Emily Brittain School
Jeffrey D. Mathieson, Principal
338 N. Washington Street Butler, PA 16001 724-214-4200
Welcome to Emily Brittain Elementary School, one of eleven elementary schools in the Butler
Area School District. Thank you for using our school webpage to learn more about our school
and our programming. It is our goal at Emily Brittain, to provide our students with dynamic
learning opportunities, so that all students can acquire the skills and learning experiences
required to become successful. Through the collaboration of teachers, parents, students,
members of the school board, and central office administration, we have created a teamcentered approach that works toward the success for every child!
Emily Brittain Elementary School currently serves approximately 400 students in kindergarten
through sixth grade. We are located at 338 North Washington Street, in the city of Butler. At
Emily Brittain, teaching our students how to become successful readers is a top priority. Our
staff regularly uses student assessment data to help guide instructional decisions. Our
teachers use data from DIBELS, 4Sight Assessments, PSSA Assessments, Curriculum-Based
Assessments, and Phonemic Awareness/Phonics Screeners to help provide grade-level
planning teams with current student information. This information is analyzed in order to
determine the best course of instructional design for our students. Every day, reading
specialists go into each classroom and help to deliver targeted, small group interventions so
that students can make marked growth toward specific reading goals. Between the resources
offered through our McGraw Hill reading curriculum, Language! curriculum (Grade 5 & 6), and
the efforts of our intervention teams, students are finding continued success within the reading
process.
Of course, there are several other areas of instructional importance outside of the realm of
Reading/Language Arts. At Emily Brittain, our teachers utilize the Everyday Math curriculum to
bring high quality, research-based mathematics instruction to our students. This curriculum
spirals the various topics of instruction, which results in an increased level of understanding and
mastery amongst the students. In addition, several of our math teachers are trained in “Power
Teaching”, and utilize this teaching philosophy to create a highly engaging learning
environment. And, much like our reading instruction, we use student data to plan for and
deliver targeted skills practice based on student needs, on a daily basis within our math
classrooms.
We also implement a science curriculum, which promotes the scientific method of problem
solving and encourages hands-on exploration of the various scientific topics. Every grade-level
is responsible for 3 to 4 specific science modules each year. These modules include topics
from physical, biological, and earth sciences, and are aligned with Pennsylvania Standards for
Science, Technology, Environment and Ecology.
Finally, every grade-level receives specific instruction related to social sciences and history. In
the younger grade-levels, students learn about local communities and about how to be a good
citizen within a community. As students grow older, instruction goes into more depth of learning
specific to our state, our country, and other countries/cultures of the world.
“Every Buddy Succeeds”
Instructionally, we utilize several different teaching models including whole-group instruction,
co-teaching, small group inclusive instruction, small group pullout instruction, computer aided
instruction, individual instruction, volunteer supported practice groups, and supervised peer-topeer practice groups. We do not look at instructional staff in isolation, but rather we feel that all
Emily Brittain personnel are responsible for meeting the needs of our students. Therefore, your
child will mention teacher names well beyond their specific homeroom teacher. That is because
we have support personnel coming in and out of classrooms every day, to assist in our delivery
of highly effective instruction. In addition, whenever possible, teachers utilize instructional
technology to support curricular goals. This is achieved through various tools including
presentation carts, Promethean boards, and netbooks; and through various programs or
software such as Study Island, Class Works, Web quests, or Microsoft Office applications such
as PowerPoint.
Our building has implemented a positive school-wide behavior support system that encourages
and reinforces appropriate student choices. Quarterly, we celebrate our student successes
through Caught Being Good, Consistent Kids, and Top Dog programs. We also recognize
students each month through our Student of the Month initiative. The Olweus Bullying
Prevention Program is extremely important, and is implemented in all grades, K-6. This program
helps reinforce positive choices and appropriate social interactions. Our teachers are also
trained in Responsive Classroom philosophies and techniques. Responsive Classroom fosters
a respectful learning community within our classrooms and helps students to be an active part
of the classroom success. We believe that establishing an environment conducive for learning
is essential for academic growth to occur.
Emily Brittain appreciates and celebrates the arts as well. Students in 5 th and 6th grade have
the opportunity to be part of the Chorus, Band, and/or Orchestra. In addition, our art teacher
hosts an art show every year so that the public can view the artwork of our students.
Kindergarten and first grade classrooms collaborate to perform small plays each year as well.
We believe that students are receiving a balance of opportunities at Emily Brittain. With this
balance comes a variety of experiences that ultimately provide the scaffolding for continued
growth and success academically, socially, and emotionally.
Parents play an important role in the success of our programs and services. Parents are part of
planning teams, serve as volunteers within the classrooms, work on PTO committees to bring
numerous opportunities to our students, and work with staff as partners in education. Parents
are active participants in IEP and SST meetings; they attend parent-teacher conferences; and
they participate in open houses, visitations, and informational meetings. Without the support
and participation of parents, our educational process would not be complete.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our programs and services at Emily Brittain
School. It is my hope that you have found our programs to be both effective and efficient in
meeting student needs. We are extremely proud of our school and likewise extremely aware of
our responsibility to educate the children within our school. We take this responsibility
seriously, and will continually strive for the success of all children! If you would like to know
more about our school, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 724-214-4200.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Mathieson
Principal
“Every Buddy Succeeds”