Children in camouflage have been spotted on the campus of Brookhaven Elementary School this week, and will likely continue to be seen throughout the coming week.

Third- and fourth-grade students are in boot camp right now. It’s not a military preparatory school, but it is BES Math Boot Camp, and some of the students are wearing camo to get in the mood.

The two-week “camp” is an intensive focus on math concepts and problems that tend to trip up students when it comes to statewide testing.

BES Principal Latronda Gayten told the District School Board at its recent meeting the instruction takes place for a portion of each school day, working with the students in regular and special education classes to help them understand the grade-level concepts of math that students struggle understanding, and review math concepts taught at the beginning of the school year. The standards change tremendously from third to fourth grade, Gayten said, so many students who perform very well in third grade may struggle in fourth-grade math.

“We have teachers and interventionists working with them on math one-on-one, as well as inclusion teachers,” Gayten told the board.

The school’s motto is “Be Ready,” she said.

“We reinforce that by teaching, collaborating and inspiring,” the principal said. “The kids and teachers are buying into it.”

 

In other business, the board:

• Approved multiple fundraiser requests for the 2023-2024 school year
• Approved personnel recommendations and students transfers in and out of the district, all of which were “pretty standard for this time of year,” according to Superintendent Rod Henderson.
• Approved financial reports for March and April with no discussion.

 

The board’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 23, at 6 p.m. in the Central Office boardroom.