Northwoods Elementary provides a variety of services designed to enrich and support the regular classroom instruction. 

• Music is offered as weekly instruction to all students. 
  
  
• Art is offered as weekly instruction to all students.  Students work is displayed in area businesses several times a year.
  
  
• Physical Education is offered as weekly instruction to all students.  Each year all students participate in Super Kid’s Day.
  
  
• AG (Academically Gifted) is offered to fourth and fifth graders as a resource class to those who meet state and local guidelines for services.  The AG resource teacher works in partnership with all third grade teachers to plan a variety of experiences designed to elicit high academic performance.  Several times during the year, the AG resource teacher works in the classroom with all students.

Programs are provided at Northwoods for students who have special needs.  Students are served in cross-categorical programs, hearing impaired, and learning disabled.  Northwoods is one of several Wake County schools that has a pre-school program that serves three to five year old students that have developmental delays, handicaps or other health impairments Itinerant services are offered such as physical therapy and occupational therapy.  A speech therapist is on staff to serve students with articulation and language needs.

Northwoods has a full-time counselor with emphasis in four areas as outlined in Wake County’s Essential Guidance Plan.  Classroom guidance sessions for K-5, small group and individual counseling for students, parent and teacher education and consultation are all areas of focus.  Specific topics are presented to each grade level in classroom guidance sessions.  (Examples – success in school, cooperation, friendship, growth and development).  Children who present special needs such as a death in the family or divorce may participate in small groups for information and peer support.  Children, parents and staff make referrals for individual or group counseling.  Orientation sessions at the beginning of the year inform children and staff about the counseling program.

Students whose English is not adequate enough to function independently in the classroom are given English instruction in small classes to increase their proficiency in their listening, comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills.  The classroom teacher and Wake County testing scores determine eligibility for ESL instruction.

>> next topic