North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary (NCCAE) is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the “Profile of the South Carolina Graduate” by providing world class knowledge and instruction of the state standards through the integration of the arts. By embodying both academically-rich and art-integrated creative disciplines, we ensure a truly unique educational experience that nurtures creativity. World class knowledge skills are developed through the access to our varied arts performance experiences and our implementation of arts-integration through theme-based planning in the academic areas of Science and Social Studies.
North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary School, a Title I School, is a partial magnet school for students in the north area of Charleston, in District 4. Our teachers are always seeking to learn new and effective strategies to use in the classroom, while integrating the arts within the academic setting, in order to promote meaningful learning. During school year 2017-2018, the faculty and staff at NCCAE continued the push for the integration of the arts, and the development of the integration of the arts through monthly “Skills Build” professional developments.
NCCAE teachers, students and staff also continued to develop our vision by continuing to implement and refine our “Vision Nights” where arts-integration was showcased across all of the academic grade levels. Families and stakeholders attend these scheduled events where students showcase their learning across the academic and arts curricula. These Vision Nights allow us to consistently communicate our focus on student learning, which supports the “Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.”
All NCCAE students actively participate in Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, and Drama twice a week. Students have opportunities to attend classes in the areas of Suzuki Violin, Dance, Computer Lab, and Media Center as well. Additionally, our 4th and 5th grade students have additional opportunities to focus on arts areas, by way of our clubs that occur twice a week.
North Charleston Creative Arts’ school, parents, and community family help support our vision of “NCCAE: Where the Arts and Academics Meet.” Each week, volunteers come together to assist with putting together Wednesday folders for each child. We have reading and lunch buddies through our partnership with “Be a Mentor” that allow for student/mentor interaction. Our community partnerships, have grown this year with the support of the community and area businesses and churches. This was our second full year in our brand new 88,000 square foot building that was designed to support NCCAE’s art-centered curriculum. Through the procurement of ABC Grant, NCCAE has now established itself as an ABC site in the state of South Carolina. Additionally, with the procurement of the DAP (Distinguished Arts Program) Grant, and the Strategic Planning Grant, we are further able to support the Creative Arts Vision at NCCAE. These grants have assisted in providing the academic arts and classroom teachers with basic art supplies and professional development to support the arts-integrated curriculum. Our partnership with Engaging Creative Minds has helped provide students with six artist-in-residencies in grades 3-5, this year alone.
At NCCAE, we believe the school, family and community must share the educational responsibility of our students. Thank you for all of your support in helping in the development of our future South Carolina graduates and world leaders.
Eric Hansen, Principal
Shaketa Walker, SIC Chair