About Us

Moses Y. Beach is a primary grade elementary school serving approximately 340 children, preschool through second grade.

Located in the heart of historic Wallingford, our tiny campus has a rich history inspired by its namesake, Moses Yale Beach, a Wallingford native. Mr. Beach was born in Wallingford in 1800. When he was an adult, he moved to Massachusetts to be a cabinet maker and inventor. Later, he moved to New York. While there he became the owner and editor of the New York Sun, a newspaper. Moses Y. Beach retired and moved back to Wallingford in 1857. He gave the land where Moses Y. Beach School is located. The Wachovia Bank building in the center of town was modeled after Moses Y. Beach's mansion that used to stand in its location.

In 1950, the Wallingford Public Schools began constructing new school buildings as enrollment increased across town. The current land at 340 North Main Street became a brand new elementary school dedicated in honor of Mr. Beach.  

Mission Statement

We are an attuned community of students and staff who foster caring and compassionate connections. We are MYB -- a safe place to learn and grow. We are purposeful when creating opportunities for children’s learning and development. Utilizing Developmentally Appropriate Practice: understanding child development and learning; recognizing what is individually appropriate (personalization); and culturally responsive teaching, are key to scaffolding learning experiences.

• As an early childhood learning setting, teaching foundational social and emotional skills is as important as teaching academic content.

• How we teach is as important as what we teach.

• Great cognitive growth occurs through social interaction.

• How we work together as adults to cre­ate a safe, joyful, and inclusive school environment is as important as our individual contribution or competence. (Collective Teacher Efficacy)

• What we know and believe about our children—individually, culturally, and developmentally—informs our expec­tations, reactions, and attitudes about those children.

• Partnering with families—knowing them and valuing their contributions—is as important as knowing the children we teach.