Prospective Families

Welcome to the Charles Sumner Elementary School!

The Charles Sumner is the largest school in Roslindale with about 580 students spanning from K1 to Grade 6. The size of the school allows for more programming, more full time specialists and support staff, more school-wide community events, and more friendships! The Sumner is also unique for offering the rigorous “Excellence for All” coursework, music instrumental instruction, and afternoon clubs for older students.

How many classrooms per grade are there?

The Sumner school has three K1 homerooms or strands (two general education, one SEI) and four K2 and 1st grade strands (two general ed, one inclusion, one SEI). SEI is a “Sheltered English Immersion" classroom for English language learners. Grades 2-4 have five strands: two general ed, one inclusion, one SEI, and one special education); and Grades 5 and 6 have four strands (2 general ed, one inclusion, one special education).

What is a typical day like for a K1 or K2 student?

9:15 - 9:30 Arrival

9:30 - 10:30 Breakfast/Morning Meeting

10:30 - 11:20 Specials:

Monday - Art

Tuesday - Music

Wednesday – Theater

Thursday - Physical Education (P.E.)

Friday – Theater

11:25 - 12:15 Literacy / Literacy activity or Math (Fridays / P.E.)

12:20 - 1:10 Recess / Lunch

1:15 - 2:05 Rest Time (K1 only)

2:10 - 3:00 Snack Time / Math Activity / Social Emotional Learning (Wednesdays / Music)

3:05 - 3:55 Afternoon Centers (students pick their own activity)

3:55 - 4:10 Dismissal

Some pictures of a typical kindergarten classroom can be seen below:

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And some pictures from one of our 4th grade classrooms:

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Specialties:

The Sumner offers a number of subject-area specialties for our students including music, dance, visual arts, physical education, technology, theater, coding & robotics, and a unique social-emotional health & wellness class with one of our school social workers. We also offer an innovative clubs program for our upper grade students.

Curriculum:

Homerooms at the Sumner School cover four core content areas: English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The Sumner follows the BPS "Focus on" English Language Arts curricula for grades K to 2nd, and EL Education Language Arts curriculum for grades 3rd to 6th. Mathematics follows the TERC Investigations and Illustrated Math curricula for all grades. Science utilizes OpenSciEd curriculum resources with an overview of the units covered outlined here. Social studies lessons use McGraw Hill texts following the frameworks outlined here.

Furthermore, all students (K1-6th) participate in the Second Step Character Curriculum. This curriculum is designed to support social and emotional learning and problem solving through role play and case studies. In addition, it is a foundation for the Sumner’s Positive Behavior Support System

Before and After School Programming:

The Sumner offers an in-house before school (7:00am to start of school day) and after school (end of school day to 5:45pm) program for all students K1-6th grade (including our 4 year-old students). The program offers diverse activities including BOKS, tennis, music, kung-fu, theater, run club, pen pals club, Spanish classes, and homework help.

Meals:

The Sumner (and all BPS schools) offer a universal free breakfast and lunch program. The Sumner has a brand new "My Way Cafe" which allows for fresh food to be prepared onsite and offers students additional choices from a salad bar. Many students have raved about this addition. (Families are always welcome to send a home-packed meal in with their student if they prefer.)

Community:

The Sumner School is not only invested in developing life-long learners, but also in creating a welcoming environment for all and building community amongst our families and staff. The School Family Council helps to organize a number of community events throughout the school year including a Multicultural Potluck Dinner, walking in the Roslindale Day Parade, Fall Fest, playground meet-ups, Staff Appreciation events, and Sumner Bash.