progress at a glance
[photo(s)]
Overview
School: Edward “Babe” Gomez Heritage Elementary
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Size: # of students, grades K-5
Gomez Heritage Elementary began shifting to the School as a Hub approach in 2017. The elementary school supports a high population of bilingual students, and it is of particular value to the school, families, and surrounding community to guide language development from Birth-Grade 3 in a high-quality, equitable, and consistent manner.
Early initiatives and practices included:
- Home visits where a trained specialist regularly visits the school neighborhood’s babies.
- Educational support for parents
- Family nights and social clubs for parents and toddlers where toddlers are learning and parents receive information about the development of young brains.
- Classroom instruction begins at age 3
- Preschool, Kindergarten and elementary educators understand what the others are teaching so they can prepare children for future lessons and build upon prior learning
Charting Progress
Between 2016 and 2018 research revealed that children participating in School as a Hub whose home language is Spanish showed increases in language development. Evidence shows a higher volume of home visits is associated with higher language development.
[TBD: link to Superintendents Report 2017-18 OR include footnote reference]
One Child
Angel Perez is a young student benefiting from the shift to a School as a Hub approach. At age 3 he is comfortable and familiar with the Gomez Heritage Elementary building and staff, eagerly chatting with adults in authority positions such as the principal and the security guard.
Angel is the youngest in his family who speaks Spanish at home. His mother has experienced a traditional school approach and the School as a Hub approach so she is able to compare and contrast the experience. She reports Angel has learned his colors faster and converses in English and Spanish better than his older siblings did at the same age. She is excited he is being prepared to do whatever he chooses and receiving an excellent education.
“Quote from principal here” - John Campin, Principal, Gomez Heritage Elementary