Principal's Message

Welcome to Johnstown Elementary School’s web page! We hope this site provides you with the information that you are looking for whether you are just browsing or you are trying to learn more about our school.

Johnstown Elementary School serves all the Districts' students in Kindergarten through Grade 4. We are located in the Westwood neighborhood of Johnstown, and house approximately 1,100 ready-to-learn children.

At Johnstown Elementary School, we are proud of our positive and proactive approach toward teaching social and emotional skills. By teaching behaviors and expectations, students learn one of the most important skills in life, getting along with others. Beginning with our school's partnership with Penn State University, and the PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) program, students in grades K-4 are learning how to manage their emotions, empathy and how to respond appropriately to a variety of social situations.

Our school is very active in our Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Program where students are taught district-wide expectations: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. Students are taught behavior expectations in a variety of settings including the classroom, restrooms, cafeteria, hallways, and the school bus. Our school even also offers incentives for following these expectations that can range from face-painting to getting to pie the principal in the face.

Our school is dedicated to implementing a newly designed, 21st Century curriculum, that is closely aligned to the PA Common Core Standards. Our school team has worked with the other schools in the Greater Johnstown School District to completely rewrite and align our English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies curricula. This alignment also includes our partnership with Johns Hopkins University and the Success For All Foundation. Through this partnership, our school utilizes a research-based program and emphasizes cooperative learning. We believe that all people, including our students, learn with and through others.

Our students enjoy opportunities to learn that include Art and Music education, exploring STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts/Design-Mathematics), staying physically fit and learning healthy habits in physical education, exploring other cultures and ideas through the use of our library, and developing social skills through the PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) program.

We feel strongly about service learning and making connections to our community. Students and teachers in our school participate in events that include an annual clothing drive, gift wrapping during the Christmas season, Breakfast with Santa, Christmas and Spring music concerts, Movie Nights, Fun and Field Days, and other activities. Our Kiwanis Kids Club has been incredibly active in the community and a source of pride for our school.

The staff at Johnstown Elementary School welcomes your child into our building and encourages parent/teacher communication as we continue to improve the opportunities available.

Mr. Kurt Hoffman, Principal