Culture and Community Context
Bacon Elementary School (established 2003) is a school within Poudre School District located on the south-side of Fort Collins. This elementary school is a feeder school for Preston Middle School, and then Fossil Ridge High School. Bacon’s school mascot is the “Bulldog” and follows closely with the school’s core values: iBark (Integrity, Be responsible, Always work hard, Respect others, Kindness counts). Members of the Bacon staff strive to meet the needs of every single learner. Staff are frequent collaborators in a culture professional learning teams. More detailed information about the school, core values, and learning culture can be found on the school’s website. Click here to access the site.
In my time as a student teacher at Bacon Elementary School, the iBark values were embodied by both staff and students. Staff modeled these values and students embodied them; this was very clear to me. I frequently observed students helping each other, respecting one another, and always putting their best effort into their school work and learning activities. Along with that, the Bacon staff willingly accepted me into their culture. Any time that I needed feedback, advice, or guidance there was always someone to turn to. Teaching art to students at the K-5 level posed many challenges in my eight week experience, but there was always someone to turn to when it was needed.
In my time as a student teacher at Bacon Elementary School, the iBark values were embodied by both staff and students. Staff modeled these values and students embodied them; this was very clear to me. I frequently observed students helping each other, respecting one another, and always putting their best effort into their school work and learning activities. Along with that, the Bacon staff willingly accepted me into their culture. Any time that I needed feedback, advice, or guidance there was always someone to turn to. Teaching art to students at the K-5 level posed many challenges in my eight week experience, but there was always someone to turn to when it was needed.
Demographic Characteristics
*All information is current as of August 2018 and was found on Schooldigger.com
Total Enrollment: 568 students
Student - Teacher Ratio: 17.0
Racial Breakdown:
-White: 80.8%
-Hispanic: 11.3%
-Two or more races: 2.8%
Free and Reduced Population: 19.2%
Statewide Ranking: 74/917 for Colorado elementary schools
Total Enrollment: 568 students
Student - Teacher Ratio: 17.0
Racial Breakdown:
-White: 80.8%
-Hispanic: 11.3%
-Two or more races: 2.8%
Free and Reduced Population: 19.2%
Statewide Ranking: 74/917 for Colorado elementary schools
Classroom Environment
In my eight-week experience at Bacon Elementary School, I taught art to students ages kindergarten through fifth grade. Bacon is a four track school, so students had art at least once per week, sometimes twice per week. Classes were 45 minutes in length, and I saw ages K-5 in one day. Once per week, students with special needs came in for a twenty minute “Adaptive Art” class. While students with special needs were integrated with regular art periods, this was an extra opportunity for students to receive more one-on-one support. At the elementary level, students were being taught basic art skills, such as texture, line, contrast, and correct studio habits. In the eight weeks I spent in the classroom, I taught lessons that emphasized choice and individual interests. Students explored a variety of 2-D methods such as drawing and painting and some 3-D methods like ceramic building. Literacy integration became part of the curriculum as well through having students practice basic writing and communication skills.
Safe Schools and Students with Special Needs
Safe Schools: Poudre School District sets the goal to provide all students with a safe and inclusive learning environment. Campus Security Officers are at each school in the district and a Student Resource Officer is at each middle and respective high school in the district. Student safety is an utmost priority in PSD. (All information was found on the Poudre School District website; psdschools.org) Poudre Schools follow a crisis management/communications plan that is based on the FEMA National Incident Management System. PSD's approach to emergency response and crisis management focuses on five phases of crisis management:
1. Prevention: School prevention include visitor screening, suicide assessment and intervention, implementing prevention programs, and conducting threat assessments.
2. Protection: Some school protection programs include evacuation, sheltering for hazard, lockdown, lockout and "run-hide-fight" protocols.
3. Mitigation: Examples of mitigation include installation of backup generators for power outages; early warning systems for severe weather events, fencing hazardous areas, safe construction and defensible space for wildland fires, and the presence of School Resource Officers. Any of these measures could mitigate the impact of an event.
4. Response: Taking action to effectively contain and resolve the crisis or emergency, including all aspects associated with notifying and protecting the students, staff, public and property.
5. Recovery: Assisting students and staff in the healing process and restoring educational operations in schools. The two main priorities of this phase are the emotional recovery of the students and staff and the physical recovery of school.
Students with Special Needs: At Bacon, there are five paraprofessionals that assist students with special needs in the classroom. These individuals are vital in the success of these students; they help students follow directions, complete assignments, and reinforce correct behaviors. Each student with special needs receives hours of one on one assistance every week, which leads them to personal success.
*Poudre School District utilizes Integrated Services which offers many programs for a variety of student needs in order to help them succeed. Click here for a more detailed look at these programs.
1. Prevention: School prevention include visitor screening, suicide assessment and intervention, implementing prevention programs, and conducting threat assessments.
2. Protection: Some school protection programs include evacuation, sheltering for hazard, lockdown, lockout and "run-hide-fight" protocols.
3. Mitigation: Examples of mitigation include installation of backup generators for power outages; early warning systems for severe weather events, fencing hazardous areas, safe construction and defensible space for wildland fires, and the presence of School Resource Officers. Any of these measures could mitigate the impact of an event.
4. Response: Taking action to effectively contain and resolve the crisis or emergency, including all aspects associated with notifying and protecting the students, staff, public and property.
5. Recovery: Assisting students and staff in the healing process and restoring educational operations in schools. The two main priorities of this phase are the emotional recovery of the students and staff and the physical recovery of school.
Students with Special Needs: At Bacon, there are five paraprofessionals that assist students with special needs in the classroom. These individuals are vital in the success of these students; they help students follow directions, complete assignments, and reinforce correct behaviors. Each student with special needs receives hours of one on one assistance every week, which leads them to personal success.
*Poudre School District utilizes Integrated Services which offers many programs for a variety of student needs in order to help them succeed. Click here for a more detailed look at these programs.
Lesson Plans
In this lesson, third grade students created art around a social justice issue; landfills and pollution. Students began by looking at contemporary artists Laura Swale and Vic Muniz artwork where they address the growing trash epidemic. Students also watched a short video on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; the video truly put in into perspective for students how much trash is occupying our Earth. Once the video was complete, students created a blueprint for a robot to help save the planet. Students utilized drawing materials to create their artwork, and the specific function of the robot was to get rid of trash in some way, shape, or form.
Working Process Photos
Student Artwork
In this lesson, fourth grade students created small ‘Artist Trading Cards.’ Students at Bacon ES worked in collaboration with fourth grade students at Olander ES. Once all students completed their artwork, each student traded away a card to the different school. For this lesson, the idea of ‘unique self’ and ‘self-expression’ were emphasized. Since students were trading their artwork away, they were encouraged to portray something personal in their artwork. Students explored the history of the project and different methods in which it can be approached.