Columbia County is located in north Florida in an area that is primarily rural. Seven of the eight elementary schools in Columbia County qualify for schoolwide Title I funds, indicating that many of our students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Westside Elementary School is two years old. We have a well-equipped computer lab with iMac computers, and each classroom is equipped with Apple and iMac computers. All classrooms and offices have T1 Internet connections. My students do not have a regularly scheduled time to use the computer lab, but we are free to use it whenever the lab is available.

I have ten special needs students in my pre-K special education class. Two students are Hispanic, one student is African-American, and seven are non-Hispanic white. Eight of the students qualify for free lunch. Two of the students have computers at home.

I have a warm and cordial relationship with the families of all of the students. Many of the families walk their children to class every morning. This gives me an opportunity to have frequent contact with my students’ families. In most cases I am acquainted with my students’ parents, siblings, and grandparents. I keep in touch with other family members through telephone calls and scheduled conferences.

Westside Elementary School has made a commitment to include all special education students in schoolwide activities. My students participate in assemblies, attend school plays, take part in the schoolwide character education program, and contribute to the daily announcements. Our faculty plans schoolwide thematic units for the school year and pre-K plans are included in the master plan. Some of these units have included topics such as “Wonderful Me,” “Hooray for the USA,” “One Earth,” and “Art is Everywhere.”