Race Brook School

Nestled into a quiet residential neighborhood, overlooking a sparkling pond, Race Brook School, built in 1959, is an integral part of the landscape and the community. Serving as a magnet for educational and social activity, it is a place where students, educators, parents, community leaders, and professionals share their interests and talents. Our common goal is to provide our 389 children with academic experiences and challenges in the context of becoming responsible, respectful, and contributing members of society.

Currently, there are over 80 highly qualified educators and support staff focused on student learning in grades 1 through 6. Curriculum is on a continuous cycle of updates and revisions through teacher input and review of state frameworks and research literature. Foreign language instruction begins in first grade, emphasizing the Spanish culture, as well as linguistics. The arts, technology, and media classes work together to support the content areas, building bridges of understanding and expanding the arenas of self-expression. 

Race Brook School addresses the four domains (cognitive, physical, personal/social, and creative expression) of child development appropriate to the age of its students by providing programs that celebrate diversity, promote a sense of belonging, foster positive relationships and set high expectations for all. In order for students to learn about their positive role in society, many simulations of the adult world are needed. Therefore, it is our belief that students must be actively involved in the creation and maintenance of their school community. Through our student council, a 2005 NAESP Honor Award Winner, we provide opportunities for appropriate student empowerment. Pupils are involved in numerous social service projects, as well as initiatives that affect their environment and the way the school functions. A district-wide emphasis on character education fosters lessons in pro-social behaviors and student participation in regularly scheduled class meetings and assemblies. Several cross-grade level learning partnerships are in place, advancing the students’ skills in collaboration and providing opportunities for older students to teach and model for their younger cohorts.

A strong partnership between the school, the parents, and the community is a crucial aspect of the educational experience. Parents are involved in numerous projects, special learning experiences, and social events. For instance, every November the school celebrates Veteran's Day with a musical assembly and invites all of the relatives and friends of our school family who served their county. We honor these veterans by name and enjoy a personal connection time with them in the classrooms after the assembly. In addition, our award winning PTA provides a myriad of cultural, learning and fun activities for students and their families. Teachers and parents work side by side in the classrooms or in conferences as they pool their efforts to enhance student performance.

Believing that "there is no greater gift one human being can give another, than the opportunity to learn and grow in a nurturing environment" spurs our teachers and staff members to make Race Brook the special place that it has become.