Specials

Art

Art standards are followed using "Discipline-Based Art Education" approach. This philosophy incorporates aesthetic awareness, art appreciation, multicultural recognition, art history as well as art process, techniques and production. With an emphasis on art process rather than product, students are encouraged to develop their creativity and imagination, which are useful life and work skills. A variety of displays, shows and contests are used in the school and the community to share our students' accomplishments. Student artwork is always on display throughout the building including the Bassani Art Gallery. The district art show in the Spring is the largest community display of artwork; however, selected artwork is on display in other areas of the community throughout the year. Students in K-6 have art instruction with an art teacher weekly. An Art Service Committee, part of the 5th and 6th grade Student Council, create art for students, by students, and is displayed around the school.

Music

Music standards drive the instructional program, which focuses on music as an expression of human culture. Students sing, play instruments, move to music and create music within a balanced, comprehensive and sequential skill set. Exposure to different kinds of music throughout the world and from all time periods is basic to this program. The use of Orff instruments assists all students in developing basic music skills and expanding their own musical talents. Students in grades 3-6 participate in a district Music Memory curriculum. Students in grades 4-6 receive instruction on playing recorders to enhance their music reading ability. Students in grades 5 and 6 are invited to participate in Choir. All students perform one music program during the school year. Students in K-6 have music instruction with a music teacher weekly.

Physical Education

Physical education standards have been developed to ensure consistency in learning in this area. While physical skills are taught within a game context, our mission is to teach students how to become physically fit and how to make informed decisions that encourage lifetime wellness through participation in structured physical activities. Students in grades 4-6 may participate in the District Track and Field Day in the spring. Students in K-6 have Physical Education instruction with a PE teacher weekly. It is imperative that students are dressed for this activity by wearing gym shoes and clothing that allows for safety and ease of movement.

Counseling

The school counselor visits classrooms on a regular basis to help all students explore and manage their own feelings, develop empathy for the feelings of others, learn social skills and expand their ability to respond effectively, appropriately and respectfully in a group setting. In addition, the counselor assists individual students and works closely with parents and staff when special needs arise. Also this position coordinates the CSAP and Levels Testing. Our goal is for all students to feel a sense of security, acceptance and belonging at Shepardson by their peers as well as the staff.

Other important responsibilities include facilitating the class placement process for the following school year, assisting with registration of new students, coordinating the Peer Mediation program, and helping to guide the Shepardson Student Council. Beginning in the fall of 2002, the counselor also serves the building as Administrative Assistant.

Media/Technology

District Media/Technology standards for students at all grades are taught through lessons and projects that integrate or correlate with content standards as much as possible. The classroom teachers and the media/technology staff teach these skills. Our goal is to provide meaningful tasks through content learning with media/technology skills serving as a means of learning and presentation.

Media Center

The media specialist with assistance from the media aide teaches a sequential program for the development of information skills beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through grade six. The Big Six Research process provides the basis for students in learning how to find, evaluate, and apply information to specific content-related tasks while becoming an independent learner.

Reading of a variety of genres is promoted at every grade level. Students are encouraged to check out two items per week or more often if desired. Additional materials may be checked out during research
projects or if students have special interests or are avid readers. Check out times are part of the weekly specialist programming, but students may come at other times with the teacher's approval.

Finding and reading a variety of informational material using multiple resources is promoted throughout the year through special reading activities such as obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, or those activities related to current events such as elections or the Olympics. Local reading promotions are scheduled as well.

Accelerated Reader (AR) is a school-wide, electronic reading program for all Shepardson students. This program provides an individualized way of checking a child's comprehension of a book. Because of the leveled approach, AR naturally provides an incentive for students to read and report. The management portion of AR allows the teacher to have an active part in setting monthly reading goals with each child. The optimal reading level for each student, when reading independently, is established through the STAR diagnostic reading survey.

Teachers remind parents and students of the days of Check Out so books can be returned. Most materials can be renewed for an additional week unless the item is part of the "high demand" collection.

Overdue notices are given to students periodically. Lost books and books not returned at the end of the year need to be replaced. Payment for these books is required but if they are found later, payment will be refunded.

Volunteer support from parents and others is extremely important to ensure a smooth operation of both the media center and the computer lab. Volunteers provide the one-on-one attention that is so important to students at the elementary level who need assistance finding materials or using equipment.

Technology

Technology access is provided to students through a Mac lab that was upgraded in the summer of 2003 using mill levy money to provide 31 eMac computers. Mini-labs are stationed in each pod. The media center also has thirteen workstations for student use. All workstations are networked to the server and a printer. All computers provide Internet access. There is also a classroom computer for each teacher's use. Computers continue to be upgraded as funds become available. A District Technician assigned to the building primarily handles Troubleshooting and maintenance.

Each classroom has a scheduled lab time for a minimum of once per week when students work on technology standards under the direction of a computer assistant. The classroom teacher may schedule additional times for the class to work on special projects.