Special
Education - It is the policy of Feltwell Elementary
and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
that ALL students shall be provided a free,
appropriate education in schools where placement and
service decisions are based on the identified individual
needs of the student, in the least restrictive environment
and in accordance with the system's regulations and
guiding principles. Imbedded in our mission and
policy is the practice of inclusive education, which
is defined as the participation of all students, including
those with disabilities, limited English proficiency,
identified gifts and talents and other special needs
in the general education program. Supplemental
aids and servics are provided to these students where
necessary for them to attain success.
We provide an
array of services for children with hearing, vision,
and other health impairments, emotional and learning
disabilities, developmental delays, and speech/language
disorders. When needed we provide assistive
technology, supplemental instructional support,
and extended school year. We have a teacher for
the learning impaired and a speech/language pathologist
on staff. Our instructional programs are
supported by trained educational aides.
Students identified with special needs
may also require medically related services that are provided by Educational
and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) personnel. EDIS providers
include an audiologist, pediatric psychologist, psychiatrist, speech/language
pathologist, social worker, physical and occupational therapists, and a
developmental pediatrician.
The DoDEA Special Education Web Site contains
a wealth of information and additional resources and can be accessed at http://www.odedodea.edu/curriculum/instruction/sped/index.htm or
access the DoDEA Instructions/Regulations at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives
Return
Gifted
Education - We provide
an instructional program for identified gifted learners. Approximately
3-4% of our student population are identified with
special gifts and talents. We are committed
to providing an educational program in which students
may grow to be fulfilled, productive and contributing
members of society according to their promise. To
encourage optimum achievement, Feltwell Elementary
provides varied and challenging learning opportunities
matched to the needs and talents of students with
high potential. We currently have one staff
member who is a certified gifted education teacher.
A Gifted Review
Committee reviews all referrals to the program
and considers students who have been referred
through the screening process, teacher, parent
or professional staff member recommendation,
self-nomination, or because he/she was eligible
in a previous school. Specific program
eligibility criteria can be found in the DoDEA
Manual 2590.2 by linking to:
DoDEA Gifted
Education
DoDDS
Europe Gifted Education
Feltwell
Elementary School
Currently
our gifted teacher also teaches the schoolwide enrichment
program which is for all students.
Return
English
as a Second Language - Students entering
Feltwell ES represent many nationalities, cultures,
and varying linguistic backgrounds. In order
for students whose dominant language is a language
other than English to succeed socially, academically,
and vocationally in American society, they need
to become proficient in the ability to communicate
in
English as well. Students are currently identified
by determining if language other than English is
spoken in the home at the time of school registration
and by ascertaining their current level of English
proficiency using appropriate entry/exit assessment
and evaluation procedures.
Feltwell Elementary
is staffed to provided ESL services to those
students who meet the DoDDS criteria.
Compensatory
Education - Compensatory education is a program
designed for students working below the age and grade
skills of their peers based upon systemwide test
results and teacher referral. The program emphasizes
the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. It
is designed to supplement the regular curriculum
much like Title 1 programs.
We do not currently
have a compensatory education teacher for mathematics. Teachers
often use volunteers to support the curriculum
needs of students whose skills are not at expected
levels.
We currently have one half-time teacher
who is a language arts specialist. This teacher works with all grade
levels to promote the basic literacy skills of reading and writing.
Return
Reading
Recovery - Reading Recovery is a short-term,
early intervention program for first grade students
who have identified difficulty with early literacy
and reading skills. Based upon the child's
strengths and needs, the Reading Recovery teacher
uses active learning techniques in a one on one teaching
environment to promote independence in reading and
writing. The teachers are highly trained to
implement the strategies of the Reading Recovery
program for a small number of identified first grade
students.
We currently
have two half-time teachers for our Reading Recovery
program.
Host
Nation - Host nation is an instructional
intercultural program designed to teach students
about the nation in which they are currently living
while on their overseas assignment. The program
teaches students about the local culture and history
of the host nation community.
We currently
have one full time host nation teacher who teaches
all the students in the school on a weekly basis
as well as coordinates study trips through consultation
with teachers and administration.
Return
Counseling -
The counselors at Feltwell ES provide weekly whole class
lessons for each grade level for two quarters of the
school year (approximately 20 weeks). The counseling
standards include three major areas of focus; academic
development, career exploration, and personal/social
development. Individual and small group counseling
is available throughout the school year and can be provided
by either the counselor or school psychologist. Counseling
provides an opportunity to work one on one or in a small
group setting to help children with such things as study
skills, anger management, social/friendship skills, and
improving self-esteem or self-confidence.
We currently have
one and a half counselors and a part time school
psychologist on staff to assist students with counseling
needs.
Return
School
Wide Assistance Team - The Pupil Personnel
Services (PPS) team consisting of the school nurse,
counselor, psychologists, a general education teacher
and administrator, have established a student support
team (SST). The SST, a collaborative problem
solving team, helps support student success on a
schoolwide basis, serving as a functional forum for
routine and timely problem solving. We use
the existing expertise of our staff to
-
assist
in the resolution of attitude, behavior, and/or academic
difficulties
-
provide
assistance to students who are not eligible for special
educationand related services
-
support
pre-referral activities for alternative instructional
programs
Crisis
Intervention Team - This is a team selected by
the administrator to assist in the prevention, intervention,
postvention needs of our school community during times
of crisis. The team consists primarily of the administrators,
nurse, counselor, psychologist and a general education
teacher with coordination from community resources (Family
Advocacy, EDIS, Behavioral Health). It is designed
to assist the students, staff and school community with
help to reduce the stress and management of coping during
times of crisis such as national disaster, staff member
or student death, or community related incidents that
may impact on the functioning of our students, staff
or community.
Return
Safe
Schools Program - At Feltwell Elementary
we are implementing a comprehensive safe schools
program designed to build on our already strong foundations
of discipline, security and climate. We have
completed all five phases of the program and have
established goals and action plans which we are implementing
during this school year. Our plans currently
involve development of a schoolwide positive discipline
program. Our Resources Committee (a sub-committee
of the School Improvement Leadership Team) has been
researching programs and implementing staff development
all geared to address this initiative. We are
ever alert to security issues and have plans to modify
our existing door and key lock systems, improve the
security of the school campus by installing mirrors,
and implementing a visitor and volunteer control
program.
Drug
Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) - Taught
by a local British Police Constabulary (PC) who works
for the Ministry of Defense (MOD), fifth grade students
participate in 8 weekly lessons on drug resistance,
peer pressure, and healthy decision making. The
program culminates in a DARE graduation at the end
of the school year.
Return
Physical
Education/Music/Art
Students participate weekly in each of these curricular
areas:
Physical education ensures
that all children gain knowledge, skills and attitudes to
develop a health lifestyle now and throughout their lifetime. PE
focuses on fitness, movement, eye/hand coordination, sports
skills, and games. It takes into consideration the
needs, interests, and characteristics of all students.
In music students express
themselves through singing. Students learn about
rhythm patterns and songs from many historical periods
and geographical areas, as well as from various cultures. Such
a varied study of music allows the children to gain an
understanding about music and its relationship to dialy
life.
Return
Student artwork is seen
throughout the school. A visually rich student
centered environment is important to any school and this
is especially true at Feltwell ES. Students experience
a wide variety of media with an emphasis on the development
of creative skills and personal satisfaction of their
work.
