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Buckman
320 SE 16THPortland, OR 97214
View a map of the surrounding area
Phone: 503-916-6230
Fax: 503-916-2615
E-mail: banderson@pps.k12.or.us
School-created web pages: http://www.buckmanelementary.org/
Grade levels: K-5
Principal: Brian Anderson
Student Enrollment: 495
About:
Buckman Arts Focus School provides an exciting educational option for elementary children throughout the Portland Public School District. Students at Buckman have the opportunity to internalize their learning through several forms of creative self-expression. They often use dramatic improvisation to interpret a historical perspective. They may explore rhythmic patterns to explain mathematical understandings or adapt a song to synthesize the results of a science experiment. Through involvement with the arts, students at Buckman are engaged and enthusiastic, eagerly anticipating their next project, activity or performance. Integrating a love of the arts with high academic standards, the Buckman community supports every child. In addition to consistently achieving strong results in state-required academic assessments, Buckman provides a dynamic foundation for students to develop the positive self-esteem and the effective lifeskills necessary for their success. The dedicated Buckman staff, pro-active parents and a considerable number of invaluable community resources culminate in a remarkable partnership that underscores an incomparable devotion to arts-infused education. Buckman provides a top-quality educational experience that would benefit all children. Buckman School is truly unique.
Kindergarten: Three full-day classes of kindergarten are offered.
Focus options: K-5th grade Arts Focus Option.
Before and after school programs
- We have SUN community classes after school.
- Vermont Hills Child Care provides before and after school care.
Community partnerships
- Buckman was chosen as a SUN School as part of a community building initiative sponsored by Multnomah County and the City of Portland. This will enhance Buckman\'s student success and community vitality by expanding the use of the neighborhood school. In addition to building creative new community partnerships, SUN Schools work to identify and engage the special gifts and skills of neighborhoods.
- Through SUN Schools, additional academic offerings are provided before and after regular school hours, expanded social and health services are provided to students and their families and recreation and enrichment activities are open to the entire community.
- Buckman has a SMART program that utilizes volunteers who read weekly with K-2nd grade students. Currently, our SMART program has about 70 volunteers.
Student learning environment
- Buckman\'s staff uses a hands-on, active learning approach. Learning environment is creative, artistic, highly visual, colorful. Staff is environmentally focused.
- Learning involves personal discovery, action, observation and reflection.
- Children learn in a variety of ways and they benefit from diverse methods of instruction.
- Buckman School focuses on the whole child, integrating humanities, arts and sciences.
- Parents, staff and community members work cooperatively to make on-site decisions.
- Creative education is a process of respecting one\'s self, the arts, and our connections to others and the natural world.
- Our quest for academic excellence is taught through practical application, free exploration and discovery.
- We have three all-day kindergarten classrooms. The district pays for half of the day, and parents pay for the other half.
- Every child is creative and can reach his/her academic potential through high expectations.
- Families, staff, students and the community work collaboratively in a learning environment that respects diversity and individuality. We live as a community of learners.
- Practical application of skills enables students to positively connect with and influence their environment.
- Diversity is to be respected and celebrated.
Curriculum components
- We look at students\' strengths and learning preferences. Staff use themes, learning centers, design technology, projects and simulations to make learning activity-oriented.
- Buckman staff use a variety of teaching strategies to meet the needs of students. Staff use a multiple intelligence approach to teaching, working with visual, kinesthetic, musical, verbal, scientific/logical and personal intelligences.
- Computer instructional technology is used throughout the school.
- Staff members provide opportunities for children to design research projects and use dance, drama, visual arts and music to enhance their learning. Integrated learning experiences are provided.
Staff
- Buckman has 19 classroom teachers, a half-time library assistant and 1.3 basic support teachers. We also have a full-time art teacher, a full time music/drama teacher and a full-time dance teacher. We have 1.5 resource teachers, 1 speech clinician and a .5 school psychologist.
Parent and family support
- Families work closely with PTA, Local School Advisory Committee (LSAC) and Buckman Site Council. Our community is very supportive of our children and school.
- Buckman\'s outstanding volunteer program (over 13,000 hours yearly) helps with classroom/library support, fundraising, school/family activities and field trips.
Special programs and features
- Portland School District\'s only magnet arts elementary school teaches arts content, as well as integrates art into teaching of other subjects. All students participate in the arts magnet, rather than it being a \'school within a school.\' Students participate in music, drama, dance and visual art.
- Buckman has received many awards over the years: Schools For the City Award for the ESL program (1990); Schools For the City for arts program (1991); Star Plan for At-Risk Youth (1990-1991); two parents received District Volunteer of the Year awards; four staff members received Outstanding PPS Employee Awards from the Masonic Officers Association; Buckman received one of the first Oregon Elementary School Principal\'s Association Pioneer Recognition Awards; numerous citations for exemplary Web pages. Several teachers have received Excellence in Education awards given by the PPS Foundation.
- Buckman has an indoor swimming pool, and all classrooms have the opportunity to use the pool.
Statistics and test scores
- Report cards and AYP Scores
Oregon Department of Education school report cards - School Enrollment and Program Data
- Standardized test scores
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