OFE Overview
Washington County Public Schools provides all students access to a world class education,” according to the WCPS vision statement. Washington County is a rural area and Washington County Public Schools is the third largest employer of our county. Built in 1970, Old Forge is located in Hagerstown, Maryland, nestled among farm fields; it is a feeder school to Smithsburg Middle and High Schools, located in Smithsburg, Maryland. It is one of our twenty-six elementary schools in Washington County. Old Forge is a traditional kindergarten through fifth grade school, and currently has two classes per grade level in first, third, and fifth, and three classes for kindergarten, second, and fourth grade. Our current enrollment is approximately 325 students, including 8.7% of students receiving special education services, 30% of students receiving free and reduced meals and a 11% mobility rate. We have one administrator in the building, our principal, Ms. Dana Peake. The staff is comprised of certified teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff.
Our quest on becoming green began when several teachers, Brooke Moats, Ed Waldron, and Lorrie Trader, attended a summer workshop offered at Claude Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview in the summer of 2009. The initial interest was to find ways to get students interested in the environment and for something for student council members to help with. After gaining interest from the rest of the staff with our big kick off, green pep assembly in 2009 the school's enthusiasm took off! We quickly began integrating the idea of becoming a green school as part of our SIT plan. A committee was formed with a representative from every grade level, including encore teachers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, and parent representatives. In the 2011-2012 school year we also combined the Green School committee with the Technology committee join forces together as the STEM committee.
In spring of 2012, Old Forge Elementary School earned its official title as a Maryland Green School. The Green STEM committee meets once as month on the 4th Tuesday of every month. Over the years, there has been a shift on committee members due to staffing changes and school redistricting for students; although the committee continues to pick up where others left off. One thing remains constant, at OFE we are a family; We are truly a community of learners who love our school and the kids in it. It is our quest to enrich the lives of our students through authentic learning experiences that they will transfer and prepare them for their futures.
Our quest on becoming green began when several teachers, Brooke Moats, Ed Waldron, and Lorrie Trader, attended a summer workshop offered at Claude Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview in the summer of 2009. The initial interest was to find ways to get students interested in the environment and for something for student council members to help with. After gaining interest from the rest of the staff with our big kick off, green pep assembly in 2009 the school's enthusiasm took off! We quickly began integrating the idea of becoming a green school as part of our SIT plan. A committee was formed with a representative from every grade level, including encore teachers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, and parent representatives. In the 2011-2012 school year we also combined the Green School committee with the Technology committee join forces together as the STEM committee.
In spring of 2012, Old Forge Elementary School earned its official title as a Maryland Green School. The Green STEM committee meets once as month on the 4th Tuesday of every month. Over the years, there has been a shift on committee members due to staffing changes and school redistricting for students; although the committee continues to pick up where others left off. One thing remains constant, at OFE we are a family; We are truly a community of learners who love our school and the kids in it. It is our quest to enrich the lives of our students through authentic learning experiences that they will transfer and prepare them for their futures.
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STEM committee 2016-2017back: (left to right) Mrs. Lorrie Trader, Grade 5 teacher; Mrs. Sally Bacon, Media Specialist; Mrs. Wendy Bertrand , Grade 3 teacher; Mrs. Diana Gray Lead Teacher; Mrs. Lisa Keyser, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) teacher; Mrs. Eileen Darr, Kindergarten teacher front : Mrs. Amy Smith , 4th grade teacher; Mrs. Kim Raios, Paraprofessional; Missing from photo: Mrs. Penny Sprecher, Grade 1 Teacher; Mrs. Jennifer Burke, Grade 2 Teacher; Mrs. Melody Kegerreis, Music teacher Ms. Dana Peake, Principal |