Our Vision

 

The Drew School Family has a personal commitment to promote academic excellence, self-discipline and a high level of self-esteem for all children. We believe that our school has an enormous impact on children's lives. As a result, our students are the focus of everything we do in our school. Our emphasis is on student learning where outstanding teaching is more important than ever. As a full site selection school, we have the opportunity to select teachers who are highly qualified and who support our vision.

We strongly feel that the humanistic approach that is employed by teachers, staff and principal makes the difference for our children. In addition, we are committed to:

• Addressing learning style differences
• Integrating technology into daily instructional activities
• Ensuring instructional resources are available
• Making strong efforts to meet the needs of all learners
• Eliminating the achievement gap
• Providing a nurturing, humanistic environment for learning
• Providing a variety of teaching strategies
• Respect for cultural diversity
• Accepting each child and appreciate his/her uniqueness
• Maintaining high expectations for all students
• Having knowledge in effective, interactive, multi-sensory teaching strategies
• Working collaboratively as a team
• Implementing interventions and modifications
• Putting in extra time and effort for the success of each child
• Encouraging and welcoming parents and volunteers into the classroom
• Recognizing individual talents and abilities of students and staff
• Fair, firm and consistent expectations and enforcement of the Student Code of Conduct to provide an education in a safe and orderly environment

At Drew, we accept the responsibility for ensuring that every child leaves the school with at least a proficient level of achievement. Students are well grounded in the core concepts of language, mathematics, science and social studies. Our expanded curriculum includes an appreciation of the arts, leadership skills, self-esteem, technology, problem solving and self-discipline. Our partnerships with businesses, professional organizations, adopters and our use of technology allow learning to take place everywhere - inside and outside the school. Students of all ages work independently and in teams to solve complex, real world problems.

Children who enter our doors are eager to learn because of the exciting instructional program provided by the teachers. Staff takes personal interest in students and every child knows that he/she is important.  Patience and humor are valued as essential qualities of good teachers, successful learners and productive people. Failure is rare. Problems are intercepted early and inventive arrays of school and community support services are in place to assist students who are not progressing as expected.

The school is a community institution. Parents are partners. Teachers communicate frequently and directly with them. Nearly everyone attends an annual report day to discuss educational performance and to witness exhibitions of student work. Ongoing discussions are centered on the curriculum and how to maintain the conditions that teaching, learning and the needs of our students demand.
   
Every child needs someone at his/her side - caring, encouraging, listening, protecting, guiding and supporting. At Drew, we all make the personal commitment to be strong advocates for children, which means taking action to ensure the success of every student. Our school is filled with fine, dedicated professionals who work exceptionally hard to educate our students and prepare them to effectively meet the challenges of the future and with a passion for life-long learning.

Our Mission

To provide a program that promotes the development of individual talents and abilities that will lead to the academic and social success of our students while continuing to develop responsibility and respect for self, others and community.

It is our purpose to prepare the next generation of leaders with the tools necessary to tackle any of life’s challenges.

This is founded on the belief that all children can achieve at high levels.

 

Our History

Charles Richard Drew Elementary School was opened on September 8, 1952. The cornerstone ceremonies took place in April 1953. The school is named after highly-esteemed Dr. Charles R. Drew. Dr. Drew was a pioneer in the field of blood plasm preservation and on October 1, 1940, he was appointed full-time medical director of the plasma project for Great Britain. He lived a short life and was killed in an automobile accident on April 1, 1950.