Academics
Bringing a global focus into the classroom
Our curriculum offers a rigor that ensures students will be prepared to lead productive, fulfilling lives. In addition to our core curriculum, Diamond Path offers students physical education, art, Chinese, Spanish, music and enrichment classes, special education services and English language learner support. Both remedial and enrichment classes are taught before and after school throughout the year.
The international studies theme is woven into learning experiences throughout the day. Students learn about who they are, the world in which they live, how the world works and how our planet is shared. Diamond Path students develop a point of view about their place in the classroom, school, neighborhood, country and world.
At Diamond Path, children develop an understanding of the world’s people, places, wonders and challenges. Through a rigorous core curriculum and active and engaging specialized classes, students learn how to live and work across cultures and international boundaries.
Kindergarten
Welcome to Kindergarten at Diamond Path Elementary!
Kindergarten is one of the most important and exciting years of your child's school career. It is a year full of opportunities for you and your child's teacher to work together in your child's growth. Feel free to contact us at anytime if you have any questions or concerns. We're looking forward to working together to make this a rewarding, successful year for your child!
Kindergarten Schedule 2021-2022
Kindergarten Schedule
9:10 - 9:30 Arrival/Breakfast
9:30 - 9:45 Morning Meeting
9:45 - 10:15 Word Study
10:15 - 11:15 Writer’s Workshop
Mini lesson
Managed Independent Learning
Sharing
11:15 – 12:05 Reader’s Workshop
Mini lesson
Managed Independent Learning
Sharing
11:50-12:30 Wash Hands/Lunch
· Nygren-11:50-12:15
· Heitz-11:55-12:20
· Bodurtha- 12:00-12:25
· Mencel- 12:05-12:30
· Runyon/Martenson- 12:10-12:35
12:35 - 1:00 Recess
1:00 - 1:20 Quiet Time
1:20 - 1:30 End of Reader’s workshop
1:30-1:50 Number Corner
1:50 - 2:40 Specialists
2:40 - 3:30 Math
Opener
Mini lesson
Managed Independent Learning
Sharing
3:30 – 3:45 Closing Circle/Dismissal
Specialist Schedule
Supply List for 2021-22
To simplify the back-to-school process and lower the cost for families, Diamond Path will be ordering all kindergarten student supplies. Parents are asked to pay a $30.00 donation to cover the cost of supplies for students. This can be paid by check (to Diamond Path) or cash to classroom teachers. The supplies will be provided for students by their classroom teacher when school begins.
Resources
Meet Your Teachers
Grade 1-5
Grade 1
Welcome to First Grade at Diamond Path Elementary!
The first grade teachers are excited to work with your children! Please send your child with a healthy snack each day and a water bottle if needed. We follow a 6 day cycle for specialists and your child's teacher will inform you of their schedule. Please also make sure that your child is ready for the weather at recess each day. We look forward to building a community of global learners!
School Supply List
First Grade Supply List for 2021-2022 school year.
Personal Items:
- Backpack
- Tennis shoes
- 1 wide ruled spiral notebook
- Crayons- 24 count
- Scissors
- Markers
- Colored pencils- 12 count
- Pencil box
- 2 pocket folders: 1 yellow, 1 choice
Community Items:
- Thick, black expo makers- 4 pack
- #2 sharpened pencils- 24 count
- 1 roll of scotch tape or refills
- 4 large gluesticks
- 4 oz. Elmers white glue bottle
- 1 box of tissues
- Pack of black flair markers
- Yellow highlighters- 2 pack or more
Optional Items:
- Magic Eraser sponges
- Paper towels
- Post-its
- Paper plates
- Ziploc bags- quart or gallon size
- Napkins
- Gift cards (Target or Walmart) or cash for extra supplies needed
Resources
Meet Your Teachers
Grade 2
Welcome to Second Grade at Diamond Path Elementary!
Diamond Path second grade teachers look forward to working in partnership with you and your child to continue your child's education. Second graders focus on becoming independent learners as well as developing the skills necessary to work effectively in small and large groups. Throughout the year second graders will enjoy learning through fun-filled hands-on activities, interesting literature, independent practice, group activities, sharing, and educational field trips.
School Supply List for 2021-2022
Second Grade Supply List for the 2021-2022 school year.
