In partnership with parents and the community, Walter B. Howard Elementary offers a welcoming and enthusiastic learning environment that promotes success for all children. Our diverse and comprehensive academic programs provide each student with a strong foundation in the core curricula areas of language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Our physical education, health, music, art, library and technology programs are also an exciting part of each student’s instruction. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are emphasized, and promote excellence and lifelong learning.

Located on Route 20 in the town of West Lebanon, the Walter B. Howard Elementary School is a neighborhood school dedicated to the academic growth of approximately 325 students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The average class size is 16 students. Our single-level building is anchored by the school’s “learning center” and surrounded by more than 65 acres, providing the community with ample space for outdoor activity, sports and nature observation.

Our Programs

Our library-media center is located both physically and academically at the heart of our school. It houses approximately 13,000 books as well as magazines, newspapers and audio-visual materials. Our book circulation is automated and students can access materials through an online card catalog. The library is open to students to check out resources and enjoy a number of educational activities, from finding a quiet spot to read to using our mini computer lab to do research. Students are encouraged to visit often. In addition, an evening library program is held twice a month for children and their parents. Led by our library-media specialist, this two-hour literacy program celebrates reading and parental involvement in education.

As part of our efforts to provide each child with a well-rounded education, Walter B. Howard Elementary School offers students a variety of music programs to meet their abilities. Students attend our music education program for 40 minutes each week. Classes include listening, singing, dancing, music notation writing, and playing instruments. The music program incorporates reading skills, history, and performance for meeting the standards in music. Students also have the opportunity to participate in three performing groups – chorus (grades 4-6) and band (5th grade, 6th grade). These groups are optional and meet once a week for lessons. In addition to two performances each year, students also participate in Columbia County Music Festivals in March and April and solo concerts. Because students involved in school music programs tend to score higher on standardized tests and do better in school, this is music to a parent’s ears indeed.

Walk down the hallways of Walter B. Howard Elementary School and you’ll see first-hand the strength of our art program. Our comprehensive art program is designed to help students learn about art and foster and improve their problem solving, creativity and independent thinking skills. Students are encouraged to explore many different media and techniques and to develop an aesthetic perspective of the world around them. Lessons help students gain a greater appreciation of art and how to enjoy it as both a creator and an informed viewer.

The Walter B. Howard Physical Education program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to keep them healthy and fit for a lifetime. The curriculum and assessment models are aligned with national, state and local learning standards. Individual and team activities are presented. We also offer unconventional units such as rock climbing, Project Adventure, orienteering, and swimming. Students experience healthy risk-taking activities in a supportive environment. These activities develop physical skills as well as positive character traits such as honesty, cooperation, compassion, fairness, citizenship, and caring for each other. A major focus of the curriculum is promoting leadership and team building challenges. Interdisciplinary projects are conducted to show relevance of learning. Most of all it will be FUN!

Technology is rapidly changing our world. Our district leadership has long supported the integration of technology into the classroom. Students in second through sixth grades use the library’s resources including the internet to gather information in all instructional areas. In addition to the mini-lab in the school’s Learning Center, each classroom at Walter B. Howard has multiple computer stations. Each computer is Internet accessible and students have their own electronic folder on the school’s network. Students are educated in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher.

The New Lebanon Central School District, in cooperation with Questar III BOCES, offers a pre-kindergarten program at the Walter B. Howard Elementary School. Funded by the New York State Education Department, the program is open to families in the New Lebanon Central School District with children who are four years old. The program, offered free of charge, starts in September and runs through June. Open Monday through Friday mornings from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and afternoons from noon to 2:30 p.m., the pre-K program provides developmentally appropriate materials and activities, promotes child-initiated play, and interaction with the environment, peers and adults. Social, physical, emotional, and intellectual development of the whole child is addressed in the pre-kindergarten program. Parental involvement is highly encouraged.

Walter B. Howard Elementary School offers our students a morning program four mornings a week. Morning program is a musical and informational program whose content stems from the social studies and science curricula and meets many of the standards set by the state. We teach, model and reward a different character trait each month. Through a variety of songs, games, plays, dances and special guests, the program strives to give each student a happy and productive start to their school day. Visitors are always invited to attend and participate, Tuesday to Friday from 9:10 to 9:35.

A private certified daycare provides the before and after school program at the Walter B. Howard Elementary School to meet the needs of parents who work or need childcare. The hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 8:40 a.m. and 3:15 to 6:00 p.m. The after school program includes snack time, working on assigned homework, homework assistance and a planned activity. Parents pay a fee for their children to participate in these programs.

Our summer school program provides students with supplemental help to meet the state standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The five-week program, part of the district’s Academic Intervention Services plan, gives students additional time to work on reading, writing, basic computation and problem-solving skills. Many of the students attending this program also attend a town-sponsored Park Program at Shatford Park later in the day. Transportation is provided following dismissal.

New Lebanon Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

Our active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) provides many wonderful opportunities for students throughout the district. Through their generosity of time, money and resources, the group funds and supports a number of key events throughout the year. This includes craft fairs, book fairs, roller-skating, graduation and other special activities. The group also brings cultural arts programs into the district and purchases educational items for our schools.

BOOK IT!

Walter B. Howard Elementary School participates in the BOOK IT! National Reading Incentive Program, which motivates elementary school children to read by rewarding them for their reading accomplishments. The national program, sponsored by Pizza Hut, runs from October to March. Its purpose is to develop in children a lifelong love of reading. Individual reading goals are set for students and upon achievement, they are rewarded.

Junior Achievement

Our school participates in Junior Achievement, which is one of the world’s largest programs dedicated to educating young people about business and economics. Community volunteers take time out of their busy schedules to share their experiences with Walter B. Howard Elementary School students to show them what it takes to be successful and how they can impact the world. This career awareness program gives young people at each grade level (K-6) practical, engaging, and informative activities that complement classroom curriculum and the New York State Learning Standards.

Nature’s Classroom

Students in grade 4 and 5 have the opportunity to attend Nature’s Classroom, a five-day nature education residency in Silver Bay, N.Y. This unique educational experience stimulates learning by allowing students to explore nature through exciting hands-on activities with their peers. Activities focus on concepts and themes and their connection to the natural environment.

D.A.R.E.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Department provides the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program for Walter B. Howard Elementary students. The program is designed to make students aware of the dangers of substance abuse. At its conclusion, all fifth grade students graduate from the program and make a commitment to live drug free lives.