Core Academic Area

Elementary School Educational Specifications

Core Academic Area

Program Overview

Pre-Kindergarten – Kindergarten

The following qualities are important to our program:

• Safety is essential and the school should be able to be locked down safely and quickly.
• The entry is to be warm and welcoming
• An experimental environment will be provided, where students will be able to take risks
• Accessible to family
• Walkways into the building should be conveniently located and sheltered from the elements.
• Pathways with trees and flowers
• The entryway for Pre-K–K needs to be separate from the entry for grades 1-5.
• Cool colors (pale/neutral colors)
• Murals lining the entryway
• Flexible space inviting student choice
• Furniture in appropriate sizes and heights
• An air system that recycles air
• All instructional activities that occur in the classrooms should have a natural feeling
• Focus on environment and landscape
• Outdoor learning centers need to be easily accessible
• The school environment should feel like a community
• Smells clean/odorless
• Natural light with windows that open from the top slightly to let in air (with screens)
• Well insulated walls
• Surround sound that is acoustically contained in the classroom
• Noise, not chaos will filter into the hallway
• Classical music could play softly in the corridors

Grades 1-2

What our new school looks like:

• Open
• Green space
• Inviting
• Organized
• Bright neutral colors accented with warm tones
• Natural lighting

Smells like:

• Clean
• Fresh

Feels like:

• Welcoming
• Community

Sounds like:

• Calm
• Muted
• Small group discussions (not overlapping)

Grades 3-5

• All materials should be technologically accessible
• Warm and inviting
• Colorful
• Natural light
• Fresh and clean
• Small inviting lobby with movable furniture
• Entrance door should have office staff that can see all visitors for security purposes
• More modern, but not dated
• Equally allocate space for Kindergarten and grades 1-5
• Should money and space become an issue, eliminate science/project room and increase classroom sizes
• A multipurpose classroom with plenty of flexibility within the room to accommodate different learning and presentation styles
• Flexibility should allow for differentiated instruction
• Students should have a sense of personal space
• All areas of the school should be clearly marked for ease of use by visitors

ESL

Our members fluctuate year to year and during the year. Maximum group size is usually 12 (depending on the teacher and total number of students). We need to have both desks and tables for group work and individual testing.

We serve Kindergarten through grade 5 and need to be centrally located to save travel time. We are a pull-out program

Our classrooms need to have natural light and have operable windows for fresh air. We should have access to the same technology as the rest of the building (telephones, computers, A/V, etc).

A full size room with a folding wall or our own resource room is acceptable. Please make sure we have our own room!

We need adjustable furniture to meet the needs of our K-5 students.

Space Requirements

Spatial Relationships

Pre-Kindergarten Classroom

Objective

• To create a homelike environment for instructional activities for small children.

Users of This Activity Area

• Pre-K Staff
• ESOL Educational Resource
• Parents

/

• Students
• Resource (EC Teachers)
• OT/PT Educational Resource

Activities Conducted in this Space

• Meals - Breakfast & Lunch
• All classroom activities

/

• Pre-K programs

Number of Teachers: 2 / Number of Students: 15
Notes: / This space should be designed with height-appropriate fixtures for Pre-K aged students, as well as being fully handicapped accessible.

Environmental Characteristics

Lighting /

• Daylight required (balance daylight throughout room)

Electrical /

• Multiple electrical outlets on each wall

Plumbing /

• Sink in classroom with bubbler
• Sink in restroom with motion-sensor faucet
• 2 toilets with partitions and no doors (in restroom)

HVAC/Mechanical /

• Individual room control for heating/cooling

Doors and Hardware /

• Door with vision panel with built-in blinds
• Ability to lock door from inside and outside of room (comply with code requirements)

• Outdoor access

Interior and Exterior Windows /

• Blinds on all windows

Finishes

Ceiling /

• Acoustical ceiling

Floors /

• Resilient flooring with area rugs

Walls /

• 2 walls paint
• 2 walls tackable (including tackable teaching wall)

Other Finishes /

• No Special Requirements

Specialties

Casework /

• 2 levels of cubbies with coat hooks at staggered levels and teacher shelving above cubbies

Whiteboard /

• Magnetic whiteboard with tack strip and map rail
• Opportunity for multi-level whiteboards

Tackboard /

• 4'x6' tackboard

Other Specialties /

• No Special Requirements

Furnishings /

• Child-sized sofa
• Child-sized lounge chair
• Student chairs
• Rocking chair
• 2-door full height storage cabinet (lockable)
• Units of child-sized shelving (for centers)
• Book rack
• Bookcase
• Teacher storage cabinet (lockable)
• Changing table in restroom
• Steps to access changing table
• 3 rectangular tables
• 2 semi-circular tables
• Small rectangular table
• 2-person computer station with wire management
• Tactile sensory table
• "Auto-eye" paper towel dispenser
• Mirror over sink
• 3-sided easel

Kindergarten Classroom

Objective

• To provide the optimal environment to facilitate student learning. This space needs to be a flexible, safe, durable, and inviting atmosphere.

