The following article was submitted by faculty at Grayhawk Elementary. Continuing the community involvement theme, here is another profile submitted by a terrific school that owes part of its success to the dedication and participation of parents and other community members. As implied by the title, and as every experienced teacher knows, whether it’s Core Knowledge or any other program, the sailing is a lot smoother if the community “buys in” and actively participates.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Core Knowledge School

Grayhawk Elementary School is located in North Scottsdale, Arizona, and is part of the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Over the last nine years the school has established itself as one that is driven to help its students maximize their potential. Our district was the first Arizona K-12 district to implement Core Knowledge. Currently we have six Core Knowledge elementary schools and one Core Knowledge middle school.

In 2005, we became an Official Core Knowledge School and National Visitation Site. Our annual AIMS-DPA (Arizona) test scores are outstanding (see 2005-06 results below).

Percent of students reaching or exceeding standards

Grade	Math	Reading	Writing
3	97%	96%	96%
4	100%	99%	100%
5	98%	98%	91%
6	93%	90%	100%

With the implementation of Core Knowledge, we have established a wonderful reputation and have a waiting list of transfer students wanting to come to our school.

Becoming a Core Knowledge National Visitation Site didn’t just happen. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to raise a Core Knowledge school. Although we’ve been in existence for nine years, we began our Core Knowledge journey eleven years ago by holding a series of village meetings. The purpose of the meetings was to dream about our new school and establish a vision to guide us.

We wanted to make our new school special for everyone. After our first meeting, one thing was clear . . . our parents and staff wanted to raise the bar academically.

They wanted us to have a rigorous, content-rich curriculum. The Core Knowledge journey began at that point in our history. Our research led us to Core Knowledge. After visiting several schools in Texas and sharing Core Knowledge with our school board, parents, and community, we accepted the challenge to implement Core Knowledge. This occurred six months before we opened our doors. Parents and staff began to plan and train for the implementation of Core Knowledge and the use of positive public relations.  At last our village was ready to receive its students.

We had established Core Knowledge implementation as one of our three goals. By October of the first year, these three goals had blended into one: the implementation and support of Core Knowledge. The pride of the students, staff, and parents blossomed as did the open and positive communication between home and school.

In this village, we have found district office support essential to begin and sustain the Core Knowledge effort. We have depended upon support for start-up budgets to include staff development, library supplements, grade-level materials, maps and globes for every classroom, and research-based reading and math programs. Working with the Director of Curriculum has provided our Core Knowledge schools with the opportunity to customize textbook adoptions for science and social studies. The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction provide financial support and approval for the position of school-based Core Knowledge Coordinators. In addition to site-based responsibilities, the Coordinators meet regularly to assist with planning the annual K-8 articulation for the purpose of sharing of ideas and strategies and to work on realignment of content with revised state standards. The development of school philosophies requiring summer training in the Core Knowledge curriculum for in-district transfers and new hires has helped to sustain school-wide commitment. This training is scheduled collaboratively between the seven Core schools and the Director of Professional Development.

Another integral part to the successful building of the village is the involvement of parents. An eager and determined staff combined with a hardworking and supportive parent group has created a village of learning at Grayhawk. As a result, Core Knowledge drives all fundraising at the school, classroom parties are frequently curriculum based, and parents often return from trips bearing gifts that support Core topics. Parents can be seen in the hallways working with students in reading groups. They can be seen designing Core Knowledge bulletin boards to go along with what the students are learning. The PTO at Grayhawk has even created an Art Masterpiece program that is run, supplied, and taught by parents who want to make the learning that goes on at school just that much more than it already is. Art Masterpiece teaches children about famous works of art in the Core Knowledge Sequence and it goes as far as teaching Visual Arts content to boot. The Grayhawk village is one that surrounds its students with the rich content of Core Knowledge and the unending support of parents with a vested interest in its continuation.

Then, of course, there are the students, the heart of the village, who bring life, energy, excitement, and learning to the school. In explaining what Core Knowledge means to them, one 4th grader said it best: “Core Knowledge makes me feel like we are all in the Honor’s Program.”

The village has truly come together and Core Knowledge was the driving force!

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