Our school is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the Graduate by providing leadership opportunities and purposeful real-world learning experiences for students. The 21st Century Skills are developed through critical thinking, decision-making and problem solving that positively impact their world and future. As a National Blue Ribbon, Riley Award, and Palmetto’s Finest School, the staff, parents and community members continue to cultivate, guide and nurture student confidence, imagination, responsibility, respect, and knowledge to promote experiential learning and sensitivity to their world. Our students take ownership of their learning by making Wise Decisions, Showing Initiative, Being Noble, Generous, and Successful (WINGS). This fosters positive self-esteem and envelopes the fundamental components of all-inclusive character development.
Across the school, grade levels and clubs adopt a national, community, or school service project including gardening, reading buddies, sponsoring animal shelters, sending care packages abroad, writing to pen pals to share learning with our military friends, adopting local nursing homes, delivering holiday food boxes, collecting coats and canned food, creating chemo patient care packages for area cancer centers, beautifying the school grounds alongside Callawassie Garden Club, creating care cards for local hospitals, recycling daily, and lastly, sending truckloads of cleaning and pet supplies for hurricane disaster recovery.
Okatie Elementary School embodies its purpose through program offerings and expectations for students by aligning our leadership and curriculum programs with our mission and vision statements. Students identify personal and academic goals, which are monitored monthly by teachers with parent and administrative support. In collaboration with staff, parents, volunteers, and community members, we strive to create an environment where students are active participants in performance-based learning that is connected to real-world events, character development, and leadership activities. Students engage in purposeful learning that provides genuine opportunities to expand their leadership skills and an in-depth appreciation for the impact their involvement can make on individuals, groups, and the environment. Our goal is to develop the whole child by imbuing positive self-image, integrity, responsibility, proper etiquette, and leadership among their peers.
Specific highlights of the 2018--19 school year include:
- Earned ‘Excellent’ for Academic Achievement and overall ‘Good’ rating on the State Report Card
- 41 Jacob’s Kits generously donated by Rhett and Jenni Livingston
- Students “traveled” all the way to Phuket, Thailand logging miles through assigned physical activity for 'homework' and daily Kids on the Run
- Jump Rope for Heart raised $6,286
- Installed a Life-sized Chess Board and awning added to garden area by the PTO
- Boosterthon Fun Run raised $20,000 to be used for playground additions
- Backpack Buddies supported 25 families with monthly food boxes
- “Start with Hello Week”- be a friend to those in need (Sandy Hook)
- Beta Club students published first school newspaper, written entirely by the students
- Fishing Club took flight this year, headed up by Mr. Roberts
- Career Day, featuring 25 community volunteer presentations
- Piloted Live School: Online Behavior tracker focused on positive incentives
- Innovative Teacher Grant received by Bree Lauffer, Corey Slater, and Megan DeWeese
- What Goes Around Comes Around: awarded for composting leftover lunch food to use in school-wide garden
- Megan DeWeese, first grade teacher, completed her doctoral program, congratulations Dr. DeWeese
- Participated in the Heritage Classic Foundation's Plaid About Reading: reading 358, 535 total pages read and being recognized as the District-Wide School Winner; Mrs. Dale, 3rd Grade read 28,033 pages and was recognized as the class winner
- Students participated in Project Unify, River of Words, Honor Choir, STEM Fair, Authors' Tea, District Character Program - we had two school winners recognized, Sunset Science Nights and Career Day
- Beautification efforts and hosting of annual Monet’s Garden Teacher Appreciation Tea by Callawassie Garden Club and our sensational second graders
- Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year, Amanda Hogshead; Support Staff of the Year, Kari Dollar; and Volunteer of the Year, Nohemi Rodriquez
Our students consistently aspire to earn their quarterly WINGS, as well as supporting their peers in the process through teamwork and mentoring. Sponsored by grade levels, students are engaged in authentic service projects, instilling social responsibility, environmental awareness, and connections with the community. Students are focused on being respectful and responsible learners who are caring stewards of their community and beyond.
Jamie Pinckney, Principal
Kiley Wynne, SIC Chair
