Culture and Community Context

History

Beattie opened in 1972 and was named after Dan Beattie, long-time community leader, distinguished athlete, and educator. The Beattie motto is "open classrooms, endless possibilities."

Learning culture

Beattie is an open classroom building which promotes collaborative teaching and learning, and encourages everyone to work together. Teachers throughout the school strive to address student needs, and students build problem-solving and critical thinking skills through the learning activities presented. The culture includes an emphasis on health and wellness, and related activities occur throughout the year for students, families, and staff.

Academic environment

Beattie uses teaching teams at each grade level. The school layout is open, which allows a tremendous level of collaboration for both students and staff. Physical education, music, and art classes offer students experiences to develop their athletic, musical, and creative potential. We share the desire for students to reach for and achieve high goals, knowing that the journey is just as important as the end result.

Instructional & enrichment programs

Meeting the full range of students’ academic needs, Beattie’s educational programs include gifted and talented, a special needs resource and moderate needs program, as well as literacy intervention, and a full-time counselor.
Beattie is a Positive Behavior and Intervention Support (PBiS) school, with an emphasis on R.A.M.S. (Respect All, Act Responsibly, Motivated to Learn, and Safety). Beattie ensures a positive, safe, school environment through our PBiS behavior teaching matrix, use of Peacekeepers, which emphasizes restorative practices, and the practice of crisis response procedures. Our school-wide approach includes the saying "RAMS climb higher". Students are recognized for their efforts and positive behavior, and this recognition includes being identified as a Beattie "Rockstar".

During my time at Beattie, I observed the R.A.M.S. positive behavior plan in action as when I had a classroom management issue with a student I could go over the R.A.M.S. behavior model to help the student make a positive behavior decision. The art program is focused on the educational journey and this is what we focused on in our lesson planning. I was impressed with the creativity and perseverance of the students and the staff was welcoming and friendly.

Demographic Characteristics

District: Poudre School District R-1

Student/teacher ratio: 15.7
Number of students: 349

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.6%

Hispanic:

24.1%

Two or more races:

5.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 54.7%

Source (August 2019): https://www.schooldigger.com/go/CO/schools/0399000520/school.aspx

Classroom Environment

During my Beattie teaching experience, my peer teaching group taught alternating classes of 4th and 5th graders on Fridays, with each class period 45 minutes in length. We would see 5A and 4A on one Friday and 5B and 4B the next. This schedule was helpful in that for most lessons we got to teach the same lesson to four different classes which allowed us to modify and improve the lessons as needed. The classes were diverse and lively and students with special needs are integrated into the art classroom and assigned a paraprofessional.

The art curriculum at Beattie is choice-based during the week, which means students choose the medium and content they wish to explore. Choice-based curriculums are built upon the studio habit of mind with the viewpoint that the child is the artist. More information about studio habits can be found here: http://www.studiothinking.org/the-framework.html

The curriculum we used throughout the semester was called Wonderlab Fridays with a focus on ideation, discovery and exploration of new materials. As a result of this experience, I better understand the importance of incorporating ideation into a curriculum to help students learn how to generate ideas.

Safe Schools and Students with Special Needs

"Child Find" Student Evaluation Process

PSD trained and certified professionals evaluate children when significant concerns are indicated for the child’s early development or educational progress. This service is referred to as "Child Find."

Evaluations address the areas of concern for each child. Evaluations are provided in several areas, including but not limited to the following:

early concepts (birth-5)
educational skills (PreK-12)
cognitive functioning
speech-language skills
physical development
social-emotional functioning
vision and hearing screening

Evaluations are conducted at no cost to parents, with parent consent and participation. After the evaluation is completed, a meeting is held with parents to determine eligibility for services. If a child is eligible for services, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is written.

Further resources for children with special needs can be found here: https://www.psdschools.org/programs-services/integrated-services/disability-related-resources

PSD is committed to an inclusive and safe climate for all students.

With Campus Security Officers serving as the eyes and ears of the district and School Resource Officers (certified police officers) based at all middle and comprehensive high schools, safety for students and staffs is a top priority.

The PSD Security Department promotes an inclusive and safe climate through proactive and innovative services, relationships, and communication. PSD continually updates crisis plans and implements prevention programs to ensure safe learning environments in all schools.

PSD Campus Security Officers (CSOs) and School Resource Officers (SROs) help keep students safe.

Campus Security Officers, part of the PSD Security Department, work at school sites as the eyes and ears of the district. Duties include security; vehicle, bike, and foot patrol; special event coverage; and crisis response and assistance.

School Resource Officers are certified police officers based at PSD middle and high schools. SROs help maintain the schools' safe learning environment, improve school/law enforcement collaboration, and promote positive relations between students, staff, and law enforcement officials.