Principal's Message

 

Dear Ottomon Families,

I am overjoyed to be in my third year as principal at Ottomon Elementary School for the 2023-24 school year. I am so proud of the work being done by our team!  Our goal is for all students, staff, families and community partners to experience an exceptional learning experience based on the Artful Learning model created by Leonard Bernstein, an American composer, conductor, pianist, educator and humanitarian. Bernstein's vision was to use music and other visual and performing arts as a means of instilling a lifelong love of learning in students.  

 

Artful Learning is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that asks students to experience, inquire, reflect and create as they progress through their grade's units of study.  The Artful Learning framework uses the arts and artistic process to reinforce teaching and learning across all academic subjects. Over the course of the school year, students study three masterworks in each grade level.  These masterworks illuminate the central concept and ask students to answer a significant question of learning. At the end of each of the three units of study, students produce their own original creation which serves as a metaphor demonstrating their understanding of their learning.

 

Ottomon is proud to provide students with artful experiences outside of their home classroom.  On staff, we have specialized educators dedicated to providing students with dance, music, choir, band, audio-visual, drama and art. All of our specialists are known for being excellent leaders in their craft, and they work alongside the classroom teachers to provide artistic learning experiences for students based on the Common Core State Standards.

 

Additionally, this year we are continuing our Universal Access approach to literacy called “WIN” - What I need.  Universal Access assures each student gets exactly what they need as they grow in their reading development.  Reading groups are created to be small and target very specific skills until each student achieves mastery. You will hear more about this as the year progresses! Our data from last year indicates tremendous progress in all literacy skills.

 

I am privileged to lead such an amazing, art-loving and learning-loving community.  Please do not hesitate to contact me, our caring office staff, or any of our brilliant staff members with any questions, concerns or input. Together we can make a difference!

 

 

Carrie Manriquez

Principal

carrie.manriquez@sanjuan.edu