Fort Smallwood Elementary School

We had our son in Gibson Island last year. While Gibson Island was a great school and provided for the needs of my son, we are more impressed by the staffing, resources and outcome Fort Smallwood has made in our son. Our son is in Kindergarten. Only 16 children in his class. His teachers, the aids and assistants are wonderful. The principal, Mr. Johnson is the best with both parents and students. All of the faculty and staff are responsive to the questions and suggestions my husband and I have brought to them. Even down to the bus driver. Until this year, I was a die hard private school mom all the way. I have nothing but great things to say when it comes to Fort Smallwood. The leadership, communication and level of genuine compassion for the students far surpass any private school in the area.
--Submitted by a parent

I am extremely pleased with Fort Smallwood Elementary. My son had previously attended a private school for the two years prior to enrolling at FSE and we are happy with his progress. We were fearful that he would be bored since he had attended a private school and we were told by the private school that he would stagnate in a public school. Well to our delight, he is in the Gifted and Talented program and is also given extra projects, essays, and reports to embelish on what he is already learning in class. His teacher recognized his aptitude immediately and made an effort to not only help him to feel comfortable in a new school but also encouraged him to be a part of extracurricular activities such as the Chessie program (60 books read & counting) . Our son loves his school and that makes us content as his parents.
--Submitted by a parent

This school as above average if your child is well behaved. I have two children in this school. I have never had any problems with my daughter. My son is a very intelligent boy but is a boy. He is very active and likes to be involved in everything. The teachers at this school are very good but if they find a child that does not fit the mold they want they just give up and label him instead of assisting. They do not try to channel a child in ways that will assist them rather just label them. I hope this was just my experience last year and it will be different this year. And yes they need to let more parents into classrooms. Last year we were shut out of the classes, their class parties and field trips.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers are great but their is no parent support nor do they act like they want us to be involved.... My other children attend another school and parents are welcomed whenever they want. Parents should and do have the right to go into their child's classroom at anytime as long as they check in with the office first.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a very small school. Teachers are very caring and there is a gifted and talented program. School lacks a lot of parental involvement.
--Submitted by Nancy, a parent

Ft. Smallwood is a small, quiet school where teachers and staff make it a point to know there student and parents. I have 3 students in total who are going through or have whent through from kindergarden on, at Ft. Smallwood. We as a family we could not be happier with the help we have recived with son through the speech department, although we can see the need for more specialist in our school systems.(Anna Arundel Co.) Parental involvment is at about 1/4 of its actual potential. The 1/4 of parents that are involved are quite top notch. In all we have a wonderful learning inviroment for our students with caring teachers and suport staff. Both visiting and Volunteering at our school is alway a pleasure, and truly apreciated, by students and staff alike. It has been my pleasure to see young students learn and grow at our school, I have seen struggeling student get the help they needed early in there schooling at Ft. Smallwood and now I am able to see that early intervention paying off as these young people are making there way through middle school. They not only left Ft. Smallwood with the education to excell but the knowledge that who they are and what they do is important.
--Submitted by M. Burrall, a parent

I have had two older children that have went through Fort Smallwood and two who are presently attending. The teachers and staff work very well with each other. There had been some experiences that were left unaddressed through the previous principal and teachers. Mrs. Atkinson seems to be very parent supportive and has already strongly encouraged teacher involvement. The PTA needs improvement through more parent envolvement, and the lack of volunteers for parties, fundraisers, Math Night and various other programs is very sad. However the staff and parents that are active more than make up for the lack of other parental support through their eagerness. It would be nice if there were more activities happening at the school....Cub Scouts, 4H, craft groups(there are Brownies and Girl Scouts that meet at the school or they had last year)but the facility is being used for basketball and cheerleading leaving out a feeling of inclusiveness for all children. I can not stress enough need for parent envolvement As it is only a few parents that help out. The school is under going changes and moving forward with programs. Thanks to a movement of strengths with in the school.
--Submitted by a parent