Welcome from

Faye Anderson, Principal, Manson Park School

Tricia Alley, Assistant Principal, Manson Park School

Welcome to Manson Park School’s website. Manson Park houses four sessions of pre-kindergarten and four classes of first grade. This small building offers a special experience for students and staff. We have a classroom teaching staff of 7 with several support staff and a student enrollment of 121.

Manson Park’s preschool program, in collaboration with Kennebec Valley Head Start and Child Development Services, was the first public school in Maine to become accredited through the National Association of the Education of the Young Child (NAYCE). Our program focuses on the social development of the young child. We utilize the Creative Curriculum program to monitor student progress and create our lessons. Students have the opportunity to explore literacy, math, and social interactions. They take part in a “family style” breakfast or lunch program depending on the half-day session they attend. Students attend school on Tuesday through Friday for three hours each day. Our staff is comprised of one teacher from the Head Start Program and 4 district personnel. The teacher student ratio of 1:7 provides staff ample time to interact individually with each student and develop language skills.

Grade one students have access to Title I assistance in reading and math, along with Art, Music, Physical Education, Guidance and Library. Teacher/student ratio for 2009-2010 for our first graders is approximately 1:17.

The reading program follows the Ohio State University Literacy Collaborative Framework, using the research of Fountas and Pinnell and Marie Clay. Students take part in Read Aloud, Shared Reading, Guided Reading, Independent Reading, Shared Writing, Interactive Writing, Writing Workshop, and Independent Writing. We work at ensuring that students have a variety of experiences with all the different components of reading including phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

The Investigations Math program is activity based and focuses on problem solving strategies. Students learn to work cooperatively to solve problems that connect math to everyday occurrences. We are also working at enhancing math vocabulary, fluency, computation and writing. Through supplemental materials we ensure that our students meet essential learning that we have developed based on the Maine Learning Results. This ensures that all students have the same core learning in all classrooms. Science and Social Studies are integrated into reading and math and is thematic based.

Student progress in reading is monitored throughout the year with reading assessments, writing prompts, letter/sound identification assessments, Concepts about Print, and running records. Goals for students are created based on their progress. Assessments are also given through the Investigations program and through teacher created assessments in math.

Parent/Teacher conferences are held in November. Student Led Portfolio Shares occur in April providing students the opportunity to share with their parents the progress they have made throughout the year.

The Manson Park School is wonderful leaning community that puts the children’s needs first. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school and we will be happy to speak with you.

Respectfully,

Faye Anderson

Directions: From: I- 95. Exit 150. Off ramp go toward downtown Pittsfield on Somerset Ave. and take a right onto Main St./Rt. 100. Proceed south on Main Street/Rt. 100. Take first left after railroad tracks and next right onto Lancey Street. School is located a short distance from corner on left side of street.