Users of This Activity Area

• Teachers
• Instructional Assistants
• Parents

/

• Students
• Tutors
• Volunteers

Activities Conducted in this Space

• Hands-on activities
• Art (painting, wet space, etc.)
• Small group
• Activities on the floor (open space)

/

• Large group activities
• Technology
• Centers
• Viewing area

Number of Teachers: 2 / Number of Students: 21
Notes: / This space should be designed with height-appropriate fixtures for Kindergarten aged students.

Environmental Characteristics

Lighting /

• Daylight required (balance daylight throughout room)

Electrical /

• Multiple electrical outlets on each wall

Plumbing /

• Sink in classroom with bubbler
• Sink in restroom with motion-sensor faucet

• Toilet with auto-flush (in restroom)

HVAC/Mechanical /

• Individual room control for heating/cooling

Doors and Hardware /

• Door with vision panel with built-in blinds
• Ability to lock door from inside and outside of room (comply with code requirements)
• Outdoor access

Interior and Exterior Windows /

• Operable windows
• Blinds on all windows
• Exterior/interior sunshades

Finishes

Ceiling /

• Acoustical ceiling

Floors /

• Resilient flooring with area rugs

Walls /

• 2 walls paint
• 2 walls tackable (including tackable teaching wall)

Other Finishes /

• No Special Requirements

Specialties

Casework /

• One wall countertop with shelving above and storage below (adjacent to interior doors)

• 2 levels of cubbies with coat hooks at staggered levels and teacher shelving above cubbies

Whiteboard /

• Magnetic whiteboard with tack strip and map rail

• Opportunity for multi-level whiteboards

Tackboard /

• No Special Requirements

Other Specialties /

• No Special Requirements

Furnishings /

• Student chairs
• Adjustable chair on casters
• Rocking chair
• 2-door full height storage cabinet (lockable)
• 4-drawer file cabinet
• Large flat file
• Mobile unit for bin storage
• Counter height bookshelves on locking casters/wheels
• A-frame bookrack
• Tables with tote bins on runners underneath (removable bins)
• Tables to have grommets and wire management
• 2 teacher desks
• Work tables
• Tactile/sensory table
• Kidney-shaped table
• 3-sided easels

First Grade Classroom

Objective

• A space provided to facilitate student learning in a flexible, safe, durable, and inviting atmosphere.

Users of This Activity Area

• Students
• Tutors
• Volunteers

/

• Parents
• Teachers
• Assistants

Activities Conducted in this Space

• Hands-on activities
• Art
• Small group activities
• Activities on the floor (open space)

/

• Large group activities
• Technology
• Centers
• Viewing area

Number of Teachers: 1 / Number of Students: 21
Notes: / This space should be designed with height-appropriate fixtures for first grade students.

Environmental Characteristics

Lighting /

• Daylight required (balance daylight throughout room)

Electrical /

• Multiple electrical outlets on each wall

Plumbing /

• Sink in classroom with bubbler
• Sink in restroom with motion-sensor faucet

• Toilet with auto-flush (in restroom)

HVAC/Mechanical /

• Individual room control for heating/cooling

Doors and Hardware /

• Door with vision panel with built-in blinds
• Ability to lock door from inside and outside of room (comply with code requirements)

• Outdoor access

Interior and Exterior Windows /

• Blinds on all windows
• Operable windows
• Exterior/interior sunshades

Finishes

Ceiling /

• Acoustical ceiling

Floors /

• Resilient flooring with area rugs

Walls /

• 2 walls paint
• 2 walls tackable (including tackable teaching wall)

Other Finishes /

• No Special Requirements

Specialties

Casework /

• Countertop on one wall with shelving above and storage below

• 2 levels of cubbies with coat hooks at staggered levels and teacher shelving above cubbies

Whiteboard /

• Magnetic whiteboard with tack strip and map rail

• Opportunity for multi-level whiteboards

Tackboard /

• No Special Requirements

Other Specialties /

• No Special Requirements

Furnishings /

• Adjustable chair on casters
• Student chairs
• Rocking chair
• 4-drawer file cabinet
• 4-shelf bookcase
• Mobile unit for bin storage
• Large flat file
• Counter-height bookshelves on locking casters/wheels
• A-frame bookrack
• 2-door full height storage cabinet (lockable)
• (2) 3-shelf bookcases
• Kidney-shaped table
• Teacher desk
• Tables with removable tote bins under table surface on runners
• Tables to have grommets and wire management
• Work tables
• Tactile/sensory table
• 3-sided easel for painting

Second Grade Classroom

Objective

• A space provided to facilitate student learning in a flexible, safe, durable, and inviting atmosphere.

