WASHINGTON SCHOOL
2300 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAY * 644-6310 * JOYCE BJORGUM, PRINCIPAL

Washington makes learning exciting and fun. Take for example the annual school-wide reading program. This year's theme, the Reading Olympics, began with a faculty play set on Mount Olympus in ancient Greece, where the gods had just been informed that school children in Berkeley were holding a new kind of Olympics -- an Olympics of the mind! Enter the Spirit of Reading, with baskets of scrolls for each classroom, and instructions on how each child could earn medals by reading books. "The program also encourages parent participation," explains teacher Corinne Howard, the program's guiding light. "Notes are sent home to all families, explaining how they can help. One first grade teacher asked for volunteers to be in the classroom each morning, to hear students read out loud. In that one classroom the children read one thousand books!" The toga-draped Spirit of Reading returned weekly to visit each class, sharing wisdom about ancient Greece and awarding shiny gold, blue-ribboned medals to be pasted on each child's scroll. As always, the grand finale performance was an event not to be missed, beginning with a torch-lit procession of students welcomed by the thunderous applause of virtually every family in the school, and ending with a dessert social. "Our whole community comes together in celebration of learning," says Howard. "That is the true spirit of reading, and it lasts throughout the year!"

Washington tackles the other disciplines with the same creative energy. Kindergartners and first graders participate in the "Writing to Read" IBM Lab program that teaches reading through writing. Serious science begins in kindergarten, as students become experts on the butterfly's life cycle, including creating their own glossy spin-charts illustrating metamorphosis. Thanks to a strong math program, student learning results are soaring. Nor are the arts neglected: a guitarist visits every class weekly, teaching the children songs and accompanying them, while the older children are taught to play on song flutes and recorders. Choruses rehearse on Wednesday pm.

Parents and staff alike speak with pride about Washington's able and close-knit community that guides the school through both the wonderful times and the difficult ones -- such as the need for the entire school to move into portables while the main building was being refurbished, then back into the building again. These moves might have been a source of disruption, but with the cooperation of Washington's staff, parents and students, both moves were not only accomplished smoothly, but became positive, community-building events.

"I don't know how the teachers do it." Parent Stephanie Allen shakes her head in admiration. "They turned the entire experience into one big adventure for the kids. They don't notice the slightest disruption. To them it's just part of the fun of coming to Washington." Teachers speak as highly of the parents, whose strong involvement makes Washington the wonderful school it is.

That quality is reflected in the reopened building itself. Seismically safe, the school boasts new bathrooms, lighting and fixtures, newly enlarged kindergartens, new carpeting and floors. Innovative use of color and design have created a warm and inviting environment. Principal Joyce Bjorgum calls the new school, "an inspiration and the realization of our hearts' desire."

Outside, Washington has always been special. "A place of calm and learning," is how Principal Bjorgum describes Washington's environmental yard, with its redwoods and picnic areas. On any given day, a visitor to the yard might find a class being run by one of the 30 UC Berkeley students who have designed a program for Washington which includes both instruction and hands-on practice in such areas as composting, pond life and gardening -- just one more example of how Washington makes learning exciting and fun!

Web services donated by inresco. Comments?