Principal's Corner

Indian Prairie Elementary

Principal

Mrs. Mathews-Dangerfield
Email: MathewsGS [at] kalamazoo [dot] k12 [dot] mi [dot] us
Phone: (269) 337-0590, ext. 201

Strategic Expectations

As we near the beginning of a new school year, we would like to continue to encourage all of our staff, students, parents and community members in promoting high and clear expectations for all of our students. As research has shown that students may lose up to 2.5 months of academics over the summer months, the following are strategies for students to continue to work on during the summer to strive for higher academic achievement and performance:

Kindergarten

Counting orally to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's, spell words based on how they sound when writing and add pictures to fit the story, read aloud for 15 minutes/day

1st Grade

Practice and write +/- facts up to 10's, write 5 or more connected sentences using correct punctuation and spelling, read aloud new text using 95% accuracy for 20 minutes per day.

2nd Grade

Continue to develop strategies for multiplying numbers up to 5x5, +/- numbers through 99, identify story elements (characters, setting, problem/solutions, order of events), write at least two (2) paragraphs, each containing a main idea and details, read 30 minutes per day.

3rd Grade

Understand and practice place value systems up to 10,000 , practice multiplication and division of single & 2-digit numbers through 10x10, practice informational text patterns (i.e. problem/solutions, sequence, compare/contrast and descriptions), read 45 minutes /day , use purpose, audience, and author's style when writing narrative and informational text.

Personal Goals

As the building administrator, my personal goals for this year include:

to increase and support student achievement
to provide instructional support to classroom teachers, other instructional staff, and parents
to provide guidance and promote student self-discipline
to promote and maintain a safe and orderly environment
to support and maintain student enrollment, as well as to promote our building

Why Indian Prairie Is Special!

Continued small class size (18 - 24 students) for the 2009 - 10 school year
Future "Kalamazoo Promise" college-bound graduates!
Family- oriented kindergarten through 3rd grade building.
Western Michigan University (intern) cluster site
Home of the 2008 State Destination Imagination champs!
Strong, experienced teaching staff
Established Academically talented program
Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra/Gilmore Foundation, Bronson Methodist Hospital partnerships
Strong parent/PTO/community involvement
Education for the Arts/PACE dance program
Kappa Alpha Psi (Kalamazoo Alumni Chapter) partnership
Big Brothers/Sisters Program partnership
Kids Hope program
Full day placement (inlcuding Wrap Around) or 1/2 day kindergarten option

Community Projects

Roof Sit donation participants
Greater Kalamazoo Area food drive participants
Peace Jam contributors
Community Book Drive
"Pasta for Pennies" Lymphoma Society drive
Haitian relief participants

Thank you for visiting our website! Please feel free to contact the building at (269) 337-0590 should you have questions, or if you would like to schedule a visit to our building.