Hamilton Elementary School

We welcome Port Angeles pre-schoolers through sixth graders to Hamilton Elementary School, 1822 West Seventh Street.

If you have any questions, please call 360.452.6819.

Hamilton Elementary School Website
Continuous School Improvement Plans
Hamilton Enrollment, January 2013 - 281.8
Port Angeles School District Demographics Information

For more information on Hamilton Elementary School, click here to view Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Washington State Report Card information.

Vision
We empower all Hamilton students to reach high standards and graduate prepared with knowledge, skills, and abilities to choose a successful future.

Our Mission
We will ensure that all students continuously and measurably increase their academic and citizenship skills.

Reflections on the 2011-12 School Year

Hamilton Elementary Measurement of Student Progress (MSP) assessment data for spring 2012 generated some notable results:

In Math, the sixth grade has positive gains as both a grade level (+2.2%) and as a cohort (+4.1%). The fifth grade cohort gained 6.9%. The fourth grade MSP scores increased 13.8%. Level 3 & 4 increased in grades 3, 4, and 6.
In Science, there is a decrease of students in level 1 (under 10%) and an increase of students in level 4 over the last five years. Last year we had the highest MSP score in school history!
In Reading, Hamilton scored higher in Reading at every grade level than the State average. Overall scores increased in grade 4, 5, and 6. Fourth grade level 4 increased from 23.9% to 38.2%. No students in grade 4 were at level 1. Fifth grade level 1 decreased from 14.8% to 6.8%, and level 2 decreased from 24.1% to 36.4%.
In Writing, convention scores are improving to over 80%. There has been a continual upward trend in Writing the last three years. Once again, Hamilton scored higher than the State average.

Student Learning. Hamilton’s theme this year is, “There’s Nothing We Can’t Achieve, Because In Ourselves, We Believe!” At our school we truly want to see “All Hamilton students reach high standards and graduate prepared with knowledge skills, and abilities to choose a successful future.” Our part of this vision begins with a solid foundation of basic skills. While each category below is important, Reading skills are certainly the gateway to success in all areas. Our focus on Reading achievement at all levels will benefit other academic areas as well.

Reading. We continue to use the RTI (Response to Intervention) model school-wide. This model efficiently aligns resources to support learners with scientifically based programs that are frequently monitored to document progress and guide next steps of instruction. It provides early and timely intervention for struggling students. This component will help us to have more special education students be successful as measured by the MSP. Additionally, all teachers will continue to use the Houghton Mifflin Core reading program with an emphasis on comprehension strategies, vocabulary and grammar. Classrooms will continue to use non-fiction magazines along with MSP stem questions to further student understanding of informational text. Fifth and Sixth grade students will be receiving their core instruction by the fifth/sixth grade Reading Teacher.

Writing. COS (content, organization, style) remain an important area of focus. All teachers will continue to use best instructional writing practices, i.e., adopted curriculum, anchor charts, review and use of WASL/MSP released items.

Math. Teachers are in the first year of a math adoption. Fidelity of implementation will be monitored closely. A renewed emphasis will be placed on basic facts at all grade levels. Community volunteers and internal initiatives will support this effort. Fifth and sixth grade students will be receiving core instruction from our Math Block teacher. To assist our students in Math, we will continue our afterschool math club and offer a lunch time homework club (Students who scored at level 1 on the MSP have been identified and will be targeted for the afterschool math club.).

Science. Teachers will continue to use the FOSS science kits and follow the School District assessment schedule. Our plan is to utilize both early release Tuesday time and building collaborative time to examine progress with Science instruction.

Professional Development. Focused staff professional development will focus on all content areas, including Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) and Analytical Reading Inventory (ARI) assessment, small reading group instruction, grade band team coordination of early release time, and study of resource materials – Classroom Instruction that Works and The Highly Engaged Classroom.

School Climate. According to the fall 2012 Center for Educational Effectiveness Survey (CEES), Hamilton saw an increase in all 10 areas of our CEE survey. These increases ranged from 10% to 29%. Our average increase was 18.7%. Our four largest increases were in Clear & Shared focus, +22%; High Levels of Community & Parent Involvement, +24%; High Levels of Collaboration and Communication, +27%; and Effective School Leadership, + 29%.

Hamilton will host a series of enrichment activities throughout the year. Our plans include continuing the Art Paths at Hamilton which was initiated last year. This program allowed student to participate in a variety of Art projects/activities cumulating in the first Hamilton Art Show. This year will see Hamilton kick off its first Robotics program where our goal is to inspire in our students, their school and community an appreciation of science and technology, and of how mastering these can enrich the lives of all. We are developing plans to begin other clubs such as an Elementary Leadership Club, Chess or Checkers Club, and Drama Club.

Student Planners will be used to assist students with study skills and in keeping track of assignments. Homework Club will once again be provided for students to complete and receive assistance on homework assignments in all subject areas.

We also partner with the Hamilton Parent Teacher Organization and the Port Angeles Education Foundation to provide a number of enrichment activities at our school. Some of these activities include enrichment assemblies and similar activities we held last year: Anti-Bullying Magic Show, Adventures in Music, storytelling sessions, family nights at school, family night at the roller rink, sixth grade moving up celebration, a holiday bazaar, math and reading nights, and a bike safety course.

How You Can Help
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. But not all children learn in the same way at the same time. Parents, friends of Hamilton students and our community are all instrumental in providing the additional support that makes learning at Hamilton motivating and rewarding. We need your support to continue our rich history of an elementary school that cares for kids and celebrates success. Please call us at 360.452.6818.

Use and Condition of Building
Hamilton Elementary School is the third largest elementary school in the district, built in 1956, with modernizations and additions in 1978. The facility supports kindergarten through grade five classrooms, as well as outdoor fields for district and community recreation. The physical evaluation of this educational facility is rated 41.5% based on a January 7, 2008 study and survey by BLRB Architects. Facility Use and Conditions Report available at the Port Angeles School District office.

Hamilton Statistics	2011-12
Enrollment (FTE)	297.78
Smallest Class	18
Largest Class	25
Average Class Size	23
Classroom Teachers (FTE)	18.5
Support Staff (FTE)	1.25
Administrators (FTE)	1
Secretaries (FTE)	1.375
Paraeducators	6
Custodians	1.5
Food Services	3
Volunteers	48
Avg. Annual Attendance	94.29%
Suspended	25
Expelled	0
Students Promoted	99.6%
Free/Reduced Lunch	61.6%
Title I/Lap	school-wide
Special Education	71
Bilingual	2

For more information on Port Angeles School District's Report Card go to: reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us.