About Our School
The History of our School
Parts of the current elementary building date back to the
original building, which was opened as the
In 1972, a new school opened in rural
In 2003, the
About our Building
The current elementary facility includes 15 regular education
classrooms, two special education classrooms, Pre-Kindergarten classroom, Early
Childhood Education classroom, five support services rooms, library, music room,
computer lab, gymnasium, cafeteria, kitchen, conference room and administrative
offices. A larger computer lab was added in the fall of 2007, allowing an entire
class of students to receive computer instruction at one time. The previous lab
space is now being utilized as a classroom for our Early Childhood Special
Education students. Students have access to a large black topped playground area
with several pieces of equipment, the newest piece being added in spring of
2005. A grassy area next to the school also serves as an area for outside
physical education classes as well as school-related activities, including the
annual Field Day in May.
About our Students
In 2005, Midland Elementary School was recognized by the
Illinois State Board of Education with an Academic Improvement Award for
exemplary gains in performance on the Illinois Learning Standards from
2002-2004. Our students have
consistently performed well on the Illinois Standards Assessment Test (ISAT),
our state’s assessment. You can learn more about our school’s ISAT
performance by visiting the ISBE’s website at www.isbe.net.
Click on the report card link to find our school.
We have several after school activities in which our students
participate. We are home to three Girl Scout troops, four Cub Scout dens and the
River Eagles 4-H Club meets at our school each month. Cub Scout Pack Meetings
are held monthly in our school gym. These
groups are involved in serving our school community and improving our school.
Throughout the past year, our scout groups have maintained cleanliness on our
school grounds, assisted with our “Greatest Family Reading Night on Earth,”
taught after school classes, such as cooking and science to our younger
students, spruced up the landscaping around the school and have financially
provided assistance to our computer lab and physical education department.
We also offer an After School Care Program in our building. Adventures
After Care provides a safe and supervised place for students to go after
school. Students participate in physical activities, enjoy nutritious snacks and
drinks, work on homework and enjoy arts and crafts activities. The students have
also become involved in our community by visiting
Our students recognize the importance of helping our school
community and being involved with our entire community. Our students visit the
residents at
About our Teachers and Curriculum
At
At the third and fourth grade levels, we incorporate a
variety of novels; small group reading instruction, vocabulary and word work
into our literacy work. We are fortunate to have a wide variety of classroom
sets of novels to use in our third and fourth grade classrooms. Some
intermediate classrooms utilize literature circles as an instructional strategy.
Our intermediate Title I teacher works closely with classroom teachers to ensure
that the needs of all students are met, either by assisting the classroom
teacher in the classroom, or by meeting with students in a small group outside
of the classroom.
Our special education teachers work closely with classroom
teachers to collaborate and meet the needs of our students in the least
restrictive environment. All special education teachers work in the regular
education classroom, team teaching and working collaboratively with the
inclusion classroom teacher to provide assistance for all special education
students.
Students at all grade levels use the Scott Foresman/Addison
Wesley series for math instruction. Through the efforts of all teachers at all
grade levels, our an overwhelming majority of our students meet or exceed
Illinois State standards for math on the state’s annual assessment, ISAT,
which is given in third and fourth grades. Every
other week, a “Monday Morning Math Challenge” is presented to all students.
Teachers allow students to work as a class, in small groups or individually
utilizing problem solving strategies to answer the bi-weekly question.
Our teachers are experts and knowledgeable of best
instructional practices at the elementary level.
Most teachers attend professional development activities and workshops
during the school year to strengthen their knowledge and improve their
instruction. Many teachers on staff have obtained their Master’s degrees in
reading, curriculum or technology, while several others are taking coursework
towards the completion of a Master’s degree. Teachers have presented at
statewide conferences, served on statewide committees and have served as leaders
in statewide councils and associations.
