JACOB GUNTHER SCHOOL

Our mission is to inspire all students to be confident, passionate learners with the courage and skills to lead their lives with integrity, while contributing to our global community with creativity and compassion.  

A Message from….
Mrs. Marie Testa
Principal

September 2011

Dear Jacob Gunther Families: ­

Welcome Back!  I hope that you and your family enjoyed a pleasant and relaxing summer.  I am looking forward to hearing about your adventures!

On behalf of the Jacob Gunther faculty and Staff, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your children to what promises to be another productive, successful, and memorable school year.  I’d like to extend a special welcome to the newest members of the Jacob Gunther community- our Kindergarteners, our transfer students and their parents.  The faculty, staff and I are eager to welcome your family to the Jacob Gunther family.  We are very proud of our school so we hope you love it as much as we do. 

I believe that parents play a vital role in ensuring their child’s success in school. With the emphasis on state assessments and higher standards, it is critical that the school and the home work as partners to help our children develop a love of learning and, subsequently, to experience academic success.  With that said, communication is an essential component of a truly successful home/school partnership.  I encourage you to establish positive communication with your child’s teachers and with me.  Please feel free to contact the school at any time should you have any questions or concerns. 

I welcome your suggestions and active participation as we work together to prepare your child to meet the challenges of an ever changing world.  One excellent way to participate in “school life” is to become a member of the PTA.  Jacob Gunther has a very active and supportive PTA and parents are strongly encouraged to be partners in the child’s education.  Through our collective efforts, we strive to empower all students to be confident, passionate learners who lead their lives with integrity.  Through the PTA, parents organize a variety of cultural arts programs, which support and complement the school curriculum.  They also plan many other special events and fundraising activities throughout the school year.  Please visit the PTA webpage on a regular basis (accessed by clicking on “Jacob Gunther News” in the drop-down box on the right side of this page) to see what they are doing for our school and for your children.  I invite you to share your time and talents with the PTA for the benefit of all the Jacob Gunther children.

A commitment to fostering an empathetic culture of respect and kindness, high expectations for student achievement, a highly-qualified and dedicated staff, supportive school and district administration, and parental involvement continue to make Jacob Gunther School excellent.  As such, I expect this to be another wonderful year for our school community. 

Again, welcome back!

September 2007:

Happy Birthday Jacob Gunther School !

1957-2007  

“A community isn’t something you are part of. It is something that is inside of you.”

A Message to our Community from Mrs. Marie Testa, Principal
Jacob Gunther Elementary School

This year marks an important milestone in the life of Jacob Gunther School. We celebrate turning fifty! At Gunther school we pride ourselves on celebrating children and viewing each child as the miracle she or he is. Our Gunther community is committed to recognizing and honoring every child’s unique skills and talents. Through innovative instruction executed by a highly professional and committed staff, opportunities are woven into every moment, every day … so children can learn and grow in a place that nurtures and supports them.

Children have a voice at Gunther and it was through cooperation, teamwork and our students’ and teachers’ inexhaustible energy that we were able to redesign the interior of our school to reflect our community spirit and special outlook. When one comes into “Guntherville” they are welcomed into a special environment where yellow and blue street signs provide friendly and welcoming direction to … Melody Manor, Opportunity Court, and Cooperation Station just to name a few. Our “Make a Difference…Pay It Forward” philosophy is depicted via a serene beach scene in our main hallway and serves to remind all community members that we are part of a whole. We are integral members of the community and as such our actions and words have an impact on others.

We know the importance of integrating library, physical education, music and art into a child’s school day and one can see and hear the reflection of that spirit in Field day, spring and winter concerts, sing-a-longs and masterpieces in our Gunther Art Gallery.

The home-school connection is strong and strengthened by interested and involved parents. Our PTA is an active and supportive body of talented and vested individuals. This connection is defined by trusting relationships and an understanding that the best interest of the students is the reason behind every decision.

We celebrate our proactive approach to discipline and building strong character through utilization of the Levels of Behavior which the Gunther students revised to include mottos such as: “Level 3 is where you should be!”; “Level 4 is where you achieve more!” This child centered rubric focuses on positive outcomes and the development of leadership skills. The “Levels” is a common language at Gunther and is used by all adults. The language creates a connection between all the members of our learning community. We pride ourselves on our successful use of Peer Mediation and utilization of the PeaceWorks program and language as well. We incorporate only programs that are constructed to be comfortable and appropriate for children to use and incorporate into their daily lives. Our academic and social curriculum enables us to graduate sixth grade students with strong resources and skills as they meet the challenges of middle school.

Gunther is truly a special place replete with exceptional academic and social programs. Smiles abound here and learning is a positive, challenging, cooperative and enjoyable experience for all involved. We strive to exemplify North Bellmore’s Mission Statement at Gunther every day, in every way. Lesson development, social programs, public announcements, student leadership opportunities and all personal interactions are directly related to our commitment to inspire children to be confident and passionate learners. Each day my faculty, staff and I will ensure that your child is well on his/her way to achieving the mission.

We are a small school – with a big heart!

Please visit our School News and PTA News links for school highlights and events. We are looking forward to a year filled with festivities as we celebrate….our 50 th anniversary and our students’ academic and social triumphs!