Garfield Elementary is located at 600 South 8th Street. The school was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2007. The newer school has given the school community a sense of pride that shows each day in attitudes and behaviors. Garfield teachers serve approximately 250 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Our school mascot is the Wildcat with the colors red and blue. Katy Thomason is the principal at Garfield and leads the staff with a vision of “achieving excellence for all students,” using data from assessments to provide focused learning opportunities.
Garfield Elementary earned the prestigious honor of National Title I Distinguished School during the 2010-2011 school year. Nominated by the Oklahoma State Department, Garfield was given this award under the category of an exemplary school by exceeding adequate yearly progress for two or more consecutive years. Each state only selects two schools for national recognition. Schools selected must have a poverty rate of at least 40% for the selected year.
Every morning at 7:50, students, staff, and visiting school community members meet in the gym for opening “Rise and Shine” assembly. This time is dedicated to setting a positive tone for the instructional day. Everyone participates in the school’s morning opening with flag salutes, patriotic songs, reciting the school and student creed, and celebrating the learning accomplishment of students. Each Friday a different class showcases their learning for students, staff, and parents. Each quarter students are celebrated for achieving the learning goals each of them made with their teachers.
Garfield’s vision is for every teacher to have the knowledge and skills to meet each child’s individual needs by using periodic assessments. “Response to Intervention” is a teaching frame work that is used at Garfield to differentiate and give students the instructional support they need in each tier of learning. Instructional Coach Sandy Hasenfratz and Cheryl Snyder each have a day at Garfield and leads Garfield teachers through the process of becoming an effective Professional Learning Community.
The faculty works together to provide the most effective tools for learning. Instructional strategies in use each day are word walls, flexible groups, word study, explicit comprehension, vocabulary instruction, and tiered intervention. Students also participate in monitored independent reading practice, read-alouds, fluency instruction, daily reading logs, Accelerated Math, ST Math, and focused, individual math activities.
Phillips 66 and Holmes, Yates, & Johnson Law Firm serve as Garfield’s Partners in Education. They provide resources that give opportunities to the students such as mentorship with positive, adult role models, Adopt-A-Class activities, classroom demonstrations, and materials that enhance learning and the school environment.
Parental participation and input is encouraged at Garfield. Research has shown that students achieve at a greater degree when families are involved in their child’s educational experience. Every effort is made to include families as an integral part of each child’s learning experience.