Smallwood Drive Elementary highlights restorative practices, student leadership and campus upgrades

Smallwood Drive Elementary presented its annual update to the Amherst Central School District Board of Education on matters ranging from restorative practices and student leadership to recent campus renovations and testing plans.

Missus Marzocchi, a Smallwood Drive Elementary staff member, said the school’s work is aligned with the district strategic plan and highlighted professional development and community-building initiatives that staff have undertaken this year.

Smallwood emphasized three priorities: teaching and learning, student life and “Amherst pride.” The presentation noted a continued focus on data-driven instruction and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), expanded use of community circles as a foundation for restorative practices, and targeted interventions to reduce chronic absenteeism.

The school said staff participated in more than eight hours of professional development in August and November centered on culturally responsive practices and trauma-informed strategies drawn from a workshop by author and former principal Heidi LaFleur. Marzocchi said the session led to formation of a volunteer “Thursday morning breakfast club” where teachers identify and deepen three priority strategies from the book.

“We relied on data-driven instruction, ongoing professional development, and a focus on restorative practices to build a strong academic foundation,” Marzocchi said.

Smallwood described a new Tiger Leaders Club for fourth- and fifth-grade students that meets weekly and runs community-circle sessions for the building’s roughly 700 students. Presenters said students are placed in long-term circles — about 45 total — so kindergarteners remain with the same small group through fifth grade to build continuity.

On attendance, presenters said the school has refined procedures to categorize attendance problems into seven types and now creates individualized, prescribed plans for students. School staff reported they meet every Tuesday to review cases, track the last date a student missed school, record family contacts and log which interventions have been tried. When asked whether they are seeing improvements, Marzocchi replied, “Yes,” while noting the team will likely report comparative figures at the end of the school year.

The presentation outlined a phased rollout of computer-based testing: fifth grade is already testing on the platform, fourth grade will join this year and third grade next year. Presenters said they are preparing second graders with keyboarding practice so future transitions to CBT will be smoother.

Facilities improvements highlighted in the update include a reconfigured bus loop designed to reduce parking-lot congestion at arrival and dismissal, a newly upgraded recreation court with pickleball lines and a Gaga pit, and a renovated auditorium with improved ventilation, new curtains and upgraded lighting. The presenters said the bus-loop changes reduced congestion for parents and improved student on-time arrival.

Smallwood’s presenters also noted fundraising and community events, including a breast-cancer-awareness effort that the school said raised over $151,500 for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and that staff and students participated in related awareness activities.

The presenters closed by inviting questions from board members and said they appreciated district leadership support. Board members asked for follow-up attendance data to be provided later in the year so the district can compare annual figures and assess which interventions were most effective.

Ending

The board thanked Smallwood Drive Elementary staff for the presentation. The school’s presenters said they would provide additional attendance data and continue to align their work with district priorities.