Francis Scott Key Elementary School (home)

About Key School Communicating Information for parents is sent home regularly in students' backpacks. Also, Key sends home a Thursday Report from the principal and teachers. Additionally, the PTA sends home Next Week at Key to remind parents of upcoming events. This notice is sent by email to all parents and by flyer only to parents who request it. Once a month, the PTA publishes Keynotes, a newsletter with more detailed information on school events. Facilities & Academic Instruction Since 1928 Key School has taught children from Palisades and across Washington, D.C. The school is widely known for its academic excellence, diverse student body, dedicated and innovative teachers, and committed parents. Extensive capital improvement of Key Elementary was completed in fall 2003. The renovated and expanded school currently enrolls 285 students and will gradually increase to approximately 300. Facilities include bright, spacious classrooms, a modern, fully automated library with more than 5,000 volumes that support the curriculum and student interests, state-of-the-art computer and science labs, a gymnasium, combined cafeteria and auditorium, and a “pro-green” artificial grass athletic field. Key Elementary School strives to achieve four instructional goals for every student from pre-k to fifth grade: to help each child master critical learning skills; to encourage every student to discover his or her special abilities while respecting the accomplishments of others; to ensure a healthy physical environment that promotes each student’s mental and physical development; and to provide the leadership, planning, and resources necessary to accomplish these goals. Resource Programs In addition to offering outstanding instruction in fundamental academic skills, Key Elementary offers every student exceptional enrichment programs in math, reading, science, computer literacy, music, arts (both at Key and the Fillmore Arts Center), and physical education. Key’s instructional staff includes a full-time teacher of English as a second language, occupational therapist, speech, audiologist, hearing impaired, and educational psychologist. A winter after-school program offers a variety of classes which have included foreign language, drama, computer, and sports. Almost 30% of Key School’s students are children from other countries and the school has a World Family Committee to assist them. The highlight of the committee’s work is Passport Tuesday, a monthly program designed to encourage international parents to be part of the school community by teaching students about their country. Science Students receive instruction twice a week (pre-K once a week) with an inquiry based, hands-on approach to exploring science. Students use the DCPS adopted curriculum of Foss Science to go through various lessons in Life Science, Physical Science and Earth and Space Science. Each science strand has content and performance standards that include essential knowledge and skills for the students to demonstrate and perform. Key School has partnerships with Discovery Creek, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and The National Science Teachers Association. Key School has also developed an integrated approach to science, math and technology instruction with the Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. Technology Key School is wired and committed to the use of educational technology to extend and enrich teaching and learning. We believe that students with access to technology become more productive and resourceful learners. All students, pre-k through fifth grade, visit our computer lab weekly to work toward greater mastery of information technologies, and computers are in every classroom. Skills include editing and publishing as well as presentation techniques, and electronic research and communication. A full time computer teacher works closely with classroom teachers on meaningful computer and multi-media applications and how to better integrate technology into the curriculum. Playground Rules and Use of Outdoor Facilities Following is a list of Playground Rules. These rules are enforced by the school staff during school hours. Before and after school parents and caregivers are responsible for the supervision of the children in their care and for adherence to the playground rules while on school property. No climbing on the walls, fences, or basketball hoops No playing on handrails No playing on or climbing trees No shoes off at any time on the playground No glass on the playground One person on a swing at a time and no jumping off the swing No climbing on the tunnel of slides No fighting, wrestling or other pushing Always respect and listen to duty personnel No leaving the playground without permission Use of Outdoor Facilities The playground is off limits to groups engaged in organized play from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm every weekday that school is in session. At all other times the playground is open to the public on a first-come first-serve basis.