Dickson County’s Vanleer Elementary Creates Nurturing Atmosphere for Kids
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Sitting on a spot that a century ago was known as Peach Orchard‚ Dickson County’s newest school‚ Vanleer Elementary‚ is sowing the seeds to reap future leaders.
Students here benefit from innovative educational programs‚ a nurturing environment and strong parental and community support.
“One of the things that makes Vanleer Elementary such a nice place to be for both students and faculty is the parental and community support‚” says Principal Rachel Weaver. “Our parents are real proud of our school. They give us their help and support any time we ask for it.”
Vanleer creates a nurturing environ ment through morning assemblies‚ during which students and faculty gather to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and recognize special achievements‚ such as birthdays or awards. Every nine weeks there is an awards program to recognize honor roll students‚ as well as members of the Wildcats Outstanding Workers club – those students who may not be A or B students but who work very hard in school and put forth a good effort.
“We feel like this makes the school more personal‚ more unique. Students are very happy when they are recognized for their efforts‚” Weaver says.
The daily assembly is also a learning experience – the students participate in math or science activities during the assembly. There is a question of the day and students put answers to the question in a mailbox. The school’s librarian pulls answers out of the mailbox at the following day’s assembly and students learn the answer to the question.
Also‚ each Wednesday‚ AmSouth Bank comes to the school to teach the lesson in personal finance. About 100 students participate. Students bring money they have saved for deposit into savings accounts that the bank has set up for them.
“They bring their money and their deposit ticket. It teaches them to save money and also helps them with math‚” Weaver says.
One of the most successful programs at the school has been the Accelerated Reader program. Students are awarded a certain number of points for books read. When they earn 100 points‚ they can be a “principal of the day‚” helping in the office with paperwork and taking attendance or helping with PE classes. At the end of the year‚ the students in grades K-2 and 3-5 who earn the most points win bicycles. Others earn gift certificates for the school “shopping mall.”
“The Accelerated Reader program is a really big deal at our school. Our students work very hard‚” Weaver says.
Story by Nancy Humphrey
