Memminger Elementary IB World School is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by focusing on three major initiatives: the International Baccalaureate Program, Social Emotional Learning, and Personalized Learning Classrooms to meet all students’ needs.
As a recently-authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, Memminger is quickly changing the methods by which we have traditionally taught. The students and teachers are now a part of a collaborative effort of learning that includes inquiry, discovery, and knowledge. Using their creativity, students are taking their learning and the concepts, the foundation of the inquiry unit, to a more authentic place that teachers alone are unable to accomplish. As part of the IB Program, students at Memminger understand complex ideas such as being “balanced” and “open-minded” because these are the foundation of self-worth and intrinsic motivation, something we want all our young people to encompass in order to carry them through life, not just elementary school. The teachers and students have displayed amazing effort and growth as an authorized IB School. These ideas are at the core of the life and career characteristics of a South Carolina Graduate.
Memminger School of Global Studies is providing a Tier 1 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum school-wide. During the first nine weeks, the school counselor team visits all classrooms weekly to implement the 30-minute classroom lesson. The overall goal of the SEL program is to support students in self-regulation, teach skills for learning to include empathy, managing emotions, and problem-solving skills to create a more successful learner. All children need a solid foundation of self-regulation skills to help them stay focused on their learning, get along with others, work independently and cooperatively communicate in the classroom. The SEL program assists students in knowing and understanding how to learn. Coupled with our SEL program, we have embraced important relationship building practices through Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH). We are thrilled to share that Memminger was also named a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School for the Flippen Group for the third year in a row. The CKH program is a vital piece to our culture as it encourages communication and critical thinking through reflection. Our team understands and values the relationships that fuel the soul for learning; these very characteristics assist in developing a well rounded learner as outlined by the SC Graduate Profile.
Through Personalized Learning and teamwork our students and teachers have been able to increase the rigor and challenge of the classroom. Our scholars lead the classroom in personalized learning and have much ownership of their growth and pace. Personalized Learning is a way of mastery and critical thinking for the students to drive the learning process and ability to move through the standards and learning.
At Memminger, we believe in HOPE for ALL students! Our teachers, parents and learning community are a great support of the changes and improvement at Memminger. We thank you for believing in our mission!
Dr. Abigail D. Woods, Principal
Ms. Maureen McAnnar, SIC Chair