Building a Community of Learners at Columbia!

Over the past several years I have had the opportunity to gather various pieces of coral that have washed up on beaches.  The coral is beautiful, and full of intricate designs made from their former inhabitants.  Although coral seems like nothing more than rock once it washes up on the shore, it represents a piece of a former colony that was bursting with marine animal life.  In much the same way, our brick and mortar school buildings may look like any other structure, but they are bursting with life and activities.  Our precious students and staff members have built an amazing impactful teaching and learning colony filled with mutual respect and passions for education.

Our staff members actively reach out to students, whether they are in person in the classroom, or participating through a virtual portal.  Our teachers and staff work with their students to establish an environment that becomes a community of learners.  Our staff members work together in a collaborative and cooperative manner to make sure that the community is a positive environment that is bursting with energy and camaraderie. 

Our teachers actively work to cultivate a respectful, caring connection between those in the community of learners. By supporting their students and enabling them to learn and succeed, Columbia teachers show that they have nurturing hearts aimed at a positive environment.  The amazing classroom environments, help reassure our parents so that they may take active roles in their child’s education.

Columbia teachers work together to emphasize common beliefs and goals.  They focus on incorporating the school improvement plans and the Columbia Strategic Plan into their classroom to help develop a strong sense of community.  By integrating character qualities of positive work ethic, fairness, responsibility, caring and kindness, our students share in the enactment of the school’s values.

In addition to providing opportunities for their students to learn about community values of service and cooperation, they make it possible for our students to collaborate with their peers as they develop a love for learning, while making friendships that will last a lifetime.  Columbia students experience the opportunity to learn while they contribute to the greater community by donating to food drives, toy donations, and a focus on making the Brooklyn area a better place to live.

As I look at the pieces of coral, most of them are small and seemingly inconsequential, I think about how important it is that our student community is made up of individual children who, as they come together, are building a strong, cohesive society.  By establishing a positive climate in the classroom and in the school, our teachers and staff members prepare our students for the complexities they will encounter as they build towards a successful future.  If you are interested in learning more about Columbia School District and our fabulous teachers and staff members, please email me at Pamela.Campbell@myeagles.org or call 5175926641.