W.B. Goodwin Elementary School is helping all students develop world-class skills of the profile of the South Carolina graduate by creating and fostering an atmosphere that promotes self-esteem, respect for others, and a passion for learning. Our school motto, “Every Day is a Great Day for Learning”, is evident in the daily growth of our students. Our students, staff, parents, and community members continue to work hard daily to provide a safe and nurturing environment where students are encouraged to be creative thinkers and problem solvers while working towards meeting their individual goals as learners. Student achievement and academic growth continue to be our focus and top priority.
During the 2020-21 school year, to minimize the impact of learning loss from COVID-19, parents were given the option for their child to attend virtual or in-person classes. As a 1:1 technology device school, students were equipped with either a Chromebook or iPad to connect virtually with the teacher. Goodwin adhered to all CDC and DHEC recommended safety guidelines including wearing masks, social distancing, frequent hand washing and sanitizing. Our Second Steps Program was utilized to address our students’ social emotional needs. Using data to drive instruction consistently we have been able to overcome significant impediments to the learning process as we successfully navigated the academic achievement of our students.
At Goodwin, we know it is important for teachers, students, and parents to know and understand each child’s level of understanding and collectively develop plans to help every student make optimal growth. We monitor student progress by analyzing various data points including MAP math and reading in grades 2-5, FastBridge in math and reading for grades K-1, MyIGIDS for students in Child Development, and student text levels to make sound instructional decisions that are best for students. Providing a balanced literacy approach to teaching reading and writing, providing interventions for students in math and reading, and utilizing technology are just some of the ways in which staff is engaged in the process of ensuring our students have every opportunity to succeed. Through our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) process, collaboration occurs between administrators and teachers to monitor interventions and the progress of students. Stakeholders are provided opportunities to reflect and revise goals after each assessment window.
Our faculty and staff are invested in and committed to building strong relationships with all stakeholders in our community. We wholeheartedly believe our students have great potential and we are committed to helping them reach that potential. Maintaining an open door policy will continue to foster a positive and welcoming school climate and culture for all stakeholders.
Implementing a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program school-wide has established a common-language in assisting our students in knowing and understanding how to learn. Our students are working towards self-regulation, discovering skills for learning including empathy, managing emotions, and problem-solving skills to be more successful learners. We believe that children need a solid foundation that includes self-regulation skills in order to stay focused on their learning, including getting along with others and working independently and cooperatively in the classroom.
At Goodwin, we set challenging goals for our students because we sincerely believe that high expectations result in optimal performance. Teachers meet regularly as a team through our Professional Learning Communities (PLC), and with administrators, to discuss student academic and behavioral progress. We communicate high expectations for student progress through the utilization of data notebooks for teachers, as well as student data notebooks, which are shared with parents during conferences. We believe it is imperative that all students are capable of communicating academic and behavioral goals with their parents and other relevant stakeholders.
Natasha Jones, Principal
Ebony Meyers, SIC Chairperson
