A look inside: Seth Paine School

Seth Paine School

Address: 50 Miller Road, Lake Zurich

Phone: (847) 438-2163

Web site: www.lz95.org/sp

District's name and/or Web site: Lake Zurich Unit District 95, www.lz95.org

Number of students/grade levels offered: 437 students; grade K-5

Number of staff: 48 (includes part time staff)

School mascot: Blue Dragons

When was school built: Construction began April 1, 1960, finished Feb. 6, 1961 and dedicated April 9, 1961.

An interesting tidbit: A tornado came through Lake Zurich on April 24, 1967, and destroyed part of the building. Fortunately school was dismissed for the day. The school was repaired/rebuilt and that's why the lunch room is now on the lower level.

Principal: Laura Gammons

• This is her third year at Seth Paine.

• What is your favorite memory from Seth Paine School? "My first Friday spirit day celebration at Seth Paine School (described below). I remember getting teary-eyed and feeling like I was now the leader of a very special place."

• What do you think is an unique aspect of your school? "We offer a reading lab for students who are struggling readers. Students are assessed using the Dynamic Indicators of Early Literacy Skills and if they are showing weaknesses in any areas, they are given interventions in our reading lab. We are proud of the progress that students have made in this lab setting."

• What are you most proud of? "I am most proud of that 'Seth Paine feeling.' We have a spirit day celebration every Friday morning. The children all line up in front of their lockers and we say the Pledge of Allegiance together as a whole school, then we sing our school song ('The Spirit of the Dragon,' written by retired music teacher Judith Wagner), followed by a patriotic song. It's a feeling of community. The children learn that they are a part of something that is bigger than any individual."

• If all school enrollments were determined by choice, what would you say to potential parents to convince them to choose Seth Paine for their children? "Seth Paine School is the obvious choice for any parent. Although some schools offer great academic programs and other schools offer a warm fuzzy environment, Seth Paine offers the perfect blend of both. We have the best staff around. They are a group of intelligent and caring adults. They all go the extra mile for each and every one of their students. In addition, I have never worked with a more committed parent group anywhere. The parent volunteers at Seth Paine take their role as volunteer very seriously and make significant contributions to the education of their children. Choosing Seth Paine for your child is giving your child the best foundation possible, in all arenas - social, emotional and academic. Seth Paine School is a magical place for children to learn and grow."

• How has technology changed the way students learn over the past five years? "Technology has allowed us to offer support to students who need differentiated programming. Students who are ready for enrichment have many sites to choose from to extend their learning. Students who need remediation can easily have their learning reinforced through a multitude of programs and Web sites. In addition, data from student assessments are now readily available to teachers via technology, so that teachers can use this data to make instructional decisions for children. I think that all of these changes regarding technology are good for students. It helps all students have their individual needs met."

• If you can get one thing accomplished between now and the end of May in your school, what would it be? "We are working on improving our writing program. I'd love to have this work completed by May."