Bells Elementary School
Bells Elementary School
 


Bells Elementary School is an exciting place in which to learn and grow! We are committed to providing our students with an exceptional learning environment and we are dedicated to helping all students to reach their individual potential in nurturing, supportive classrooms.

Profile of Our School

  • The enrollment at Bells School is approximately 520 students with class sizes ranging from 20 to 25 students.
  • We currently have 6 classes of first grade; 5 classes of second, third, fourth and fifth grades; and one self-contained Special Needs classroom.
  • We have a teaching staff of 55, a Principal, a Supervisor of Elementary Education, and a support staff of 30 who assist with our school programs on a part-time and full-time basis.
  • The elementary English Language Learning students also attend Bells School where our caring staff helps to meet their diverse needs.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is thorough and standards-based. Courses and lessons are based on careful research. Content integration, differentiated instruction, and flexible grouping are used to not only make learning meaningful, but to also meet the needs of all learners. 

  • Our Language Arts Literacy program includes a Balanced Literacy approach. Through Reader's Workshop, teachers gather information about their students and plan instruction which blends outstanding literature with an emphasis on skills, strategies, phonics and comprehension. The reading program also utilizes the Harcourt School Publishers, "Trophies" curriculum for grades K-5 as part of our four-block literacy model. Guided, Modeled, Shared and Interactive Reading are utilized in grades 1-2. Modeled, Shared, and Interactive Reading along with Literature Circles are incorporated in grades 3-5. Through Writer's Workshop, teachers gather information about students and plan mini-lessons that teach specific components of writing and grammar. Students participate in Guided, Modeled, Shared, Interactive and Independent Writing activities.
  • Our spelling curriculum, "Word Study" takes the place of a traditional program. It focuses on learning words that follow patterns and includes high-frequency and commonly misspelled words. Students use strategies to decode and spell words with more than one syllable and they then apply those strategies to their reading and writing. Our first graders are using a program called "Wilson Fundations." "Wilson Fundations" is a preventative phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling program for the general education classroom.
  • "Everyday Mathematics" is taught in all of our classrooms. This research-based program has been proven to build students' mathematical knowledge using real-life problems and situations. Our teachers and administrators continue to attend math in-service workshops to learn more about the program and to practice teaching lessons. Ongoing in-service activities throughout the year will provide opportunities for teachers to share their experiences and continue to develop skills, techniques, and strategies as they implement this exceptional program. Families will be invited to learn more about "Everyday Mathematics" in order to play an active role in their children's math education.
  • Numerous before, after and summer school remediation programs help to meet the diverse needs of all of our students.  These programs include Good Morning Math, Get Set, Math in the Community, Literacy in the Community, Working Writers, Read Around the World, Family Math, Family Literacy, and Page Turners.
  • Technology activities have been expanded for all students. Networked computers are available in each classroom and in our computer lab. Our students also use laptop computers with internet access.  This allows for the computer lab to come right into our classrooms.  Our building computer teacher has increased the utilization of technology within the elementary curriculum by providing training for staff members and enhanced learning opportunities for all classes.
  • Our students begin World Languages in third and fourth grades with an introduction to Spanish. In fifth grade they start to explore French and German using the latest teaching methods including story telling, songs, and games. The students find language learning fun and exciting and each class feels pride and a sense of accomplishment as they develop these new special skills so important in our world today.
  • Extra-curricular activities include intramurals, chorus, band, string orchestra, chess club and safety patrol.
  • The S.T.A.R.T. program (Students in Training to Act Responsibly in Township) is taught by police officers of the Washington Township Police Department. S.T.A.R.T. is in its second year of existence for grades one through five. This standards-based program is an integral part of the elementary health and drug/alcohol abuse curriculum. It also teaches students about cyber bullying and internet safety.

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