The 2017-2018 school year for Olanta Elementary was a year of many successes as we increased the variety of educational experiences for our students as we continue to help students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate in order to be college and career ready as we “SAIL Towards Excellence with BEARCAT PRIDE”.
Olanta Elementary helped our students to develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by promoting the long term goal of graduating high school career ready and/or college bound, as our instructional staff posted the high school he/she graduated from as well as their institutions of higher learning outside their classroom door. In addition, the graduating year for each homeroom class was posted outside the classroom as a daily reminder of our long term goals and visions for our students to be South Carolina Graduates. Emphasis on life and career skills as well as the four C’s of 21st Century Learning (Creativity & Innovation, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking & Problem Solving) were done through monthly guidance classes, morning advisor/advisee time, and class morning meetings. In addition, further emphasis on career skills was made with the OES Career Fair Day, which showcased local businessmen and women who came out to OES to speak to students about their career cluster and what skills were needed for that particular profession. A greater emphasis on 4 C’s of 21st Century Learning was done through the implementation of PBL (Problem Based Learning) projects such as our 5k class’ hydroponic and aquaponics studies where students learned how best to grow various plants as they worked with partners and in groups and 1st grades STEM bin hour where students worked in collaborative groups to design (create) various challenges such as the tallest card tower (stability) or the sturdiest bridge using only straws. Through such projects and challenges, students had to problem solve, think critically, be innovators, and communicate as well as collaborate with each other. In addition, there was a greater emphasis placed on field study experiences allowing students to have experiences beyond the community areas and to further reinforce the vast career opportunities available to them such as a “Behind the Scenes” tour at a Charlotte Hornets game for our Boys of Character Club where our bearcat boys learned about what careers are behind the scenes of basketball games and all that is required for a game to successfully be held as well as what 21st century skills are necessary for such careers.
Inside the classroom, our focus on literacy continued, as well as increasing stamina to develop independent readers, using evidence from the text as a means to foster comprehension and effectively analyze text while also encouraging collaboration and communication among small groups as students discussed and debated their individual viewpoints on various given topics from the texts read. In addition, effective, targeted, data driven small group instruction became the forefront for instruction to provide necessary and needed personalized learning based upon data such as State Assessments, NWEA MAP scores, I-Ready diagnostics, and standards based mastery assessments. I-Ready, a computer assisted instruction program was utilized to reinforce and enhance instruction. Furthermore, this year’s daily schedule provided an Enrichment/Intervention block which provided an additional opportunity for individual and/or small group personalized learning times.
Hands-on activities in Math and lab-like lessons in Science were increased through an emphasis on STEAM activities where students became designers, innovators, creators, and scientists as they used their critical thinking & problem solving skills to hypothesis and determine outcomes. Olanta continued to offer extended learning of World Class Skills through the OES Choice Day Initiative where students were given the opportunity to choose a club to participate in during a semester rotation. OES Choice Day included such clubs as STEM Science, Hand to Hand, Bucket Drummers, Reader’s Theatre, Master Chefs, Jr., Ladies of Distinction, the Boys of Character, Advanced Music, and Advanced Art. OES Choice Day provided a greater opportunity for diversity among our student population as well as multi-level lessons where students in various grades communication & collaborated with each other. Along with club activities, students were also provided with opportunities that involved various creative arts written assignments and project based learning such as Arbor Day, National History Day, and Ronald E. McNair Day which further increased their world class skills as well as critical thinking and problem solving skills. Each project fostered creativity and increased communication skills through presentations before an audience of their peers or to competition judges. These skills were also evident in the performing arts where our students took to the stage in a rendition of “Frosty” as well as Olanta’s first Annual Arts Extravaganza Night which showcased various art groups such as the Olanta Steel Drum Band, the Bearcat Choir, Hip Hop Fitness, and an Artist Gallery where our students artwork were displayed for attendees to view.
In addition, this year Olanta offered the “Accelerant” Early Bird program where targeted students were given the opportunity to attend extra I-Ready classes before school started as a way to “Be Ready for SCReady”. Furthermore, this year Olanta became a designated 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) as it partnered with the local county library to offer a free academically focused after school program and a homework center where various activities offered to continue to prepare students to be college and career ready as well as offer a safe, securing, and healthy environment after school hours. The Olanta 21st CCLC offered such programs as Hip Hop Fitness, STEAM Explorers, Reader’s Theatre, Steel Drum Band, Bearcat Painting Studio, homework time, and extra opportunities for I-Ready instruction time.
This school year, Olanta continued to have a National Junior Beta Club and was recognized for the second consecutive year as a National Jr. Beta School of Distinction. Through the Beta Club, as well as several school wide initiatives, students took pride in helping others and making a difference through participation in several service learning projects such as the Florence Three Cares Campaign, the Olanta Easter Eggstraganza, our Carolina vs. Clemson Food Challenge which provided nonperishable donations to local food banks and a local children’s home. In addition, our fourth graders continued to have the opportunity to become 4H members as the Olanta Elementary 4H Club continued to be offered. The 4H members participated in several 4H events such as a “grow your own collards” challenge.
As an extension of our SAIL Towards Excellence, Olanta continued its strong family and community partnership throughout the school year with events such as Open House, Dance with Dad, Prom with Mom, Soaring to New Heights (which was supported by the Olanta Schools’ Alumni Association), Character Parade and Trunk or Treat, Field Day, “A Night to Shine” Awards Banquet, Technology Night, Homemade Holidays, and various other family events. Furthermore, to continue to encourage students to take pride in themselves and all they do in order to encourage success, monthly incentive events for academics, attendance, and behavior were held as well as our quarterly citizenship students being recognized at the monthly Olanta Town Council meetings. In addition, each week a Star Student was selected and recognized from each class as the “First Mate” of their class ship as well as one “First Mate” being named the “Captain” of the week for the school. Students received positive post cards and “pawsitive” office referrals as they “SAIL Towards Excellence.”
As the 2017-2018 school year drew to a close, Olanta along with its current and former bearcats celebrated the last year of being Olanta Elementary as it transitions to become one of only two Creative Arts & Science Magnet Schools in the Florence Three School District with a focus on hands-on problem based personalized learning through the integration of the arts and environmental science. As this year was the implementation year, all stakeholders came together as one to ensure that through the transition our focus remained on preparing our students to be college and career ready as students continued to strive to “Act Your Best, Do Your Best, Believe, Achieve, Succeed” each and every day as they “SAIL Towards Excellence with Bearcat PRIDE” and where every bearcat knows “I AM SOMEBODY!”.
Cutina P. Barrineau, Principal Katie Lewis, SIC Chairperson