Bookman Road Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating opportunities to "light the way" in personal character, academics, and community service. We understand the importance of creating culturally relevant learning experiences, incorporating opportunities to use varied technology applications, and focusing on emotional intelligence competencies that will encourage our students to value the diversity that exists in our school and the world around us. Understanding the important relationship between the physical body and the brain, we continue to incorporate 10 Body-Brain Compatible Elements in each of our classrooms:
- Meaningful Content
- Mastery
- Movement
- Choice
- Collaboration
- Absence of Threat
- Adequate Time
- Immediate Feedback
- Enriched Environment
- *Being There Experiences for Students
For 25 years, Bookman Road Elementary has strived to maintain a tight-knit sense of community among families, students, and educators. Bookman Beacons know firsthand how impactful it is to have warm, motivated, and innovative teachers “lighting the way” each day as they model LIFESKILLS in a nurturing and safe environment. We are proud of how comfortable and inviting our school is, and that our staff is supportive, friendly and efficient in meeting the needs of our students. Because of our unwavering efforts, Bookman Road was named a 2021 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence and received a 100% approval rating by staff and families, and an average of 94% by students on this year’s climate survey!
Meaningful content, in richness and relevance, is an integral component of our Bookman Road culture. Our school’s comforting nautical theme travels throughout the entire building, with seaside murals of sandy South Carolina dunes and authentic South Carolina artwork adorning our hallways. Our Seaside Café is a refreshing reinforcement of what we present in our classrooms, with LIFESKILLS and Lifelong Guidelines hand-painted in ocean-themed designs on the walls. Classrooms are designed in calm colors represented in earth tones—proven to be best for brain-based learning in helping to avoid distraction—and present a natural transition from the coast hallway art.
Our staff goals continue to focus on enhancing on our own personal character and social-emotional state, learning and adapting newly adopted curricula, and supporting our students with the use of AVID organizational and note taking strategies to foster greater responsibility and academic success. Our teachers and staff engage in constant data analysis to ensure that students have access to differentiated instruction to meet their unique and specific needs.
When the School Improvement Council (SIC) analyzed the feedback on past school report card surveys, a cohesive effort was placed on maintaining a positive climate and culture within the school. The journey of our School Improvement Council continues to reinforce what we already knew and know, which is that our school is a reassuring Beacon of light for our students, our families, and our community. Our teachers and staff work diligently every day to ensure our students feel safe and our school environment is one which empowers the students’ ability to learn. The SIC Climate and Culture Initiative, “The Light Keepers,” to welcome and orient new families to South Carolina and our Bookman Road culture has continued to edify our school community.
We are hopeful that the initiatives and projects our SIC supports will not only continue, but will be continuously modified with the times to maintain the climate and culture that make Bookman Road Elementary School a wonderful place to be.
Dr. Kendra J. Hill, Principal
Nicholas Washington, SIC Chair
