Dennis Elementary strives to create and maintain a safe environment conducive to learning. An environment where the voice and input of stakeholders are valued to enhance the educational experiences of our most precious asset, our students. Where Excellence Happens, our school’s motto, is an essential component of our school’s culture, where our students come first. With all stakeholders working together towards one vision, students grow academically, emotionally, and socially, staff members increase their professional capacity, wins are recognized and celebrated, and relationships are vital to our continued success.
Success comes in various ways, and small achievements lead to significant wins. Focusing on students, Data Talks were a major component of our continuous improvement journey. Data talks were facilitated with our school, grade levels, and students to keep everyone abreast of where we are and where we strive to be, allowing us to measure progress toward our goals throughout our year’s journey. Teachers delved into classroom and team data, using protocols to not only celebrate and diagnose but also utilize strengths to address the needs of diverse learners at all tier levels. The impact on student achievement is evident through student growth and an increase in grade-level proficiency. Consistent monitoring is attributed to increased collaboration of teachers, on and across grade levels, where strengths are recognized and shared to improve learning outcomes based on data. Professional development and the transfer of learning into classroom environments also yield positive results. Current data is a celebration and sentiment for teacher effectiveness, grounded in support, to enhance instructional practices beyond a single classroom and increase the potential for a positive impact on student success.
School success also provided our school with some historic moments. First, Dennis earned an Average rating on the South Carolina School Report Card. This accomplishment has not occurred in more than a decade. It resulted from ownership of our school-wide goals by our students and staff, a collaborative culture built on trust, the sharing of effective practices, and engagement in self-reflection. In conjunction with student goal setting and creating actionable steps with adjustments along the way, these strategies mark continued improvement in academic achievement, student progress, and school culture. Winning did not stop here, as this was only the beginning. Dennis Elementary School also earned exit status as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement School. This status is something the school earned and maintained for many years. These successes don’t just happen; no, they happen because of the intentional work of leaders, teachers, staff, parents, and students who are determined to create habits that result in success. It occurs when individuals understand that school improvement takes many hands. While it is not light work, it is necessary work that can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
Work of this nature did not go unnoticed or unrewarded, as Dennis recognized the achievements of students and staff through various events during the year. To increase student engagement in the classroom environment, we also strived to increase their engagement through events like pep rallies, spirit weeks, awards ceremonies, a Fall Festival, an Autism Awareness parade, a Black History program, field trips, field days, and more. These celebrations involved all stakeholders and provided an opportunity to enhance the curriculum, grow relationships, engage in friendly competition, exhibit team spirit, and support diverse student needs. They also enabled our school to network with community partners who supported us through volunteerism, tokens of recognition, resources, and expert knowledge to enrich the work we are privileged to do daily.
As we continue to build the capacity of our staff, it is also essential to do the same for our students. Our Junior Beta Club is in its third year, and their work during the year exemplified the four pillars of Beta - Achievement, Character, Leadership, and Service. Mentoring was heightened through establishing various groups striving to promote positive behavior and personal growth and improve achievement through team building, guidance, and support by school and district staff, and learning intended to help students see and reach their fullest potential. Students and staff also showcased their talents during various programs and events where our school community witnessed their musical, oral, and creative capacities.
At Dennis, children are our primary business. Feedback aids us in making informed decisions through a student-focused approach. Our students, staff, parents, and community are vital to our decisions, with data driving the work. We understand that growth is paramount and will enable more students to reach and maintain grade-level proficiency yearly. We must set a firm foundation for students that can be built upon from year to year to increase the level of readiness from one grade to the next. To do this, our students must receive high-level teaching and learning practices each day to propel them to increased success.
At Dennis, we are committed to excellence because our students deserve it. By working together, we are confident our school will continue to show evidence of success. A thunderbird is an animal known for their power and strength. As Thunderbirds, we will use our power and strength to grow, learn, lead, and empower others to achieve greatness. We will accomplish what some thought was impossible with intentional actions and investments that lead to wins throughout our journey.