- Backpack- no wheels
- Non-marking tennis shoes for gym and recess- no roller wheels
- 2 wide-lined spiral notebooks (one black, one student choice)
- Crayons (24 pack only); Crayola preferred
- 1 box of colored pencils; Crayola preferred
- 1 box of markers; Crayola preferred
- 4 glue sticks
- 1 roll of scotch tape (in a disposable dispenser)
- 1 yellow highlighter
- 4 black Expo whiteboard markers
- 1 box of #2 pencils (sharpened; Ticonderoga preferred)
- 2 large pink erasers
- 2 black Papermate felt tip pens
- Scissors (Fiskars preferred)
- 1 large box of Kleenex
- 1 box of gallon size Ziploc bags- Last name A-M 1 box of sandwich size Ziploc bags- Last name N-Z
- 1 large size school box
- 1 deck of playing cards
- 1 pair of ear buds/headphones, not wireless
Resources
Meet Your Teachers
Grade 3
Welcome to Third Grade at Diamond Path Elementary!
We are excited to work with your child during this school year.
There are many goals we have for each student. Some of these goals include:
- Becoming a stronger reader and writer.
- Building number sense with a focus on addition, subtraction, place value, multiplication, and division.
- Developing as a world citizen who is responsible, independent, respectful, and caring.
- Learning more about the world around us through science and social studies
School Supply List for 2021-2022
Third Grade Supply List
Be sure to label your supplies. Some items may be community items and shared with the class.
- Backpack
- Non-marking tennis shoes for gym and recess
- Colored pencils
- Scissors
- 24 pencils (sharpened) No mechanical pencils please
- 1 large pink eraser
- 1 school box
- 1 yellow notebook (wide lined)
- 1 yellow, 1 green, and 1 fun design folder
- 1 large Elmer’s glue stick
- 1 box of Kleenex
- 4 wide tip whiteboard markers
- 1 white board eraser (or old sock/cloth)
- 1 inexpensive pair of earbuds or earphones
- The third grade planner will be purchased from the teacher.
- No binders or trapper keepers
Resources
Meet Your Teachers
Grade 4
Welcome to Fourth Grade at Diamond Path Elementary!
The goals of the fourth grade teachers are to make learning come alive and to provide experiences that are practical and useful in the global world. We know that students learn best when they are active participants and we definitely provide those opportunities. Hang on tight! Fourth Grade is going to fly by! We are as excited to learn from the students as we hope they are from us. Welcome to one of your child's best years in elementary school!
School Supply List for 2021-2022
Fourth Grade Supply List
-
Backpack (no wheels, please)
-
Non-marking tennis shoes for gym and recess (no roller wheels)
-
3 - Wide ruled spiral notebooks (must have 1 yellow)
-
1 Black composition notebook
-
3 folders (must have 1 yellow)
-
Earbuds / Headphones (that stay at school - no bluetooth)
-
1 box of crayons (16 or more)
-
1 box of colored pencils
-
1 box of markers
-
30 #2 Pencils
-
Scissors
-
2 glue sticks
-
1 glue bottle
-
1 Highlighter
-
4 rolls of scotch tape in the dispenser
-
4 Packages of Post-It notes (3" x 3")
-
8 Whiteboard markers and old sock or eraser
-
1 Large box of Kleenex
-
Wide lined filler paper (at least 100 sheets)
-
Pencil Case (about 8 by 5 inches and 2 inches high)
-
Please, no trapper keeper binder
Fourth Grade Virtual Parent Night
Meet Your Teachers
Grade 5
Welcome to Fifth Grade at Diamond Path Elementary!
Have you ever wondered...
- How do changes in the environment affect an organism?
- Why do we study history?
- How does the surface of the Earth change?
- What can we infer from artifacts?
If so, you will love fifth grade. Fifth grade at Diamond Path is an exciting year filled with lots of learning and fun activities. Some of the highlights of 5th grade are - patrolling, band, student council, field trips, parties, and more.
School Supply List
Fifth Grade School Supply List for 2021-2022
Be sure to label your supplies.
Some supplies may be collected as community items.
No binders or trapper keepers, please.
- Backpack (no wheels, please)
- Non-marking tennis shoes for gym and recess (no roller wheels)
- 1 - Calculator (basic functions)
- 1- Sturdy 2-pocket folder to be used as homework folder
- 1 - Black Folder
- 1- Yellow Folder
- 2 - Spiral yellow notebook
- 1 - Black composition notebook (bound, not spiral)
- 1 packet loose leaf lined paper, wide
- 1- Pencil box for supplies
- 24- Number 2 pencils (sharpened)
- At least 4 whiteboard markers
- 2- Flair pens (2 black)
- 2- Highlighters (yellow)
- 1- Pair of scissors
- 1- Glue stick
- 2 - Post-it-Notes (3x3)
- 3- Scotch tape rolls
- 1 - cm and inch ruler
- 1 - Inexpensive pair of earbuds or headphones
- The Fifth Grade Student Planner will be purchased during the school year
- Washable Crayola Markers
Optional donation items – Hand Sanitizer, whiteboard markers, sharpie markers, flair pens, colored pencils, additional scotch tape rolls, elmers glue, and notebooks.
