Foundations

Foundations!! In building a home we think of the solid stone that assures us that the rest of our building will weather the upcoming storms, that no cracks will develop as the sands around us shift. Our elementary school is a foundation. We are dedicated to providing our children with the strong skills, concepts, and attitudes that will form the basis of a successful educational career and a successful life. Let's take a look at each of these three strands:

• Skills-We all understand that elementary school success is built around the acquisition of skills. Students learn the skills that allow them to read the words on a page and, at the same time, comprehend the meaning of the material they read. Our students learn to organize their thoughts and put them on paper in a coherent and entertaining fashion. They learn a variety of math skills from simple math facts to complex problem-solving skills. Similarly, students learn skills in science, social studies, art, music, technology, PE, library, and health.
• Concepts-Skills alone don't build a strong foundation. A knowledge of discreet skills is not powerful if students can't generalize those skills and use them to understand larger ideas or concepts. We want children to know about the Declaration of Independence but we want them to understand why this document is so special and unique and how it plays an important role every day in our democracy. We want students to understand the life cycle of an animal or plant but also to understand the role each plays in our ecology. Conceptual understanding makes factual learning meaningful and gives children powerful tools for understanding the world around them.
• Attitudes-Our foundation isn't strong unless students leave us with the constant desire to learn. Almost every kindergartner views school as an exciting place. Their eyes light up whenever they make a new discovery. Learning should remain that exciting throughout the lives of our students. We want students to learn to read but we also want them to leave us with the desire to read for relaxation. We want students, every day, to feel inquisitiveness about the world around them and to explore that world by posing interesting questions and finding solutions and answers.

Our foundation is strong when students leave the elementary school with strong skills, strong conceptual understanding, and a strong desire to learn. It is the role of our staff, working closely with parents to ensure this strong foundation for EVERY John B. Sliney student. That will be my focus throughout the coming year.

Richard Gusenburg- Principal