Welcome to LVCS Elementary

Overview

Our elementary school offers a rigorous academic program to all students.  Elementary students are assigned to a single classroom; often students participate in ability grouped rotations beginning in third grade for language arts and math. The goal of rotations is to address each student’s learning needs based on what academics will challenge him/her. These groups are fluid and change often as students master the skills and concepts. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade participate in our integrated arts program taking classes in Spanish, P.E, science, music and art. During the integrated arts block, teachers have professional collaboration and planning time to address the curriculum needs of their students.

Schedule

Please go to schedule for Bell Schedule and Pick up and Drop off information.

Class Links

Please click on the following links for more information about your child's classroom schedule procedures and events. Some TeacherWeb websites are still being developed. Links will be provided here when the sites are available.

First Grade: Alison Baird | Tracie Connors | Kelly Guzik | Laura Morgan | Pat Wagle
Second Grade: Amber Kotowski | Muriel Burns | Christy Verbeck  | Amy Greene | Megan Landon
Third Grade: Michelle Apodaca | James Brandle | Jenna Howard | Renee Vernon | Heather Zischka
Fourth Grade: Anna Johnson | Vicki Lo | Jennifer Pennybacker | Heidi Preece
Fifth Grade: Amanda Bender | Aaron Connors | Emily Thomas | Dayana Albornoz

Assemblies

Dragon Assemblies are approximately one hour in length and are held once a month. Students from various grade levels recite poetry, play instruments, sing and perform short plays. These assemblies give our students an opportunity to showcase their learning in a fun and entertaining way. Please contact your child's classroom teacher for more specific information on their upcoming assemblies.

Events

Apple Festival for 1st graders
The History Van for third graders
Fourth graders' week at Camp Arroyo
The San Jose Technology Museum
The Lawrence Livermore Hall of Science
 

Curriculum

At LVCS our focus is on the education of the whole child through a core curriculum of English-language arts, mathematics, science, and history-social science including an enriching curriculum of visual and performing arts, physical education, foreign language, technology and life skills education.

Our elementary teams plan collaboratively and employ a variety of teaching strategies to differentiate instruction for their students. Teachers use the framework of backward design to create year long curriculum pacing plans aligned with the California Department of Education Curriculum Standards (CDE standards). We start with the essential learning we want our students to leave each grade level with, design assessments to measure how we will know what they have learned and then create daily instructional plans to implement throughout the year.

The concepts and skills taught are comprehensively assessed each trimester using Individual Data Management Systems (IDMS), a computer based system. This regular cycle of assessment allows our teachers to better target instructional needs for each student.

Teachers conference regularly with parents in the course of the school year and student progress is reported to parents through Personal Learning Plans (PLP). PLP's incorporate: student progress based on the standards taught each trimester and teacher analysis of areas of individual academic strength, talent and strategies that will help each student succeed. Our PLP's differ from a conventional report card by measuring student achievement based on California Department or Education (CDE) standards and give specific information on how parents can partner with teachers for student success.