Annual Report 2006

Dawson School

Dawson continues to engage its students in a challenging educational environment with projects and events that enhance learning and reach out to the community.  This year

Dawson students once again participated in Holiday Helper to purchase toys and clothing for children at Abby’s House. Working together with the PTA, the Student Council collected food for the Wachusett Food Pantry. The Student Council also had a penny fund drive for the Make A Wish Foundation, sponsored a school wide poster contest with the theme of showing care and concern for others and helped organize paper recycling at Dawson School.

These activities are linked to the Dawson philosophy of encouraging all students to be lovable, capable and caring.  Regular school-wide assemblies are held to nurture this message and recognition for positive behavior and accomplishments of both students and staff are presented.

Academically, students utilize many programs based on the most current learning standards such as the Everyday Math Program, the Science Through Experimentation Program, the Successmaker Integrated Software Program and Handwriting Without Tears.  Each year Dawson organizes Continents Month, an integrated unit of study, where each grade level focuses on one of the continents.  Students complete independent research projects and special art projects.  Parents prepare buffets of foods for each grade level that relate to each continent and come to class as guest speakers to share their travel experiences. A Continents Challenge Quiz Bowl is held involving all students in grades 3-5 competing on multiage teams.

Vigorous fund raising permits the PTA to provide numerous cultural and enrichment programs for students as well as provide bus transportation for field trips for each grade level.  A strong group of parent volunteers support learning by giving time each week.  This year 15 parents were trained to be Literacy Volunteers by primary teachers in support of the primary grades reading program.  Community resources such as the Wachusett Watershed presents environmental classes that relate to curriculum study and Nature Trail use at Dawson.  A field day organized by PTA in conjunction with the Dawson physical education teacher will round out the many offerings for children at Dawson School this year.