Wapping Elementary School Recipient Of School Recognition Award
The Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) has selected Wapping Elementary School in South Windsor as Connecticut’s 2005 Elementary School of the Year. When notified of the award, Wapping Principal James Graffam said, "I'm completely thrilled! Overjoyed. I'm so happy for our staff, our students, and our parents. We have worked so hard over the last few years, and now to be recognized for our efforts …well, it just feels great."
The criteria used to judge the schools include the following.
1. The school provides an educational program which is conducive to meeting the needs of all its students.
2. The school provides student opportunities that go beyond those that are a part of a typical school; i.e. clubs, activities, support services, extra help for those who need it.
3. The school's educational programs are consistently being reviewed and improved.
4. The school welcomes participation from all constituencies.
5. The school plays an active role in the community.
6. The school actively encourages parent involvement.
Under the leadership of Graffam, the school has created a learning environment that is student centered, strives to meet individual differences, and encourages risk taking. It is the kind of school experience that stays with students long after they move on to middle and high school. The school has many quality programs for a diverse student population. The school also has an effective inclusion program for special needs students.
The selection committee indicated that several factors contributed to Wapping's selection as School of the Year. The school has numerous innovative programs that are specifically designed to meet the needs of all its students; it has fostered very strong relationships with community groups; and its staff is of high quality and works collaboratively in the best interest of their students.
In addition to traditional grade-level classrooms, Wapping offers developmentally appropriate kindergarten classes, a looping option for grades 1 and 2, and many support programs. These programs include Limited English Proficiency , tutoring, math support for students in grades 1-5, early literacy intervention instruction provided by both certified staff and paraprofessionals, and adaptive physical education for physically disabled students.
Wapping also offers a peer mediation program for students in grades 3-5; a comprehensive choral, orchestra, band and general music program; gifted and talented opportunities through classroom differentiation; the district Project Excel program; and a wide array of special education services. A school-based strategy team meets weekly to coordinate services and to monitor the progress of students. Improvement of educational programs is an ongoing process. Staff teams analyze student achievement data, develop recommendations and assist in the implementation of those recommendations.
When South Windsor Superintendent Dr. Joseph Wood was asked what made this award so special he responded, "I can think of few schools more deserving of this award than Wapping Elementary School. They have developed a school environment that is successful for a broad range of students and the principal, staff and parents ensure that the school environment is caring and accepting of everyone."
A number of Wapping’s programs go beyond the school day. Yearly, their fifth grade organizes and manages a community blood drive for the American Red Cross. Their fourth grades continue to run successful food drives for the South Windsor Community Food Pantry. The Wapping Student Council has collected thousands of books throughout the past several years for the Books to Dreams Program, a volunteer driven program that places new and nearly new books into the hands of children in safe houses and homeless shelters. In addition, the school provides three programs yearly honoring local veterans and has a special relationship with the local American Legion Post. The school also does an annual primary research and writing project with local veterans. Personal narratives written by students about the veterans are archived by the American Legion. A number of Wapping's school programs are aired by Fox 61 News.
Wapping has reached out and developed a relationship with the local senior citizen center and participates in its annual Valentine's Senior Sweetie project.
Parent volunteers receive yearly training and assist classroom teachers in many ways including one-on-one reading and extra math support with students. High school students can be found in the classrooms each day engaging in community service projects. The school awards several annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors who will continue their careers in the service of children.
Parents are invited to participate in the development of school action plans. More importantly, they are encouraged to become an active partner in their children's education. There is 100% attendance at parent conferences which speaks very highly of how parents feel about their children's education.
When asked what was one of his school's greatest strengths, Graffan replied, "a real strength of our school is the cohesiveness of the school staff as it shares and blends all aspects of educational opportunities to ensure that all students' needs are met."
Wapping receives its School of the Year Award at the Annual Program Recognition Banquet on May 11, 2005.
Written by Dr. Robert Carroll, Assistant Executive Director
The criteria used to judge the schools include the following.
1. The school provides an educational program which is conducive to meeting the needs of all its students.
2. The school provides student opportunities that go beyond those that are a part of a typical school; i.e. clubs, activities, support services, extra help for those who need it.
3. The school's educational programs are consistently being reviewed and improved.
4. The school welcomes participation from all constituencies.
5. The school plays an active role in the community.
6. The school actively encourages parent involvement.
Under the leadership of Graffam, the school has created a learning environment that is student centered, strives to meet individual differences, and encourages risk taking. It is the kind of school experience that stays with students long after they move on to middle and high school. The school has many quality programs for a diverse student population. The school also has an effective inclusion program for special needs students.
The selection committee indicated that several factors contributed to Wapping's selection as School of the Year. The school has numerous innovative programs that are specifically designed to meet the needs of all its students; it has fostered very strong relationships with community groups; and its staff is of high quality and works collaboratively in the best interest of their students.
In addition to traditional grade-level classrooms, Wapping offers developmentally appropriate kindergarten classes, a looping option for grades 1 and 2, and many support programs. These programs include Limited English Proficiency , tutoring, math support for students in grades 1-5, early literacy intervention instruction provided by both certified staff and paraprofessionals, and adaptive physical education for physically disabled students.
Wapping also offers a peer mediation program for students in grades 3-5; a comprehensive choral, orchestra, band and general music program; gifted and talented opportunities through classroom differentiation; the district Project Excel program; and a wide array of special education services. A school-based strategy team meets weekly to coordinate services and to monitor the progress of students. Improvement of educational programs is an ongoing process. Staff teams analyze student achievement data, develop recommendations and assist in the implementation of those recommendations.
When South Windsor Superintendent Dr. Joseph Wood was asked what made this award so special he responded, "I can think of few schools more deserving of this award than Wapping Elementary School. They have developed a school environment that is successful for a broad range of students and the principal, staff and parents ensure that the school environment is caring and accepting of everyone."
A number of Wapping’s programs go beyond the school day. Yearly, their fifth grade organizes and manages a community blood drive for the American Red Cross. Their fourth grades continue to run successful food drives for the South Windsor Community Food Pantry. The Wapping Student Council has collected thousands of books throughout the past several years for the Books to Dreams Program, a volunteer driven program that places new and nearly new books into the hands of children in safe houses and homeless shelters. In addition, the school provides three programs yearly honoring local veterans and has a special relationship with the local American Legion Post. The school also does an annual primary research and writing project with local veterans. Personal narratives written by students about the veterans are archived by the American Legion. A number of Wapping's school programs are aired by Fox 61 News.
Wapping has reached out and developed a relationship with the local senior citizen center and participates in its annual Valentine's Senior Sweetie project.
Parent volunteers receive yearly training and assist classroom teachers in many ways including one-on-one reading and extra math support with students. High school students can be found in the classrooms each day engaging in community service projects. The school awards several annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors who will continue their careers in the service of children.
Parents are invited to participate in the development of school action plans. More importantly, they are encouraged to become an active partner in their children's education. There is 100% attendance at parent conferences which speaks very highly of how parents feel about their children's education.
When asked what was one of his school's greatest strengths, Graffan replied, "a real strength of our school is the cohesiveness of the school staff as it shares and blends all aspects of educational opportunities to ensure that all students' needs are met."
Wapping receives its School of the Year Award at the Annual Program Recognition Banquet on May 11, 2005.
Written by Dr. Robert Carroll, Assistant Executive Director