Please note that School Programs may change from year to year.
Adopt-A-Family
Families that are new to Twain are matched with existing Twain families – with similar aged children – to help them get better acquainted with the school, and provide an opportunity to ask questions about the school programs and events.
Art Program
Twain’s art program is based on the belief that art skills are not inherited – they are developed. The goals of our art program are to support students’ appreciation and enjoyment of art and promote children’s creative growth, art concepts and skills. Our program ensures exposure to a variety of art experiences, as well as the use of different media and techniques (drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, printing). In Twain’s art program, projects incorporate aspects of art appreciation along with art history to give to children a growing treasure of knowledge about artists, art styles, and art influence in our everyday lives.
Caring Connection
We all need help every now and then. A group of Twain parents connects with families who might be experiencing a time of need, e.g., illness, injury, death, financial hardship, etc. This group provides meals for the family over a period of time. This group does not provide financial or other assistance. However, we can connect families in need to agencies in the area which do provide that type of assistance. Please contact the Principal directly if you are in need of assistance, or if you know of someone who could benefit from this connection. The Beatles sang it best, "We get by with a little help from my friends." Make the call!
Gifted and Talented Program
Gifted and talented learners are a diverse group of students with unique learning needs. Gifted and talented students are those children whose abilities, talents and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced, that they require special provisions to meet their educational needs. GT students at Twain are identified through a formal process, which includes collecting data from multiple sources to determine the best possible match between available services and learner needs.
The following options are a part of GT services at Mark Twain:
- In class flexible grouping
- Cluster grouping
- Pull out classes
- Acceleration by grade Students may be nominated for GT screening by a parent or teacher.
Chess Club
K-5 students are welcome to come and learn how to play the game of chess.
Grand Partners
This program is for senior citizens who love to volunteer in the Littleton Public Schools and love to assist in the classroom.
Instructional Coach
Mark Twain Elementary has an Instructional Coach. She works extensively with teachers in their first, second, and third year of teaching meeting with them weekly, performing lesson demonstrations in their classrooms, and observing their instruction to students. She collaborates with veteran and new staff in professional development supporting implementation of best practices in teaching and consulting with teachers on curriculum planning, lesson design, and assessment. Training opportunities are offered by our coach for staff and parents according to established needs and interests.
Junior Great Books
This grade level reading enrichment program uses group discussion to teach reading comprehension. (Twain’s PTO funds the training cost for the adult volunteers).
Kindergarten Buddy Day
The kindergarten classes welcome the next years fall kindergarteners. Student’s buddy-up with new children to share their experiences.
Letterheads
A group of spellers in grades 3rd, 4th and 5th who have met certain spelling requirements meet weekly to practice spelling skills. Interested students are encouraged to participate in the district’s spelling bees.
Littleton Sports Clubs
Littleton offers a variety of sports clubs for boys and girls of all ages. Look for specific information on each club in your child’s folder.
Counseling Program
Mark Twain is lucky to have a school counselor! Tasks carried out in the Counseling Program include:
1) Small group counseling support:
Changing Families
Anger Management
Friendships/Social Skills
Study Skills/Organization
Learning Differences
Gifted and Talented Support
New Student Support
2) Individual Counseling
3) Crisis Intervention
4) Parent/Teacher consultation and collaboration
5) Presentations to teachers and parent community
6) Child Study Facilitator
7) Community resource connections
8) Scoring/interpretation of social/emotional/behavioral screening
Student participation in group or individual counseling begins through teacher and parent referral, and must accompany written permission from parents.
Groups run from 6-8 weeks, and meet 30 minutes per week. Attempts are made to schedule groups during times which are the least academically intrusive in the child’s day. Children are divided into Primary groups (grades K-2), or Intermediate groups (grades 3-5). Parents and teachers receive week-by-week summaries at the end of each group, which describe what was discussed. Parents may call any time regarding their child’s participation in group or social/emotional/ behavioral/academic well being.
