Garfield is a Great Place to Learn!
- Strong academic program with highly qualified, caring and committed staff
- Positive school climate
- Educating the whole child
- Community Connections
Caring School Climate
Garfield has behavior support staff and a bilingual counselor who help teach:
- Problem solving
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Safety
We’re a “School of the World”…
Building a School of the World
- Many languages spoken here
- World area studies at each level
- Focus: appreciating all languages and cultures
- Making connections across grade levels and content areas
- International events
Garfield’s Academic Program
Experienced staff members provide instruction in key areas:
- Reading and writing
- Math
- Science
- Language acquisition
- Social/emotional development
- Music and PE
- Artists in residence
Teams of skilled specialists provide instruction in:
- Reading and writing
- ESL (English as a Second Language)
- Spanish literacy for native Spanish speakers
Focus on: Literacy
SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) volunteers help individual students
Kindergarten at Garfield
Kindergarten Options
- Garfield has two programs that are five full days a week. The program is fee-based. We have scholarships available and can also work on a sliding scale.
- English curriculum
- Dual language Spanish/English immersion
English Kindergarten Program
A consistent and nurturing classroom provides safe and secure learning opportunities for all students with
- Literacy and math centers
- Building center
- Listening center
- Classroom library
- Science exploration table
- Weekly music, PE and library visits
Benefits of an English Program in a School of the World
- Strong literacy program and instructional support provided in whole group, small group, and individually
- Peer buddy and mentor (older student) buddy reading partnerships arranged to foster a strong sense of school community
- Individual learning styles of students are accounted for in planning instruction
- Weekly, as well as seasonal academic and cultural activities are shared across the dual language and English strands
Focus on: Technolog
- Computers make terrific learning tools
- Upper elementary students research and produce projects using a variety of programs at computer stations and on laptops
- 4th & 5th graders use “Type to Learn” keyboarding program
Educating The Whole Child
Artists-in-Residence provide experiences with:
- painting
- pottery
- drama/puppetry
- quilting
- drawing
Specialists provide:
Physical Education and Music once a week
Caring School Climate
Garfield has counseling services and behavior support staff who help teach:
- Problem solving
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Safety
There’s more to this school than academics!
Playground supervision emphasizes safety, cooperation, respect, and learning ways to solve problems
Focus on: Buddies
- Upper grade classes work with primary students on special projects
- Buddies help you make friends with children of all ages
- High school students are lunch buddies and science buddies
Before School
- Breakfast is available daily in the cafeteria
- Game Time before school helps children develop thinking skills and get focused for the school day
After School
- STARS ( Super time for Academics, Art, recreation and Sports ) provides after-school care on site
- Gecko Homework Club meets after school
Kindergarten at Garfield
Kindergarten Options
- Three full days/week
- Five full days/week
- Dual language Spanish/English immersion (5 full days/week)
Building a School of the World
- Many languages spoken here
- World area studies at each level
- Focus: appreciating all languages and cultures
- Making connections across grade levels and content areas
- International events
Spanish/English Immersion Option
- About half English & half Spanish speakers in each class (50/50)
- Kindergarten through fifth grade classes in 2005-06
Dual Immersion - Learning in Spanish and English
- Students learn all subjects in both languages - approximately 50% of the time in each.
- Direct reading instruction is in the child’s first language.
Benefits of Dual Immersion
- Research shows academic performance improves when children learn in two languages
- Children learn to work in a diverse world
- It helps create positive relationships between children
- Each child’s knowledge is valued and needed
- It provides an enriched environment for all and an extra challenge for the academically advanced
- Teachers always use strategies for 2nd language acquisition- this makes learning comprehensible for all
Caring, Committed Staff
Staff development focus on:
- Language Acquisition
- Positive classroom and school climate
- Technology
- Integrating high academic content with language and literacy learning
Community Connections
Garfield relies on many groups and individuals in our community:
- Parents, PTA, & Site Council
- Foster Grandparents
- Benton County
- Interns from OSU, WOU, Portland State University, Pacific University
- Calvin Presbyterian Church
- Zonta and Altrusa special funds
- Boys and Girls Club
- Parks and Recreation
Focus on: Family
Family Events
- International Night
- Breakfast and Books
- Family Math & Science Night
- Fall Picnic
- Annual garage sale
- Sock Hop
PTA - Picking Up Where Funding Leaves Off
- Classroom supplies and teaching materials
- Books for our library
- Artists in residence
- P.E. equipment
- Musical instruments
- School beautification
- Social events
- Working toward new playground!
Garfield is a Great Place to Learn!
- Strong Academic Program
- Caring School Climate
- Educational Enrichment
- Community Connections