WHAT MAKES GRANT SPECIAL?

Vision Statement
The Grant School Community, which includes students, their families, staff, and community members, will work together to create a safe and caring learning environment in which students will become self-directed learners, collaborative workers, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens. Families will share in the responsibility for their child’s success through their active support of the educational process.

Awards and Special Assemblies
In an effort to recognize all children at Grant, there will are four Awards Assemblies throughout the year. Students will be recognized in the areas of reading, math, effort, improvement, creativity, thinking, character and other talents. The PTA/Booster Club funds special assemblies that promote the arts, science, history and self-esteem.

Caught Being Good
Wouldn’t it be nice if kids were rewarded for their good deeds more often? The highly successful “Caught Being Good” program will highlight children who go the extra mile to help a buddy in class, pick up extra trash, be a friend to a new student, or volunteer their time for their teacher or school. Every act of kindness will result in the issuing of a “Caught Being Good” slip. At each awards assembly, students who have been “caught” will be eligible for prizes.

Fifth Grade Outdoor Science School

From February 1-5 our 5th graders will embark on a 5-day trip to Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu. Students will spend the time hiking, taking science courses, learning survival skills, working and living in cabin groups, getting to know each other better, and having a great time. A staff of trained naturalists who have been directing and running the camp for years runs Camp Hess-Cramer. Santa Monica High School cabin counselors, the 5th grade teachers, Assistant Principal and the Principal will accompany our 5th graders to camp.

Intramural Sports Leagues
One of the most popular activities will be the lunchtime organized intramural sports league for boys and girls in grades 2-5. Teams of 2nd and 3rd graders, and 4th and 5th graders compete in Super Dodgeball (Grant's National Pastime!), Soccer, Basketball and Kickball.

Gecko Patrol
Gecko Patrol is the adapted version of Kid Patrol and Character Counts! Program Comprised of 4th and 5th grade students, Gecko Patrol's mission is to achieve peace, harmony and goodwill among Grant Elementary School students, its community and surrounding support system.

Gecko Patrol members are recognized as leaders of this movement on campus. Members are committed to the following:
  • Serving on selected patrol each week assigned
  • Attending Gecko Patrol Training Workshops
  • Modeling pillars of Character Counts! Program and using Cool Tools strategy

Cool Tools
Cool Tools is used to teach students strategies in handling conflict on the playground, in the classroom, and in daily interactions with peers and others in various social settings. Cool Tools instills in students self-independence in building relationships and working with difficult situations.

Gifted and Talented in Education Program (GATE)
Grant School is committed to a quality upper grade program that will challenge and motivate all students who seek to excel. All 4th and 5th grade students are included in a unique program that gives all children the opportunities to participate in courses such as: Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Poetry and Art. Classroom programs differentiate the curriculum in literacy, math, science, art and social studies. Before and after school enrichment classes in science, art, drama, cooking, foreign language, public speaking and other subjects allow students to explore a variety of topics and interests. The district Honor Orchestra recognizes gifted musicians for the Stairways to the Stars program.

The Quiet Center
The PTA has organized and implemented “The Quiet Center,” an alternative activity station during lunch/recess.  Students may choose to play board games, work on daily art projects, fold and fly paper airplanes or work on puzzles during their recess time.  Staffed by a paid playground supervisor and parent volunteers, The Quiet Center has become quite the popular place to be during lunch.  This year we will be adding a Kindergarten Quiet Center so that our youngest students have another choice during playtime.

Visual and Performing Arts Programs
The arts program has been drastically enhanced. Thanks to money from the state, all 3rd graders will receive vocal music on a weekly basis - taught by credentialed music teachers. Our 4th and 5th graders will benefit from twice a week instrumental music or chorus classes taught by six of the district's credentialed music teachers. In addition, the Grant PTA and Booster Club will continue to fund mini-courses in dance/movement, ceramics, vocal music, drama, Kinder psychomotor, poetry and art classes for the students.  The Arts Program also includes the 2009 Grant Talent Show, the 5th Grade Play, three chorus concerts, and two instrumental music concerts. Our After School Enrichment Program offers three six-week sessions in the arts, dance, foreign language and other areas. All 4th and 5th graders participate in the instrumental music program. A special selection process allows the most talented musicians to participate in the district-wide Stairways to the Stars evening.  Finally, our third graders participate in the Public Speaking Celebration in late February.

Technology
Grant is part of the Education Enhanced Through Technology (EETT) grant. All 2nd and 5th grade rooms have been equipped with Smartboards, LCD projectors, G4 iBook laptops and a wireless mobile computer lab. All classrooms are now wireless environments.   A mini-labs have been set up in the library. Already, every upper grade teacher has created power point presentations and changed the direction of learning through technology. Through PTA and private donations we purchased Smartboards and document cameras for every 2nd and 3rd grade classroom and a state-of-the-art 20-computer mini-lab for students and parents to use on a daily basis.  We have a total of 170 computers on campus, a ratio of one computer per four students.

Late Start Fridays
Beginning in September 11, the entire school participates in Late Start Fridays. School begins at 9:44am each Friday. The “late start” allows the teaching staff to meet on a weekly basis to engage in staff development meetings and in-services, grade-level articulation meetings, and individual and team planning. Childcare services are extended in the mornings at no additional cost for those enrolled in CREST.  There is also playground supervision provided for all children from 7:30-9:30am. Every school in the district has either designed a “Late Start” or “Early Out” weekly schedule, as teaching staffs attempt to work together to raise achievement scores and work towards proficiency or advanced proficiency for all.