Downes (John R.) Elementary School

The students from Mrs. Shekiro's class in 5th grade performed the final harvest of the school garden. The students did an amazing job working together in teams to harvest the remaining spinach, red leaf lettuce, sugar snap peas, and carrots. The students collected 10 full bags of vegetables and brought them to Ms. Terrie in the cafeteria. The vegetables will be cleaned and washed and served during lunches. Great job, 5th grade!

🎉 Shoutout to Ms. Haigler's 3rd Grade Class! 🎉

Congratulations to Ms. Haigler's class for surpassing their i-Ready growth goal with an incredible 210% achievement rate! To celebrate this outstanding accomplishment, students had the opportunity to decorate Ms. Haigler with 210 stickers—one for every percent of success they earned. What a fun and memorable way to recognize all of their hard work, perseverance, and dedication. We are so proud of their achievement and the growth they have shown this year. Keep up the amazing work! 🌟📚🎊

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Our 4th and 5th grade students had a great time participating in the Bike Rodeo! Students learned important bike safety skills, practiced riding techniques, and reviewed the rules of the road while having fun. Thank you DELDOT, NPD and Mrs. Murphy for making this happen and to everyone who will continue to encourage our students to stay safe and active while riding their bikes!

The 4th grade went out to the garden yesterday morning to do the first harvest of the spring planting season. They harvested a large amount of both spinach and red/green leaf lettuce. The students did a great job working together to harvest the vegetables before the heat kicked in. Ms. Terrie and the kitchen staff will be washing the leafy greens today and then serving them as a delicious salad during the school lunches for all grade levels.

Our Bike to School Day was a huge success! It was wonderful to see so many students riding in with excitement, promoting healthy habits, safety, and school spirit. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the day so much fun! 🚴☀️

We loved kicking off Teacher Appreciation Week this morning with a delicious breakfast provided by our amazing PTA! Your generosity and support mean so much, and it was the perfect way to start a week dedicated to celebrating our incredible staff. Thank you for helping us feel appreciated!

Along with a delicious breakfast, bright colors, kind words, and lots of creativity chalk drawings welcomed Downes teachers and staff and they brought smiles all around! From sweet messages of thanks to vibrant artwork lining the sidewalks, these thoughtful touches are a beautiful reminder of how much our teachers are valued. Thank you to everyone who helped spread a little extra joy today!

The JA BizTown field trip was a great success! Students had an amazing time stepping into real-world roles, working together, and applying important life and financial skills in a hands-on environment. It was wonderful to see their teamwork, responsibility, and excitement throughout the day. We are so proud of how well all of our fifth-grade students represented Downes!

Meet Heidi Bloch, Downes (John R.) Elementary School’s 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year!

Heidi Bloch has been a part of the Christina School District for 21 years.

Her entire career has been centered around developing language in students learning English and she’d never change a thing!

A little fun fact: She was born in Switzerland and loves baking!

Stay tuned as we showcase each school's Teacher of the Year and announce the 2026-2027 District Teacher of the Year!

This past weekend, our Girls on the Run team accomplished something truly amazing by completing their 5K! Through weeks of hard work, determination, and encouragement, these girls showed what it means to stay committed to a goal. Crossing the finish line was not just about the run—it was a celebration of their confidence, teamwork, and perseverance. We are so proud of each and every one of them for finishing strong and supporting one another every step of the way!