The Daniel J. Bakie School is one of four schools in the Sanborn Regional School District. Bakie, the only elementary school in Kingston, offers a quality education to 455 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is a school community comprised of 28 classrooms, a cafeteria/gym, a state of the art media center, and a portable computer lab with 23 wireless Dell laptop computers. The other Sanborn elementary school, Memorial, and the Middle School are both located in the town of Newton. Sanborn Regional High School, opening a new campus on Route 111 in Kingston in 2006 will serve students from Kingston, Newton, and Fremont.
All professional educators at Bakie practice the Responsive Classroom model through the use of the "morning meeting" as well as responsive language and community building. Embracing the tenets of the Education by Design model Bakie teachers promote project based learning and student centered classrooms. Teachers also utilize the Four Blocks Program ensuring a consistent focus on literacy throughout the curriculum. The Collins Writing Program is a district wide initiative that gives students consistent language and a framework for their writing exercises. Teachers are also beginning to be introduced to the Six Plus One Writing Traits program to further promote literacy instruction. All staff members have received extensive training to ensure that writing is used across the curriculum. Our staff is also deepening their expertise in Differentiated Instruction to accommodate the range of instructional levels in our classrooms. Our Expanding Horizons Coordinator serves as a resource to support tiered learning and multiple intelligence theory in the classrooms and provides support for math and literacy instruction as well. Sanborn Regional School District has embraced the DIBELs and NWEA MAP test to assess student progress and the impact of district initiatives.
The PTA is a valued resource in our school community. They have consistently earned the NH Blue Ribbon Award for a high level of volunteerism and also conduct social and school fundraising activities throughout the year. Some of the events that they organize are the Family Halloween Bash, Spaghetti Supper, TV Turn Off Week, and Family Movie Night. They sponsor field trips and an assembly for each grade level and are generous with their donations of time, money, and necessities for our teachers.
Our Unified Arts program includes Music, Art, and Physical Education/Health. Aligning their curricula with the national and state frameworks, our Unified Arts teachers strive to integrate the arts into classrooms throughout the year. In addition to the arts, we have a full program of co-curricular activities including Fall, Winter, and Spring Intramurals, Computer Club, Student Council, Invention Fair, and the Wee Deliver (mail delivery program). Our guidance counselor coordinates a peer mediation program with fourth and fifth student mediators, and our Student Services staff provide a comprehensive special education program for students with varying needs.
Led by Principal Deb Bamforth and Ann Rutherford, Assistant Principal, the D. J. Bakie Elementary School is a beacon for the community of Kingston. If you have any questions regarding our excellent programs, please contact us at 603-642-5272. We are proud of our school and invite you to visit!