• Category 2

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 0
    Student Enrollment: 175
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 4%
    White/Caucasian: 93.6%
    Hispanic: 1.7%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.6%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:9
    % Reduced Lunch: 39.3%
    % ELL Learners: 3%
    Founded: 1963
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Eric Brewer
  • CONTACT:
    3548 South 775 East
    New Ross, IN 47968
    765-362-0542
    eric.brewer@southmont.k12.in.us
Walnut Elementary School
New Ross, IN
We believe it is vitally important that we work together as a family, holding each other accountable for the education of all children.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
We are very proud of our Walnut Theater Club. Led by our Title One teacher, over a third of our student body are a part of this theatrical event. Our teacher also directs the New Ross Players, a local community drama troupe annually performs in the nearby town of New Ross. The adult group will soon be practicing their performances within the school setting, a unique opportunity for a small elementary school. The connection between the two groups epitomizes the inner strengths and talents of our community. Children learn to organize, read, express and role playing like no other experience. Multiple stages are available throughout the school for practice and presentation. We celebrate their hard work with public performances that are vastly attended. Playgoers spread great cheer and support for our children's through our school district. It is a great event!
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
We believe in continuous school improvement. We try to keep it simple with four areas of concentration: student achievement, student behavior, technology integration and attendance. We implement the framework of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. Each child in our district has an assigned iPad or Chromebook assigned to them We are also a leader in the implantation of e-learning. We also acknowledge students with exemplary attendance histories. Celebrations include social media announcements, Blue Slip Principal rewards, High Five awards and Blue Eagle parties.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
We have a strong reputation of doing what is best for kids. We have a students first, adults later mentality. We have a strong connection with both families and community that helps us identify gaps in both academics and basics of life. We are a very small elementary school but we do more with less. Although we performing exceedingly well on standardized tests, our greatest achievement is all staff members know all of our students. We have been a grade A state acknowledged school since its inception. We most recently were awarded four star status and are the only four star rural school in west central Indiana. We are also home to the Little Mountie Preschool, a district wide preschool that accepts students at the age of 3.
Explain how ESEA federal funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Our ESEA federal funds are completely dedicated to fund the salary of our Title One teacher. Currently she is in our building four days a week. She is an integral member of our family and is a model for professional collaboration.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Along with our school wide theater arts/drama experience, we implement Minds in Motion through neuroscience exploration. We are equipping a classroom for full accessibility to students for daily routines. We also have guest speakers and artists visit to create a link for students in their areas of interests or careers. We have corporation grade level meetings to share across the district and seeking consistencies amongst our elementary buildings. Teachers attend a wide variety of conferences and workshops and bring back their findings during professional learning community times.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Through our weekly professional learning communities, we are able to effectively review student data and share instructional practices along with technology integration. Our ultimate goal is to close all gaps for all learners. We have an aggressive goal to increase our English/Language Arts and Math results by 5% and we utilize resources daily to monitor our assessment levels to achieve this goal.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
We believe it is vitally important that we work together as a family, holding each other accountable for the education of all children. As a strong performing school, instructional practices are validated through both assessment results and student achievement. Our strategy of a whole child approach has far reaching impacts for the child, their interactions with others at school and a distinct connection with the home. We believe our students are engaged, challenged and prepared for success. Our level of collaboration is unmatched as instructors. We believe Title One is not a program but it is an experience. It is another step up the staircase each day. Walnut has become a school of choice for it's challenging, dynamic learning culture. "Flying high on the prairie - Walnut Flyers!"
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 0
    Student Enrollment: 175
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 4%
    White/Caucasian: 93.6%
    Hispanic: 1.7%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.6%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:9
    % Reduced Lunch: 39.3%
    % ELL Learners: 3%
    Founded: 1963
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Eric Brewer
  • CONTACT:
    3548 South 775 East
    New Ross, IN 47968
    765-362-0542
    eric.brewer@southmont.k12.in.us