Academics, Programs, & Services
- Art
- Library
- Literacy
- Math
- Physical Education
- Pre-School Early Intervention
- Reading Resource
- Science
- Social Emotional
- Special Education
- Technology
- Vocal and Instrumental Music
Art
Piedmont elementary schools’ visual art program is designed and taught by certificated Visual Arts teachers. The curriculum builds a strong foundation by developing skills and processes outlined in the National Visual Arts Standards: Creating, Responding, Presenting, and Connecting. Each project or lesson joyfully nurtures student engagement in all four standards via Project Zero’s Studio Habits of Mind: Develop Craft; Envision, Express, Stretch and Explore, Engage and Persist, Observe, Reflect, Understand Arts Community.
Students Develop Craft by learning and practicing new art mediums, including painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics. Students Engage and Persist through problem solving, Envisioning their ideas and considering next steps. Students Observe artwork, Reflect, and make connections to their own experiences, the world around them, and art history. Students are encouraged to Stretch and Explore, learning that mistakes are opportunities for growth and that curiosity is key to making art. Students gain visual literacy skills, learning to Express their ideas through their artwork. Our art teachers thrive on creating inviting spaces and engaging opportunities to build art skills in the studio and beyond.
Brittney Price, K-5 Art Specialist bprice@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Library
The Havens Library is a safe and welcoming space for all students to explore their understanding of self and of the world through literature, informational texts and other materials.
Library Hours for Family Check Out: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-3:15 and Wednesday from 1:45-2:00. Closed on Fridays. Family members are welcome to establish a library account in order to augment the books checked out by your student. This also allows access to our many electronic books, available on the library’s catalog.
Library Recess: We are open to 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students for all morning and lunch recesses. Open to 4th & 5th grade students Monday and Friday mornings and all lunch recesses except for Wednesdays. The library serves as a calm alternative to outdoor recess. Our students come to read, craft, puzzle, play board games, and utilize our mini makers center.
Library Staff: In the library you will find two part-time credentialed teacher librarians, who teach the state and nationally recognized library curriculum. We endeavor to support our students as they grow their reading, thinking, and digital citizenship skills and passions. The teacher librarians and library assistants work closely as a team in our support of the Havens students and staff.
Teacher Librarian Laura Remer, Tuesday & Wednesday lremer@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Teacher Librarian Tiffany Cothran, Monday & Thursday tcothran@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Library Assistant Christina Wagg, cwagg@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Library Assistant Joy Nieman, jnieman@piedmont.k12.ca.us
The Library Program: Piedmont Unified School District’s TriSchool Elementary Libraries:
Promote Reading – through storytelling, exposure to different genres, guest authors and illustrators, and individual reader’s advisory.
Use Technology – Use technology to enhance student learning and research.
Support Classroom Curriculum – with resources for teachers and students.
Help Students Develop Information Literacy Skills – by teaching them how to find, analyze, and use information in meaningful ways.
The Library Collection: Our collection is curated by the teacher librarian, and includes over 14,000 titles, which include print and digital materials. You can access digital resources, as well as the library’s online library catalog, through our Tri-School Library Homepage and Havens Catalog.
Parent volunteers are an important element of our school library program, by helping the library staff during class visits, with research projects, and at the Spring and Fall Book Fairs. To learn more, contact our current HPC library liaisons on the HPC website.
Literacy
Helping each child develop a love for reading and writing is one of the primary goals in Piedmont. Whether your child is already an avid reader or reluctant to pick up a book, we have wonderful resources to enhance their learning of literacy skills.
In grades K through 3, Reading into Phonics, published by Sadlier is our adopted foundational literacy curriculum which covers skills such as phonics, phonemic awareness, and spelling. The district’s adopted curriculum for reading and writing is Units of Study from The Teachers College at Columbia University.
In the upper grades, our adopted curriculum is the Fountas and Pinnell Word Study System and Units of Study from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Writing Workshop
Our elementary school has been using the writing workshop model for more than a decade. Each workshop is designed to provide personalized instruction, including brief, highly focused lessons on one aspect of the writing craft as well as guided exercises to develop skills in writing.
Starting in Kindergarten, children are encouraged to express themselves through writing. Each day, we’re amazed by the complexity, beauty and progress we see in our students.
Reading Workshop
All students practice reading skills in a workshop model to ensure that all students are learning at their own level. In Kindergarten, First, and Second grades, students work in small groups using decodable readers to develop their skills, and work on comprehension. In Third, Fourth, and Fifth grades, students work in book clubs, small groups, and as a whole class to develop their reading skills.
