Griffith Elementary School

Griffith Elementary is a challenging and nurturing learning environment for children to grow intellectually, socially and personally. It’s a neighborhood school nestled in a quiet area, adjacent to a scenic golf course, where teachers and staff work to provide a positive, safe and innovative learning environment.

Griffith school teaches and motivates students to think, analyze and organize what they learn. Technology rich classrooms, an asset-building interpersonal approach, language arts blocks, math block scheduling, an extensive tutorial program and a strong emphasis on all students succeeding are but a few of the school’s characteristics that have lead to continuous student growth at Griffith.

Parents, academic tutors and community volunteers are encouraged to help students, support school initiatives and become part of a learning community that unceasingly addresses continuous school improvement.

In addition, Griffith offers after-school reading and math camps, has a very active parent teacher organization, boy and girl scout programs, monthly skate parties, family night curriculum programs, spirit day events and a last day of school picnic.

Our mission reflects the belief that all students will be academically successful when the staff plans and implements instruction based on individual student assessments. At Griffith, assessment driven instruction coupled with the use of scientifically proven best teaching practices equate to optimal student learning, for all students.

Curriculum initiatives include language arts blocks that provide each student with leveled reading and writing instruction. A math time that allows for leveled instruction in math. Leveled instruction is organized based on feedback from day to day observations and analysis of assessment data. In addition, the school uses computer generated tutorial software programs that address individualized student needs in both language arts and math.

Evidence that our individualized focus is beneficial to meeting our students' needs can be seen when you look at the trend data of our school. We’re very impressed with the positive impact our educational programs have on our students. Our emphasis on utilizing research-based teaching strategies and data driven curriculum instruction has and will continue to ensure that all students learn to their own individual potential.

Exit I-135 at Harry St. Go east on Harry St. to Roosevelt. Go south on Roosevelt to Countryside. Go east on Countryside to Bluff. Go south on Bluff to Griffith. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

Making a Difference One by One

The Griffith Elementary school community continuously focuses on improving reading comprehension, math problem solving and written communication.

Griffith school has a combined PTO/Site Council, which is made up of parents, community members, business representatives and school staff. The Site Council portion of our meetings identifies, considers and makes recommendations on educational issues at our school. All parents are invited to attend and support the continued improvement of the school.

Meeting Day: TBA
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: TBD
Chairperson: To Be Determined

Programs

Student Activities

Colonel Bruce Griffith Elementary School was erected to relieve the crowded conditions existing at Allen and South Hillside schools. In establishing boundaries a part of the Schweiter School district was included. The school was opened for classes October 24, 1958 with Miss Mabel Oberwortmann, principal; a staff of 12 teachers; and 369 pupils.

Griffith School is located on 5.2 acres on the northwest corner of the L.W. Clapp Golf Course. The ground was donated to the Board of Education by the Park Department of the City of Wichita. Construction was commenced April 21, 1958 by E.W. Johnson Construction Company and completed October 15, 1958 at an approximate cost of $275,000. Ralph L. Hollis was the architect. The building consists of 13 classrooms, a library which was expanded in 1970, multipurpose room with stage, faculty room, workroom, general office, principal's office, and boiler and custodian's rooms plus storage space. In 1987 the library was air conditioned.

In 1989 Griffith was combined with South Hillside. Griffith houses grades 3-5 and South Hillside houses K-2 students with one principal for both schools.

Colonel Bruce Griffith, in whose memory the school was named, came to Wichita from New York in 1893 as minister of Brown Memorial Reform Church. He left the ministry in 1910 to enter the insurance field. He joined the National Guard and was promoted to Lieutenane Colonel in World War I. In 1930 he was appointed by President Herbert Hoover as Postmaster of Wichita, which position he held for a number of years. Because of his interest in education, he was elected to the Wichita Board of Education and served for 20 years. He died in 1956 at the age of 88 years.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

The architectural firm of Gossen Livingston Associates, Inc. and construction company E.W. Johnson helped give Griffith the update it needed. Griffith received a new addition including a library, 14 classrooms and a kitchen, and the student support area was remodeled as well. The district used Bond issue dollars, FEMA and Capital Outlay to complete the addition and renovation project, for an estimated total cost of $3,208.000. The dedication ceremony was held April 3, 2003.