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Badger School Information and Programming

Information:

Doug Benz - Principal

Student enrollment: 307

Badger was built in 1952 and was expanded in 1956, 1978, 1987, 1991, and 2002.

School Mascot: Bulldog

Curriculum: To find out more about our curriculum, click here. (Spanish) (Hmong)

(To learn more about our staff click on the staff link in the column on the left)

Badger Elementary Programming:

Badger Elementary is the only school in the Appleton Area School District with a bilingual education program. Students in grades K-2 are taught reading and language arts in their native Spanish language and English. By grade three the students are transitioned into reading and language arts classes taught primarily in English. This program has been very successful in teaching literacy development for Spanish speaking students in their native language and then using those skills to accelerate their literacy development in English.

Badger has also developed a social skills program that teaches students how to make appropriate choices in a wide range of settings. The program was established by the staff at Badger in 2000 and new curriculum is written each year to address a new set of social skills. The past several years Badger has infused the 40 Developmental Assets into our social skills program.

Another program that has been expanded for this year is our commitment to developing healthy choices and healthy kids. An annual Badger Elementary Healthy Kids’ Family Walk has been established in which the Badger community participates in a mile walk and then celebrates this event with healthy food and prizes for all families. Another aspect of this program is an activity log in which students earn prizes for exercising 20 days each month. The goal of this program is to build healthy bodies and healthy minds.

Badger has teamed up with the Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Cities to provide a before school and after school program. We are a 21^st Century Community Learning Center which ensures a quality after school program for our students.

Responses from Students:

“What I like best about Badger School is the respect that all students have.”

“What I like best about this school is there are a lot of helpful staff members and a bunch of friends to play with that are wonderful people.”

“I am new to this school and I think it is an excellent school and the kids are respectful.”

“Badger is the best because we learn things and it is fun.”

“What I like about my school is the staff, because they support you no matter what and they make every class fun.”

“I like Badger School because we can read.”

“I like Badger School because we have a lot of fun and it is great. I get really excited when I wake up.”

“I like Badger School because you always have friends.”

“I like Badger School because it’s safe.”

“I like Badger because we have the best teachers.”

Principal’s Column:

Together, dedicated to academic excellence, we embrace citizenship and respect diversity by providing a safe, caring and positive learning environment for each child. This is Badger’s mission.

The first part of our mission is focused on academic excellence. Each child at Badger is seen as a unique individual with unique academic needs. Through differentiating instruction, flexible groupings, and utilizing multiple intelligences each child can succeed according to how s/he learns best.

The second part of our mission focuses on citizenship and diversity. Citizenship is taught through the social skills program that Badger has developed. We place great emphasis on teaching all students at Badger how to be positive, productive community members. Through our Service Club and Leadership Club we help with local agencies and with assisted living facilities. Diversity is celebrated at Badger through a culture night, ELL parent meetings, Red Ribbon Week and numerous other programs.

The final focus of our mission is to provide a safe, caring and positive learning environment. Our expectations are based on respect which leads to a positive learning environment. The staff at Badger has worked extremely hard at developing respectful behaviors at school. Thanks to the support from Badger families we are developing life long learners who respect learning and strive to learn each and every day.

(Principal Cont)

Last updated: 14 Feb 2012