Mark Twain Publishing Center
“Every child an author” Each year every child at Twain has the opportunity to publish one or more books through our Mark Twain Publishing Center. By taking their pieces public, children have a compelling reason to revise and edit their writing to be read by others. Publishing further motivates our authors to write for the purpose of entertaining, informing, or persuading their real audience. Classroom teachers set criteria and specific learning goals for students to take written pieces to the publishing stage so that publishing becomes an integral part of our writing instruction. A cadre of parent volunteers supports this publishing process by word-processing, laminating, and binding the students’ written pieces. Our published books are prominently displayed in the Twain Atrium for you to read and enjoy. Look for the Twain tiger paw print embossed on the seal affixed to each book cover. It’s our trademark!
Music Program
The performing arts program consists of grade level objectives in the following areas of study:
Beat
Rhythm
Melody
Harmony
Form
Expressive Quality
Technique
Drama
National Geography Club
This club is open to all 4th and 5th graders. The students will study many geographical locations throughout the world. If eligible, some students may participate in the district’s Geography Bee.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Mark Twain has a very active and supportive PTO. We encourage all parents who are interested to become involved in supporting the PTO. This Parent/Teacher organization plans and implements many special activities for the school. Some of the activities include fundraisers such as grocery store certificates; spring fundraising event, book fairs, and spirit wear sales. Money raised through the PTO efforts goes back into the school. We could not provide the quality program we currently have at Mark Twain without this dedicated hard-working group.
Physical Education Program
Physical Education is a component of education that takes place through movement. The purpose of physical education at Twain is for all students to learn and develop fundamental movement skills, to participate regularly in physical activity, and to know the implications of and benefits from involvement in physical activities.
Reading Tutor Program
This program is designed for students who need extra help and some specific one-on-one assistance. See grade level teacher for more information.
Safety Patrol
Twain parents help students cross the streets near the school and keep cars out of the school bus drop off are before and after school.
Scouts
Boys and Girls Troops are formed for boys (grades1-5) and girls (grades K-5) at the beginning of the school year. Look for more information on becoming a Boy or Girl Scout of America in your child’s folder.
Scrabble Club
What a way to wake up your brain! Have fun while you sharpen your spelling skills, expand your vocabulary and math skills and become a quick draw with a dictionary.
Scrapbooking Club
This club is open to all 5th graders. The students will learn creative techniques to organize and assemble their own album.
Second Step
This program is available to help students deal with conflict resolutions by using role-playing and empathy techniques.
Student Council
A group of students from grades 3rd, 4th and 5th will be selected to represent their class. The student council acts as goodwill ambassadors for Twain. The Student Council also participates in community service projects, works at special school events and has its own school store.
Special Education Program
Mark Twain has a Student Resource Team to service students with disabilities. Services may be provided by Special Education teachers, Speech/Language Pathologists, Psychologists, and/or Occupational Therapists. Students with learning disabilities may qualify for this program through the referral process. The Special Education program emphasizes an inclusionary model, but when appropriate, individual and small group instruction is provided in academic, prevocational, and social skills. The Special Education teacher works with each student on specific goals and objectives. Students with difficulties in the areas of speech and language, which significantly impact their performance, may qualify for this program through the referral process. The Speech Pathologist works on articulation, language development, fluency or voice with individuals and small groups.
Twain Accountability Committee (TAC)
The Twain Accountability Committee is an advisory body of parents and staff members. Final authority and accountability for any decision rests with the principal. Generally, the TAC serves as a “sounding board” for the school and provides parent input in various areas of the school program. The TAC shall be responsible for overseeing the School Improvement Plans and the Annual Report. This will be done in concert with the staff and administration.
Volunteers in Public Schools (V.I.P.S)
This is a great way to get involved in your child’s school experience. Many opportunities are available to volunteer, such as: Family events, Fundraising events, School programs and Special School events. Parent volunteers are critical to the success of Mark Twain. There is also work that can be done at home so working parents can feel free to volunteer as well.