer lab, and media with their classes. Additional integration with subject areas is provided according to the needs of each student, enabling education in the least restrictive environment.
Coordination with the regular classroom teachers provides for optimal participation with the total school program.
Ashurst is continually involved in Child Find activities at the school level. Please contact the school for more information.
The speech/language services are provided for a qualifying student enrolled at Ashurst Elementary whose educational performance is adversely affected by a developmental or acquired communication disorder. These disorders may affect voice, fluency, articulation, and receptive and/or expressive language.
Speech/language services are also provided to preschool students who have a communication impairment.
Goals and objectives for speech/language therapy are determined by a committee including the parents and are reflected in an Individual Education Program (IEP).
The English as a Second Language (ESL) program has been designed to provide an inclusive and supportive learning environment so that ESL students might attain the goals and benchmarks as set forth in the DoDEA Strategic Plan. These goals are:
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to provide ESL students with equal opportunity and access to services so that they may become fully proficient in English, and -
to ensure that ESL students reach full educational parity with comparable native-English speakers by the time they reach the end of their school year. The DoDEA Foreign Language Initiative: A Call to Action is being implemented at Ashurst Elementary School this year. The Under Secretary of Defense, David S. C. Chu has said, "Improving the nation's foreign language capability requires immediate and long-term engagement."
The Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) program has a number of goals that will be implemented over a period of several years. Spanish will be taught this year at Ashurst and Russell Schools in Kindergarten and Grade 1 for 90 minutes per week. The goals of the program are:
to build a capability in foreign languages by starting at the earliest age possible. -
to make Foreign Language instruction an integral part of the core curriculum for all K-8 students. -
to increase the level of language proficiency and the number of students participating in grades 9-12. -
to provide sufficient time and intensity for students to reach high levels of proficiency by graduation. Elementary school students should attain exit point "Novice" Foreign Language proficiency.
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