Elementary Grades

All four elementary schools in the Conestoga Valley School District — Brownstown, J.E. Fritz, Leola, and Smoketown — offer classes for students from kindergarten to sixth grade. Beginning in 2022-23, the new middle school will house students from grades 6 - 8.

Academic Programs

Each elementary school offers a comprehensive curriculum of mathematics, language arts, science and social studies, as well as music, art, and physical education programs. The Conestoga Valley Virtual Academy, a K-12 cyber program for CV students, features an elementary learning center housed at Fritz Elementary.

Full-Day Kindergarten

Offered in all elementary schools, full-day kindergarten is part of the district’s robust early childhood education program. Literacy remains the focus in full-day kindergarten, while the extended instructional time allows for greater depth in math, science, and social studies.

Pre-Kindergarten

Parents of young children in CV benefit from public-private partnerships to offer Pre-K Counts to qualifying students. Managed by Chesterbrook Academy in Leola, the program offers engaging learning activities that enhance school readiness and support students’ social, cognitive and physical development.

Literacy Program

CV’s elementary literacy program is based on an evidence-based, structured literacy framework grounded in the science of learning to read. Students are explicitly and systematically taught decoding skills in the primary grades in order to access and comprehend complex texts in all grade levels. Students also learn to effectively communicate in speaking and writing to be able to share their thinking with peers and teachers. Strategic assessment of students’ abilities guides instruction in order to meet the needs of diverse learners. We aim to develop literate and dynamic learners who are able to successfully demonstrate all components of the Profile of a CV Learner.

Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII)

RtII is a K-12 process that provides interventions and educational support to all students at increasing levels of intensity based on their individual needs. It is a positive, proactive approach that helps close the achievement gap in math, reading, and writing, and addresses behavior issues.

Art, Music, Library and Physical Education

CV’s elementary special areas are developmental and child-centered. Every cycle, elementary students participate in music, art, library, and physical education classes. In each program, students learn specific skills and how those skills can be applied in various settings.

Counseling Program

Elementary counselors address academic, social-emotional, and career needs through classroom guidance lessons on topics such as conflict resolution, study skills, and teamwork. Individual and small group counseling take place daily. Counselors collaborate with teachers concerning individual needs of students and screen students for the gifted program. Counselors play an integral role in welcoming new families into the buildings as well as the kindergarten registration, screening, and orientation processes. All elementary schools are working with students to minimize bullying behavior using a positive school-wide behavior framework.

Before/After school care

Conestoga Valley has a contract with Steps to Success in Leola, Pa. to provide before and after school care in its elementary school buildings.

Parent-Teacher Organizations

CV has active parent-teacher organizations at each of its elementary schools. The PTOs coordinate activities and fundraisers and offer scholarships to graduating seniors.