Student Life
Each grade level takes at least one major field trip, focusing mostly on life science. Destinations range from botanical gardens to zoos to camps. Students also attend fine arts performances throughout the year and participate in a variety of community activities, including one of the largest school food drives in the area. This year students donated food and other essentials to more than 120 families.
Achieving Success: Academic and Physical Fitness
Teachers and students are actively involved in constructing knowledge. Waterford teachers use proven scientific, research-based instructional practices that improve student success. Educators use best teaching practices to help students meet high expectations. In turn, students strive to meet those goals both in the classroom and in school activities.
Healthy Competition
A school-wide exercise incentive program, organized by the school nurse, challenges students to complete laps around the playground's walking track during recess. Students record the number of laps they complete each week and turn them in to the nurse, who awards prizes for benchmarks. The track, funded by a grant from Goshen Health Systems and student fundraising efforts, promotes exercise and self-motivation.
For fifth grade students, the gym teacher organizes a 12-week basketball league and tournament. Boys and girls participate in separate leagues with the winners of each league combining forces to play against the principal and the fifth grade teachers. Central office administrators have officiated the last two games.
Fifth graders also participate in live morning announcements that are broadcast throughout the school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Students organize the broadcast, presenting to the school news pieces written by the principal.
