Our School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through our creative approach to teaching and learning. Established in 1984, the mission of Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School is to provide all students with the opportunity to reach their maximum potential through an arts-integrated academic curriculum. Ashley River is a leader in arts integration and is helping students develop the world class skills of the Profile of the SC graduate by teaching the South Carolina College and Career Ready standards in all areas of the academic curriculum, as well as the SC College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency
The students at Ashley River are taught critical thinking and problem solving skills while working in collaborative groups to create projects, solve problems, and demonstrate understanding. Through the arts, students are exposed to a variety of cultures and experiences integrated throughout the curriculum which create an environment of learning, creating, and self-expression. Teachers write units of study that incorporate all of the disciplines and use the arts as an equalizer for all children. Students are instructed in all academic areas, as well as visual arts, drama, music, media arts, cultural arts, computer science, physical education, violin, and dance. Our art specialists plan with the grade-level teachers to incorporate academic standards into their visual and performing arts lessons. Along with the art classes offered for students, each grade level has two artist-in-residency programs per year. Each residency lasts one to two weeks and reinforces the academic and arts standards while building creativity, innovation, collaboration and teamwork within our students. Year after year, our data shows that our program works to prepare students in all areas of the curriculum.
Each day at Ashley River begins with the morning news show, WUNI News. The show is produced and anchored by fourth and fifth grade students, enhancing their skills in communication, information, media, and technological skills. The robotics club designs and programs small “robots” to follow commands, and presents this to all students throughout the year, culminating at our STEAMfest day in May. This allows our students to have a complete understanding of the learning process.
Ashley River teachers strive to improve and refine our program through staff development, collaborative planning, and data-driven decision making. We collaborated with North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary to put on the sixth annual “Arts Mini Conference” for all of the art schools in CCSD. Teachers and artists presented new and innovative teaching ideas, always working to improve our programs. Teachers use digital content and ability grouping to differentiate instruction in order to meet the needs of all learners. Our teachers write grants to enhance our program, and we continue to be an Arts in the Basic Curriculum site, and an Engaging Creative Minds site. Our PTA is a strong partner in helping support these grants, which bring new and innovative ideas to our program.
Working as a team with school, community, and parents, we will continue to achieve and create an excellent learning environment for students.
Michelle Conner, Principal
Jackie Grant, SIC Chair
