Elementary Student Handbook * Letter From the Principal * School Improvement Plan * RK Finn Ryan Road PTO

Recent News

• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of November 13
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of November 5
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of October 29
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of October 22
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of October 15
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of October 9
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of October 1
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of September 24
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of September 17
• Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of September 10

 Welcome!

The Ryan Road Elementary School is a neighborhood school in Florence, Massachusetts with approximately 230 students in grades K-5. We are part of the Northampton Public Schools. We are committed to meeting the needs of all learners. We are a friendly and collaborative school community, and we hope all feel welcome and valued here.

The entire staff is trained in Responsive Classroom techniques, and we all work hard to address the academic, emotional, and behavioral needs of our students.  We value cross grade cooperation and have reading/recess buddies in grades K/4 and 1/5. We are always pleased with the caring relationships that develop through this practice.

We have monthly all-school celebrations so that we can celebrate the start of new seasons and what we value as a school community. We like to remind everyone that our school C.A.R.E.S. This acronym represents our values of:

C—Cooperation

A—Assertion

R—Responsibility

E—Empathy

S—Self-Control

Outdoor Science Education

We also support the tradition of sending our 5th graders to Nature’s Classroom every fall.  At Nature’s Classroom students and teachers get the chance to experience education from another perspective, outside the walls of the classroom.

Investigations

We use Investigations as a math program and feel strongly that all students should be able to articulate their mathematical thinking. Three of our teachers are math coaches in order to provide guidance for all. They have received extensive training through Summermath for Teachers at Mount Holyoke College.

Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop

The Northampton Public Schools utilizes Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop. The goal is to create a learning environment that encourages independence, motivation, skill development, and creative thinking. The mission of the Reading and Writing Project is to help young people become avid and skilled readers, writers, and inquirers.

Student Leaders

We have an active and enthusiastic Student Leadership Team made up of interested 3rd , 4th , and 5th graders. We meet bi-weekly to plan fun and meaningful events for our school.

PTO Support

We have a very active and supportive PTO which supports many of our school’s traditions and cultural events.  The PTO meets at 6:30 on the third Wednesday of every month in our school library. It’s great group and a fun way to be involved at school!

Youth Enrichment Programs

We offer three sessions of after school programs throughout the year, which meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. These programs offer our students creative educational opportunities outside the school day.

Volunteers Welcome

The Volunteers in Northampton Schools, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization, founded in 1981, whose mission is to provide volunteers in all of Northampton’s public schools. The purpose of volunteer involvement in the schools is to supplement and enrich the curriculum offerings at the direction of the professional staff. Contact coordinator, Candy Tauscher at 587-1332 if you would like more information.