In the 2018-2019 school year, Jesse S. Bobo Elementary School (JSBES) had a goal of helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through our focus on increasing student achievement, character development and addressing the social and emotional needs of our children through continuous improvement.
We began the year collaborating with our families helping them understand the importance of a great home to school relationship, continuous improvement theory, and so much more by hosting lunch and learns, holding academic conferences and hosting engaging family events at the school. Teachers also provided a lot of support in this area with integration, differentiation, using inquiry skills, and teaching rigorous standards based lessons in the classroom. Teachers collaborated within grade levels and across grade levels to provide students with the best opportunities to optimize their learning. To further their professional abilities and with the aim of continuing to increase student achievement, JSBES teachers continued their professional development by participating in a Read to Succeed course, school based PD as well as district led PD. Our teachers know that they can also learn from one another. Many of the JSBES teachers participated in a professional development activity where they were able to learn from one another and visit each other’s classrooms to stay abreast on the best practices and pedagogy in education.
Character development is always a focus at JSBES as well. Each teacher holds a morning meeting several times a week to encourage character development skills with all students. Morning Meeting is part of the Responsive Classroom movement, built upon the idea that starting each day in a positive fashion prepares students for academic and emotional success. Our full time guidance counselor, behavior interventionist and school psychologist were leaders and teachers aiding our students in their social emotional growth and development. Our school theme for the year was “there is only one you in this great big world; make it a better place.” This was based on the best-selling book Only One You, by Linda Kranz. This theme paired nicely with our PBIS school culture and climate and our Olweus Anti-Bullying program. Another club that promoted character development was our Pearls of Wisdom Club for our 5th grade female population. During the year, the students participated in learning skills that taught about goal setting, decision-making, manners, positive attitudes, growth mindset, self-esteem and how to be servant leaders completing a project where they posted positive quotes in our school restrooms.
This year, JSBES strengthened our practice using data to improve teaching and learning. Led by a team of teacher experts, we honed the use of student goal setting and data display, and, with the support of Title I funds, we improved both assessments and data analysis through continuous improvement systems change. As part of this initiative, JSBES continued its data room to display student data in order to track their progress. Administrators, the literacy coach, RtI teachers, special area teachers, special education teachers, our continuous improvement coach and general education teachers were all accountable for this data and supporting all children in their academic success.
JSBES continued to foster and enjoy strong community involvement. As the nation’s first LEGO Education Model School, JSBES hosted dozens of educators from around the region, and our teachers presented at conferences off-site. Teachers from several states and numerous colleges observed our classrooms to witness JSBES faculty expertise in technology integration. Continuing our partnership with LEGO Education, Our Lego Lab teacher was recently announced in the first cohort of the US LEGO Education Master Educator program. This is a prestigious honor and she will be one of the 110 LEGO Education Master Teachers across the nation. We hosted several student teachers and clinical teachers, as well. Our guest reader program, in conjunction with Real Men Read Week and Women Readers are Leaders Week, brought together our students and over a hundred community leaders. Thanks to our community partner, Milestones Church, each of our students received a new pair of shoes, and Academy Sports sponsored a bike giveaway to incentivize good grades and behavior. Our college partners, Spartanburg Methodist College, played an active role in community support too donating a holiday gift bag for all students and allowing our third, fourth and fifth grade students to enter a writing contest supported then honored by the college. Several of our students due to academic success and great character achievements, were invited to participate as an SMC Junior Marshall at graduation.
JSBES remained committed to many other extracurricular programs that foster the many facets of our children. We continued to have an active Girls on the Run team, LEGO First Jr. League and Frist Tee team. As a result of our students wanting to be servant leaders, our student council organized a holiday food and clothing drive. JSBES continued to host an active PTO, and this organization sponsored learning events such as Family Literacy Night, Family Health and Fitness Night, Skate Night, and our 2nd annual Books and Breakfast event in the school media center. JSBES served breakfast, lunch, and supper daily and hosted an average of nearly 275 children a day in our Afterschool Program. During the summer, we will again have a four week-long summer enrichment program and reading program offered free of charge to our families. The summer enrichment program also offered art, STEM, and activity based events for our students. Collectively, we believe that the above represents an extraordinary effort to, in partnership with our community, address the needs of our children.
