Mary Ford Elementary School chose the following 2 C’s to increase student readiness: we expect our students to communicate with grace and courtesy and to collaborate through positive teamwork protocols with civility in order to function as a part of our whole society. Our school community at Mary Ford works hard to construct the culture and community on our campus. We use school wide resources and programs such as PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Systems), I Care Rules and Peace Scholar Rules implementation of the Second Step Curriculum, character education through the Self-Awakened Child Series, and The Bullying Book, using recommended monthly read aloud titles to build empathy and compassion.
Each day begins with a community meeting after the teacher finishes greeting each scholar at the door while classical music softly welcomes them to a calm and cozy prepared environment. Mary Ford is a calm and quiet school where grace and courtesy plus manners are a life skill that we practice and use daily. The news program shares practices and child-friendly reminders and exposes children to many new books and stories that make the school community close in its work with the children. It is who we are. We are creating an environment where children can think, learn, and have choices in their work.
We know that our community is sweet and kind because we see it and hear it everywhere. Our children have many opportunities to share what they are learning each day. There are many more thank you’s, excuse me’s, you are welcome’s and please phrases spoken at Mary Ford.
We have kept our promise that high expectations are present at Mary Ford. Our students recite our creed each day holding their dreams steadfast that they are college bound. The community celebration is a collaboration of spirit bringing us all together. Each student wears a different shade of blue Mary Ford “spirit shirt” each Friday to our community celebrations. Our Panther Pride shirt shares the school’s expectations we uphold: We are respectful; We are responsible; We are ready to learn.
We know that our teachings and expectations are creating improvement because our student behaviors have greatly improved and students have a safe and quiet learning environment for thinking and creative problem solving. Following one of our many hosted field trips, The United States Department of the Interior wrote: “The students asked thoughtful questions; listened well; and were respectful towards the environment, fellow students and National Park Service Rangers.” We are very proud of the progress for our children and staff at Mary Ford Elementary.
La Dene Conroy, Principal
James Frye, SIC Chair
