For an elementary school with more than 450 students, principal Laura Seck said she believes Meadowland Elementary School in Sterling still creates a unique sense of community.

At a monthly school-wide assembly, Seck recognizes students who have celebrated birthdays and those who deserve special recognition for achievement in school.

The assembly also provides a forum for character education, an important focus at Meadowland, Seck said.
“We have a character education skit demonstrating the right way and wrong way to do things, depending on what’s going on in the building,” Seck said.

For Seck, this basic instruction remains essential, even though Meadowland embraces new technology. Meadowland will have a school-wide wireless network beginning in September.

Seck said parents help offer some unique opportunities for students through extracurricular activities. Each year parents organize the talent show, bingo and storybook nights. Parents also help out with a different after-school sport each year. In past years, the sports have been soccer, touch football and bocce.

Meadowland will add a strings program to its after-school offerings next year. Interested kids will receive individual instruction on a variety of instruments like the violin and cello.

Most important to Seck, though, is the effort Meadowland teachers make every day to educate their students.
“We have a wonderful staff that participates in staff development to stay current,” Seck said. “The school just hums along and maintains a steady pace.”