Mt Laurel Elementary

The opportunity to walk their children to school is one of the benefits to living in the Town of Mt Laurel that parents enjoy most. One of the schools within walking distance is Mt Laurel Elementary.

The smiling faces are among the first things you'll notice when you visit Mt Laurel Elementary School. Exuberance radiates from students and educators alike. The next thing you'll notice is that every detail, such as the school's medieval castle theme and unique architecture, has been carefully selected to enhance the educational experience. This applies to everything from meal preparation to the landscaping and design of the playground.

Hands-On Learning

Mt Laurel Elementary School was recently recognized by the Seaside Institute for Smart Growth, a non-profit organization founded to promote Traditional Neighborhood Developments, for its many innovative projects. The Living Sun Dial is among the projects that garnered attention from the institute. In it, the observer becomes the gnomon by casting a shadow onto the horizontal scale from the central pavement area where the months are marked. The hours are marked by slabs in an elliptical arrangement. These clocks always show the correct time and need no adjusting forward or backward in the spring or fall.

Mt Laurel Elementary also has a Reading Arbor, constructed as a place where children can enjoy books in a beautiful, outdoor setting. The Arbor, a patio with a wooden arbor over the main gathering area, was designed for group and individual reading.

In the Mt Laurel Elementary wildflower meadow, children learn about a complete ecosystem by charting the wildflower growth cycle from seed to flower and observing the wildlife that populates the meadow.

Teacher Excellence

Mt Laurel Elementary was selected, along with 20 forward-thinking schools across the state, to participate in the Best Practices of Alabama 21st Century School Learning Project. This two-year professional development program helps teachers introduce children to the Web-based technologies and skills they will need in the modern workplace. A visionary initiative, Best Practices of Alabama 21st Century is designed to prepare students for the work force they will enter.

Mt Laurel educators make use of professional opportunities such as collaborative sharing, benchmarking with other schools and attending state and national conferences to ensure that teachers receive the best educational tools available. In addition, Mt Laurel teachers have access to a world-class curriculum and are trained to the high standards set by the Alabama State Course of Study.

Mt Laurel teachers also participate in a week-long training program sponsored by the Alabama Reading Initiative, a statewide initiative managed by the Department of Education and created through the 'No Child Left Behind' Act of 2001. This program has been shown to help educators more effectively teach reading.

A Broad Curriculum

Art, music, physical education and computer lab are all a part of the main curriculum at Mt Laurel Elementary. The school also incorporates community-based learning whenever possible, with the philosophy that community involvement greatly enhances the quality of a school's programs and the variety of its opportunities. Mt Laurel Elementary participates in programs such as the Building Based Student Support Team and English Language Learners to help children that are at-risk and from homes where English is not the primary language.

Parents are encouraged to volunteer for projects and contribute time to expand learning resources for the children.

Mt Laurel Elementary has an enrollment of 350, and is part of the excellent Shelby County School System. Mt Laurel Elementary also offers before- and after-school care for children. Not only can children do their homework there, but they can also participate in activities to exercise their minds and muscles.

Mt Laurel Elementary School is a place where exemplary academic standards and engaging instruction foster a genuine joy of learning.