“The Reading Place” is the Colvin theme that inspires
students to excel. Ensuring all students read on or above grade level is a major
emphasis at Colvin. Every student spends three hours each day studying language
arts.
Students receive intense instruction and frequent assessment on their reading
progress. Students in grades K through 5 participate in the Read and Respond
Incentive Program. Additional programs that contribute to Colvin’s success
include technology, art, music, physical education, science, pre-kindergarten,
Speakers of Other Languages, and 90 minutes of math per day using Math
Investigations. Colvin parents and teachers communicate regularly through
conferences, home visits, school activities and frequent phone calls. Parents
are important partners in their children’s education.
Colvin also houses a Community Center to provide Senior Lunches, Health
Services, WIC, Planeview Community Library, Park and Recreation services, and a
Mini City Hall.
Technology at Colvin includes individual teacher laptops with teacher tools for each teacher, networked computers in each classroom that
have Jostens Individualized Learning System, writing tools, research tools, and Accelerated Reader, and Lightspan technology in each
classroom and student's home. Lightspan technology allows the students to continue learning at home through math and reading video,
provides parents a glimpse into what the child is learning in school, and provides a communication link between the schools and the families
via Lightspan Local Connect.
Another feature of the Colvin program includes teaming. The students are on teams for learning, both small cooperative group teams that
change regularly and a large team consisting of 90 to 120 students and 4 to 5 teachers and 2 paraprofessionals. The teams are multiage and
students stay with the same team for two years. Staff also works in a variety of teams. Teachers are provided with 1.5 hours per day for
team planning, team staff development, and individual lesson preparation. Teacher teams include teachers who bring a variety of strengths
to the team so that each is an "expert" in one or two areas for their team. The leaders of each of teacher teams join forces to provide the
Leadership Team for the building, working with the administration and the School Site Council to provide direction and guidance to the
school.
Parent Involvement is a big focus at Colvin. Over the summer the staff made several home visits to each family at Colvin. Personal and
frequent communication between parents and teachers is an expectation. A full time Parent Involvement Worker is employed to facilitate
opportunities for parents from volunteering their time and talent, to parent education, to launching a new Parent Teacher Organization.
The exploratories offered at Colvin provide the students with a rich array of opportunities. All students K-5 participate in science lab,
physical education, vocal music, and art. They have two exploratories a day for 45 minutes each. Students in grades 4 and 5 have may also
enroll in strings or band if they desire.
Colvin Elementary is a school located in a low socio-economic neighborhood with a rich diversity of students. Half of our students speak a
first language other than English. In Colvin's first twenty years in existence much pride has been taken in this diversity. With this diversity
and the heavy focus on academic excellence, Colvin faces the next twenty years with even greater pride.
COLVIN MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Colvin Elementary is to ensure academic excellence in a
way that:
* Provides a safe, caring environment
* Supports students, staff, home and community involvement
* Shows respect for diversity
* Enriches learning through technology
* Emphasizes reading, writing, and math skills
So that all students are responsible citizens with a foundation to be life-long learners
Directions
Exit I-135 at Pawnee. Go east
on Pawnee to Hillside. Go south on Hillside to Ross Parkway.
Go east on Ross Parkway to Roosevelt. Go south 1/2
block to Colvin. See Maps
for all USD 259 locations.
