Student Life

The staff at Chamberlain encourages parent, family and community involvement in the education and learning process of their students. To enhance and accomplish the mission of Chamberlain, the following programs, frameworks and activities are available:

Recognizing Effort and Achievement

• Catch ‘Em Being Good – Staff members submit the names of students who have been doing well at something. Names are announced Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings to verbally praise students’ efforts.
• Celebration Assemblies – Student accomplishments are celebrated regularly by grade level or in a school-wide ceremony. Music, short skits, and little object lessons are given wrapped around celebrations of academics, fine arts skills and life skills.
• Fifth Grade Graduation – This ritual marks the end of one time period in a student’s life and the beginning of another. Students know that they continue to be part of the Chamberlain community, and we continue to offer them help and support.

Partnering for Success

• Chamberlain Guarantee – With both parent and school working together, we believe children will achieve. For kindergarten and first grade parents who choose to sign, the Chamberlain Guarantee states that their child will be on grade level by the end of third grade or else the school will provide a tutor for that child. In return, the parent will be involved in their child’s education in the six ways specified in the guarantee.
• Kindergarten Partners Support – Any parent of a kindergarten student can receive support from a trained Parent as Teacher staff member. This staff member visits the home once every two weeks and brings in free books and supplies. The staff member shares with the parent the developmental stages the children of the family are going through and the developmental stages to come. She models excellent strategies, both academic and affective that will be positive influences on children.
• Newsletters – The principal sends home a newsletter each month to parents, while various teachers send home newsletters on a weekly basis.

Technology Education

• Computer Lab – Available to every classroom every day, the computer lab gives students experience with technology. Our highly knowledgeable technology resource coordinator is an excellent resource for issues and needs.
• Media Center – Our media center is supported by an excellent certified librarian.

Life Skills Education

• Conflict Resolution Skills – All students – kindergarteners through fifth graders – learn communication skills that lead to conflict resolution.
• Crisis Team – If a death, serious injury, or other trauma creates a crisis for us as a school, our Crisis Team coordinates the necessary, predetermined steps to meet the needs of students and adults.
• Crossing Guards – Fifth graders who demonstrate responsibility and show good self-control may serve as a Chamberlain Crossing Guard for two weeks. They receive $.75 a day if they are prompt, responsible, and follow the contract.
• English as a New Language (ENL) – We have two teachers and one parent/school liaison to work with students and families who are learning English as a new language.
• Mini-Economy – Several classrooms are set up as mini-economies that continue throughout the year. Real life experiences are developed and simulated in these classrooms.

Health and Environmental Education

• Health Visits – First grade children receive a checkup from an optometrist, and third grade children receive a checkup from a dental hygienist.
• Outdoor Education – Fifth graders spend two days at Camp Amigo learning about our environment, understanding how to take care of it, and studying nature.
• Resource Team – This team is set up to help give guidance and ideas to parents on how to work with individual children academically, socially, etc.
• Space Camp at Huntsville, AL – Fourth and fifth grade students have the opportunity to go to Huntsville, Alabama, to attend a weekend astronaut school. Students who cannot raise the required funds may receive scholarships if they show “good faith” work toward fundraising.