Eagle Elementary Nurtures Student Growth Through a Whole Child Approach to Learning
by Diane Kilivris
This article was originally published by the Kenmore Connection in the Summer 2023 Issue, August 2023
At Eagle Elementary of Akron, a tuition free public charter school for grades K-5, a whole-child approach to education takes center stage. Recognizing that early childhood education is about more than academics, Eagle Elementary goes above and beyond, meeting each student’s physical, emotional, and mental health needs. Eagle Elementary partners with Guiding Point, Families First, Dreams Center, Dreams Academy, TES, and the Summit County Book Mobile to offer comprehensive care to every child.
According to Lisa Cook, Principal of Eagle Elementary, “the mission of Eagle Elementary is to accept, appreciate, nurture, and challenge every student every day. Our community partners work in unison with us as we each share the same message of acceptance of who each student is, but we want to build on what each student can accomplish regardless of the obstacles. We are concerned about making progress and positive gains in the lives of each individual student.”
Eagle Elementary recognizes emotional well-being as the foundation for successful K-5 learning. Guiding Point and Families First offer mental health support services to students and their families including counseling and assistance when facing life challenges. Dreams Academy offers supportive services that are built into the character educational component for 4th and 5th grade students. Dreams Academy shares Eagle’s vision of helping students see themselves in positive manners while helping them to develop into people who show love of self and others.
Eagle Elementary is committed to ensuring that no student faces barriers to learning due to their physical health. By partnering with TES to provide essential services, students can access speech and occupational therapy, and regular vision and hearing screenings. Proper nutrition is also essential for optimal learning and development. With support from the Dreams Center, Eagle Elementary provides food for weekends, ensuring that every student has nutritious meals beyond the school week.
To foster a love for reading and knowledge, the Summit County Book Mobile drops by every other week to give students and families at Eagle Elementary access to library books. This initiative not only encourages literacy but also promotes the joy of exploration and learning outside of the classroom setting.
Eagle Elementary exemplifies its core values of educating the whole child by harnessing the power of community partnership. By nurturing elementary students’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being, Eagle Elementary makes a profoundly positive impact on the lives of their K-5 students and families.