Kelly Miller Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating an environment that challenges our students to use critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication as well as life and career characteristics such as integrity, perseverance, and a global perspective. At KMES, we are encouraging our students to develop and maintain a Growth Mindset with the belief that intelligence can be developed and increased. Our school focuses on LEARNING over just looking smart, see effort as the key to success, and thrive in the face of a challenge. Our students, with a growth mindset, tend to see struggle as a natural part of getting better at something. Kelly Miller Elementary continues to increase our efforts, try new strategies, and learn more daily.
Our teachers continue to participate in ongoing professional development in addition to weekly Data Team meetings, Vertical Articulation, Grade Level, Core Subject Committees and District Cohort meetings. We strive to develop rigorous and engaging instruction that utilizes a S.T.E.A.M.M. approach in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Kelly Miller provides students with highly qualified educators who are prepared to convey world-class knowledge.
Academically, our focus remains on providing our students with a pathway to academic growth and success. We are extremely proud of our school-wide Reading growth of 88% and Mathematics growth of 94% as measured by NWEA MAP Data. Therefore, we will continue to offer students the following in a highly qualified educational atmosphere committed to academic excellence:
- Highly Qualified Staff
- Effect Size Instructional Delivery Strategies
- Academic Jumpstart (before the bell tutoring)
- ROAR Cafe' Reading Room/Lab
- Reading Coach/Math Consultant
- Fountas & Pinnell (reading text level monitoring)
- Backwards by Design Lesson Planning/Learning Experiences
- Project-/Problem-based Learning
- Math Chats (collaborative student engagement)
- Tiger Tutorial
- Math Application Learning Lab
- Daily Embedded Interventions
- After-school Tutoring (3rd-5th Graders)
- 1:1 with Chromebooks (1st-6th Graders)
- Jr. Beta Club
- Excel Challenge (1st-6th Graders)
- Pre-Algebra Enrichment (6th Graders)
- Gifted & Talented
- L.E.A.P. (Learning Enrichment Advancement Program for Pre-K4 through 5th Grade)
Artistically, our focus remains on providing our students with opportunities to participate in a quality, sequential, comprehensive arts infused curriculum while developing an appreciation for visual and performing arts. For this reason, we have provided the following visual and performing arts experiences:
- Morning Movement
- Visual Arts
- General Music
- Jazz Band
- Wind Ensemble
- Concert Bands (4th-6th Graders)
- Percussion Ensemble
- World Music
- Choruses (Cub Choir & Tiger Tones)
- Piano Lessons (3rd-6th Graders)
- Art Club
- Marching Band w/ Color Guard and Dancers
- Drama Troupe
- Dance (Dancing Cubs, Dancing Tigers & Honors Dance Company)
- Arts on the Green
- ABC Spotlight (Standards-based performances & exhibitions)
- Annual Honors Recital & Dinner
- Solo & Ensemble Competition
- Music USA Festivals Competition (Orlando, FL)
Socially, we are Mentoring Minds for the positive development of character and life skills:
- Principal's Student Advisory Committee (K-6th Grades)
- Tied to Success (3rd-6th Grade Boys)
- Royal G.E.M.S. (3rd-6th Grade Girls)
- Principal’s Pride Patrol
- "OUR HOUSE" PBIS
- Ron Clark's Essential 55 Rules for Success
- Student Government Association
- Safety Patrol
- Lunch Buddies
We are extremely proud of our Programs, Awards & Recognitions and Service Learning Accomplishments:
- SC Arts Commission Grant Award
- Arts in the Basic Curriculum Site (Fourth Year)
- Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Award
- National Association of Music Merchants SupportMusic Merit Award
- Orlando Music USA Festival Award (1st Place Wind Ensemble)
- Beta Club School of Merit
- Duke TIP Scholars
- SC Beta Club Convention (2nd Place Robotics, 3rd Place Science, 4th Place Service Learning)
- United Way Participant
- Solo & Ensemble (5 Superior/1 Excellent Ratings)
- Hoops 4 Hearts
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Fairfield County & Chester County MLK Day Parades
- Pig on the Ridge Community Performances
- Rock Around the Clock Community Performances
- Family Field Day
We are thankful for our partnerships throughout the community and surrounding areas:
- PTO/SIC
- SC Arts Commission
- Winthrop University Partnership
- First Steps Count Down to Kindergarten
- Subway (Super Second Graders)
- Nationwide Insurance Company
- Element Electronics
- Math Night at Bi-Lo
- Dollar General Grant
- Ricky Johnson Valedictorian Scholarship
- Representative Annie McDaniel Salutatorian Scholarship
- Shiloh First Independent Church
- Shiloh First Presbyterian Church
- St. John Baptist Church
- St. Luke Baptist Church
- Blackjack Baptist Church
- Child Evangelism Fellowship
This positive, challenging, technologically enriched academic and arts integrated learning environment with a Growth Mindset at Kelly Miller Elementary continues to ensure our students receive a high-quality education where academic and artistic minds are always in motion. As a result of our holistic approach to infusing the use of critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication in all of our academic, artistic, social/emotional and partnership efforts and initiatives, we are extremely proud of our school-wide academic growth and accomplishments.
Mrs. Kathy R. Woodard, Principal
Ms. Sherrie Belton, SIC Chairperson
