This year, the faculty and staff are committed to achieving the goal of increasing student achievement by continuous consistent implementation of the curriculum with fidelity. In our K-3 grades, we are excited about our participation in the Reading First program. In this program, we focus on five elements, familiarly known as, “The Fabulous Five.” Scientifically based research supports their importance in a reading instruction program. The “Fab Five” are: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Each is included in reading instruction daily for our beginning readers and for our older struggling readers in all grades. We at Banks Elementary believe that through implementation of the Reading First Program, we will achieve our goal of having all children reading on grade level by grade three, by the year 2009.    

A second literacy program that is being implemented this year will help the students at Banks Elementary achieve the goal of having all students read at grade level by grade three is Jumpstart. This program is designed to bridge the gap in literacy with children who are between the ages of three and four years old. We are implementing this program with our pre-k students. The Jumpstart program provides many wonderful opportunities to differentiate instruction for two hours, twice a week with the assistance of student workers. It is also providing professional development for our teachers and a parental involvement component.

The faculty and staff along with the community at large have made a commitment to the students of Banks Elementary to do whatever it takes to help them become life long learners.