Batesburg-Leesville Elementary is dedicated to ensuring all students have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and characteristics emphasized in the Profile of the SC Graduate by creating an educational environment that focuses on the whole child. Our goal is to provide students with the skills to succeed, the characteristics to compete, and the opportunities to display the knowledge they have gained in order to fulfill their dreams. We echo our district’s mission statement in that we truly are committed to preparing students for the future…now!
Our school implemented our Panther P.R.I.D.E. school wide PBIS system in 2015. We have continued this program which focuses on positive behaviors and student choice. Students continue to earn lanyards and pins for “clipping off the chart,” and are still representing the characteristics of being positive, respectful, involved, determined, and enthusiastic. During the 2018-19 school year, we rewarded students with Panther P.R.I.D.E ceremonies and rewards. In 2019-20, we plan to add awards for perseverance and work ethic.
At Batesburg- Leesville Elementary School, we continue to emphasize academic excellence. Our school has an excellent group of teachers who are dedicated to student success. A rigorous, relevant curriculum has been established that ensures our students the opportunity to exceed established standards. “Panther Time” differentiation blocks for ELA and Math are built into the day to provide opportunities for students to receive small group, one-on-one instruction, gifted and talented, and to collaborate with their peers. Our three Math and Reading Interventionists serve students who are part of the RTI process. Additionally, technology is frequently integrated into learning rotations in order to provide students with opportunities to focus on the standards they have not yet mastered. We are fortunate to be a 1:1 school and utilize Chromebooks to facilitate learner pathways. In 2018-19, we continued to grow as a personalized learning school. Our teachers utilized flexible seating, student choice, and the aforementioned learner pathways to address the needs of each student. We will continue to learn and implement personalized learning in the 2019-20 school year.
To further expand on Personalized Learning, we at BLES believe student choice needs to be evident in areas outside of the academic classroom. During the 2018-19 school year, students continued to be provided with opportunities that challenged and engaged their interests. Students continued the 5th grade Maker Faire, Maker Space stations in the media center, and our School of Journalism. Students who participated in the School of Journalism researched areas of interest, then produced written and digital media that was shared through our school newspaper and news show. Students in the 4th and 5th grades participated in Panther College. This cutting edge program allowed students the opportunity to explore career paths ranging from engineering and coding to nursing and horticulture. Members from our community volunteered to come in and teach students about these careers and what it takes to be successful. Our Arts program took a huge step forward through new initiatives such as our ukulele program, Annie Jr. Production, dance partnerships, and our award winning visual arts program. We were again awarded a grant that allowed us to purchase needed equipment and take students to a theatrical performance at our Fine Arts Center. Furthermore, our school offered several clubs to promote a positive school culture including Girls on the Run, Honors Choir, Panther Prowl, and Girls’ Soccer. We will continue to look for ways to engage students in the areas of science, media, and the arts to help students formulate and fulfill college and career goals.
Our ultimate goal at BLES is to prepare our students for their next step academically and personally. We base much of our planning for students around the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. The profile focuses on world class skills including creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, and being an effective communicator. It also focuses on instilling life and career characteristics in our students, such as integrity, self-direction, perseverance, and interpersonal skills. Through strategic planning and intentional instruction, our teachers are striving to ensure that each and every student we serve exhibits the world class skills and life/career characteristics that are a part of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Our District motto is “Preparing Students for the Future - Now!” We are very proud at Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School to be a part of preparing our students for great success in school, future careers and in their lives!