Resources
- Fifth Grade Band
- Patrols
- Learning Links
Meet Your Teachers
Magnet
Creating lifelong, globally-aware learners
Diamond Path Elementary School of International Studies is a whole-school magnet where students develop an understanding of the world’s people, places, wonders, and challenges. Our school’s vision is to create a society of lifelong learners who acquire a global perspective for the betterment of our world. The international studies theme is woven into classroom learning throughout the core curriculum of literacy, math, science, and social studies.
All students study either Spanish or Mandarin Chinese building on communicative skills, while developing a cultural awareness. Students also receive a rigorous and diverse education supporting them to become creative inquirers, understand different cultures, and thrive in today’s world. At Diamond Path we are building leaders for our increasing global world. Explore our magnet school >
Contact
Mandy Hill
Assistant Administrator
Mandy.Hill@district196.org
Support Services
Intervention Services
Interventionists collaborate with classroom teachers to support individual or small groups of students. Interventions may be for academics, communication, social skills, emotional skills, or behavioral skills. They may take place within the student’s classroom or in a small group setting. Interventions may range from daily 30-45 minute sessions or as quick as daily 5-7 minute sessions depending on student need. Some of the interventions that take place at Diamond Path include literacy interventions such as Leveled Literacy Intervention and Reading Recovery, Second Step for social emotional learning, and intervention focusing on communication skill
Reading Recovery
The Reading Recovery program provides daily individualized reading and writing instruction for students identified(*) as needing this intensive support. This is only a first grade support program and is designed to be a short term intervention for students. The program's goal is to accelerate students' reading and writing growth within 12-20 weeks to reach the average levels of their classes. After this time, students who are able to be successful working independently in their classrooms no longer need any support. If it is determined that some students will need more ongoing support to be successful, they will transition to another program which will provide this needed support for them.
The daily 30 minute Reading Recovery lessons are taught by specially trained Reading Recovery teachers. Each lesson focus is designed and carried out with the individual student in mind. Every Reading Recovery lesson, however, consists of the same structure and format. The parts of each 30 minute lesson are:
- Familiar reading
- Running record of a new book
- Letter/word work
- Fluent writing of a short story
- Cut up sentence from the writing
- New book introduction
- First reading of a new book
Each night the student takes a familiar book home to read, along with the cut-up sentence from the lesson, to reassemble. Daily home support is essential. Parents are also encouraged to observe a lesson. Through observing a lesson, parents are able to see how all the parts of a lesson work and tie in together to support new learning for their child.
For more information about this program or to find out more specific information about each of the lesson components and their significance please contact the Diamond Path office.
(*)Early student assessment and District 196 guidelines for qualifying scores identify students who are eligible for this support program.
Gifted and Talent Development
Gifted and talented children are those students with outstanding abilities and capable of higher performance when compared to others of similar age, experience and environment. They have significantly different educational needs from their peers and require educational differentiation as a regular part of their school day to ensure they reach their full potential.
Learn more about our Gifted and Talent Development Program >
English Learners
The Diamond Path English Learner (EL) Program welcomes and celebrates the diversity and unique language experience that English Learners bring to our school. Their multilingual skills and unique cultural backgrounds enrich our school community.
The EL Program at Diamond Path provides instruction and support developing students’ Academic English skills in speaking, listening, reading, and/or writing. Building Academic English supports students’ access and achievement in content and grade level units of study. In addition, we advocate for students by working with classroom teachers and families to identify other educational opportunities that may enhance student learning.
Students in our EL program come with their own individual abilities and level of need. The goal of the EL program is to help each child reach his/her full potential. We encourage parents to continue reading and supporting their child's first language skills at home, as first language literacy helps build and deepen English language literacy! For resources to support and build your child's English language skills, please talk to their EL teacher or grade level teacher.
EL Links
Learn more about the District 196 EL Program >
Adult/Community Education
Reading and Spelling Grades K-2
Connect Program
