Hunsberger Elementary School continues to foster independent and capable students. Using "research based" strategies to ensure all students receive a superior education and are challenged to achieve their full academic and social potential.

Response to Interventions for Academics (RTI-A): The master schedule designates a four day per week 45 minute period where students receive enrichment and/or extra support in core curriculum areas. All students are involved in their Intervention Block which is outside their core curriculum time. This time is focused on individual needs as determined by R-CBM, M-CBM, Maze, district benchmarks, CRT's and individual classroom assessments. During this intervention time students receive instruction at their level, which may range from intensive remediation to advanced enrichment.

All students receive differentiated instruction during their core curriculum block. Direct instruction along with guided reading groups and targeted skills groups are a standard practice within all classrooms.

*Hunsberger averages 30-50 parent volunteers each week helping in the classrooms, on field trips and with projects at home.
*Hunsberger works closely with the Galena High School Reading Buddies Program to provide mentors to students that are in need. High school mentors receive training and materials that they use with their primary reading buddy. Those materials are aligned to the state standards.
*PTA is extremely supportive. It funds additional time for our computer assistant, thus allowing Hunsberger to offer a Computer Club at lunch time and computer support during the upper grade Intervention Block. It funds our physical education program, provides enrichment assemblies for our students; provides weekly art lessons in each classroom based upon a "research supported" curriculum, funded the purchase of Promethean interactive whiteboards for all 4-6 grade classrooms, one third grade classroom and one second grade classroom; funded 13 ELMO projectors in primary classrooms; and provided additional funding for novel sets. Our PTA also organized many family fun events including the Harvest Festival, Met your Teacher Ice Cream Social, Move-a-Thon and guest speakers focusing on current topics (anti-bullying, reading strategies, homework, etc.)
*Using the R-CBM, M-CBM and Maze assessments indicate that a minimum of 81% of our students in grades 1-6 are at or above grade level.
*Response to Intervention for Behavior (RTI-B): Students with behavioral challenges received specific instruction and support to meet their needs.
Hunsberger is in the second year of implementing the Positive Behavior Support program. In this school-wide program, expectations for behavior are taught and reviewed regularly. Students earn rewards for good behavior. Expectations are consistent throughout the school setting. Our behavioral data indicates that the program has been extremely successful in creating common expectations and a staff agreed-upon system for acknowledging appropriate behavior. Monthly meetings are held to review behavioral data, discuss behavior procedures and strategies to ensure students' behavioral success. If a student has behavioral challenges, we take a team approach, working closely with the parents, teachers and student, to ensure student's success.
Hunsberger continue to exceed the AYP target in math, language arts and writing.
* 90% of third graders met or exceeded standards as measured by the state CRT reading test.
* 88% of fifth grade students met or exceeded the standard as measured by the state CRT reading test.
* 84% of third grade students met or exceeded the standard as measured by the state CRT math test.
* 88% of fifth grade students met or exceeded the standard as measured by the state CRT math test.
* 73.2 % of our fifth graders were proficient on the state writing test.
The staff at Hunsberger Elementary School is extremely committed to educating our students and ensuring that they continually receive the highest quality of education. The staff continually reflects on their instructional practices and incorporates "best practices" as they plan lessons aligned to standards.
* 100% of the staff have received training in "best practices" using Marzano's work.
*All staff are using the Edusoft program to use data in order to progress monitor their students and plan instruction accordingly.
* All staff members are active members of the Professional Learning Community (PLC). Our guiding questions are: What is it we expect students to learn?
How will we know when they have learned it? What will we do if they don't learn the standard? What will we do if they already know the standard?
* Twenty one teachers are active participants of a professional book club focusing Lucy Calkins' strategies of teaching writing.
Since the state accountability began in 1998, Hunsberger Elementary School has met the state requirements for adequate achievement every year. With our strong partnership with parents, teachers and students, be continue to strive for excellence which will enable all students to graduate from high school on a college or career path.