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Valhalla Elementary
School Profile

School Website: http://www.fwps.org/val/

 

27847 42nd Avenue South
Auburn, WA 98001
(253) 945-4300
Principal, Marie Verhaar (Since 2004)
School Built: 1967
School last remodeled: 1985
Number of classrooms: 24
View the official 2008-09 School Profile (67K PDF)

Valhalla Elementary


School Information

 

 

What is Special About Our School?

Valhalla Elementary, home of the Voyagers, houses approximately 510 students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our staff serves all students in a warm and supportive environment as they learn to follow the Valhalla Way to be safe, kind, and productive members of our learning community.   In 2009, we will open a brand new, beautiful school currently being built behind our existing building.  Staff, students, and parents are eager to open the doors of our new facility.

Our goal for the 2008-2009 school year is to engage all children in meaningful learning at their own instructional level—an important part of our objective to make adequate yearly progress as defined by the Federal No Child Left Behind Legislation.  Every day our teachers use a number of researched instructional strategies including whole group, small flexible groups, and one-on-one instruction to reach all students in the many content areas (reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and health).  All instruction is aligned with the state Essential Learning Academic Requirements (EALRs) and Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) to ensure that all students reach grade level standard.

To support teachers in providing the highest quality instruction every day, we have three instructional coaches who work along side teachers to strengthen instructional practice using student data as the basis for reflection and goal setting.   The coaches facilitate differentiated professional development to foster a learning community.

Our ELL (English Language Learners) teacher, special education teacher, and other support staff work collaboratively to make certain the instruction delivered to students is cohesive and matched to the students' ability level and state expectations.

Our school-wide learning plan focuses on several goals and practices:

  • Helping students reach grade level expectations in reading while developing a love of reading both fiction and non-fiction text
  • Teaching students to be mathematical thinkers, fluent in computational strategies, and have the ability to solve complex problems in order to meet state math standards
  • Providing support to students through an after-school reading and mathematics program
  • Regularly assessing students’ instructional levels and skills in reading and math and basing instruction on the results of these assessments
  • Presenting students with meaningful, purposeful assignments that are aligned with Washington State Standards and the students' academic levels
  • Providing rich, language acquisition strategies and opportunities for English Language Learners

Parent partnerships are essential to the academic support of our students, and our teachers and support staff work diligently to communicate effectively with parents. Daily homework folders and calendars provide families with the information they need to assist their children in completing assignments at home. Monthly school and classroom newsletters celebrate student successes and keep parents informed about classroom activities, events, and academic focuses. Families are invited to participate in literacy and math evening events and attend our What Every Parent Wants to Know sessions offered 4-times each year.

An outstanding vocal music program provides many opportunities for students to perform and appreciate music. Our music program also features a state-of the-art keyboard lab as well as bell chimes and honor choir programs.

Valhalla’s discipline plan and uniform policy ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all students. Recognition assemblies and the Valhalla Victor Award honor student achievement and good citizenship.

No Child Left Behind Report Card

The No Child Left Behind Act requires all schools and school districts in the United States to prepare annual reports for parents and the public detailing their academic achievement. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s web site makes this information available on-line. Find your school’s report card on-line at http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/  Click on Federal Way in the “Summary” box, then choose your school from the list. You may also request a paper copy of the report card at your school’s office. For more information about the NCLB Act, go to http://www.nclb.gov/index.html.

Academic and Student Programs

AmeriCorps Librarian
Assemblies, Various Looping Grades and Multi-age Classrooms
Breakfast & Lunch Program Music Program Specialist
Counselors or Dean P.E. Specialist
Cross Grade Tutoring PTA
English Language Learners (ELL) Program Safety Patrol
Extended Learning (ELO) Special Ed Resource Room
Grade Level Field Trips Spec. Ed Self-contained Program
GATE Gifted & Talented Program Student-led Conferences
Homework Club House Summer Reading Program
Honor Choir Summer School
Instructional Coaches (3) Title 1 School
Intramurals/After School Tutoring
All Day Kindergarten Yearbook

Student Characteristics

Distribution of Student Ethnicity

2006 2007 2008
African American 7.72 9.80 9.11

Asian American

14.67 15.80 15.84

Hispanic

29.73 34.30 33.86

Native American

.39 1.00 1.19

White

41.12 32.90 30.50
Pac Islander 1.74 1.60 2.18
Multi-Racial 4.25 3.60 4.75

Other Student Characteristics

2006

2007 2008

Number of Students (Oct.)

504 503 505

Free/Reduced Meals

59.9% 62.3% 64.0%

How Are We Using Our Financial Resources?

Our District Our School
“Per Pupil” Expenditures for 2007-08 Funding

Total Expenditure

$8,902.00

Building Expenditures

$82,285.70

Supplies & Instructional Materials

$512.00

ASB (Associated Student Body)  Expenditures

$11,922.00

Equipment

$51.00    

How Are Our Students Doing on Required Tests?

Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)

*Beginning in spring of 2006, the state of Washington requires that the WASL be given at sixth grade. 

Percentage Meeting Standard in:

Grade 3

 

 

   

Math

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

.0

68.0

67.4 74.0

District

.0

70.0

74.1 71.0

 

 

 

   

Reading

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

.0

64.0

65.2 70.0

District

.0

72.0

73.5 71.0

Grade 4

 

 

   

Math

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

62.2

54.0

59.0 58.0

District

61.7

66.0

60.1 60.0

 

 

 

   

Reading

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

90.8

79.0

77.0 70.0

District

84.4

86.0

80.2 77.0

 

 

 

   

Writing

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

55.1

50.0

50.0 33.0

District

58.6

58.0

56.2 58.0

 

 

 

   

Grade 5

 

 

   

Math

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

.0

62.0

63.8 70.0

District

.0

58.0

66.2 69.0

 

 

 

   

Reading

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

.0

87.0

77.4 75.0

District

.0

82.0

75.3 80.0

 

 

 

   

Science

2005

2006

2007 2008

School

31.0

32.0

34.4 29.0

District

32.0

30.0

31.2 40.0