Our school is helping all students develop the World Class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by developing lifelong learners. Arcadia Elementary School has the motto, A Great Beginning. We believe our school is the launch pad for a great beginning to our students’ success. Our balanced literacy approach integrates reading and literature into every aspect of the curriculum. Through continual professional development, our teachers use individual student data to drive their planning and instruction. The information gathered through assessments such as STAR and DRA are used to determine each child’s strengths and weaknesses. Also, teachers hold individual student conferences to assist in developing relationships. Teachers meet with parents each semester to communicate all of the data gathered. We believe purposeful communication with our parents is the key to student growth. Communication not only takes place during parent conferences but also through grade level newsletters, school newsletters, and social media outlets.
Family and community members are encouraged to participate in the learning process by attending breakfast and learns, lunch and learns, literacy night, fitness night, and math/science night. There are also events to encourage family involvement such as a movie night each semester, mother/son and father/daughter dances, pastries for parents and goodies for grandparents. Community volunteers are also vital to student development. Arcadia partners with Wofford College, USC Upstate, Spartanburg Community College and Spartanburg Methodist to tutor students, assist teachers, serve as lunch buddies and mentors. These volunteers also assist in our daily after school program between 2:30 and 6:00 each afternoon.
Arcadia continued to work with the Mary Black Foundation to meet the requirements for the Healthy School Initiative. The 86,000 grant that was awarded over four years ago has led to morning boost fit videos, healthy menus for breakfast, lunch and supper, and the completion of our ½ mile track that will be open for the community. Our first Girls on the Run organization was established and culminated with twenty-five of the girls participating in their first 5K. Our annual Health Fair each fall permits various community agencies to share health and wellness information with the community.
Our active School Improvement Council met eight times throughout the year and includes parents, teachers, community members, and our Student Council President. These participants collaborated to provide suggestions for improving home and school relationships, reviewed student data, and provided feedback for the family library project and teacher appreciation ideas.
The school-wide literacy focus led to multiple response to intervention groups using the LLI curriculum to increase reading comprehension and vocabulary development. Data shows that the RTI was successful and the fluid groups allowed students to enter or leave the program as needed. The RTI program will continue to assist the student in the bottom 25% quartile who could benefit from small group instruction.
In the coming year Arcadia’s theme of Dream It, Believe It, Achieve It ties all of our emphasis together from literacy to parent involvement, teaching skills for college and career readiness, and healthy schools. Our school environment invites creativity from our teachers and students to maximize student success. The community involvement is a key ingredient. The future of our students is bright as we continue the relationships through middle, high school and college. Arcadia is A Great Beginning to an incredible future.