SCHOOL MISSION

The students and faculty at Spring Street School created the following Mission Statement in 2005. At Spring Street School, excellence is everyone's responsibility. We pledge to:

• Work hard and be responsible for our learning.
• Support each other as we give our best effort to reach high academic goals.
• Respect our differences as we work together to make the world a better place.

The Mission Statement is shared at All School Meeting on a monthly basis, and is communicated during Morning Announcements, when our fourth grade students facilitate the pledge of allegiance, moment of silence, share daily announcements, and one quote of the day. While the mission statement provides the community with guidelines to follow, the Spring Street School Core Values explain and describe the expectations of the entire school community, consisting of staff members, students, parents, and families.

The Core Values, also developed in 2005, were written by the entire school community. The process took five months to complete, as surveys were distributed to students, parents and staff members and adjustments were made. The Core Values of our school represent our deeply held beliefs about teaching and learning. They are as follows:

1. Acceptance

At Spring Street School, all members of the community will accept and care for others. The community:

• Respects each other's similarities and differences.
• Practices compassion and kindness by helping others.
• Encourages teamwork.

2. Dedication

At Spring Street School, all members of the community will model the importance of life-long learning. The community:

• Promotes curiosity and a desire to learn.
• Understands that learning is a process that is continuous.
• Encourages ownership and responsibility for learning.

3. Support

At Spring Street School, all members of the community will focus their efforts on the success of the students. The community:

• Gives best effort to maintain a balance between academics, extra-curricular activities, and community service projects.
• Supports active learning, and provides opportunities to use imagination and creativity to enhance learning.
• Encourages appropriate risk-taking in academic and social areas.

4. Perseverance

At Spring Street School, all members of the community will demonstrate perseverance in all aspects of learning. The community:

• Establishes high expectations.
• Shares in responsibility for learning.
• Assesses academic performance and demonstrates a willingness to improve.
• Assumes responsibility for words and actions.

Spring Street School is home to students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade. Students and teachers work closely and collaboratively with their grade level peers, and across grade levels. Our early elementary classrooms are involved in a buddy program with our upper elementary classrooms and participate in special projects and activities with one another. Students from Shrewsbury High School volunteer in our classrooms on a weekly basis and work with students and teachers in a variety of ways. Our parent community is extremely supportive. Parents regularly volunteer in our classrooms and work with both teachers and students in all areas of the curriculum. In addition, the Spring Street School PTO has sponsors a number of community events each year. Events for the 2008-2009 include:

1. a Newcomers' Tea in August for students and families new to the school
2. held a Spirit of Spring Street Family dinner
3. participated in the Spirit of Shrewsbury Parade
4. organized a Fall Family Breakfast
5. arranging a Craft Fair and Coffee House.

Our two most profitable fundraisers include our annual Fun Fair in the early spring and our gift wrap fundraiser. The proceeds of both the community events and the fundraising events are used to support curriculum resources and enrichment programs. We are very fortunate to have the level of involvement that we experience at Spring Street School!

Our school community continues to be dedicated to meeting the needs of all its learners, both children and adults included!