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About our school
Paradise Valley is the second largest elementary school in the district. The school believes in differentiated instruction, providing individual instruction for every student at his or her own level.
Each grade level has a yearlong theme that ties together state standards and provides enrichment including field trips and guest speakers.
Our staff
Paradise Valley students learn from 36 certified teachers. All teachers and paraprofessionals are highly qualified, and 18 teachers have master’s degrees. Three more teachers are currently enrolled in master’s programs, and one teacher is in the process of receiving National Board Certification.
Students have access to a full-time preventative counselor, a part-time Central Wyoming Counseling Center counselor and a part-time social worker. Students also benefit from full-time math and language arts tutors.
Our curriculum
Students at Paradise Valley learn math through the Bridges Math program in kindergarten through fifth grade and the Connected Math program in sixth grade. These programs offer a hands-on approach to math that allows students to develop an understanding of number relationships and communicate their own math thinking. Students have individual reading instruction at their own level and are supported through guided reading groups or one-on-one work with their teachers. Students also participate in book club discussions about books they pick out themselves. Students are taught writing through the 6+1 Traits of Writing and Writers Workshop programs, where they write in ever subject.
In science and social studies, students have access to a host of non-fiction resources and hands-on activities, such as National Geographic, Time for Kids, Scholastic and Harcort Brace, as well as online programs.
Students also have regular music, art and PE classes, and fifth- and sixth-grade students have a choice of band or orchestra.
Children with special needs are included in regular classrooms whenever possible, then given additional support through consultation and pull-out programs.
Paradise Valley also is home to a preschool that serves students who are identified based on their cognitive needs, family history or family income. Children learn pre-literacy, pre-numeracy, social/emotional, fine and gross motor skills. Parents are required to volunteer five hours per month in the school.
Our activities
Classes at Paradise Valley run from 8:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Early Bird Reading begins at 7:50 a.m. daily and is available to all students. Paradise Valley also has a branch of the Boys & Girls Club, which is available for students from 3:30 to 7 p.m. daily at a cost of $10 per year.
In addition, students at Paradise Valley may participate in art club, student council, PE club and at-risk tutoring before school. Chess club, Camp Intervention, robotics, fifth- and sixth-grade basketball and volleyball and reading and math tutoring are available after school.
Our families
The PV Boosters focuses on fund raising and family night activities, while a school improvement team includes parents who want to help with the decision making at the school. Each of the groups meets once a month. Parents also are encouraged to volunteer in their child’s classroom or in the parent work room.
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