Skip To Main Content

Who we are

Welcome to Western Elementary School!

Western Elementary School is a close-knit community where students and families are supported. Our staff works hard to meet the needs of each and every child in the hopes that they will succeed. We look towards our families for their support and guidance in meeting these needs as we partner together to make sure each child grows. We encourage parents to contact us with any questions or concerns. Our view is that problems are meant to be solved and we look forward to working with our families on behalf of their child.

We welcome your interest and involvement and urge you to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions about the educational program or your children's progress.

PTO

We also hope you get involved in our PTO group. The PTO organizes fundraising and helps to provide field trips, school activities and functions to all of our students and families. Follow them on Facebook: Western Elementary PTO or reach out via email at: Western.PTO@yahoo.com

Our Mission in Naugatuck is to develop students who:

  • Are responsible and engaged community members
  • Demonstrate initiative, persistence, and adaptability
  • Are curious and value risk-taking as part of the learning process
  • Access and analyze information and formulate opinions
  • Communicate effectively
  • Work individually and on teams to solve real-world problems

Our philosophy is that every learner in Naugatuck is empowered through active, meaningful and personal educational experiences that nurture an excitement and capacity for learning. These experiences are developed through a responsive, collaborative, ongoing process of curriculum evolution that values student voice, high expectations, and innovation.

Again, Welcome to Western Elementary School. We are looking forward to getting to know your family!

Ms. Goodrich & Western School Faculty

Student racing in Field Day competition.
Student with a poster of stickers showing %22100 things I love%22 for the 100th day of school.
Student running with pool tube around his waist.
Student cheering!
Student running with a plunger on Field Day.
Student competing with a toilet plunger.
Teacher enjoying a snow cone
Students and staff enjoying a picnic
Student and teacher smiling
Three students and a teacher holding snow cones with Hawaiian skirts
Two teachers smiling outside with Hawaiian shirts and leis
Three Western teachers covered in slime.
Two Western staff members dressed in floral print smiling outside
Ms. Goodrich driving a truck.
Student playing during Field Day.

Western at a Glance

  • 272 Students enrolled
  • 14 Classroom Teachers
  • 5 Special Area Teachers
  • 20 Average class size
  • Wildcat - School mascot
  • 1:1 Ratio of students to technology
  • 2015-16, 2017-18 & 2018-19 School of Distinction Award

School Rules

Western School promotes a proactive approach to discipline. Through PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports), we work to maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. As part of our program, we have established 5 behavioral expectations for all areas of our school. We explicitly teach our “5 Bees” and provide multiple opportunities to practice the expectations while providing feedback from staff. Students are expected to follow all school rules while they are on the way to and from school and school-related functions, as
well as during emergency procedures. The “5 Bees” provides a common language and common expectations for all staff and students.

Western Expectations:

  • Be(e) Safe
  • Be(e) Peaceful
  • Be(e) Respectful
  • Be(e) Kind
  • Be(e) Cooperative

Classrooms also engage in many qualities of Responsive Classroom, which is a student centered, social and emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline. These approaches are designed to create safe, happy and engaging classrooms where all students feel valued and accepted. Our goal is to teach, model, practice and reinforce positive behaviors while also teaching students how to repair relationships when they are harmed. Some strategies/techniques  you may hear about are: Crafting a class charter-set of common rules agreed upon by the class community, Conducting Morning & Closing Circles/Meetings, Engaging in Team Building Activities & Implementing Logical Consequences. Students will learn to be accountable to one another and value the contributions each participant brings.

Bus Rules

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

  • Parents are responsible for the conduct of their children while they are waiting for the bus and once they leave the bus. 
  • It is the responsibility of the parent to assure that the student is waiting at his/her designated stop on time. Should a student miss the bus, the parent must find alternate means of transporting the child to school.
  • During inclement weather, a bus driver may determine that a hill or street cannot be negotiated safely. It is the parents’ responsibility to make alternate arrangements to assure that their child arrives at school or home. 
  • The Naugatuck Schools respect the right of parents to keep their child home from school when the parent feels unsafe conditions exist. Announcements of school closings, delays in school opening, or early closings are made on local radio stations.
  • If special transportation needs are required, an application form can be obtained from the school office. Applications must be received by July 1 of each school year.

Regulations for the conduct of pupils riding on school buses:

  • The driver is in full charge of the bus and of all pupils riding therein at all times while pupils are being transported to and from school. He/she is required to enforce all rules and regulations adopted by the school authorities for the conduct of pupils riding on the bus.
  • Pupils must take a seat when they enter the bus and remain seated at all times while the bus is in motion.
  • Indecent or profane language, smoking, loud talking, loud radios or any illegal activities are expressly prohibited.
  • Pupils must not eat on the bus.
  • Pupils must not open bus windows without permission from the driver.
  • Pupils must not throw any object in or out of the bus.
  • Pupils must keep all personal items, including cell phones in backpacks until they arrive home. 
  • Pupils must not, at any time, extend their arms or head out of the bus window.
  • Pupils shall enter and leave the bus only at the front door except in cases of emergency.
  • Pupils must be on time and at all times cooperate in keeping the bus on schedule.
  • Pupils shall, after alighting from the bus, wait for the signal from the driver before crossing the highway, and pupils shall also look to see that traffic is halted.
  • Pupils must not stand on the traveled portion of the highway while waiting for a bus.
  • Pupils must remain in assigned seats.

Penalties for Violations

  • Parents of pupils who damage, or deface any bus shall be held liable for such damage.
  • When pupils do not observe the above rules, the driver shall report them on bus company forms to the school principal as soon as possible.
  • The matter of suspension from riding the bus shall be determined by the principal, as a last resort, after parents have been notified. This action shall be subject to review by the Superintendent.

Please Note: A bus student who will be picked up by a parent or another adult must bring a note stating that circumstance.  The adult must follow dismissal protocol and have proper ID.  If a child insists they are going home with another student or on another bus, we will attempt to call the parents to verify that.  If no one can be reached, we will send the student home via his or her usual way.

For our students’ safety and the prevention of vandalism, our school buses are equipped with video cameras.