(by Don Meador, July 20, 2021)
As 1,000-plus students file into the Allen County Primary Center (ACPC) on August 5---the first-time in 509 days that the school’s hallways will be filled with the vast majority of the school’s enrollment---a new school organizational system will be waiting. This year marks ACPC’s debut as a House structured school---a change to give the large school somewhat of an old-school feel.
“The house system is a great opportunity for our school to make it a school where kids want to be,” noted ACPC principal Tim Wilson. “Building relationships is of the highest priority and this gives us an effective and efficient way of doing it. It also creates the opportunity for our students to build courage and persistence, friendships, and integrity. We know that's a need for our students in today’s times.”
Four decades ago, the Allen County School District included three elementary schools---Allen County Elementary on West Cherry Street, Scottsville Elementary on North 6th Street, and White Plains Elementary School. Each school housed kindergarten through fifth grade but was still relatively small. Students across grade levels knew one another better and could interact more regularly. But changes were coming.
By the 1990s, the need for new school buildings resulted in the decision to construct a new Primary Center---a school that eliminated the three elementary schools. The new ACPC would house K-3rd graders only. Students in fourth and fifth grades would attend White Plains until the construction of the Allen County Intermediate Center was completed. The result for the younger kids was the Primary Center as it stands today. The school quickly became one of the largest Primary Center’s in the Commonwealth---both in terms of student enrollment and physical space.
From its beginnings, students at ACPC were housed by grade levels in areas of the buildings---known by names such as the Sand Pod, the Green Pod, etc. This system has remained in place with student pods set by grade levels. With the exception of the Morning Meeting time and assemblies, the youngest kindergarten students and the older third graders were physically separated in the building---preschool, kindergarten and first graders downstairs with second and third graders upstairs.
This year, the look of the school has changed. Now, ACPC will have the House of Amica, the House of Integritas, the House of Spatium, and the House of Isibindi as the learning areas.
“The house system is our way of making our large school feel smaller,” explained ACPC assistant principal Natalie Davis. “We are breaking our school down into four houses. Each house will have kindergarten through third grade. The idea comes from the Ron Clark Academy and many schools use this.”
Each of the House names---selected by teachers and staff---are words closely associated with a character trait. The House of Amica’s character trait is friendship. The House of Interitus has the trait of integrity. The House of Spatium has the trait of perseverance with the fourth, the House of Isibindi, having the trait of courage.
“Each house has a color and an animal associated with it,” Davis added. “The house names, the colors, and animal symbols were on the postcards they received in the mail with their house and teacher placements. Eventually we hope each house will have a motto and maybe even songs. We are still in the early stages.”
Not only will students be grouped by their Houses this year, but in future years as well.
“With the houses, our intent is for students to stay in those houses the whole time they are here at ACPC,” Davis noted. “Kids that are starting kindergarten this year will stay in that house through third grade. That way they should get to know teachers and students better. Our main goal is to try and make the school seem smaller.”
Wilson adds that the change to the House system will mean a change in the look to students’ day and week.
“We will have a different schedule Monday through Thursday then we will on Fridays,” Wilson pointed out. “Monday through Thursday, the students will have recess and lunch with their house but on Fridays, they will have recess and lunch with their grade level. This gives our teachers more time on Friday for planning and professional learning communities and also to give our students an opportunity to be involved in the same grade level.”
This year’s Open House dates have been broken down by the new House names. On Monday, July 26, the Houses of Spartium and Isanbendi students can come in with the Houses of Integritis and Amic scheduled for Tuesday, July 27.
“It’s 3:30-6:30 come-and-go both days,” Davis said. “Tuesday is also Open House night for preschool. There will be people in the hallways to help everyone find their classrooms and teachers. It's a great time to come in. When a child comes to Open House, that relationship starts with the teacher. That gives them a familiar face when they get here on opening day.”
With the new House system, most K-3rd grade classroom teachers have moved rooms. Open House will be a time for students to find the new locations for each teacher. In addition, Open House allows parents an opportunity to ask questions, obtain drop-off and pick-up information, and spend a few minutes in conversation with teachers and staff. For preschool parents, the time is excellent for seeing the school and introducing first-time attendees to their teachers as well.”
Wilson and Davis stress that all plans for Open House and the return to school are still subject to change based on changes in COVID related guidance from the school district. Any changes will be shared through various communication avenues from the Central office.
The pandemic---which forced the school district to take on a vastly different look starting on March 17, 2020---changed many things last year. However, a silver-lining did result.
“Our kids learned to use technology in different ways, even our kindergarten kids,” Davis noted. “They learned to do things they had not done before. The increased use of technology is something that is a positive. Also, our teachers have committed to how well they got to know kids last year from being on the hybrid schedule. Having smaller numbers helped teachers to build stronger relationships with their kids.”
Getting back into a more normal schedule will necessitate several steps at the start of the year at ACPC.
“We will definitely have to take more time in the beginning teaching and reteaching procedures because kids have not been in the building,” Davis emphasized. ““Even for the kids that were here last year, things will be different. We know up front there will be alot teaching on just how to be in school.”
Plans as of July 19 call for school drop offs to start at 7 each weekday with the students going to the gym. At 7:20, teachers will pick up their students in the gym and take students to their classrooms. Kids dropped off after 7:20 and students arriving by bus after 7:20 will go directly to their classrooms. Breakfast will be served in the classrooms.
Few additional changes will be forthcoming in terms of what’s expected from students. Davis notes that no changes have been made to the dress code. The assistant principal does ask that “parents put your child’s name in their clothes and on their stuff,” in order to help school staff reconnect misplaced items with students throughout the year.
Students will see a continued emphasis in seeing each student learn and improve in reading.
“Our teachers will be having reading professional development in late July that will bring some changes to our literacy block,” Davis noted. “We want our kids to be readers. That's our number one goal as a school is for all kids to be reading on grade level. We are putting an emphasis on reading this year. We will be doing all we can to help them bump up their reading and math skills and to be good citizens and work on social-emotional skills”
To help teachers develop new reading and math strategies, the school district will have several new reading and math coaches in the building.
“Learning coaches Ashley Salchli and Kim Esters will be housed in our building,” Wilson said. “They will be working with our teachers on developing curriculum and intervention services. They will not only help students who are struggling but also help to make sure we have things in place for students who need enrichment activities. It's another resource for us.”
With the new school year seeing a return to more normal conditions, students are expected to see the return of several things parents and kids were accustomed to pre-pandemic.
“Kids can have visitors for lunch but only Monday through Thursday,” Davis added. “Visitors are still required to sign in in the office and adhere to all school safety guidelines. Fridays will be called Fun Fridays and our kids will have extended related arts time and actually eat in the classroom. The related arts teachers have some really cool things planned. We are hoping to bring back more things this year. Hopefully, Joyful Noise can be back in full force and field trips can happen. We hope to have parties again with visitors.”
Again, Wilson and Davis stress that all plans at this time could be changed if the community sees a spike in COVID cases or a change in local, state or federal guidance is needed.
“We will continue to make the health and safety of our students a priority just as the academic and social needs that need to be addressed due to the pandemic are also a priority,” Wilson said.
Davis echoed Wilson and reminded parents/guardians that ACPC is filled with dedicated faculty and staff committed to what is best for the students at all times.
“Our teachers are phenomenal at loving our students,” Davis said. “They will do their best to take care of every kid. We are going to take care of them and love them as we would our own.”
Thursday, August 5 is opening day for students in K-3rd grades with Wednesday August 18 the first day of preschool.