Demographic Study

Chelsea Smaellie
ED 427
2/10/15
School

Madison School District

There are 11 schools in the district
Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey R. Thomas
South Fork Elementary School
Kevin Carey is the Principal of South Fork Elementary School. He has been in the education field for twelve years. Carey
started his career in 2002 coaching basketball and football at West Jefferson High School and coached there until he moved to
North West Academy. He then taught social studies and math at North Gem Schools. Once he received his Masters Degree in
Educational Leadership, he became the principal of South Fork Elementary School. Carey received his Bachelors Degree at
Brigham Young University--Idaho and his Masters Degree at Grand Canyon University.

Number of students in the school: 397

Number of classes of each grade level: 3 in K-2 and 4 in 3-4th grades
Racial makeup
White: 344 (86.6%)
African American:
2 (0.5%)
Asian: 2 (0.5%)
Hispanic:
46 (11.6%)
18 full time teachers
Resources available: Before and after school program, music time once a month, PE, library.
The only special teachers that I know of are the ones that work with the children who are English language learners.
South Fork Elementary feels new and happy right when you walk in the door. It is in the middle of a rural small town but it
feels like an up to date school with all of the technological resources. It was built in The staff and faculty are friendly and want
to help everyone they meet. It is a smaller school so it feels like everyone knows everyone. The class sizes are smaller than I
am used to coming from Utah. The classrooms are large and inviting. The students seem excited and happy to learn.

Classroom

Mrs. Weekes has been teaching for twenty six years. She started in third grade but has been in Kindergarten for most of her
career. She really loves the Kindergarteners and seems to really have the curriculum understood and applied in her classroom.
There are 16 students. 9 boys and 7 girls.
Two students are Latino and the rest are Caucasian. Most of their families are from Idaho.
The classroom is set up with four colored tables for the students desks. There are five computers on the right wall. There is
plenty of cabinets and a sink with a drinking fountain. There is one large white board with the smart board available as well.
There is a large kiva area in the back of the room with cubby space for storage. There is a small bathroom inside the classroom
which is very accommodating for the kindergarteners. In the back there is a area with hooks and shelving for coats and
backpacks. By the coat area she has set up more of an explorative play area with a small kitchen toy set, TV, blocks, a table,
and other toys. They get to use this area at one of the rotations during the day.
I really like how the classroom is set up. There is enough space to move and I love where the coats go in a separate little space.
I also think it is great to have the bathroom in the class.
The classroom management is based off of an understanding that we respect one another with a no touching rule and always
saying kind words. Mrs. Weekes is very good at enforcing good behavior positively by using a little incentive called Pride
Passes. She will say that she is seeing someone be really good and so they earned a pride pass which they can redeem for a
little store that they have I think at the end of every month.
I think the only thing that I would change about the classroom management is having some sort or consequence for negative
behavior. There have been times when a student is not behaving multiple times and nothing happens. I know that one student
has made a system that includes the parents in his behavior. But I think that after multiple times the students need to receive a
consequence for their bad behavior.
The classroom overall feels happy and the children are engaged in their learning. During centers it gets a little hectic but
mostly the students are engaged with the teachers instructions.
Mrs. Weekes is the most patient and confident teacher that I have been able to work with. She is very good at making each
child feel special and loved. She really has the curriculum understood and implemented in everything she does.

Whiteboard

SINK AND
CABINETS

KIVA

Tables
and
chairs

FREE
PLAY
AREA

TEACHERS

BATHROO
M

COATS
AND
CUBBIES
COMPUTERS