OVERVIEW
At Western Peaks Elementary, we believe in educating the whole child. Students need to feel safe, secure and cared about before they can focus on academic learning. Our staff addresses the needs of every child in order to help each one rise to their full capabilities. All students do have the ability to learn! Some learn at different paces and in different modalities. As a K-4 school, building strong foundational skills in the core content areas is vital. We know how important it is for children to be reading at or above grade level as they progress through their years of schooling. Our teachers and staff work diligently to ensure that every student makes remarkable growth, reaches proficiency, and is successfully prepared for their next phase in education.
Western Peaks has a signature program of Innovation. Innovation in education encourages teachers and students to explore, research and use all available tools to uncover something new. It involves a different way of looking at problems and solving them. The thinking process that goes into it will help students develop their creativity and their problem solving skills. Innovative skills are highly valuable to the education and work fields of the present and future. We believe in starting our youngest learners on that journey to be innovators!
Western Peaks believes in creating a true family community in order to wrap full support around our students. We value partnering with families for the overall success of the student. We are the Falcon Family!
CORE COURSES
Mathematics
Dysart Schools use Illustrative Mathematics for instruction. IM K–11 is a problem-based core curriculum built on the principle that all students are capable learners of grade-level mathematics. Students learn math by doing math. They are encouraged to use their current understanding of math, their lived experiences, and the world around them as resources for problem solving.
Language Arts
Dysart schools use 95 Percent Group Phonics, HMH Into Reading, CommonLit, SAVVAS myView, and SAVVAS myPerspectives to develop literacy skills in phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, analysis, and evaluation of texts. Students develop their skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language use as described in the state standards for each grade level.
Science
Dysart schools use Discovery Science Tech book curriculum, as well as Generation Genius and Mystery Science. Students actively participate in science practices, and look through the lens of cross cutting concepts, as they explore the content described in the state standards for each grade level.
Social Studies
Dysart Schools use McGraw Hill Networks and Impact as well as Discovery Education curriculums for the instruction of Social Studies. Students engage in inquiry based instruction where they explore the various content described in the state standards for each grade level.
PRESCHOOL
Growing Minds
Our mantra is “learn through play.” Learn through play is a core value that supports cognitive skills, physical growth, new vocabulary, social skills, and literacy skills.
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Developmental
Developmental preschool services are provided by certified special education and related services staff based on identified student needs.
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Role Model
Opportunity for typically developing young children to attend preschool and serve as a peer model to foster collaboration, development and tolerance.
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ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Tier II Reading Intervention
Students are provided with intervention in reading skills that they have not yet mastered. This is done in a “walk to read” model, in which students are grouped based on the skills they need additional support in, and go to a teacher in their grade level who provides direct interventions using the 95 Percent Group Phonics program. This allows students to receive reteaching and practice of specific foundational reading skills until they have mastered these skills and move to their next level of phonics instruction.
Tier III Reading Intervention
Students are provided direct, explicit instruction based on skills identified in assessment. Students are seen in a small group setting of five to six students, four to five days a week. 95 Percent Group phonological awareness and phonics programs are used for instruction to fill gaps in their learning.
English Language Support
Students who qualify for EL services, receive English language support in the mainstream classroom in order to provide ample opportunities for them to collaborate with their peers and access grade level content. The Arizona State Standards for English Language Proficiency and AZELLA data are utilized to drive targeted instruction to provide support in whole group instruction for English language learners.
Students will develop skills, knowledge, and dispositions to lead physically active lives. Physical Education class will include age and physically-appropriate activities centered around fitness activities, sports, health science, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Students will utilize various locomotor and non-locomotor skills to build coordination and balance. Students will learn skills related to lifetime activities including how to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, movement and how it impacts the human body, the rules, tactics, strategies, and etiquette of games and sports.