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Berthoud Elementary
Principal: Camilla Lojeske

Name/History: Berthoud Elementary opened in 1962. A 50,400 square-foot addition was opened in 1992. The school is named after the town.

Mission Statement: The Berthoud Elementary School community will provide quality opportunities for balanced learning in an environment that ensures that every individual will move toward full potential.

Overview - Berthoud Elementary provides programs for a wide spectrum of learners. We are close to local historical sites, including Berthoud's Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum, as students study local and state history. We have earned a John Erwin Academic Excellence award several times in the past 10 years for being in the top 8 percent of elementary schools in the state, as measured by the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP).

Academics - Our talented and dedicated staff engages in research-based, effective practices to meet the needs of all students. Teachers in 2nd through 5th grades create flexible academic groups that focus instruction on specific needs for math and literacy, which enables staff to provide well-supported, highly challenging instruction and curriculum according to each student's needs.

The whole child - Educating the whole child is a priority here. Staff members have long been dedicated to meeting the social and emotional needs of our students in addition to their academic growth. Students receive instruction in the "Character Counts! Six Pillars of Character" program which supports developing the essential traits of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship. Staff members recognize students demonstrating these characteristics by awarding them a Proud Card which is displayed in the front hall all month. The staff also sponsors after-school clubs each winter.

Response to Intervention - We were one of the first schools to implement Response to Intervention (RtI). Students with academic and/or behavior concerns may be brought to the Problem Solving Team by his or her teacher. The team works with teachers and families to identify specific concerns and determine a plan of intervention and measurement of progress. Students benefit from appropriate interventions and a team approach to meet needs that go beyond the scope of the general education classroom.

Community involvement - Parents, retired staff and community members donate thousands of hours each year. Students benefit from tutoring and small group practice of skills. We also have a fall carnival, holiday shop, yearly memory book and other important opportunities made possible by our volunteers. Our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) supports many endeavors. One sign of our community teamwork is the addition of football/soccer and softball fields on the west side of our school, which were completed through joint efforts by the school community, district, town, and through a state grant from GOCO.