Louise White Elementary leaders highlight high belonging scores, new fifth‑grade jobs and school assemblies

Principal Michael Wall and fifth‑grade teacher Jamie Hartness told the Batavia USD 101 Board of Education on Feb. 18 that Louise White Elementary used Panorama survey results to guide school improvement efforts centered on belonging and student interactions.

The nut of the presentation: Louise White scored in the 90th percentile nationally on belonging. Administrators nonetheless focused on the lower subscore showing student‑to‑student respect and launched several measures to strengthen peer interactions.

The approaches described included a teacher‑and‑staff School Is Awesome committee, new schoolwide assemblies coordinated with the PTO (the PTO is funding a weather‑related assembly the presenters described), and monthly focus areas tied to celebrations and incentives. In January the school concentrated on CHAMPS expectations and followed the work with a staff‑student volleyball game; February’s focus is kindness, which the school supports through buddy classrooms and a student “kindness wall” where pupils post encouraging messages.

Hartness described a new, structured fifth‑grade jobs program intended to build leadership, responsibility and belonging. Fifth‑grade students apply via a survey; school staff place students based on fit and schedules, provide an orientation and conduct a training day with experienced students. Jobs include transitions and cleanup during lunch, helping kindergarten and first‑grade students remove snow gear, checking in library books, greeting students at the front door, and leading kindergarteners to buses with posted bus signs. Jobs are offered on a trimester basis; Hartness said the program had 33 positions last trimester and 47 in the current trimester, and that the role helped meet some students’ social‑emotional needs by giving them regular interaction or a short “mental break.”

Wall said the program was developed to “increase students’ sense of belonging and connectedness” and credited the PTO and staff volunteers for supporting assemblies and celebrations. Board members asked clarifying questions about how students apply and how long positions last; Hartness said placements are trimester‑by‑trimester so different students can fill roles across the year.

Ending The board applauded the presentation and noted Louise White’s use of survey data to direct school actions; no board action was required. Administrators said initiatives would continue through the school year.