VISION
Recognizing the need to prepare students to become productive members of a democratic society, we envision that Amanda Elementary School will:
"        Raise achievement levels of all students
"        Eliminate achievement gaps
"        Foster the social, emotional & physical growth of our students.                                    

MOTTO
Learn what we can.
Share what we know.
Plant seeds that continue to grow.

VALUES

We will build effective relationships with students, parents, and the community.

We will communicate to students they are important and valued and we will not let them fail.

We will communicate to students why the work they do is important and use all available resources to engage students in learning.

We will define and model lifelong learning for our students and ourselves by committing to ongoing professional development and continuous improvement.

We will collaborate with one another and our students so that we can achieve our collective goals more effectively.

We will identify essential learning outcomes, assess student understanding and provide opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery.

We will be results oriented and data driven.

We will continue to read and study equity issues in education and the broader society and apply our learning to the work we do with children, using the four agreements and six conditions as a framework for understanding.
                              
AMANDA DETAILS
Amanda Elementary School serves children from preschool through fifth grade. There are thirty-two classrooms, including two half-day preschool sections and three full day Kindergarten sections.

Full-time Fine Arts (Art, Music, & P.E.) teachers provide instruction to students in all-day Kindergarten and 1st through 5th grades. Each student receives 45 minutes each day in one of these three subject areas. Amanda also has a full-time librarian who provides training for students in literature, library use, research, and technology.

Amanda provides special education services to meet the needs of students in an inclusive environment. Teams of special education teachers and regular education teachers serve students with identified special needs. Speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are offered to those students who qualify. Outside counseling agencies provide counseling to students. A nurse provides medical attention to students who need it.

An Intervention Based Assistance Team (IBA) works to support students who are having difficulties in the classroom. Students are referred to IBA by teachers and parents at which time the IBA team convenes to learn more about the child and brainstorm strategies to help support their success in the classroom. Parental involvement is a very important piece throughout this process.

Amanda provides a Reading Diagnostician program that serves first through third grade students with extra reading support. A Reading First grant provides training to Kindergarten through third grade teachers in best practices for reading instruction, a data/resource manager, and a literacy coach, as well as updated Reading materials for classrooms.

The Amanda PTO is very active, hosting four well-attended family nights per year, monthly skating parties, fundraisers, financial support for field trips, programs, and classrooms, as well as a host of other supports during the year. To become active in the PTO, please contact PTO President, Sherry Allen at 420-4542.

Amanda also has a partnership with Bull's Run Conservatory, providing hands-on science and environmental learning to students in Kindergarten through fifth grades through out Learning Lunch and Amazing Nature Days programs. Being situated on twelve acres of land provides an opportunity for our students to interact more fully with the environment. Our growing Outdoor Education Program seeks to integrate all content areas and teach them through a project-based, hands on approach.

We invite you to visit Amanda to learn more about our school.