White Knoll Elementary School helps all students develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating an environment where every student thrives. WKES prioritizes relationships and works hard to ensure every child in the school is loved and supported in their learning. At WKES, We Love, We Learn, We Lead.
We love. Each morning our students begin the school day with a joyful welcome and a morning meeting in their classroom. This sets the foundation for the full day of learning that follows. We work hard to honor our students' diversity and interests through relevant instruction. This year we were so excited to be named a Unified Champion School. This honor is evidence of our commitment to providing an environment where every student feels loved.
The joyful welcome of the school day is extended to our families as we have increased our offerings to families through academic celebrations, an open-door policy for lunch, and social outreach. This school year, we hosted our families for our 3rd Family Field Trip and invited every student and their family to spend the day with us at Edventure, our local children’s museum. We work hard to provide wrap-around services for our students and we increased the number of students who receive assistance with academic supplies, clothing, food, and holiday items.
We learn. In the classroom, we strive to meet the needs of every child through personalized learning and small-group instruction. In conjunction with our students, we use data to set learning goals and monitor progress. This process of reflection for both teachers and students allows us to determine the next steps and adjust instruction accordingly.
In addition to strong core instruction, our students used I-ready personalized learning pathways throughout the year for individualized practice and acceleration. We hosted an after-school math program in the fall and spring to assist in growing our oldest learners. These programs in conjunction with a strong intervention program helped foster each learner's success.
Our learning doesn’t stop with students. We learn as a faculty throughout the school year through faculty meetings, weekly professional development, book clubs, and data reviews. These structures ensure that we are constantly learning and growing as educators. We are always striving to improve practice and get better for our students.
We lead. At WKES, we believe we are responsible for producing learners capable of leading the future. We work hard to acknowledge and celebrate student strengths with a variety of opportunities and student recognition. We engage students in their own learning by helping them set personal goals and develop strategies for achieving them. This year we added proud parades, positive student referrals, and 4th grade library leaders to our leadership opportunities. Moving forward, we will continue to look for additional ways to honor and develop student strengths.
At White Knoll Elementary, we strive every day to make student-centered decisions. This commitment lives in every lesson, in every meeting, and in every member of Team WKES.
Elizabeth Whisennant, Principal
Beth Banco, SIC Chair
