"Apple Creek Elementary...where Awesome People Participate in Learning Everyday..."

Some of our teachers are attending Saturday workshops throughout the year to learn about "Quality Tools" and how to implement them into our students' learning. What has resulted are classroom mission statements, classroom goals, and individual goal setting. It has been remarkable to see how these tools have impacted the students in taking responsibility for their own learning. Students are eager to set goals for themselves or the class. They rejoice when goals are met and celebrated over morning announcements. And, yes, that is the only reward; the satisfaction of achieving what one has set out to do. Adjustments can be made to the goal, or more often the children help each other if someone is struggling. Some teachers have their students collect their own data on grades, homework completed, and behavior achieved for the day. This provides a daily visual for the child to monitor his/her own progress. There are no surprises for the child when it is interim and grade card time.

Apple Creek parents also model "life-long learning." The school offers several Family Nights throughout the year to provide parents opportunities to come to school. On Family Literacy Night, parents and children have enjoyed a children's book author and the art of storytelling. Family Math Night offers suggestions to parents on how math can be done at home. On Family Proficiency Night, parents learn what is expected of their children on the state math tests. Parents can also see how much their child knows about computers on Family Tech Night. They learn a thing or two from the children for sure.

"Awesome People" are involved in learning everyday at Apple Creek Elementary. It is a mission that has no end for our school community.