How a Warm and Welcoming School Environment Sustains Growth: New Visions Elementary School Case Study Now Available!

NYKids’ latest case study is ready for you! Our new report highlights the promising practices found at New Visions Elementary School, located in Freeport, New York on Long Island. New Visions serves 433 students, over a quarter of whom are English Learners. At New Visions, students’ cultural and linguistic identities are treated as assets by educators, and the school is characterized by a welcoming and inclusive environment which engages students through fun activities, extracurriculars, and a rigorous and culturally responsive curriculum.

Attending to the Whole Child

Educators and staff at New Visions collaborate to ensure their school is a caring space where students feel cared for holistically. While producing impressive academic outcomes are celebrated at New Visions, educators measured student success largely in terms of growth and viewed social-emotional well-being as a prerequisite to learning.

Students at New Visions are supported holistically through instructional supports provided by specialists and teaching assistants as well as the numerous extracurricular programs and specials available before the school day begins.

Embedding Diversity into the Fabric of the School

The cultural and linguistic diversity of students and families at New Visions is not simply acknowledged; it is celebrated and viewed as a fundamental element of their school community.

“Our philosophy is inclusive” noted a school leader, and this value is embedded deeply in the school, from culturally responsive curriculum and bilingual programming to the multicultural displays throughout hallways and classrooms.

Educators at New Visions also make intentional efforts to ensure that families whose first language may not be English are included in the school community through direct outreach, translation, and culturally meaningful activities.

Creating a Positive School Environment for All

Educators at New Visions have developed a warm and inviting school climate that, according to school leaders, contributes not only to the well-being of students but promotes staff retention and student attendance. In the words of one parent, “That’s what makes the building different . . . everybody feels welcome.”

Students are greeted warmly each morning with music and hugs, and this feeling extends throughout the entire school day into afterschool activities and extracurriculars like a staff-student basketball game that educators were training for at the time of our visit.

Summing it Up

New Visions Elementary School is characterized by a warm and welcoming school environment that creates positive experiences for students and staff. Educators at New Visions celebrate the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of their students through culturally responsive curriculum, multilingual displays, and a Dual Language program that treats bilingualism as an asset.

Student well-being is prioritized at New Visions through social-emotional learning programs and restorative practices. In addition to rigorous instruction, students have access to enrichment programs such as robotics, bucket drumming, and basketball to inject joy into their school day.

Lastly, families are treated as collaborators and empowered through a range of multicultural events and intentional outreach efforts facilitated by a robust PTA.

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For more information about NYKids’ research, please visit the NYKids website or contact the research team nykids@albany.edu.