Assessments
Three times a year, our K-3 students are assessed using DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) to track their progress in reading, as well as screen for reading disabilities. In grades 4 and 5, students’ reading comprehension is assessed three times a year using the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI). Students are also assessed on spelling several times throughout the year.
If a student needs more support to reach a benchmark in literacy skills, we have a robust Reading Intervention program where interventionists work in small groups, or one-on-one, to reinforce the concepts being taught in the classrooms.
Math
Learning practices that foster a growth mindset and curiosity are integral to the classroom mathematics community. Students are encouraged to take risks, make mistakes, explore, communicate, problem solve, reason and justify their thinking so that they are able to make sense of mathematics at the deepest levels. Through these experiences, students develop an appreciation for the beauty and creativity inherent in the field of mathematics.
All three elementary schools use Bridges in Mathematics, including Number Corner, as its core curriculum. Bridges is a comprehensive K-5 curriculum that equips the teachers to fully implement the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in a manner that is rigorous, coherent, engaging, and accessible to all learners.Through the use of various strategies and the use of manipulatives, students are supported in developing problem-solving skills as well as their confidence in their math concepts!
Teachers also enrich their classroom math programs with problem-solving resources from the Silicon Valley Math Initiative and other highly-engaging curricula. These programs, along with the Bridges curriculum provide many avenues for differentiation to meet student needs.
The Math Resource program provides supplemental support for students needing support, time, and attention, all in a small group or individualized setting. The math intervention teacher works collaboratively with classroom teachers to keep in step with the curriculum being taught at any point during the school year.
Physical Education
The Piedmont Elementary physical education curriculum is based on the California State Standards. Not only does this guide our teaching but it also directs the grading of students. Following is the grading supplement that explains what students learn at each grade level as well as the areas we evaluate for report cards. Please let us know if you have any questions about the grade reporting or your child’s physical education.
Havens Elementary: Erin Ashton - eashton@piedmont.k12.ca.us &
Chad Hamilton - chamilton@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Adaptive Physical Education Specialist: Raul Jorcino - rjorcino@piedmont.k12.ca.us
PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
“The purpose of physical education is to encourage the exploration and mastery of physical, mental and social skills in order to enjoy a lifetime of physical activity. Physical education provides the opportunity to teach students about movement, strategies, teamwork, problem solving and health related fitness.”
GOALS
The goal of physical education is to develop physically literate individuals.
“Physical literacy is the ability to move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person.” - shapeamerica.org
CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING
5th GRADE
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/
FitnessGram Performance Standards
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/documents/pft15hfzstd.pdf
What is FitnessGram?
FitnessGram® is the most widely used youth physical fitness assessment, education and reporting tool in the world. Based on Healthy Fitness Zone® standards, created by the FitnessGram Scientific Advisory Board, FitnessGram uses criterion-based standards, carefully established for each age and gender.
People come in all shapes and sizes, but everyone can benefit from regular physical activity and healthy levels of physical fitness. FitnessGram evaluates the five components of health-related fitness: Aerobic Capacity, Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, Flexibility, and Body Composition.
FitnessGram uses scientifically determined standards that are based on how fit children should be for good health. Most children can achieve the health-related fitness standards if they perform sufficient amounts of physical activity on a regular basis. The standards are set specifically for boys and girls and take into account changes with age.
The FitnessGram assessment is based not on athletic ability, but levels of fitness needed for good overall health. No matter what your children grow up to become, they will live happier, more productive lives if they are healthy–and physical fitness is vital to overall health. FitnessGram provides valid and reliable information about your child’s level of fitness. The FitnessGram test (and report) includes a number of different assessments since health-related fitness has multiple components. Some children may score high on muscular strength but need to improve their aerobic capacity score. By having a complete report, you (and your child) will know more about their overall level fitness and how it can be improved.
Pre-School Early Intervention
Havens is proud to host the Piedmont Unified Early Intervention Preschool Program
Program Description
Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) is committed to providing high-quality, research-based early intervention to children ages three to five, who reside within Piedmont and are identified as having special needs. Our Preschool Program focuses on providing intensive, individualized support of children’s development in a highly structured, play-based, language-enriched setting based on Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals and objectives. The preschool program uses a variety of evidence-based methodologies and curriculums to support children’s progress.
