Spring-Ford Area School District

Information About Royersford Elementary School

"Parents, Students, and Staff Working Together"

2008-2009 Theme  "Reaching New Heights"
 

2008-2009 FACT SHEET

 What is Royersford Like?

n    Community-Based School – All Royersford Elementary students are within walking distance to the school.  However, due to safety considerations, approximately 35% of our students are eligible for bus transportation.

 n    Accessible - The school’s motto, “Parents, Students and Staff:  Working Together” accurately captures our mission.  In order to be successful, we have to work together.  Being accessible to parents is a necessary component to achieving our mission.  Regular communication takes place through homework books, telephone calls which teachers can make and receive from their classrooms, an in-house voice mail system which directs calls 24 hours a day and includes an Information Center, and all staff e-mail.

 n     Family Atmosphere - Visitors remark about the welcoming atmosphere of the school.  The staff is friendly and willing to help.  Parents are encouraged to volunteer…to get involved…and become part of the family.  Monthly “school spirit” days are held to bring us closer together as a school family.  The children look forward to these special days and often select them as one of their favorite aspects of the school.  It is also important to us to communicate that we are part of a larger whole.  Other community service activities focus on giving and helping those who are less fortunate.

 n     Cohesiveness and Stability of the Staff - While there is a balance between experienced and recently hired classroom teachers, more than half of our staff have spent a majority of their educational careers at Royersford Elementary.  Commonly scheduled planning time and a desire to work as a team, enable each grade level to provide the most effective education possible.

 n     Reputation - Our students consistently receive positive comments and compliments on their abilities and behavior from educational trip hosts, assembly presenters and visitors to the building.  We  concentrate on teaching the skills necessary for our students to demonstrate good manners as well as positive character qualities.  High expectations are maintained for academic achievement as well as behavior.  Our students have consistently attained Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) on the state-administered PSSA tests in 3rd and 4th grade, since the beginning of the collection of test data by the state.

 n     Technology - Completely renovated in 1992-93, Royersford Elementary is a state-of-the-art elementary facility.  It was the first elementary school in Pennsylvania to be wired with fiber optic cable.  The school’s computers are completely networked.  Assignments begun in the 30-station computer lab can be completed on one of the four student computers located in each classroom, or on any computer in the building.  All student computers also are connected to the Internet through a filtered security system.  In addition, all teachers have laptop computers which are used to plan instruction, design student materials, tabulate grades, and gain Internet access.  The building also has closed-circuit television capabilities which includes a video distribution system that broadcasts to classrooms over three channels.

 n     Pro-Social Skills – For more than 15 years, and through a variety of programs our school has focused on character qualities.  Our current pro-social skills program was formulated 6 years ago and teaches a variety of life-long skills.  Pro-social skills lessons are taught weekly in each classroom and students, (Gr. 1-4), who exemplify these skill areas are given the opportunity to make the “Good Choice Team” each Friday.  This program encourages our students to “Stop & Think” before making decisions and also teaches ways in which they can “Make Good Choices”.  Our building’s discipline plan is closely tied to the pro-social skills program.

 n     GLOBE Program - Selected by the White House in 1995 as one of the first 200 schools to participate in this world-wide program, Royersford Elementary was the first elementary school to be chosen for this program.  Our fourth graders make daily weather readings and report their findings to NASA and NOAA via the Internet as part of this worldwide program.  This information is utilized by scientists to more accurately determine trends, due to the fact that they have reliable data readings in a greater number of locations.  There are now more than 10,000 GLOBE schools in more than 95 countries.

 n     Community Resources - Across the playground from the school is the Bard Community Center.  Formerly the Fourth Avenue Building of Royersford Elementary, this facility houses the Royersford Free Public Library, the Spring-Ford Area Historical Society, and Project Outreach.  Our school has a close working relationship with all three organizations and our students participate in activities that involve each one.

 n     Modern Facility - Renovated during 1992-93, our building provides a cheerful and bright location that is flexible as well as conducive to educational activities.  The school serves as one of the main points of focus for the community, and the building is used by outside groups on every night during the week.  We encourage our students to take pride in their school and participate in keeping it in top shape.
 

From Our Files ...

“Thanks for making school an exciting place to learn.” 

“Royersford Elementary School is a wonderful place for children to learn and grow and develop sound values of citizenship.  The teachers have always been caring and very supportive.  Your leadership has enhanced the program at Royersford and our children have been the benefactors.  We will miss our experiences at Royersford but will always remember them.” 

“We could not leave Royersford Elementary School…without letting you know how fortunate we were to be a part of your school….Having been involved with the Home and School League, I got to see the “behind the scenes” of running an elementary school, and was truly impressed with the relationship between the volunteers and school staff.”

“Please tell everyone at school how much we miss them.  There is no school like yours.  We talk about all of you often and we miss you.”

“Thank you for all the wonderful programs you provide during the year.  I’m very proud to have my children in your school.  I can’t say enough about the teachers and the staff.  They are all great.  They deserve a lot of praise.” 

“Thank you for taking such a great interest in (my daughter).  The care that you and your staff have shown has helped her to adjust to her new situation more easily than I have.  God bless you!
P.S.  I’m sure as time goes on, she’ll even be easier to get along with!”

“You not only care about the educational needs of the students but you are really interested in the students’ lives and well-being.  And students know it too.  For everything you’ve done for the kids and the school - Thank you!  It is appreciated.”

“I will miss Mr. Willauer.  I know next year the principal will not be like him.  He made elementary school feel like one big happy family.”

“Thank you for making our school a fun place to learn, work, and play.  If we gave grades to a principal you’d get an A+.  Thank you for running our school well.”

“I like you.  Thank you for watching over us.”

“I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity of student teaching in your school.  The kind of caring and sharing that exists among your staff only reflects the attitude of you, their principal.  It is this type of atmosphere I hope to be a part of someday.”

“Royersford has such a special feeling there….Thank you so much for all your guidance and support throughout the years with our children.  I feel you and your staff have played an important role in (their) tender years and (we) appreciate this dearly.”