Plain Elementary is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by preparing students to become lifelong learners and responsible, productive citizens. Children engage in a rigorous, standards based instructional program in a climate fostering tolerance and diversity. Our many accomplishments reflect the school’s identity and vision statement: “A School Family – Positively Committed to Excellence!”
Students and teachers set individual academic achievement goals and measure results using a data driven process for student growth and continuous improvement. School-wide data analysis reflects solid growth in all academic areas with an emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving skills. Grade level teachers continued to work collaboratively in PLCs to create common assessments and analyze results for the purpose of increased student achievement. Our professional development offerings focused on balanced literacy instruction, differentiated reading groups, and increased rigor in mathematics. Children continue to benefit from rigorous reading and math instruction concentrated on individualized learning needs.
Our School Improvement Council (SIC) established our 5 year school improvement plan that will focus on school climate and culture, parent and community involvement, and health and safety. The SIC also orchestrates our annual Pacers 5k community run in addition to our Hands On Plain Elementary (HOPE) Beautification Day. The Golden Panda Award was established by our SIC to recognize teachers and staff members who go above and beyond to support our school family.
We solidified a school communication plan to broaden support and enhance shared information with weekly phone messages, school and teacher websites, weekly newsletters, articles in local newspapers, publication of a weekly electronic newsletter, and Plain Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Technology enhancement continued to be a focus with all students in kindergarten through fifth grade receiving a personalized learning device to utilize various digital learning tools both in the instructional setting and during eLearning opportunities. All classrooms have new Promethean Boards to support instruction and integrate technology.
Parental and community involvement are integral to our success. The Parent Teacher Association and School Improvement Council are involved in decision-making opportunities. We remain a PTA School of Excellence. Over 28,000 volunteer hours were logged the past two years with parents and community members serving as mentors, tutors, guest speakers, and classroom support resources. We host Family Bingo Night, Literacy Night, Internet Safety Education, Family Dance Night, All Arts Night, Spring Carnival, and monthly Lunch and Learn programs for our families. Our Backpack Buddy Program provides backpacks filled with food for our neediest students to eat on the weekends. Our business partner, TreesGreenville, awarded grants to fund the purchase of a variety of fruit and nut trees planted on our campus making us a certified fruit and nut-training site.
We are proud of our accomplishments and continue to make decisions in the best interest of all children. Our identity statement speaks for itself: “A School Family – Positively Committed to Excellence!”
Debbie Mihalic, Principal Katie Buckingham, SIC Chairperson
