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Raymond Elementary highlights therapy rabbit, pen-pal program and new math screening in state-of-school update
Summary
Raymond Elementary principal and a fourth-grade teacher presented classroom highlights: a therapy rabbit students say reduces stress, an intergenerational pen-pal program with Jordan Bay Place, and academic goals including attendance outreach and a new universal number‑sense screener for math intervention planning.
At the board meeting Raymond Elementary staff presented a "state of the school" update that combined community programs and academic priorities. Fourth-grade teacher Susan Brackett introduced a classroom therapy rabbit named Peaches, and students described Peaches as calming and helpful for focus during testing.
"Peaches makes me feel very good. Peaches helps me read books," one student said during the presentation. Brackett and principal (introduced to the board as Mrs. Peavey) also described a pen-pal letter exchange with residents at Jordan Bay Place and plans for students to visit for bingo nights and intergenerational activities.
Principal Mrs. Peavey reviewed academic targets and interventions. She noted chronic-absence figures (the presentation cited 32 of 282 students as chronically absent last year) and described steps the school is taking to improve attendance, including family communication and use of outside resources (Count Me In and Attendance Works). For math, the school has introduced a one-on-one universal number-sense screener to capture students' mathematical thinking and to guide small-group instruction; the district continues to use iReady for other diagnostic and instructional supports.
Board members asked follow-up questions about pre-K class sizes, special-ed pre-K resourcing and professional development. The presentation emphasized social-emotional supports and student engagement alongside academic screening and interventions; staff said detailed materials and slides would be posted on the district website.
