Whitesides Elementary School is providing all students with rich, rigorous opportunities to develop world class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, which are creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.

With the continuation of STEAM initiatives at Whitesides, students are engaged in learning activities that incorporate elements of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math that allow for collaboration with other students.  Through these collaborative projects, students are able to demonstrate effective communication skills as they work together to solve problems and make revisions for successful outcomes.  STEAM activities promote critical thinking and creativity for all students, allowing for trial and error learning and enhancing skill development in learning self-regulation and managing how to learn. 

In addition to weekly participation in our STEAM lab for students in Child Development through 5th grade, a partnership with Engaging Creative Minds brings opportunities from the outside world to our classrooms for innovation and creative expression in grades 3-5.  Our upper-grade classrooms partner with our primary-grade classrooms in activities such as reading buddies, STEM projects, and working in the garden.  These partnerships allow for much communication, collaboration, and critical thinking as the older students act as mentors for the younger students.

According to 18-19 Spring MAP data, 67% of students met growth goals in reading.  The 18-19 Spring MAP data for math reflects that 63% of students met growth goals.

Whitesides is proud of the school-wide implementation of the Olweus Bully Prevention program.  Weekly lessons to support students in the development of communicative and collaborative skills are presented each Monday to all students.  This allows for continuity and consistency across all grade levels as students work together to keep our school bully-free and to appropriately resolve peer conflicts.  As reported on our state report card, 93% of parents report that their child feels safe at school, and the Olweus survey indicates that 97% of students in grades 3-5 feel safe at school.

Cynthia Perez, Principal

Margaret Carter, SIC Chair