Principal's Page
Dear Parents, Guardians, Community, and Friends:
On behalf of the English Crossing Elementary staff, I would like to welcome you to our school. As we embark on a new school year, I’d like to highlight a number of areas our school, in concert with the entire Lakewood School District, has embraced in recent years to increase student achievement.
One of the most promising initiatives we have undertaken is moving towards a performance-based education model. As a school and district, we are utilizing common assessment procedures within grade levels, analyzing data to make informed decisions regarding instructional practices, aligning curriculum between grade levels, and have implemented the Washington State Grade Level Expectations into our learning culture. In addition, over the past four years, the Lakewood School District has implemented new, rigorous, and student-centered curriculum in the core academic areas. Two teachers from each grade level will pilot a standards based report card this year, meaning our report card will be more aligned with the state standards.
On-going professional development for our staff continues to be an intentional focus. This summer for example, teachers participated in a seminar on non-fiction reading strategies as well as training in how to assess, monitor, and increase student reading fluency and comprehension. Throughout the school year, staff members take advantage of numerous opportunities for professional development not only within our district, but at the regional and state level as well.
What all of this means to you is that the English Crossing Elementary staff, along with the rest of our school district staff, is setting a course to not only meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind, but to facilitate meeting the needs of all students through a performance based education system.
In addition to continually working to increase our academic standards and challenging ourselves to meet the needs of each child, we place a significant focus on developing the social and emotional health of our students with a positive school culture. Our full-time school counselor implements the Steps To Respect program throughout the school year; we have recognition programs for both math, reading, effort and citizenship, a Read At Home program, and individual recognition programs within each classroom. As well, we have band and choir programs in which fifth grade students may choose to participate.
For those of you interested in contributing directly to our school, we have an active PTA and encourage you to volunteer at our school.
Sincerely,
Bill Landry