PROGRAMS

Regular School Day Programs
Extended Day Programs
Technology
Accelerated Reader

Title 1
Herman Leimbach is a Title 1 school. As such, the school receives federal money to help students achieve by providing students with the needed interventions. The focus of our intervention is the direct support of students’ academic progress through the reduction of class sizes. Our Kindergarten through third grade classes has been reduced to 20 students and intermediate classes, grades 4, 5, and 6 have been reduced to 24.   Teachers provide in-class support through small group instruction and differentiation to meet students’ needs.  Utilizing Federal funds, we are able to provide additional support for students in the areas of reading and mathematics.  This assistance supplements the regular educations program but does not replace it.

Self-Contained Accelerated Classes
We offer a self-contained, accelerated program in grades 3 through 6.  The goal of the Accelerated program is to provide breadth and depth in curriculum while challenging students to learn at a faster pace. Students are accountable for mastering grade level Standards and Benchmarks for their assigned grade.   In the areas of reading, language arts and math, students are challenged to learn the Standards and Benchmarks for the grade level above their assigned grade. Participants must be committed to learning and maintain the work habits and performance standards set for accelerated learning.

Math & Reading Academies
An academy is an intervention program available for students who are at risk of retention or for students who have been retained. Students are supported in the areas of math and reading. All students receive small group instruction in their classrooms.  Academies fulfill a supplementary component in the areas of reading and math for students in grades 1-6. Reading and math academies are conducted during the school day.

Learning Center/Special Education
This program provides assistance to students who qualify, with an emphasis on supporting students whose learning difficulties require special accommodations with the curriculum. Qualification is based on diagnosis, screening, and teacher/parent referral through the Student Intervention Team (SIT) process to ensure:

• The systematic instruction of student’s IEP goals & objectives
• The education of core curriculum and materials to facilitate student participation and learning.
• The development and implementation of social skills program and positive behavioral interventions

Language, Speech and Haring Program (LSH)
A speech and language specialist is assigned to Herman Leimbach to assist students with identified needs. To qualify students must be assessed by the specialist and meet the qualifying criteria. The specialist also works closely with the Learning Center and Student Study Team.

Preschool
A total of five preschools are housed on the Leimbach campus. Local, state and federal funding sources are used to provide quality, Early Childhood Education for 100 youngsters at our site. With a highly qualified staff and a curriculum that prepares its students for the rigor of Kindergarten, large and small group instruction and individualization are provided daily. Teachers provide a rich exposure to English Language development for their English Learners and enlist bilingual staff to support families in their primary languages.

Primary Intervention Program (PIP)
Our site is fortunate to have been selected to participate in the Primary Intervention Program. The program is a school-based program designed to help primary grade students (K-3) adjust to the school environment and to enhance their personal development. The early detection and intervention for students who experience difficulties in school is essential to:

• Helping children get a good start by developing their social skills and healthy self-concept
• Reinforcing a child’s sense of importance in the school setting

Providing a safe, nurturing support system for children in school.

We offer a variety of extended day programs to support students in their academic journey. While some offerings are designed to improve students’ academic performance, others are designed to broaden students’ interests and develop talents or challenge students in new ways.

Tutoring
Herman Leimbach teachers offer tutoring to selected students in the areas if reading and math. As determined by the annual standardized test, the performance of the invited students is at the Below Basic and Basic levels. Teachers analyze the CST and the district’s MYPAS data to determine the areas of need.  Volunteer teachers offer tutoring in math and reading to students at multiple proficiency levels.

Sacramento START and Leimbach Lions Club (ASES)
Herman Leimbach offers two after-school programs which maximize student participation. Both programs offer homework assistance, and involve students in enrichment activities that develop social skills, increase self-confidence and self-esteem. In addition, Lions Club offers a Literacy element as part of the skills building component. The after School programs are in session Monday through Friday from 2:35 until 5:45 p.m.  

Valley Regional Band
Along with Samuel Jackman Middle School and Valley High School, the five elementary schools in the Valley Hi region have collaboratively identified goals to advance the preparation of a future, award-winning band. Leimbach is one of five schools in the Valley region committed to preparing its students musically through the study of music theory as well as its practice. Band instruction is provided during school and after school. Although there is no participation fee, students need to rent or purchase their own instrument.