Users of This Activity Area

• Students
• Parents
• Volunteers

/

• Tutors
• Teachers
• Assistants

Activities Conducted in this Space

• Hands-on activities
• Art
• Small group activities
• Activities on the floor (open space)

/

• Large group activities
• Technology
• Centers
• Viewing area

Number of Teachers: 1 / Number of Students: 21
Notes: / This space should be designed with height-appropriate fixtures for first grade students.

Environmental Characteristics

Lighting /

• Daylight required (balance daylight throughout room)

Electrical /

• Multiple electrical outlets on each wall

Plumbing /

• Sink in classroom with bubbler
• Sink in restroom with motion-sensor faucet

• Toilet with auto-flush (in restroom)

HVAC/Mechanical /

• Individual room control for heating/cooling

Doors and Hardware /

• Door with vision panel with built-in blinds
• Ability to lock door from inside and outside of room (comply with code requirements)

• Option for outdoor access

Interior and Exterior Windows /

• Blinds on all windows
• Operable windows
• Exterior/interior sunshades

Finishes

Ceiling /

• Acoustical ceiling

Floors /

• Resilient flooring with area rugs

Walls /

• 2 walls paint

• 2 walls tackable (including tackable teaching wall)

Other Finishes /

• No Special Requirements

Specialties

Casework /

• Countertop on one wall with shelving above and storage below

• 2 levels of cubbies with coat hooks at staggered levels and teacher shelving above cubbies

Whiteboard /

• Magnetic whiteboard with tack strip and map rail

• Opportunity for multi-level whiteboards

Tackboard /

• No Special Requirements

Other Specialties /

• No Special Requirements

Furnishings /

• Adjustable chair on casters
• Student chairs
• Rocking chair
• 4-drawer file cabinet
• 4-shelf bookcase
• (2) 3-shelf bookcases
• Large flat file
• Mobile unit for bin storage
• Counter-height bookshelves on locking casters
• A-frame bookrack
• 2-door full height storage cabinet (lockable)
• Kidney-shaped table
• Teacher desk
• Tables with removable tote bins underneath on runners
• Tables to have grommets and wire management
• Work tables
• Tactile/sensory table
• 3-sided easel

Third Grade Classroom

Objective

• To provide an opportunity for student to learn in both large and small groups using various modalities. It's important to have a room that supports whole group learning, small group activities, stations, hands-on and independent learning simultaneously.

Users of This Activity Area

• Teachers
• Students

/

• Inclusion teachers

Activities Conducted in this Space

• Whole group/teacher directed instruction
• Testing
• Presentation area
• Indoor recess
• Comfortable/independent reading
• Hands-on science projects
• Collaborative group work

/

• Small group/guided instruction
• Computer work (independent and small group)
• AV/technology presentations and lessons using technology
• Multiple station areas (math, reading, science, etc.)
• Research with media/literature/computer access
• Math and reading manipulative areas

Number of Teachers: 1 / Number of Students: 21

Environmental Characteristics

Lighting /

• Fluorescent lighting
• Daylight required (balance daylight throughout room)

Electrical /

• Multiple electrical outlets on each wall

Plumbing /

• Sink with bubbler

HVAC/Mechanical /

• Individual room control for heating/cooling

Doors and Hardware /

• Door with vision panel with built-in blinds
• Ability to lock door from inside and outside of room (comply with code requirements)

• Option for outdoor access

Interior and Exterior Windows /

• Blinds on all windows
• Operable windows
• Exterior/interior sunshades

Finishes

Ceiling /

• Acoustical ceiling

Floors /

• Resilient flooring with area rugs

Walls /

• 2 walls paint

• 2 walls tackable (including tackable teaching wall)

Other Finishes /

• No Special Requirements

Specialties

Casework /

• Countertop on one wall with shelves above and storage cabinets below

• 2 levels of cubbies with coat hooks at staggered levels and teacher shelving above cubbies

