Dear Families,
As you know, Phelps Luck Elementary School, along with five other elementary schools throughout Howard County, has implemented the new Elementary School Model (ESM). This model incorporates several components that focus on the whole child and prepare children for college and careers including:
As a part of the Strengths Development component of the model, all Grade 4 and 5 students will take the Strengths Explorer prior to winter break. The Strengths Explorer tool was developed by Gallup for use by students in Grade 4 – 6 to identify natural talents. The tool helps your child explore aspects of his or her talents in greater detail and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Upon completion, students receive immediate information on their top three strength themes. Your child will be able to share this information with you.
A full report on your child’s strength themes will be sent to you the week of January 12, 2015. The report includes a description of your child’s strength themes and provides talent-based actions to enhance their overall performance. It provides positive language for both school and home and focuses on each child’s natural talents and has specific action items. You will also receive a Strengths Explorer Parent Playbook that includes information and activities to share with your child to encourage development of their innate talents.
School staff will also continue to work with your child on maximizing their natural talents and strengths. School counselors will conduct lessons in all Grade 4 and 5 classrooms that support students in understanding the strengths themes and how they can be used. Students will receive and use a Strengths Explorer Student Playbook.
Our school website will be updated in January to include more information on the Strengths Development component of the model. We look forward to sharing this new tool with the 4th and 5th graders. For additional information, please go to the https://www.strengths-explorer.com.
Sincerely,
Sean W. Martin
Principal