Fork Shoals School is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, and academically challenging learning environment. We provide such an environment through the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and by exemplifying our school tagline: “a rich heritage of cultivating world-class learners.” Student inquiry is the core of our philosophy where the children take hold of their learning to gain knowledge. Our School Improvement Council, Parent Teacher Association, and Fork Shoals faculty continually strive to provide academic rigor, while also cultivating our children toward becoming responsible citizens.
Our teachers are always seeking to learn new and effective strategies to use in the classroom. We continued with our focus on Balanced Literacy and Personalized Learning. Math was a focus on teachers collaborating with unit planning and assessments. All classrooms in first through second grade have one to one Chromebooks. Kindergarten classes have two to one and worked with a technology facilitator to effectively implement strategies in the classrooms.
At Fork Shoals School, we also have various programs outside the academic world to focus on the development of the whole child. School-wide, we have focused on embedding the Learner Profile across the curriculum and various settings. Students are recognized for displaying these characteristics at our quarterly IB lunches. Our guidance program also uses the 7 Habits as part of monthly guidance lessons. Additionally, mindfulness was piloted with several classes. We continued to use the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. This program rewards our students for displaying positive behaviors. Fork Shoals School partnered with the American Heart Association with Jump Rope for Heart and Miracle Field Day to raise money for the children’s hospital. The Backpack Blessings program provides food over the weekend for numerous needy students.
Fork Shoals is unique, combining high academic expectations with problem-solving skills while also developing more culturally aware, educationally-empowered students. The school is constantly progressing and will continue to strive toward providing our students with a world-class education.
Jen Lehman, Chair of the School Improvement Council
Kim Reid, Principal