Whiteboard /

• Magnetic whiteboard with tack strip and map rail

Tackboard /

• 4'x8' tackboard
• Cork strips for hanging materials

Other Specialties /

• No Special Requirements

Furnishings /

• Adjustable chair on casters
• Student chairs
• Large flat file
• Mobile unit for bin storage
• Counter-height bookshelves on locking casters
• 4-drawer file cabinet
• A-frame bookrack
• 5-shelf bookcase
• 3-shelf bookcase
• Student storage unit (i.e., cubbies, coat hangers)
• Individual student desks
• Teacher desk (lockable)
• Portable folding tables
• Pull-out tables (Murphy)
• Kidney-shaped table
• Computer station with wire management
• Adjustable height student desks
• Portable partitions for adjustable workspace
• Atomic clock (for testing and scheduling)
• Pull-down maps and charts

Fourth Grade Classroom

Objective

• To provide an opportunity for student to learn in both large and small groups using various modalities. It's important to have a room that supports whole group learning, small group activities, stations, hands-on and independent learning simultaneously.

Users of This Activity Area

• Teachers
• Students

/

• Inclusion teachers

Activities Conducted in this Space

• Whole group/teacher directed instruction
• Testing
• Presentations
• Lessons using technology
• Multiple station areas (math, reading, science, etc.)
• Research with media/literature/computer access
• Math and reading manipulative areas

/

• Small group guided instruction
• Computer work (independent and small group)
• AV/technology presentations
• Indoor recess
• Comfortable/independent reading
• Hands-on science projects
• Collaborative group work

Number of Teachers: 1 / Number of Students: 26

Environmental Characteristics

Lighting /

• Fluorescent lighting
• Daylight required (balance daylight throughout room)

Electrical /

• Multiple electrical outlets on each wall

Plumbing /

• Sink with bubbler

HVAC/Mechanical /

• Individual room control for heating/cooling

Doors and Hardware /

• Door with vision panel with built-in blinds
• Ability to lock door from inside and outside of room (comply with code requirements)
• Option for outdoor access

Interior and Exterior Windows /

• Blinds on all windows
• Operable windows
• Exterior/interior sunshades

Finishes

Ceiling /

• Acoustical ceiling

Floors /

• Resilient flooring with area rugs

Walls /

• 2 walls paint

• 2 walls tackable (including tackable teaching wall)

Other Finishes /

• No Special Requirements

Specialties

Casework /

• Countertop on one wall with shelves above and cabinets below
• 2 levels of cubbies with coat hooks at staggered levels and teacher shelving above cubbies

Whiteboard /

• Magnetic whiteboard with tack strip and map rail

Tackboard /

• 4'x8' tackboard
• Cork strips for hanging materials

Other Specialties /

• Projection screen

Furnishings /

• Adjustable chair on casters
• Student chairs
• Large flat file
• Mobile unit for bin storage
• Counter-height bookshelves on casters
• 4-drawer file cabinet
• A-frame bookrack
• 5-shelf bookcase
• 3-shelf bookcase
• Student storage unit (i.e., cubbies, t hangers)
• Individual student desks
• Teacher desk (lockable)
• Portable folding tables
• Pull-out tables (Murphy)
• Kidney-shaped table
• Computer station with wire management
• Adjustable height student desks)
• Partitions for adjustable workspace (portable)
• Atomic clock (for testing and scheduling)
• Defibrillator

Fifth Grade Classroom

Objective

• To provide an opportunity for student to learn in both large and small groups using various modalities. It's important to have a room that supports whole group learning, small group activities, stations, hands-on and independent learning simultaneously.

Users of This Activity Area

• Teachers
• Students

/

• Inclusion teachers

Activities Conducted in this Space

• Whole group/teacher directed instruction
• Testing
• Presentation area
• Indoor recess
• Comfortable/independent reading
• Hands-on science projects
• Collaborative group work

/

• Small group guided instruction
• Computer work (independent and small group)
• AV/technology presentations and lessons using technology
• Multiple station areas (math, reading, science, etc.)
• Research with media/literature/computer access
• Math and reading manipulative areas

Number of Teachers: 1 / Number of Students: 26

Environmental Characteristics

Lighting /

• Fluorescent lighting
• Daylight required (balance daylight throughout room)

Electrical /

• Multiple electrical outlets on each wall

Plumbing /

• Sink with bubbler

HVAC/Mechanical /

• Individual room control for heating/cooling

Doors and Hardware /

• Door with vision panel with built-in blinds
• Ability to lock door from inside and outside of room (comply with code requirements)
• Option for outdoor access

Interior and Exterior Windows /

• Blinds on all windows
• Operable windows
• Exterior/interior sunshades

Finishes