Ruskin

Ruskin School is committed to excellence. The students, parents and staff are proud of Ruskin’s strong academic programs. Ruskin’s warm, caring, and friendly environment welcomes all children and challenges them to strive for academic excellence. The high expectations and pride that students exhibit are clearly demonstrated in the school environment.

School Staff
A dedicated, multilingual, and highly qualified staff work closely together. Training and workshops enable the staff to continually enhance their skills in meeting the needs of all learners. The dedication of each staff member promotes and fosters a positive, respectful learning environment for every student.

Curriculum
Instructional programs at Ruskin are based on the belief that every child will learn and every child will succeed. Staff uses available resources and employs the newest instructional strategies, technology, and multiple assessments to provide each child with rich, thinking and meaning-centered curriculum.

Students in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program receive classroom reinforcement and have the opportunity to participate in an after school enrichment program. Reading tutors, English as a Second Language (ESL) tutors, K-S Buddies, and the Homework Club provide assistance in assuring a rich academic program is provided for every student.

The high level of student success is clearly shown on tests and assessment performances. This year, the school’s focus is on math and literacy.

Special Programs
The Ruskin Math/Science Lab, located in its own permanent building, provides opportunities for Ruskin students to explore and discover "hands-on" experiences. Each week, students participate in science and math experiments to discover a wide variety of subjects in life, physical and earth science.

These learning experiences support the classroom instructional program. Students at Ruskin’s annual Science Fair enthusiastically display projects and scientific theories.

Ruskin’s computer center provides students with biweekly visits where keyboarding skills, word processing, Internet strategies and research skills are taught. Computers are found in many of the individual classrooms where teachers and students can access information and enhance the classroom academics.

The Ruskin School library is a valuable resource for students, parents and teachers providing printed, audio, video, and technological information. Grants

have added to the wealth of services available in the library. Students have the opportunity to check out library books enhancing their literacy skills, which is evident in the high participation of Ruskin’s annual Readers’ Hall of Fame program which now has developed into a new Literacy Program called "Ruskin Reads."

Parent and Community Involvement
While the Ruskin Education Council monitors the overall school program, Ruskin’s Parent Teacher Association actively provides fund raising activities that support the academic programs. Both groups are a valued part of the school community. Ruskin’s English Language Advisory Committee assists our English language learner program.

Ruskin community members worked along with students and teachers t~ reach the tremendous goal of purchasing a permanent double modular building to house the Math/Science Lab and Technology Center and new playground equipment.

Commitment from the community, students, staff, and grants from foundations and corporations made the labs and new playgrounds possible. These partnerships symbolize the importance of community involvement contributing to Ruskin student successes and academic excellence.