Sandy Run K-8 School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by continuing to implement the framework developed by Partnerships for 21st Century Skills. According to this framework, student readiness is increased through the utilization of the four Cs - critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Sandy Run K-8 School is focused on the four Cs to prepare our students for the future by providing a safe, caring and academically challenging learning environment. The Calhoun County Honors Academy began this school year to provide rigorous academics leading to an Associate Degree, along with a high school diploma at graduation. High school credit classes include Algebra I, Geometry, English I and II, Spanish I and II, and Keyboarding.
Due to Sandy Run K-8’s aptitude to design, launch and promote transformative practices, our school is a member of the innovative TransformSC network of schools. This year professional development is specifically geared to an analysis of evidence-based Visible Learning research, along with successful classroom implementation. Partnering with the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Personalized Learning, our teacher cohort emphasizes and fosters our school-wide journey into inquiry labs, learner profiles and pathways, student ownership and flexible learning environments. Because literacy is the foundation in all classes and a skill all students must possess for future success, Read to Succeed endorsement courses provide literacy training for teachers. Our staff strives to maintain rigorous academic standards, create a school culture that supports and challenges our students and provide the foundational skills for student success.
According to the Partnerships for 21st Century Skills, critical thinking requires the student to reason effectively, use systems thinking, make judgments, and solve problems. Students continue to use various types of reasoning to solve real world problems in the mathematic classes. These are essential skills that foster students’ ability to make judgments and decisions based on the evidence provided and conclusions drawn through the analysis of varying points of view. Our math interventionist position allows the opportunity for students to receive additional support in areas of concern. The academic enrichment class provides daily time for intervention and individualized literacy support. The annual school-wide Dr. Suess and Read Across America Weeks and quarterly Accelerated Reader recognitions are fun-filled celebrations of reading and literature. Students are required to construct arguments and reflect critically through their participation in essay contests sponsored by the Ruritans and the Rotary Club. Fifth grade students are asked to make positive judgements relating to being alcohol and drug free in our Define, Access, Respond, and Evaluate Program (D.A.R.E.). Lastly, our students participate in the science fair which encompasses all aspects of critical thinking and problem solving.
In today’s world, there are more forms of communication than ever. Students must be able to articulate thoughts and ideas through various forms, listen effectively, communicate for multiple purposes, utilize differing media and technologies, and communicate in diverse environments, as stated by the Partnerships of 21st Century Skills. At Sandy Run K-8 School, communication continues to be key in increasing student readiness. Our ESOL program, which each teacher receives professional development, promotes inclusion of multicultural and multilingual students and instruction. Students participate in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory contest, which utilizes the students’ ability to articulate thoughts orally. This contest effectively uses communication to inform, motivate, and persuade. Our one-to-one technology initiative for students in kindergarten through eighth grade provides students the ability to utilize multiple media and technologies to communicate with their teachers and conduct research. Communication is essential for preparing our students for their future.
According to the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, global perspective and interpersonal skills are important life and career characteristics for college and career readiness. These characteristics require the ability to effectively collaborate with others through respect, flexibility, and shared responsibility. Sandy Run K-8 School is fortunate to include a diverse population throughout all grade levels. This requires everyone to be respectful of each other to promote a positive learning environment for all students. Students of the Month are selected from each class based on positively exhibiting the character trait of the month. Students are asked to complete collaborative projects as assessments throughout the school year. Students prove they can work together to achieve a common goal, while sharing responsibility. Several students compete on the junior varsity level in athletics thus promoting their ability to collaborate effectively with others. Our child development through third grade students and parents collaborate in monthly literacy nights. Our Beta Club members continue to work as a team to provide service to others. As John Donne famously wrote, “No man is an island,” and this is evident at Sandy Run K-8 School through our constant collaboration and positive interpersonal skills.
Lastly, our students demonstrate the ability to think and work creatively with others while implementing innovations. Sandy Run K-8 is a rural school that competes on a global level, so creativity is a skill we demonstrate on a daily basis. According to the Framework for 21st Century Learning, students must use a wide range of idea creation techniques. Since we are a one-to-one district, the students continue to excel by completing multiple forms of assessments through the use of projects, performances, and presentations. Our STEM classes, Lower Montessori, and Upper Montessori programs support creativity and innovation. The newly implemented exciting ACELLUS lab provides personalized STEM instruction from coding to robotics. Students consistently elaborate, refine, analyze, and evaluate their work to improve upon their efforts. The students must be able to demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work, thus viewing failure as an opportunity to learn, per the Framework for 21st Century Learning.
Our arts program fully implements the entire aspect of creativity and innovation. Our award-winning band program was awarded 50 additional band instruments through Tom-Gen Music Company grant. Visual art students were recognized by the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in the drawing and conservatory message categories. Our Black History Month program performance showcased our band, chorus and special services students, as well as featuring students in a Living Wax Museum. Our virtual Summer Reading Camp and our CERDEPP program foster creativity and quality teaching and learning. Due to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, remote learning was initiated in the spring to support student academic, social and emotional safety. Additionally, Calhoun County was approved and recognized this spring as a South Carolina e-learning district.
Stakeholders of Sandy Run K-8 School family value the relationship between the school, family, and community. Our vision to strive for excellence is accomplished through ensuring that we remain the epicenter for transforming learning. This continuous transformation is a result of the Four Cs, teacher dedication, best practices, professionalism, a strong commitment to continuous growth, analysis of data, a strong School Improvement Council, and public support of Calhoun County Public Schools.
Marisa Vickers, Principal
Amy Roland, School Improvement Council Chairperson
