Dr. Craig K. Zerr, Principal                                       email:  czerr@boyertownasd.org 

The Earl Elementary School is located in rural Berks County on Route 73 approximately five miles west of Boyertown. The original building opened in the fall of 1954 with ten classrooms. In 1968 five classrooms were added with a spacious Library, Reading room, Faculty room and a small television studio. Two more classrooms were added in 1988. The renovation in 1992 included an Art room, a computer lab, an enlarged TV studio, an instrumental room, a special education room and a storage room. A new resource room and remediation room were created for the 2004-05 school year. Many new additions have been added during 2011 for the upcoming school year. The Leveled Library has been updated and expanded. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Earl PTO new leveled books were added to each grade level increasing the circulation of the leveled library and our students have also benefited from the purchase of technology items to enhance instructional practices. New Smart Boards were installed in two fourth grade classrooms and one first grade classroom. There is now a Smart Board in every K-6 classroom, Reading Room, Learning Support Room and Music Room! Additional wireless laptop carts have been added for library and classroom use.

For the 2011-12 school year the exciting literacy program "Literacy First" will continue in first grade. The Literacy First program is designed to help our students with developmental language arts skills. The program will deliver direct, individual and small group instruction by three first grade teachers who will team teach in our two first grade classrooms. The team will have a strong literacy focus utilizing guided reading and flexible grouping. Literacy First is a way to provide direct instruction and adjust instruction to accommodate the diverse learning needs of our students.
This co-teaching approach will continue in grades one through six. Our learning support teachers will teach collaboratively with the classroom teachers to further support our students in a more inclusive environment. As part of the Earl RtII initiative staff members meet in small teams to review student data and implement interventions for the benefit of children who are experiencing academic and/or behavioral difficulties in school.

Earl Elementary will take a proactive approach to positive behavior and school climate with its pro-social behavior education system called the PRIDE program. P.R.I.D.E. stands for "Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort." The Earl staff developed this initiative, which is proactive rather than reactive, by incorporating many strategies to teach our students positive pro-social skills. The program will utilize class meetings, common language such as "Stop and Think," school-wide themes (kindness, compassion, empathy, tolerance, acceptance, respect, integrity, and fairness), and conflict resolution. Students will receive daily positive reinforcement for practicing these pro-social character traits. The PRIDE program is integrated with our district No Place for Hate and anti-bullying initiatives. The Earl Student Council will function as an excellent opportunity for student leadership and self-government. Students look forward to quarterly Hawk Pride/No Place for Hate assemblies when their positive behaviors are recognized and rewarded.

Phase I of the new Outdoor Environmental Classroom was dedicated this past school year. During 2011-2012 Phases II-IV will be created. Initiated by the Earl B.E.A.R.S.
Club (Bringing Environmental Awareness and Respect to Society) and supported by the Earl Faculty and PTO this new facility, maintained by each grade level, will serve as an excellent learning tool to support our Science curriculum and outdoor environmental studies.

The anticipated enrollment for the 2011-12 school year is 330 students in grades kindergarten through six. Class size will range from 20 to 27 students with each grade level having two sections. We are pleased to welcome new staff members Teri Hoffman (Vocal Music), Ronald Butt (Art), Doreen Cechak (Art), Kathleen Mumie (Orchestra), Courtney Zook (Extended Substitute Gr. 1), and Melanie Shuhler (Extended Substitute Learning Support).

Our staff continues to be committed to the district mission statement "to enable all students to succeed in a changing world." Teachers instruct students on a daily basis using the Boyertown Area School District approved curriculum, which is in line with the adopted state standards. We also offer special projects and events at each grade level such as: Student Council, Art Show and Book Fair, PTO Family Nights, Craft Night, Santa’s Shop, Environmental Education Camp Experience, Outdoor Environmental Classroom and Nature Trail, Parents as Reading Partners, Book Exchange, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Bell Choir, Author Visits, Special Assemblies and concerts, etc.

Some highlights and bits of interest about Earl include: 

● Earl Elementary takes a proactive approach to positive behavior and school climate by utilizing a pro-social education system called the PRIDE program.
● The Literacy First program in first grade is designed to focus on literacy with direct, individual and small group instruction.
● Last year’s PSSA test results indicate students in all grades scored above the state average in Reading and Math in the state-normed tests.
● The staff and Earl PTO work closely on many projects including assemblies, the publishing center, laminating, Book Exchange, Family Nights, Craft Night, Santa’s Shop, Yearbook, the environmental education trip, outdoor environmental classroom and nature trail, fund raising, special days and events, etc.
● Earl School continues to work with various universities utilizing their students on a volunteer/cooperative basis.
● Our Library has an average circulation of over 30,000 books per year and we are proud of the research assistance students receive in our Library/Multi-Media center.
● All Earl students use the recently upgraded technology with special emphasis on research. Upgraded computers, wireless laptops, and Smart Boards will continue to be used in all grades as educational tools to accomplish academic goals in the content areas.
● Students receive weekly instruction in Art, Library, Music, and Wellness and Fitness.
● Instrumental lessons begin in grade three and students have the opportunity to perform in district band and orchestra concerts. 
● Earl Elementary offers a wide array of vocal music opportunities. Fifth and sixth graders can participate in chorus or audition for vocal ensemble. Each of these groups participates in a Christmas Concert and a spring combined concert with Pine Forge Elementary. Grades 3 & 4 also have their own theatrical production. A Bell Choir will be a new addition to the Earl Elementary performing groups.
●Speech and language, occupational therapy, and physical therapy services are available for students identified with those special needs.
●Students experiencing academic difficulty receive help from teams of teachers who review student data and implement interventions.

Dr. Craig K. Zerr, Principal