Math Excellence and Science Achievement (MESA)
MESA is an after school program that meets weekly to learn a curriculum geared toward hands-on math, science, and engineering. Each student in MESA has been selected to participate based on high test scores in math as well as teacher recommendations. This is a select group of students who work very hard all year long to learn cutting-edge technology.  Last year’s curriculum focus was robotics.    

Leimbach Visual and Performing Arts Center
The Leimbach Visual and Performing Arts Center provides young artists an opportunity to express themselves artistically. The group meets once a week after school in a room set up for arts instruction. We use high-quality materials and present the arts in a professional manner through public exhibitions and performances. The arts instruction is provided by Leimbach teachers who are practicing artists and performers and experienced art educators.

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Herman Leimbach is committed to helping students and staff become comfortable with a variety of technological tools to enhance teaching and learning.  As a result, technology has become an integral part of classroom instruction and staff development.  Technology enhances learning at Herman Leimbach in the following ways: 

Computer Lab
All grade levels regularly visit the computer lab to receive instruction on typing and research skills and to complete projects using Microsoft Word, Power Point, and Movie Maker.  To learn more about the instruction that goes on in the computer lab, please visit Mrs. Swift’s website. 

Classroom Computers
All classrooms at Herman Leimbach are equipped with at least 3 student computers.  Students are able to use these computers for the independent practice of skills learned in class as well as research.

LCD Projectors
Every classroom at Herman Leimbach is equipped with an LCD projector.  Teachers use these projectors to enhance learning by providing students with visuals that make content more comprehensible.  In addition, teachers use presentation software such as Power Point to enhance their instruction.

SMART Boards
During the 2009/2010 school year, all 1st-6th grade classrooms at Herman Leimbach will be home to interactive whiteboards called SMART Boards.  These interactive whiteboards increase student engagement levels and provide teachers with means to use cutting-edge instructional strategies and multi-media sources to enhance their instruction and deepen students’ understanding of grade level standards and curriculum.

Document Cameras
In 2009/2010, all 1st-6th grade classrooms at Herman Leimbach will have document cameras, called Elmos, that allow teachers to quickly create a digital image of student work or textbook pages.  They can, then, manipulate this image using editing marks, highlighting, etc.  These cameras give teachers an opportunity to provide students with more guidance while reading a text together and immediate feedback and more effective guidance during writing instruction.

Mobile Lab
Our mobile lab consists of 20 student laptops and can be moved from classroom to classroom with ease.  The laptops are most often used for research and creating Word documents and Power Point presentations.

Digital Camcorder
In 2008, a team of students from Leimbach participated in a district program called DOLCHE (Documenting our Local Culture, History, and Events).  This program resulted in the students submitting a video to the SEVA (Student Educational Video Awards) competition.  As a result, Leimbach was given a digital camcorder that can be used by all students for video production. We also acquired two more video cameras through donations and school purchases.

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The Accelerated Reader (AR) Program provides teachers and children a fun and exciting way to promote reading at home and in the classroom.

Accelerated Reader (AR) software installed in the classrooms and computer lab allows students to take in-class quizzes on books they have read for points. Each book has a designated reading level as well as point value. Students receiving Accelerated Reader awards are honored with a certificate at the Student of the Month assemblies.

Accelerated Reader:

• Helps kids get excited about books
• AR helps students focus attention on careful reading of books, which improves students critical-thinking skills and builds the intrinsic love of reading.
• Provides teachers with reliable, objective information
• Enables teachers to monitor both the quantity and quality of reading practice engaged in by their students.
• Helps to keep students challenged
• Using AR, students can read appropriate books within their zone of proximal development (ZPD). This ensures that every student is challenged without being frustrated.

Click here to take a sample Accelerated Reader quiz online at Renaissance Learning™

If you would like additional ideas on how you can support your child with Accelerated Reader, please review the following documents:

Dear Parents

Looking for Books for Accelerated Reader

Color Coding System

ParentsGuideToHomeConnect_English

ParentsGuideToHomeConnect_Spanish

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