Some elementary school teachers will specialize in subjects; kids will rotate in

Many Anacortes fifth-graders and sixth-graders will have different teachers for different subjects this year as the district works to improve student learning.

Students will rotate on a 90-minute schedule to teachers who specialize in just two subjects, said Bernard Selting, Island View Elementary School principal.

“Each teacher will specialize so we’ll have a math and computer teacher, a science and social studies teacher and a language arts teacher,” Selting said. “That way they get a teacher who is teaching their favorite subjects, that has a passion for that subject and can share that with the students.”

The new departmentalized classes will be in fifth grade at Island View, sixth grade at Fidalgo Elementary School and fifth and sixth grade at Mount Erie Elementary School.

By the next school year Selting said he anticipates all the fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms will rotate under the new schedule.

Students will start with a homeroom class at the beginning of the day for attendance and to give students a sense of stability, he said.

Selting said teachers have team taught in the district for many years but this is the first formalized and structured shared teaching.

He doesn’t expect it to be implemented in any lower grades.

“Kids that age are still dependent on someone and need that security,” he said.

Students entering kindergarten this year will also have a change with full-day classes being offered across the district.

Kindergarten teachers had a training day last week to finish preparing for the new structure. That day was to go over full-day scheduling as well as adapting curriculum for full days, said Kevin Schwartz, Whitney Early Childhood Education Center principal.

The expanded full-day offering was made possible thanks to a state grant. The district previously offered a tuition-based full-day program at Whitney.

The first day of classes is Wednesday, Sept. 3.

New students who have not already done so should register at the Anacortes School District’s administrative offices on the second floor of Anacortes Middle School at M Avenue and 22nd Street. For information, call 293-1200.

Visit http://www.asd103.org for a 2008-2009 school year calendar.

• Anacortes High School
Principal: Pam Estvold
Assistant Principal: Monica Bauer
An open house is 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Visit http://www.ahs.asd103.org.

• Anacortes Middle School
Principal: Patrick Harrington
Assistant Principal: Mark Perkins

The seventh-grade open house is 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the school and the eighth-grade open house is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. The two days allow students to pick up schedules, tour the building, get textbooks, have pictures taken, sign up for sports, purchase physical education uniforms and meet many of their teachers.

At both orientations, parents and students may join the middle School PTSA. The group provides support for many different activities at the school.

Students who cannot attend the scheduled open houses may pick up schedules and textbooks 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 or Tuesday, Sept. 2 or the morning of the first day of school Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Visit http://www.ams.asd103.org.

• Fidalgo Elementary School
Principal: Tara Dowd

A new student orientation is 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Students in grades 1-6 who are new to Fidalgo and their parents are invited. It will be an opportunity for new students and their parents to see classrooms, meet teachers and get information about Fidalgo.

A kindergarten orientation and open house is 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Come by any time to meet the teacher, visit the classroom and learn about the kindergarten program and the school.

Fidalgo curriculum night is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18. Grade levels will have scheduled sessions for teachers to review with parents and their children the grade-level expectations.

Visit http://www.fid.asd103.org.

• Island View Elementary School
Principal: Bernard Selting
A new student orientation is 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Kids can meet their teacher and check out the school. Picture day is Friday, Sept. 5. An open house is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Visit http://www.isv.asd103.org.

• Mount Erie Elementary School
Principal: Bob Knorr
An open house is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Visit http://www.mte.asd103.org.

• Whitney Early Childhood Education Center

Principal: Kevin Schwartz

A kindergarten back to school orientation for parents and their students is 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Meet teachers, purchase lunch tickets and find out bus schedules. Students will also learn recess rules and other basics.

A parent orientation for the special education preschool is Thursday, Sept. 4.

Visit http://www.wht.asd103.org.