Promise Road Elementary opening one of many changes for 2012-2013 school year
Promise Road Elementary School is located at 14975 Promise Rd., the school is Noblesville’s first to be built in the fast-growing southeast section of Noblesville Township and the first to be constructed east of Ind. 37. It is the district’s seventh elementary school and will house approximately 630 students its first year. The school will be dedicated during a special program on Oct. 7.
Kelly Treinen began working for Noblesville Schools on July 1, 2011. For the past year, she has worked tirelessly on preparing Promise Road Elementary School for Wednesday’s opening. From the foundation being poured to the final coat hook screwed in, Treinen has seen all the work put into the district’s seventh elementary school and she excited for the educational process to begin.
“I can’t wait for the first day of school and for those kids to get off the buses,” said Treinen. “I love this job. I love doing this job in Noblesville.”
As students enter the school, one of the first things they will notice is a large mural of children in the foyer. The mural was designed specifically for Promise Road and features images of kids from North, Stony Creek and White River elementary schools – the children who will make up the student body.
The Basics
Promise Road Elementary School
Located at 14975 Promise Rd., the school is Noblesville’s first to be built in the fast-growing southeast section of Noblesville Township and the first to be constructed east of Ind. 37. It is the district’s seventh elementary school and will house approximately 630 students its first year. The school will be dedicated during a special program on Oct. 7.
While the faculty itself has been taking shape over the last year, Treinen has been working to bring together the pieces that are the most important part of the school – its teachers. The majority of teachers previously taught in other Noblesville schools while 11 are new to the district.
“We’ve put together one of the highest energy, thought-provoking and creative group of educators,” she said.
The district is pushing for the implementation of 21st century learning skills in the classroom. While other elementary schools are phasing in the curriculum, Promise Road is diving in feet first.
“We hired new teachers with the expectation we’d begin day one,” said Treinen. “Teachers have been learning the most effective strategies for integrating the 21st century learning skills of collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking into the curriculum. Project-based learning is an approach that emphasizes those 21st century skills.”
Treinen said PBL presents students a problem, asks them what they need to know to solve the problem and how they can find the information they need and then challenges them to collaborate with classmates to find the answers.
Because flexible space is important to learning in the 21st century environment, Promise Road’s classrooms and the media center are equipped with fliptop student tables instead of traditional student desks. Treinen said the tables allow a fast change in the way a room is configured when the curriculum and day’s activities call for a different use of classroom space.
Promise Road will also be utilizing the newest technology.
Meet Kelly Treinen
Treinen
Residence: Noblesville
Hometown: Carroll, Iowa
Education: Carroll High School, undergraduate at University of South Dakota, two masters from Ball State University in elementary education and supervision and instruction.
What you enjoy most about your job: Working with teachers, students and families. Helping facilitate the professional growth of teachers and seeing the impact it has on students.
Favorite children’s book: Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger
Hobbies: Bicycling, reading and traveling
Personal quote: “I think everyone should smile every day, don’t you?” Michael Treinen once told his mother. Kelly has taken that attitude with her. “Even on the worst day there is a positive. . . Kids struggling in school should not hate coming to school. We have high expectations here, but we are going to get there by creating a positive environment.”
Unlike other elementary schools within the district, Treinen said each classroom will be equipped with a desktop computer, two iPads and access to a portable lab of laptop computers. The classroom’s Apple TV is coupled with the use of the computers and iPads for instruction.
“There are so many capabilities with an iPad,” said Treinen. “You can use it as a camera, reader, with apps – it’s so versatile and can be taken anywhere in the room.”
Classroom will also feature a sound system, which comes with a handheld microphone that students can use when making presentations.
“Each teacher will be wearing a microphone so everybody can hear them even if they’re at the chalkboard with their back to the students,” said Treinen. “Teachers will be wearing them all the time, but if you take two steps out of your classroom it stops.”
Prior to coming to Noblesville, Trienen was principal at Durbin Elementary School in Hamilton Southeastern school district.
“It feels like home,” she said of the move. “My kids went to school here and now I get to be a part of the educational system as an administrator.”
