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Welcome to Nichols Hills Elementary School, a Specialty School of International Studies and
Fine Arts!
For more than sixty years, Nichols Hills Elementary has provided thousands
of children with the finest education available in Oklahoma. Many notable civic leaders are
products of Nichols Hills Elementary, as well as athletes, actors, artists,
educators, and scientists.
Nichols Hills Elementary reopened after the successful 1993 Bond Issue.
Parents were instrumental in the reopening of the school by their
involvement in determining the curriculum, the specialty, and serving on
the selection committee for the principal. Never before has parent
participation been so great and so meaningful. The School
District has created an innovative model for parent
participation that can serve as an example for the nation. Parents serve on
more than twenty active committees to help the school reach its goals
including serving as classroom tutors. Parents also commit to volunteering
at least 150 hours per year in some capacity.
Nichols Hills Elementary is privileged to have tremendous racial and
socio-economic diversity. More than one-third of our student population is
on free or reduced lunch. Our ethnic composite includes 35% minorities.
This is very important in preparing our students with the social skills and
cultural knowledge they will use to enable them to co-exist in the real
world.
Nichols Hills Elementary was the first Oklahoma City Public
School to have 100% compliance with our
uniform policy. This policy was incorporated into the initial planning of
the school's reopening at the request of the parents. We find that we have
fewer discipline problems as a result of the students' wearing uniforms and
the students will tell you that wearing uniforms eliminates competition and
as one student said, "Don't tell my mother, but I like uniforms
because it helps me get organized in the morning." Parents appreciate
the monetary savings they enjoy as a result of the uniform policy. The PTA
created and maintains a uniform closet which is available to help those
students who need assistance with uniforms. Nichols Hills Elementary is the
school district's first magnet school for International Studies and Fine
Arts. International Studies is taught through an accelerated curriculum
known as Core Knowledge.
Core Knowledge is a curriculum rich in history, geography, American civilization,
World civilization, fine arts, and great literature.
The Core Knowledge curriculum sequence is the result of research into the
content and structure of the highest performing elementary school systems
around the world, as well as extensive consensus-building among diverse
groups and interests, including parents, teachers, scientists, professional
curriculum organizations and experts from the Core Knowledge Foundation's
advisory board on multicultural traditions.
While the Core Knowledge sequence starts as early as Preschool, some
examples of student studies in the area of World and American civilization
are the first graders study of geography, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt,
history of World religions, Mexico, early people and civilizations (Maya, Inca,
Aztec), early exploration of America West; and symbols and figures. By
fifth grade the students are learning World geography, Meso-American
civilizations, European exploration, trade, and clash of cultures,
Renaissance and Reformation, England
from the Golden Age to the Glorious Revolution, Russia:
early growth and expansion, and feudal Japan. This is only a sample of
World and American civilization, but the Core Knowledge sequence is just as
extensive for all other curriculum areas. The fast-paced instruction of
liberal arts studies, some might call high school or college level
materials, keep our students excited about learning. We believe any
material can be taught in a developmentally appropriate way.
Our students have the benefit of a full-time art and music teacher who
support and extend the curriculum for the fine arts specialty. For the five
years we have been reopened, the Music department has produced a costumed
musical for each grade level each year. The performances have been
choreographed and costumed with the help of parents. These performances
have been given locally by request and videoed for sale to parents. We also
have an outstanding select Varsity Choir for grades second through fifth.
Students audition and must maintain high grades and good behavior to be
selected.
Our art students have won many local, state, and national contests. In
addition to learning the theory of art, our students develop wonderful
skills at this age that help them produce provocative and stunning work.
The art and music program are intertwined with the Core Knowledge
curriculum so that when a student is learning about the American
Revolution, their music studies will include listening to music and viewing
art of that period and learning about composers and artists of that period.
Our students' art work has been on display at many locations by request.
One of our students has been hired by the children's' publication, Stone
Soup, as an illustrator. Research supports a fine arts specialty by showing
that students with a strong art background consistently perform higher on
S.A.T. scores.
Nichols Hills Elementary is also a Great Expectation
School. The Great
Expectations philosophy, based on educational research, is, as the name
implies, an instructional approach offering a variety of curricular methods
based on high teacher expectations. We believe that all children can learn.
We will not accept failure as an option as we plan educational programs or
interventions for children.
As in other Great Expectation schools, children memorize much poetry that
has virtue or character development as the subject. Developing positive
character traits isn't something one can do in a vacuum or on one's own. We
believe as teachers, we have a responsibility to help children develop
character traits that will benefit them in the world in which they live and
work. Consequently, life principles are a part of the curriculum and
instruction. We believe that one's traits are linked to one's conscience,
moral convictions, beliefs, personal experience, upbringing, rights, and
responsibilities; to one's culture and its laws and expectations; and to
one's relationship with oneself, others, and the world. Developing positive
character traits means that one respects oneself, others, and the world.
Students must have this type of respect to become successful.
Another indication of our success is our high standardized test scores.
While our scores are some of the highest in the district, we also continue
to score higher than schools in surrounding districts. The staff works
diligently to help students succeed. Teachers make a commitment to the
school when they are employed to take specialized training that will help
our school reach its goals. The staff at Nichols Hills is a cohesive team
of creative individuals who are continually looking for ways to improve
student performance and instruction. The staff not only nurtures and
encourages the students but also each other, as we continue to grow and
learn. There is a commitment by all the staff that exceeds standard
expectations. Everyone goes above and beyond, for example, teachers and
custodians coach athletic teams.
We also realize that test scores are only one measure of a school's
success. Our students have one of the highest attendance rates in our
district. Open House attendance and Parent/Teacher conference numbers are
some of the highest in the district. The principal and teachers make home
visits when parents can't come for conferences. To be successful, we stress
to parents that we must have their involvement. Attendance in our
extracurricular academic and athletic programs also indicates interest and
achievement. We have more than ten athletic teams for boys, girls and co-ed
teams for football, T-ball, machine pitch, basketball, soccer, etc. Our
students have won local, state, and national competitions. Our continuing
goal is to offer our children an education that will allow them to compete
successfully and enhance their prospects for higher learning.
After graduating from Nichols Hills Elementary, fifth graders disperse to a
variety of different middle schools, both public and private. As a result
of the academic and life-skills training they have received at Nichols
Hills, they are prepared to enter the school of their choice and perform very
well.
Nichols Hills Elementary has a splendid history of success and caring for
children. The community supports this success with a loyal and helpful
partnership. Nichols Hills Elementary has accepted the challenge to
continue to prepare children for their future challenges and leadership
roles for this community and beyond.
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