Peterborough Elementary School (PES) is a caring, motivated learning community that fosters academic excellence, curiosity, responsibility, and mutual respect. Our instructional program stresses high standards, developmentally appropriate hands-on activities and problem solving, as well as critical and creative thinking. We strive to model and teach the habits of effective learners; our goal is for all students to love going to school while demonstrating appropriate academic and social skills.

Our outstanding staff continues to be honored at the state and national levels for contributions in leadership, environmental education, technology, and the arts. For the past fourteen years the NH Partners in Education has honored PES as a Blue Ribbon Award Winner for Excellence in its School Volunteer Program. PES staff members have been finalists for NH School Psychologist of the Year and NH School Nurse of the Year and members of our school community have been selected as NH School Technology Volunteer of the Year and Peterborough Citizen of the Year; Hillsborough County Conservation Educator of the Year; NH Elementary Environmental Educator of the Year; Hancock NH's Harris Center for Conservation Education Teachers and Administrator of the Year; NH ASCD Excellence in Education Award for Administrative Leadership in Supervision and Curriculum Development; Monadnock Garden Club's Audubon Camp Scholarship; and the district's nominee for NH's Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical Award.

The school has been awarded grants for innovative projects from the Goyette Foundation, the NH Charitable Foundation, Target Stores, the Monadnock Community Foundation, the Daniels Foundation, and Public Service of New Hampshire. Our staff members have been selected to speak at classes in Keene State College's Department of Education, at the NH Council on the Arts Annual Conference, and at the Peterborough and Monadnock Rotary Clubs. Staff members also serve on the Boards of local organizations such as the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter, Brantwood Camp, Rotary and Lions clubs, Windy Row Learning Center, and the Peterborough Children and the Arts Festival.

Our school stresses the importance of literacy assessment and differentiated instruction in reading and writing. Along with teacher observations and the analysis of student work samples, teachers use a variety of assessments to help target areas where students would benefit from enrichment or more intensive reading support. Assessments used include the Developmental Reading Assessment, the Phonological Analysis Profile, the Morrison McCall Spelling assessments, the NWEA Measurements of Academic Progress and the New England Common Assessment Program tests in Reading and Math.

This school currently uses Math Investigations 2nd Edition, STC Science, Scholastic Spelling, Handwriting Without Tears printing and Loops and Other Groups cursive programs. We strive to offer a balanced literacy program that includes direct instruction in key skills along with helping students become increasingly independent readers and writers. Students enjoy publishing stories and sharing their writing at Author's Teas, Kindergarten "Mitten Night," Third Grade Civil Rights presentations, and Fourth grade Poetry Evenings.

Since students have "multiple intelligences" and diverse learning styles, our school integrates art, music, outdoor explorations, dance/movement and other art forms into our teaching and learning. We've enjoyed residencies with artists and paper-makers, contra-dancers and drummers, a Scottish composer and a landscape architect. We benefit tremendously from our collaborative work with the Peterborough Historical Society, the Mariposa Museum, MacDowell [Artists'] Colony, the Harris Center, the Sharon Arts Center, the NH Dance Institute, the Peterborough Garden Club and trips to the Fremont Conservation Land, North Pack Monadnock, Rivermead, Summerhill, Stonewall Farm, the Capitol and Colonial Theaters, and the Kearsarge Indian Museum.

Peterborough Elementary is blessed with the active support of an active PTO and the on-going involvement of hundreds of parent and community volunteers. In addition, we deeply appreciate our interns from ConVal High School, Keene State College, and Antioch/New England University. Our outstanding teachers continue to be requested as mentors and cooperating teacher-supervisors for dozens of interns and student teachers who "learn by doing" while providing additional support in most of our classrooms and specials such as Physical Education. Teachers also benefit from in-district courses and workshops taught by professors from Plymouth State University and Granite State College.

Our school participates in PBIS, the state and national program for strengthening positive, caring behavior to create a more effective teaching/ learning environment. At PES, "Positive Behavior in Schools" provides clear expectations and specific instruction on how to address the school's PBIS motto: "Keep it on your mind: Be Respectful, Safe, & Kind." Our Universal PBIS leadership team includes coaches and a facilitator, teachers, aides, guidance, social worker, a parent representative, and the principal. Based on collected data, PBIS initiatives have included changing dismissal procedures and teaching/modeling what behavior is expected at recess and in the classrooms as well as in the cafeteria and hallways. It is rewarding to see how PBIS has improved our school environment for both students and teachers.

Our completely renovated school facility includes twenty classrooms, the Deborah Geer Library, a well-equipped Art/Music room, a high school size gymnasium, and a cafeteria/multi-purpose room with its own serving kitchen. The school also includes appropriate teaching areas for Reading Recovery and Title 1 Literacy groups, Nurse/ Health Education, Guidance, Special Education support programs, the Life Skills/Intensive Learning Center, O.T., P.T., and Speech and Language services. We have a mobile iMac computer lab and at least two computers in each classroom.

Outside, the school has a large playground that includes soccer fields and basketball mini-courts; some multi-season playground equipment; large grassy play areas; a gazebo; a courtyard with picnic tables; sand play areas; and a student-designed butterfly garden. Due to the recent removal of swings and climbing equipment, we are raising funds to install new swings and playground structures. The school grounds also include numerous plantings and extensive flower gardens, bird gardens, and both shade trees and decorative crab apple trees. With active support from parents and the community, the staff and students have developed a welcoming, attractive campus that children enjoy using while learning more about protecting and enhancing our local environment.

We deeply appreciate the active, involved support from the School Board and Superintendent, the Peterborough/ Sharon communities, the PES PTO, parent and community volunteers, and local businesses and service organizations. Together we are constantly developing important ways to enhance student growth and strengthen our collaborative professional learning community.

We hope you enjoy using this web site to learn more about PES, and we invite you to contact us with any questions you may have.

Susan Copley, Ph.D.
Principal, Peterborough Elementary School

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This site was last updated 8/15/2008