Earhart Environmental Magnet Elementary School

Located in Wichita, Kansas, Earhart is a neighborhood magnet school that provides a student-centered learning environment and integrates district academic standards with environmental education. Ecosystems including oceans, deserts, and grasslands are taught in great depth to students and are woven into reading, math and writing instruction. Students are taught to respect the environment and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make sound environmental decisions. Outdoor experiences such as environmental lab studies, field trips, camp days and overnight camping trips enhance the environmental aspects of the program because the classrooms are "taken outdoors". Family involvement plays a vital role in the support and excellence of the Earhart program. Earhart "grows" neat kids!

Achievement Highlights

National recognition as a "School of Excellence," 1989-90

Libby Eaton, teacher at Earhart, winner of Albert Pike "Teacher of the Year," 2004

2004 winner of Great Plans Earth Institute "Earth Stewardship Award"

2004 Recipient of Wichita Schools "Improving Learning Through Technology Grant"

Accredited by the State of Kansas under Quality Performance Accreditation, July 2000

Met the State Standard of Excellence in Math & Science 2003-2005

Mission

Our mission at Earhart Environmental Magnet School is to ensure that all students will grow into responsible, productive citizens. Staff, students, parents and other community members strive to provide a nurturing, productive, educational environment by cultivating:

academic growth, environmental responsibility, social development, opportunities to set and achieve personal goals

Philosophy

We provide students and families with: a safe, orderly environment where students are on-task and learning; a family-like atmosphere, where teachers develop close relationships with students and their families; a school with strong academics, and test scores that consistently rank among the best in the city and surrounding areas; and an emphasis on learning about and respecting the environment.

Campus Improvement Program

Target Goals from Campus Improvement Plan:

(1) All students will develop effective reading comprehension skills.

(2) All students will develop effective math problem-solving and communication skills.

(3) All students will develop effective written communication skills.

Environmental Education Strands:

During the 1st year, students study a thematic strand, each for three months. In September/October/November students study Wetlands; during December/January/February they study Oceans; and in March/April/May they study Grasslands. For the 2nd year the thematic strands are Woodlands/Mountains, Deserts/Rainforests and Kansas Diversity.

Site Council Information

Earhart Elementary, like every school in USD 259, has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

Programs

OWLS (Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site) - we are one of the oldest OWLS sites in the state Recipient of a WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program) grant Student tutoring through The Coleman Company Environmental/science themes - see Environmental Education strands. Campus-wide recycling efforts Accelerated Reader reading motivation program

Student Activities

Safe learning environment with a clear school discipline plan Experienced and caring staff Consistent high test scores on various local and state assessments Active and supportive parent group Comprehensive environmental curriculum covering six ecosystems, meeting state environmental standards Outdoor educational activities and overnight trips to parks and campsites Twelve-acre site encompassing a pond area, butterfly garden, arbor area, prairie grasslands and nature trail Students have raised several thousand dollars to save areas of the rainforest around the globe. Students participate in a variety of community service projects Earth Day Earth-stravaganza - our students host an Earth Day Fair for students from other schools

School History

The original North Riverside School building serving the children of District 170 was a small two-room wood-frame structure located at approximately 39th Street and Arkansas. It was in operation for most of the first half of the twentieth century and was the attendance center for farm children of the area who went through grade eight. Those who chose to attend high school went either to Valley Center or a Wichita high school.

In 1952 the present 11 acre site was occupied by a small building which was added to as the area became more settled. The school continued on a kindergarten through grade eight basis. Hot lunches were served because of the distance some students had to walk.

The district came into the Wichita Public School system by attachment on July 1, 1963 and in 1964-65 the name was changed to Amelia Earhart in honor of the famous Kansas aviatrix. In September 1965 the school organization was altered to serve kindergarten through grade six.

In 1977 the school became an environmental magnet school. Working with school officials, local, state and federal agencies, an environmental outdoor classroom area was designed for the north part of the school ground. Divided into four sections, there are a natural vegetation area, a picnic area and a formal garden area - each an important part in the overall site.

At the beginning of the 1988-89 year, sixth grade students were incorporated into the middle school program, leaving a K-5 enrollment of approximately 300 students.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

Earhart's current building is deteriorating and with most of the classrooms in portables it was agreed that a new building should be constructed on this site. Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey architects provided plans for a new 450-student school on the same site. The new school is scheduled to be completed by March 2008.