At Dry Creek Elementary School each grade is consolidated into one “Creek” or instructional environment. Each of the grade’s three homebase teachers has a specific teaching space, and there is space available to bring the entire grade together in “large group”. Each Creek’s faculty functions as a team and may choose to group and regroup students according to individual, group, and curriculum needs.
Technology
Technology is an integral part of the classroom environment. Students use wireless laptops at their desks; desktop computers are also available in every classroom. Teachers plan and implement technology into their curriculum.
(All students are required to provide their own headphones. Please put them in a Ziploc bag, and label both the bag and the headphones themselves.)
Art
The goal of the Art Program at Dry Creek is to meet all of the art proficiencies in accordance with the Colorado State Standards. Our program builds on art skills from kindergarten through 5th grade and exposes students to a wide variety of art mediums. Kindergarten has art once a week for 20 minutes. First through fifth grades have art once a week for 45 minutes.
Our students are taught to respect materials and their use. They learn about art from many artists, cultures and perspectives. The art room has a sense of community, where all students have the ability to be successful.
We have an all school Art Show/Fundraiser every other year where each student has the opportunity to display his or her talents and creativity with multiple pieces. During the off years students’ art is displayed in art shows throughout our community.
Music
There are 3 main
goals of the music program at Dry Creek Elementary School:
- To provide authentic musical experiences that will further develop
students ability to properly use the singing voice.
- To provide authentic musical experiences that will further develop student’s ability to read, create,
and imitate grade appropriate rhythms.
- To foster creativity and an appreciation for music in everyday life.
Each class has music once a week for 45 minutes (Kindergarten has music for 20 minutes). Music is taught through various
methods and philosophies including solfege (do-re-mi) in conjunction with hand syllables used in Kodaly’s method,
as well as with the Orff-Schulwerk approach. Orff instruments (xylophones, etc.), drums and
simple hand percussion, are used with an emphasis on beat and rhythm. Other methods such as rhythmic speech and body percussion are also used.
Programs are performed throughout the year with First, Third, and
Fifth grades as well as with the band, choir, and drum group.
Physical Education
Each class (K-5) has PE once a week. In kindergarten, students are introduced to the basic fundamental skills through exploration and discovery. Students will be learning basic movement patterns that include loco-motor movements, spatial awareness, balance, and rhythm and dance. In first and second grade, students start learning and understanding the beginning aspects of basic skills that are developed through modified games and activities. The focus is on learning, understanding and implementing the major aspects of each skill as movement exercises and motor skills become more complex.
In grades 3, 4 and 5, students combine the basic fundamental skills and incorporate them into sport skills. Students demonstrate knowledge of the key aaspects of each skill and comprehend basic game rules through modified games.
All students experience competitive situations and are encouraged to demonstrate cooperation, sportsmanship, and fair play. Our emphasis is on having fun and being part of a team, rather than placing emphasis on winning and losing.
Gym Classes: Please have students wear tennis shoes on the days they have their PE classes. Students will be given 2 warnings and then a notice will be sent home for parents to sign after the third time when improper shoes are worn. Students with improper shoes will not be able to participate in certain activities for their own safety, as well as for the safety of others in class. Please do not wear sandals, Crocs, clogs, roller tennis shoes, boots, or open-ended tennis shoes.
Check your child’s class schedule to find out the day they have PE. If your child cannot participate in class for the day, please send a note so they may be excused from activities.
Spanish
At the end of each year we have a Spanish bee for those third through fifth graders who scored the highest on qualifying tests. The bee takes place at an all-school assembly, and there are prizes for the winners.
In the Spring all first through fifth grade classes hold a mercado. They learn how to bargain in Spanish and practice vocabulary while buying and selling old toys, baked goods, and other trinkets to each other.
Special Education Services
Students learn best when provided with a safe and secure environment where they have a good balance of challenge and support. We are committed to meeting the needs of diverse learners at Dry Creek Elementary. It is our goal to educate students in the least restrictive environment while challenging them by setting high expectations of student success, presenting engaging learning activities, and promoting opportunities to foster self-determination skills.
Our special education team includes a Learning Disabilities Specialist, Speech-Language Pathologist, School Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Hearing Specialist, ELA Specialist, Math and Reading Interventionists and a School Nurse. The team is available to assist teachers in making classroom modifications and accommodations, providing teaching strategies, and suggesting classroom management approaches.
Our support also includes providing fair evaluations, transition services, and standards based goals to help students learn and grow to the best they can be. We strive to aid students in developing the skills and abilities that will allow them to flourish in any situation whether in school, work, or the surrounding community.