Brennen Elementary School is a dynamic learning environment for students and educators. Our school is committed to helping all students develop and sharpen the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Brennen is one of many schools in the Greater Columbia area serving students from 4K–5th grades. During the 2023-2024 school year, Brennen's enrollment increased to 820 students, remaining the largest and most diverse school in Richland County School District One.
For the 2023-2024 school year, Brennen has been dedicated to providing quality instruction daily for every child by experienced and engaged faculty and staff. Students and teachers have continued their work as a Visible Learning School, focused explicitly on teacher clarity, learning intentions, and success criteria of daily lessons. In reading specifically, all students are experiencing lessons aligned to research-based practices of Orton-Gillingham training. In addition, during this school year, teachers in Kindergarten – 3rd grades participated in LETRS training, providing more expertise in teaching reading and allowing teachers to hone their skills to teach reading. Along with the solid academic focus on literacy, a strong emphasis is also placed on mathematics. The CRA (Concrete, Representational, Abstract) model provides sequential learning opportunities for students as they progress through their understanding of various math skills.
While individual learning needs are addressed, students' social-emotional needs are also addressed to support the whole child. Students participate in the Ron Clark House System and learn to advocate for themselves and support their House members. Our school motto remains, "Six Houses – One School," to remind us that while we have different Houses, we are all Brennen together. Students also continue their learning of the Brennen Commitments, "Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Kind."
As a result of student-centered practices and learning, Brennen students continue to demonstrate high academic performance. Universal screeners and common formative assessments are analyzed continuously to guide instruction and match it to learners' needs, fostering growth. In addition to the faculty, our students who need extra help have access to interventionists, academic support tutors, and mentors who believe in "progress, not perfection."
Our programs support skill-building by incorporating the latest technologies and one-to-one laptops for students in grades 4K–5. In addition, all classrooms have SmartPanels and document cameras. Our school's access to this technology allows our teachers to employ highly motivated, individualized learning activities during their workshop model instruction. The ability for students to log in to their programs at home has also allowed for more strategic parent involvement.
As our school continues to grow, we will strive to fulfill our mission of academically and socially growing students so they fit the profile of a South Carolina Graduate. Brennen's administration, teachers, parents, PTO, and SIC are committed to continuing our tradition of providing a solid foundation for all students through high academic standards, diverse and collaborative learning experiences, and special programs to meet the needs of all learners.
Tiffany Ligon, Principal
Brandon Harrison, SIC Chair
