New Providence Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating a safe, nurturing, high-performance learning, family-oriented, culture of excellence. Through the efforts of our highly qualified and dedicated staff, our sixteen-year history of academic excellence is well-established. Our parents have continued to fully support all of our schools’ academic and social needs by participating in fundraisers and events that strengthen the home-school connection. As a team, we have continued to demonstrate the four pillars of our school’s vision statement: Be Kind, Be Confident, Be Respectful, Work Hard!
English Language Arts (ELA) is taught to all students through the reading, writing, and phonics/word study workshops in Kindergarten through fifth grade. Teachers regularly work together to examine student work, reflect on teaching practices, and analyze assessment data in order to adjust instructional priorities in their classrooms. Teachers work collaboratively with other staff members and administration to develop personalized, instructional strategies and interventions to address individual learning needs. We have also continued the implementation of the math workshop model to meet the various needs of our children in mathematics. All Kindergarten through fifth grade teachers completed Student Learning Objectives related to perseverance and problem solving in mathematics (reading or science for teachers who do not teach math) to look closely at student data and set student growth targets. Almost 100% of our students met their goals with regards to the student learning objectives.
Life and career characteristics are exemplified at NPES through a focus on the traits of kindness, confidence, respectfulness and hard work. Each week our students had the opportunity to earn tickets for demonstrating good character and children had the opportunity to be featured on our “Wall of Fame” and receive a treat if their ticket was drawn. Each quarter, through the generous donations of our PTA, students who had earned a ticket anytime throughout the nine week period were entered into a drawing for prizes during our Lions Roar with Character events. Life and career characteristics are also taught through lessons provided by our school counselors.
During the academic year, students at NPES have many opportunities to be leaders in our school and local community. Fourth and fifth grade students have opportunities to apply for various jobs such as card sorters, office runners, and Paw Patrol (safety patrol). Students also had multiple opportunities to give back to the community by participating in fundraisers and service-learning projects like Linking Lexington (Cancer of Many Colors), Relay for Life, and Toys for Tots as well as several others. In addition, our children participated in the American Heart Association’s Kid’s Heart Challenge, raising funds and learning about healthy habits.
Beyond building a strong academic foundation and developing student leaders, we provide students with advanced technology instruction. This year we continued to provide our students with the opportunity to learn and apply the fundamentals of computer coding, robotics and design principles through studies in computer science and STEAM. These programs foster critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills. Students have a unique avenue to apply problem-solving, team-building, and presentation skills as they collaborate and share their thinking process with peers. Students have the opportunity to explore applications such as Scratch, Tynker, Lego robots, and much more!
Through the incredible support of our PTA, School Improvement Council, parents and community, NPES continues to develop students who will be successful future leaders through a continuous focus on collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. We are proud of what we have accomplished during this challenging school year and are excited about our 17th year together and all that we will accomplish in the new year.
Robert Candillo, Principal
Melissa Newkirk, SIC Chair
