White Elementary Mission Statement: We care about ourselves, our school, and our world; therefore we will provide learning opportunities in a developmentally appropriate environment that will meet the individual needs of our diverse population

What is the name of your program and where are you located?
White Elementary is located at 5148 S. Kansas. We are an Early Childhood Center serving approximately 300 children ages 4-7. We have two half day prekindergarten classes and 11 all-day kindergarten and first grade classrooms.

What are the hours of your program?
Latchkey services are offered at Funston, 5 blocks from our school, and children are transported to and from White. Breakfast is offered at 7:40 each morning and the building opens at 7:50 for all other children; School hours are 8:00 to 3:10.

What is your program's educational philosophy?
Entering the building at White, you will find tricycles and wagons outside many classrooms, sand and water tables and blocks inside rooms and many other developmentally appropriate items for student use. Each room has a rug area for group and teacher directed experiences and tables and chairs that allow for individual as well as small group work.

We believe that children learn through manipulation of their environment and therefore we provide a variety of hands on materials. You will usually find active classrooms, full of busy children, often working at centers. Center activities include math, reading, science and social studies experiences, provided through dramatic play, block building, measuring activities, and other manipulative projects.

Could you describe your school?
White Elementary serves the needs of several special education students, within the regular education classroom. We strongly believe that each child, no matter what their developmental learning level, can contribute to the classroom environment in a productive way. The opportunity to learn about physical handicaps, in a supportive environment,.is also a wonderful benefit for our children. Wheel chairs and walkers are often seen in the hallways and become a part of the normal day, rather than a novelty to point out in the grocery store or restaurant. Classrooms in which special education children are placed, enjoy the support of additional teaching staff and lower student teacher ratios. All children in the room receive support from these staff members, not just the special education children.

The entire staff at White Elementary work together to provide appropriate learning experiences that meet the needs of the diverse population enrolled at our building.

White Elementary has received two exemplary program awards from the State of Kansas in May of 1 994 and March of 1996. The Exemplary Special Education model has been recognized for its inclusion classrooms and family centered IEP process. Several staff members regularly present information about the program at various state and regional conferences throughout the school year.

The Wichita Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap/disability, age or religion. Persons having inquiries may contact the ADA and Section 503 coordinator, 833-4131.