Objectives and Practices
We believe in supporting the “whole child” and programming focuses on development of language and communication, social and play skills, self-care skills, motor skills, pre-academic and cognitive skills, and self-regulation. Daily activities are individualized and planned to match each child’s developmental level in these main areas of development:
For more information about the Piedmont Unified School District Early Intervention Preschool Program please contact Carrie Rodrigues (Preschool Program Specialist) at 510-594-2867 or via email at crodrigues@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Reading Resource
Reading Resource is a dynamic classroom in which the team of specialists provide specific reading and writing instruction to individual and small groups both inside and outside the classrooms. The reading specialists evaluate the reading and writing progress of students referred and provide appropriate instruction using a variety of instructional strategies. In addition, the Reading Resource teachers assist classroom teachers in organizing their reading programs, selecting materials and modeling best practices in teaching to create balanced literacy programs in all classrooms.
Michelle Song, msong@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Giena Vogel, gvogel@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Science
Havens Elementary is part of a rich tri-school elementary science team. Our elementary science specialist, Tracy Broback, and classroom teachers work together to bring engaging and enriching science and engineering experiences to students both inside the classroom and in the outdoor school garden. Teachers have access to the Lawrence Hall of Science FOSS (Full Option Science System) curriculum as well as many other resources to support science instruction in all curricular areas. FOSS is a research-based science program for grades K-8 developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are coming to Havens classrooms! NGSS curriculum emphasizes three essential dimensions of science instruction: Science and Engineering Practices (what scientists and engineers do), Crosscutting Concepts (how scientists and engineers think), and Disciplinary Core Ideas (what scientists and engineers know). Today’s students learn so much more than science content, they learn to be scientists! Come to our annual tri-school STEAM Expo (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) in the spring to find out more.
Social Emotional
One of our primary goals at the elementary level is to create a safe, inclusive, kind, and respectful environment. Children at every grade level are given guidance on how to be a good friend, school citizen and student.
Inevitably problems will arise; this is part of growing up! When they do, teachers and staff are available to help students navigate through difficult situations. In addition, Beach is fortunate to have a school counselor, for those who need extra support and guidance.
Children at all grade levels learn age-appropriate examples of appropriate tools to help them understand how to be a good friend and classmate. We utilize Second Step curriculum and lessons from the Welcoming Schools curriculum at all grades to support this learning.
Special Education
For information please see the district's Special Education page.
Technology
Havens Elementary’s technology curriculum teaches students to use digital tools to access, manage, evaluate and synthesize information in order to solve problems individually and collaboratively. The technology curriculum is integrated with all curricular areas, and is used as an instructional tool in reading, writing, math and science instruction.
The school’s technology program also emphasizes digital literacy and citizenship, including units developed by commonsensemedia.org to address these topics in an age-appropriate way. Lessons focus on thinking critically, behaving safely and participating responsibly with digital media.
Technology is a critical component to student advancement because it supports inquiry, communication, and analysis. Our implementation of technology resources is grounded in research, tied to curriculum, and focused on positively impacting student learning. Informing our approach are best practices of 21st century skills, ISTE’s NETS skills, and critical thinking derived from work around Bloom’s Taxonomy to create engaged and literate learners. Educational Technology aims to improve student achievement through providing:
1- equitable access to technology, through adequate student/computer ratios, security, maintenance and reliability
2- opportunities for students and staff to acquire 21st Century skills
3- support to state curricular standards by enhancing instruction planning, delivery, practice, assessment, and communication
Computer lab periods are scheduled for all 1st – 5th grades. 3rd, 4th and 5th grades are also outfitted with chromebooks for each student in the classrooms. Library workstations are also available for student use.
OUR TECH PROGRAM
Vocal and Instrumental Music
We are very fortunate to offer music instruction at all grade levels.
Vocal Music
A music specialist provides vocal music instruction for students weekly in grades K-3. Kodaly and Orff methods of music teaching are practiced in the classroom. Our Spring Concert serves a demonstration of a year’s worth of music education.
Adrian Behrendt, Vocal Music Teacher, abehrendt@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Instrumental Music
4th Grade:
All fourth grade students participate in 40 minutes of musical instruction each week with Ms. Wilde. At the beginning of the year, students will learn about the brass, woodwind, and string families. In September they will make a selection between the following instruments: clarinet, flute, trombone, trumpet, violin, and viola. Students will be split into three groupings: brass, woodwinds, and strings. They will learn about tone production on their instrument, how to play as a group, and learn to read rhythms and musical notation/tablature.
5th Grade:
In fifth grade students will continue on the instrument they chose in fourth grade. (String students, however, have the opportunity to switch to cello based on availability of instruments.) All fifth grade students will participate in 40 minutes of musical instruction each week with Ms. Wilde. They will continue to refine their instrumental technique in brass, woodwind, and string groupings.
Samantha Wilde, Instrumental Music Teacher, swilde@piedmont.k12.ca.us