Imagine the picture postcard New England town, with the town common, white church spire, and old Town Hall. The picture that you have in your mind could very well describe the town of Brookfield, Massachusetts.
Brookfield is a growing town of approximately 3,000 citizens, and is located fifteen miles north of the Massachusetts/Connecticut border in the central region of the state. Among the town’s many focal points is the Brookfield Elementary School.
The town of Brookfield maintains a traditional Town Meeting form of grass roots democracy. It is governed by an elected Board of Selectmen. Appropriations for all of the town’s departments, including the school, are approved at Town Meeting each spring. The Brookfield community has often shown its support for the school as evidenced by its favorable vote for the funding of a new addition and renovations to the present school building which were completed in September of 1995.
Our refurbished and expanded elementary school reflects the most up-to-date ideas in education. As a member of School Union #61, Brookfield maintains its own local elementary school for grades PK-6, but joins the towns of Brimfield, Holland, Sturbridge, and Wales in sending their students to Tantasqua Regional Junior and Senior high schools for grades 7-8, and 9-12 respectively. Currently, there are approximately 300 students enrolled at Brookfield Elementary School. The 85,000 square foot physical plant has several specialized features of which we are proud including a computer lab, science lab, gymnasium, and library/media center. The school is surrounded by thematic gardens. Many local youth and town organizations make use of the school facilities in the evenings and on Saturdays. Strong parental involvement is demonstrated through volunteer support, the School Advisory Council, the Community Partnership for Children Council, and the Brookfield School Committee.
The Brookfield Elementary students are taught by a staff of sixteen classroom teachers five special needs teachers, two STARS aides, three early childhood aides, 5 teacher’s aides, a reading specialist, a math specialist, and a half time Title I teacher. Additionally, the school has specialists teaching in the areas of physical education, vocal music, instrumental music, art and multi-media, computers and technology, and library sciences. We also have both a full-time school psychologist/guidance counselor and a school nurse. Regular Classroom student-teacher ratios are 21 to 1 or less. The Brookfield School Committee has made it a point of emphasis to maintain smaller class sizes in the primary grades.
The evaluation of student learning and school performance is a complex task and an ongoing process. Our general purpose in school assessment is to evaluate our programs, the curriculum, and the learning environment. Through evaluation, we try to ensure that effective practices will be identified and sustained, while any areas needing change or improvement will be identified. Multiple measures utilized for these purposes include the following: the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Program in both English Language Arts and Mathematics for grades 3-6, with 5th grade having additional testing in both Social Studies and Science. We also test students in grades 3-6 utilizing the Star Computerized assessment in both reading and Math.
For our younger students we utilize the DRA reading assessment, and all students in K-6 are assessed through a quarterly IPA (Integrated Performance Assessment), one in reading, one in math, one in social studies, and a new science IPA. We have also moved to a standards based report card.
In addition to these formal measures of program and achievement, we are very interested in the individual needs and progress of every student. Evaluation of students is multi-dimensional and examines both cognitive and affective domains. Tools to be used include a variety of traditional tests as well as performance-based measures such as observations, discussions, student performance and projects, checklists, writing portfolios and folders, and other work samples. This variety of testing tools gives a balanced, comprehensive view of each student's work.
A family atmosphere exists at the school as the decision making for school procedures is shared between the school administration and all staff.
The staff of Brookfield Elementary School is committed to providing a supportive, mutually respectful learning environment which enables students to develop to their potential. The school program promotes educational and social equity, utilizing both heterogeneous and homogeneous student grouping and diversified teaching to meet the needs of every students. To accomplish this mission, the school has the following goals:
Brookfield Elementary School's early childhood program is certified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We follow developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood education. Children in the primary grades develop meaning as a result of concrete encounters and experiences. As much learning takes place through sensory experiences and actions, children are encouraged to explore, manipulate, create, dismantle and reconstruct. We structure the educational program for our younger children to focus on experiential learning. This provides for active exploration of the environment, allows for guided discovery, involves concrete experiences, and provides opportunity for play.
At the intermediate level, the emphasis continues to be on the education of the whole child. Most children at this level are secure in fundamental skills. To expand their knowledge and thinking skills, we have developed a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary curriculum. Additionally, we emphasize the development of self-esteem, responsibility, and good citizenship, enabling students to move successfully from the elementary to the middle school.
Major subjects, taught on a daily basis, include language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Language arts encompasses reading, spelling and process writing. Health topics are integrated into the major content areas, and taught by our P.E. teacher. The amount of material covered each year differs, depending on the overall needs of the students, their level of mastery of readiness skills, the introduction of new programs, and the curriculum changes established by School Union #61 and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.
Special education is an individualized set of services intended to ensure that children with disabilities achieve their maximum potential. Available services include support in regular classes, specialized instruction in academic areas, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and group and individual counseling services. All of these services are provided in either a small group setting or within the regular classroom.
Children with disabilities that require specialized programs to make effective progress are eligible for Union #61 collaborative programs. Special programs for preschoolers with disabilities are also provided.
Brookfield Elementary School's psychologist provides individual and group counseling, referral to outside agencies and counselors for students and families, coordination with outside agencies for students receiving ongoing therapy, and in-class behavior modification programs. The school's counseling program also includes group counseling for students on topics such as divorce, harassment, and death.
Communication between home and school plays a very important role in any student's success. Information is passed through trimester report cards, mid-term progress reports and two formal parent conferences. We also send home periodic newsletters and utilize a phone message system called ConnectEd.
Parents are always welcome to call or visit the school, as we strive to build and maintain a strong, positive home-school connection.