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Welcome to
Thomas Edison Elementary School. The mission of Thomas
A. Edison Elementary School is to provide academic and social development in an
environment designed to meet each child's need and potential.
Thomas Edison Elementary School was originally completed in September 1965 at a cost of
$257,022.53 or $13.22 per square foot and was dedicated on October 10, 1965.
It was built as an all-electric school with climate control and electric heat
incorporated into the basic educational pattern. It was considered to be
innovative in design with open classrooms and a material resources center at its
hub. The school was dedicated to the memory of a distinguished American,
Thomas Alva Edison.
As Dr. Gerald S. DeGrow, Superintendent of Schools in
1965, said, "The Thomas A. Edison Elementary School was designed to draw the
best from the past, and blend it with the needs of the future."
Additions to the school
were made in 1973, 1979, and 1990. The physical layout of the school still
includes two "hubs" or centers, one is a media center with adjacent computer
lab, and one a fourth and fifth grade center. As the school grew and
electrical costs soared, the school was converted to gas heat.
The original principal of
Thomas Edison was Mr. James B. Gauthier. He
was succeeded by Mrs. Lillian Hill, Mr. William Kimball, Mrs. Mary Warren
(interim), Mrs. Sally Gregg, Mrs. Gail Hunwick, Mr. Charles Kempf (interim),
Mrs. Mary Jo Heck and, presently, Miss Mary Anne Wiegand.
Thomas Edison currently has 450 students
with four sections of kindergarten, three first grades, three second grades,
three third grades, three fourth grades, three fifth grades, and two classrooms
for Hearing Impaired (HI) students. Thomas Edison School is privileged to
be the county-wide site for elementary HI students. Additionally, we have
support programs that include Speech, Resource Room, Reading Recovery, and
Instructional specialists, as well as, a school social worker.
Thomas Edison has a fine tradition of parent
cooperation and involvement. We have
an extremely active PTA with over 275 members. The PTA supports us in many
ways. Throughout the school year the PTA sponsors school Book Fairs,
author visits, special assemblies, the Accelerated Reader Program, Adopt-A-Book,
and the annual Reflections Program. Parent and family support of the
annual fall fundraiser, Christmas and spring flower sales, and the Market Day
food program, provide funds for PTA projects. During the 2005-2006 school
year $30,000 worth of new playground equipment was purchased thanks to PTA
fundraising efforts.
The
Accelerated Reader program is
exceptionally popular with our Thomas Edison Chargers. It allows students,
who are interested in the program, to read books at their level, take computer
tests on the books read, and earn points if they pass the tests. Children
are awarded Star Reader Hats and pins as their number of Accelerated Reader
points grow.
In addition to the PTA, parents are involved
in many other ways at Thomas Edison.
Junior Great Books groups, Destination Imagination teams, and Chess Club are led
by parent volunteers. Many parents also help out in the classrooms on a
daily or weekly basis. Several Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups use our
building as well. Many of the activities and programs at Thomas Edison
would not be possible without the countless hours of volunteering that are
donated at our school.
Throughout the school year extended learning
opportunities are available to our
students through a variety of classroom field trips, and staff led activities
and groups such as the drumming program, Math Olympiad, Art Club, Quiz Bowl, the
school play, Student Council, Safety Patrol, and Service Squad.
Thanks to the efforts of staff, parents, and community members, Thomas Edison
stands out as a great place to learn!
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Thomas A. Edison
Elementary School
