Elementary School

Grades 1–5. Our students always come first — from one steady homeroom in the early grades to a two-teacher rotation by grades 4–5, with a curriculum grounded in best practices in the education of deaf and hard of hearing students with American Sign Language and English supported and embedded throughout.

A Day in the Classroom 

The homeroom structure shifts as students grow — building the confidence and strong identity they’ll carry through every grade that follows.

Grades 1-3

One Homeroom, All Day.  Students stay with the same homeroom Teacher of the Deaf for their core instruction all day, moving out only for specials.

Grades 4-5
Two-Teacher Rotation. Students rotate between two homeroom teachers for core instruction, building the flexibility they’ll need in Middle School.

• 8:00 AM – Arrival & Homeroom
  • Grades 1–3 begin with their one homeroom teacher; Grades 4–5 begin with the first of their two rotating teachers.

• Mid-Day – Specials Rotation
  • Classes change for Physical Education, Library, ASL, Technology and Art.

• Ongoing – Related Services, As Needed
  • Therapy sessions throughout the week for students based on the child’s IEP — Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Vision Instruction, and  Orientation & Mobility are all available.

• 3:00 PM – Dismissal
  • The school day ends at 3:00 PM, Monday through Thursday.

Fridays run short: dismissal moves to 12:30 PM every Friday.

MTSS, PBIS & Social-Emotional Learning
A supportive, inclusive community built on trust, care, and relationship — students are supported academically, behaviorally, and emotionally through three connected frameworks that work together across every classroom.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
A tiered framework that matches academic and behavioral support to each student’s needs, using data to guide instruction and catch challenges early.

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS)
School-wide expectations and positive reinforcement build a consistent, predictable environment where students know what success looks like. We use the concept ROARS to support students in growing and developing. 

Ready Organized Accountable Respectful Safe

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Regular instruction in self-awareness, relationship skills, and self-management, delivered visually and through ASL alongside academics.

Athletics & Extracurricular Activities 
Elementary students get their first experience of WPSD Lions spirit through age-appropriate athletics, clubs, and school-wide events — early steps toward the confident, engaged young people who go on to shape their futures and make their mark on the world. 

Mighty-Mites: elementary sports by season

Fall- Soccer
Mighty-Mites take the field each fall to build teamwork and early athletic skills.

 Winter-Basketball
The season moves indoors for basketball fundamentals and friendly competition. 

Spring- Experiential Rotation
Spring rotates through a variety of experiential activities, giving students a taste of different sports and skills.

Other activities available to elementary students
Art clubs, Drama/Theatre (Disney Music in Schools), eSports

For more information or to schedule your tour, please contact:

Jennifer Stuber, M.Ed.
Principal, Elementary
412.371.7000 ext 273
jstuber@wpsd.org