Featured Article: We Are Watching Your Children
2-6-2009
By Susan Simon, Principal
Supervising
students is an important responsibility for teachers and
administrators in any school. Good outdoor supervision
prevents accidents, leads to appropriate social interactions
and allows the teacher to learn more about each child
in his classroom. Watching the interactions of children
at play and in between classes provides valuable information
for the observer. Inside supervision sets the tone for
orderly classroom dynamics and steady learning to occur.
Desert Star Students are supervised from the time they
are dropped off each morning until they are picked up
in the afternoon. Supervision at drop-off time begins
at 8:15am. Students are permitted to go directly to their
classrooms in the morning. This gives them time to get
settled before class begins. Often parents try to hold
brief conferences with the teacher at drop-off time. This
isn't a good conference time as the teacher is usually
busy preparing for and greeting the students. The class
teacher and special area teachers are responsible for
the students throughout the school day.
Recess is an important time to provide good supervisory
coverage of students. At Desert Star, there are approximately
85 students on the playgrounds at the same time. Thirty
first and second graders are assigned to the play structures
nearest their classrooms. There are usually two teachers
watching this play area. The third through sixth graders
play on the remaining play areas. There are usually three
staff members supervising this group of students. On some
particularly nice days, most DS teachers will be on the
playground!! We're happy to say that playground injuries
are kept to a minimum with such good supervision.
Desert Star teachers walk their students out to the circle
at the end of the day. Students are carefully supervised
as they get into the cars that will take them home. It's
only after the last student is finally picked up that
the supervisors can lay down their responsibility. We're
watching your children and they're safe in our care.
