South Elementary School in Andover, Massachusetts, has an effective, winning school climate. Our community members feel proud, connected and committed to education. We are a community of leaders and learners.
Educational literature advocates a strong school culture that leads to high student achievement, strong relationships among students and teachers, and mutual respect for individual differences. We believe the South climate for learning embodies these elements. Teachers know they make a difference because they provide experiences that are child-centered. Staff development is ongoing; communication is open and honest.
We serve a culturally diverse, mainly English-speaking population of 547 kindergarten through grade five students in a district that is upper-middle-class and contains mostly single family homes and one large mixed income, subsidized development. Our inclusion model for our special needs students (9.5% of our total enrollment) in grades K-5 provides effective academic and social interaction among the regular education students through shared learning experiences in all disciplines.
South is situated on 43 wooded acres in a close-knit residential community. As one of Andover’s five elementary schools, South has experienced a major renovation since it was built in 1958 and has experienced countless academic milestones in its forty-two year history. These milestones include: a change in 1984 from homogeneous to heterogeneous grouping; the development of cooperative classroom learning strategies; implementation of school-wide technology curriculum; inclusion in all disciplines of higher level thinking skills; process writing; the development of Andover Curriculum Benchmarks; the introduction of a standards base science program, Science and Technology for Children (STC), and the expansion of the math curriculum to include Everyday Mathematics by University of Chicago.
South staff and students have a long tradition of giving and community involvement. Our Harvest Festival typically involves children donating to food pantries. Our students also collect books for countries in need of written materials. Our holiday gift giving and donation of winter coats to those in need, are other examples. Recycling of all school paper is an integral part of our environmental awareness program.
South tradition has continued to emphasize the fostering of a strong school culture through active student government, participatory decision-making and close ties with the parent community.
The uniqueness of South is multi-faceted, the result of a carefully crafted combination of concrete and abstract ingredients:
 | An ideal learning climate achieved through the principal’s implementation of a shared decision-making policy with her staff, assistant principal, and parent community; a formal “School Culture” program; and a schoolwide student responsibility program that provides children with models for participatory decision-making, leading to student resolution of school problems. |
| A highly involved parent community which fully embraces the philosophy of South School. Over 400 parents volunteer on a yearly basis. |
| An instructional philosophy focused on learning centered classrooms. Three themes that are evident are high challenges, active learning and diversified instruction. |
| Integration of technology is key at South. Students and teachers use technology in all curriculum areas expanding across all grade levels. Our goal is to use technology to further a learning community where students are enthusiastically engaged in thoughtful, risk-taking, hands-on learning activities. Current technology initiatives include: multimedia presentations, portable keyboards, laptops for students, computerized parent conference sheets, and a parent voice messaging system. |
| A twelve-year established partnership with Genetics Institute, a national leader in biotechnology, through which Genetics Institute scientists teach hands-on science to fifth graders. |
| A documented record of superior student achievement attested to by state and national examinations. |
| An active student government through which students have an opportunity to have a voice in the school. Committees include: The Spirit Committee which focuses on school morale; The Community Service Committee, which investigates ways in which South School students can reach out to others; and The Student Issues Committee, which develops school improvement ideas. |
| State of the art staff development based on the model: teachers as learners, teachers as researchers, and teachers as trainers. |
| Adoption of new programs which have resulted in an updated, innovative curriculum that includes: a cutting edge technology curriculum for grades K-5 utilizing Internet research, data collection and multimedia presentations; a comprehensive health curriculum; a research based math program which focuses on higher level thinking skills; and a science program created by the National Science Foundation, Science and Technology for Children (STC). |
| Use of a year-long school theme that integrates and engages all subject areas. Over the past three years, South School themes have included: Who I Am Makes a Difference, South LINKS to Success (Life-Long Learning, Involvement, Networking, Kindness, Support) and Students Today - Leaders Tomorrow. |
| Utilization of the cultural resources of Boston and Andover to supplement and enhance student’s lives. Noteworthy examples include courses and visits to the New England Aquarium and Museum of Science, Addison Gallery of Art, Andover Historical Society, Peabody Museum, and America’s Stonehenge. |
| Highly structured networks of parent/teacher and community committees which traditionally work closely with South staff and pupils. Examples include: teaching before/after school enrichment clubs, serving on PTO committees, and planning cultural events. |
