WORLD CLASS SKILLS & LIFE AND CAREER CHARACTERISTICS

Westwood Elementary is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the SC Graduate by providing a safe, nurturing environment in which students focus on “Growing Toward Success.”  Our goal is to value, equip, and inspire every student to strive for his or her personal best.  This is achieved by setting and communicating high expectations for all learners, modeling best practices, and measuring growth frequently.

Our teachers employ various strategies in the classroom to facilitate student success.  Some common practices include Running Records and computerized assessments to measure reading levels,Guided Reading to address individual reading needs,  Accelerated Reader Program to encourage independent reading of on-level high-interest books, intervention and support for students experiencing difficulty, tablets and software for extended practice, and lab activities where students engage in hands-on learning.  Student performance on fall and spring assessments indicated continued growth, and we are proud of our students’ academic success.

At Westwood Elementary, our students also participate in various programs outside the academic classroom.  We have an extensive character education program led by our guidance department. We recognize Students of the Month for displaying exemplary character and work-ethic.  Additionally, students are taught about and rewarded for demonstrating good behavior through our PBIS program. Community groups partner with the school to host activities afterschool one day a week for our students.  This year, another community group brought “Bags of Blessings” each Friday to send food home with students in need. Various opportunities are provided for our students to participate in community service projects such as Relay for Life, food drives for our local food pantry, Pennies for Patients, and Christmas projects. Our musically talented students provided entertainment to Veterans and family members during several music programs held at the school and in the community.  Our Beta Club actively participates in school and community service learning projects. As you can see, our school provides multiple opportunities for students to learn and participate beyond the classroom.

At Westwood Elementary, we are committed to providing rich educational experiences that equip and prepare our students for the challenges that lie ahead.   We encourage and appreciate the support of parents and community members in helping develop high school graduates that possess the knowledge, skills, and characteristics of world class leaders.

Darren Gray, Principal