WESTFIELD – For Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center’s presentation to the School Committee, principal Joanne Hentnick began with a slideshow of the 3-5 year olds playing with pulleys, catapults and building blocks.
Fort Meadow Principal Joanne Hentnick and teacher Sandra Guilbert, the Harold Grinspoon award recipient at the school, talked about their programs to the School Committee on Monday. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski is on the right. (Photo submitted)
Teacher Sandra Guilbert, the Harold Grinspoon Award winner at Fort Meadow, said that pre-schoolers are “natural engineers.” Guilbert, who teaches an engineering course to the other teachers at the school, said the pictures show the children working together to solve problems.
Hentnick said that all of the teachers at Fort Meadow are special education teachers. 45% of the children have diagnosed special needs, and 47% are English language learners. Another high percentage are economically disadvantaged, according to Hentnick.
“The great thing I love about this is we have a lot of diversity,” she said, adding that their work is to focus school wide on positive success for all children.
The school also focuses on math and reading preparedness, with teachers creating kindergarten readiness profiles for all the students. In reading readiness, Hentnick said 40% of the students have strong skills and 28% have many skills, meaning that 68% of the students are ready to start learning to read. “And it’s only April,” Hentnick said.
Fort Meadow is currently preparing for accreditation, which she said is as strenuous as the high school’s process, taking months to prepare for two days of site visits. The school undergoes the accreditation process every five years.
Hentnick said that at Fort Meadow, the focus on technology is geared towards the teachers and programs they can use to help the children learn. She said the school purposely limits the exposure to children, who she said are overwhelmed by technology in everyday life.
Recently, Hentnick underwent a training on the effects of trauma on children, which she called “eye-opening,” and recommended to the School Committee. She said misdiagnoses are made that are actually the result of trauma in the children’s lives.
“Honestly, I feel very, very fortunate. I feel that we have everything that we need. I have the staff that I need, and the materials I need,” Hentnich said, thanking and asking the School Committee for their continued support.
When pressed by the School Committee, Hentnick did say the Fort Meadow school building is old, and needs a new boiler.
