Describes changes at Lake Labish Elementary in Salem, Oregon, resulting from the school's participation in the federal Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration program. Comprehensive reform streamlines every aspect of the school, from leadership, curriculum, and instruction to attitudes, resources, and parent involvement. The school's new reading…

Describes programs and activities at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary, distinguished Title I school in Vancouver, Washington. With nearly 40% English-language learners and a diverse group of immigrant students, the school uses bilingual staff assistants to ensure that all students' needs are met and to promote parent-school connections. Features a…

Discusses the chilling effect on learning of bullying and peer harassment, resources and strategies for creating a more respectful school climate, and the need for comprehensive schoolwide policies and procedures that also involve community. Sidebars describe the newly established National Safe Schools Resource Center and various educator guides…

In May 1998, a student opened fire in the cafeteria, killing or wounding 24 students at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon. Lessons learned from the incident are detailed to assist other schools in planning for unexpected tragedies. Steps recommended actions before, during, and after a crisis. (CDS)

First Step to Success is used at the outset of a child's school career, when making changes in antisocial behavior is easiest. The short-term program provides positive reinforcement for desirable behaviors and has a home component that draws on parent support. Sidebar profiles programs that promote positive behaviors in older children: Project…

A nationally acclaimed antiviolence program, Second Step teaches three basic skills needed for living peacefully in society: empathy, impulse control, and anger management. In Bethel (Alaska), where student gunfire killed a student and principal in 1997, Second Step is used enthusiastically, having been modified to fit Yupik Eskimo culture and…

Schools in the Eugene, Oregon, area are participating in the Peaceable Educational Practices (PEP) project, which identifies research-based best practices for reducing school violence. Three general strategies include school data collection, schoolwide policies and programs, and tailoring strategies to the school. PEP schools have seen a dramatic…

Describes three Oregon school-community programs that improve student attitude and behavior: community-service learning projects for previously disruptive students, after-school programs that provide exciting group activities for students who maintain decent grades and stay out of trouble, and adult mentoring and group activities for high-risk…

Describes incidents of school violence in the Northwest, the young killers' personalities, characteristics of extremely aggressive children, and factors that reduce such children's potential for violence. Highlights from "Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools" (August 1998) list early warning signs, what schools can do, and what…

Seattle's SafeFutures project focuses on intervention for children involved in, or at risk of becoming involved in, the juvenile-justice system, particularly Cambodian and Vietnamese youth; girls involved with gangs; and violent, chronic juvenile offenders. Project services include classes on social and cultural issues for Asian parents, tutoring…

An Oregon elementary-school principal describes her experience of creating a peaceful school. To create the safe environment needed for learning, teachers taught students conflict-resolution skills; 15 life skills, such as integrity, initiative, flexibility, and humor; and a three-step problem-solving model. Students are taking their new skills…

Reviews recent research reports, policy statements, and federal legislation that recognize the arts as a fundamental subject. Discusses different ways of knowing, how the arts enhance learning in other areas, national standards for arts education, outcomes of arts education, and challenges to expanding arts education. Sidebars summarize a national…

Elk City, Idaho, instituted an arts program in its small K-10 school with grant and community funding. An arts facilitator organized a visiting-artists program and trained teachers to recognize different learning styles and integrate art, literature, and music into the curriculum. Self-esteem and test scores have risen, and the community is…

A three-week geometry unit at a Portland (Oregon) middle school integrated mathematics, dance, and visual art. Studying the graphic art of M.C. Escher and the geometric dance patterns of the dance company Pilobolus helped students appreciate the relevance of mathematics to art and life. Students then choreographed brief dances involving geometric…

A teacher of a multiage K-1 class in Juneau (Alaska) weaves art and music throughout her lesson plans. She uses broad creative themes to teach the concepts and skills of the primary grades, and finds support in Alaska's content standards, which affirm that study of the arts is essential to a basic education. (TD)