Our 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 each student with experiences that focus on academics, as well as work skills with a strong emphasis on character. In order to achieve the profile, our staff models and allows time for individual exploration of the skills presented to our children. We want our students to learn specific information, but also how to solve problems, work together, and to have the life skills necessary to be successful in life. We strive for all students to become independent learners. Creativity and collaboration are essential elements in our instruction each day. Students are given many opportunities to work together to create projects and find solutions to problems. We believe our students are best served by a balance between academics, the arts, physical education and character education. Our instruction is enhanced by the use of Chromebooks, iPads, SmartTV systems, robots, virtual field trips, wireless access, and Smart Response systems. Lester students in 3rd-5th grade are provided an individual device to enhance their learning opportunities.
Lester serves students in 3rd-5th grade in our Montessori program. The Montessori program offers our students a hands-on, individualized, rigorous academic program. Our teachers use small group instruction to meet the diverse needs of our children. Data driven instruction is used to ensure that every child is provided with the instruction they need to experience success. In addition to a strong core academic component, our students also receive instruction in physical education, art, music and a STEM lab. Lester offers extra- curricular activities for students as well including: band, chorus, violin, art club, Horizons, REACH, Good News Club, and a dance/step Team.
Our students and staff participated in several service projects during the school year. We held a very successful food drive for a local organization, “Help for Kids” who provides weekend food bags to students in need. Our students participated in “Jump Rope for Heart” during the 2023-24 school year.
At Lester everyone is expected to learn and grow. This year our teachers were involved in extensive staff development in reading instruction, data instruction, and as well as on-going Montessori training. Our third grade teachers began LETRS training which focuses on the science of reading.
We are excited that the Florence One Board of Education approved a transition plan for McLaurin to split our students and staff. For the 2023-24 school year, we housed our Kindergarten through second grade at our McLaurin campus. Our upper Montessori classes third through fifth grade were housed at the Lester location. This split allowed all students to be housed in brick and mortar facilities and eliminated the need for the mobile classrooms. The Montessori curriculum is offered at both campuses. We are excited about the possibilities that this move will continue to hold for our students.
We believe that having teachers working together to learn and grow models for our students what we expect of them. Together the Lester family will continue to strive for excellence with every child, every day!
