For the second year in a row, Village Elementary School has been named a National Showcase School.
Students, faculty and even some parents filled the cafeteria at Village Tuesday afternoon to hear the good news. The road to this achievement began three years ago when Village chose to join with the Flippen Group to bring their program Capturing Kids Hearts to the school.
The National Showcase Schools awards recognize and celebrate schools which go the extra mile to build a safe and welcoming environment for their students. To do this, VIllage has implemented multiple programs including a family time each month.
During this time students of all grades and teachers are mixed up and put into individual classrooms where they have time to simply get to know one another. Principal John Martin says he sees the results of these efforts in the hallways each day.
Martin adds one individual in particular who has been on board with the program from the start is assistant Principal Brandi Mitchell. Mitchell says the program takes a social-emotional approach to the learning process, meaning by ensuring children feel safe and welcome they are more receptive to learning.
Capturing Kids Hearts has been in schools across the nation since 1990. According to Martin Village was recognized as a National Showcase School out of 10,000 schools nationwide who participate in the program.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
{gallery}Village National Showcase{/gallery}