Lower Lee Elementary School is helping all students develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing an environment where students are challenged to be creative thinkers, innovative problem solvers, and positive contributors to society. We are equipping students with the skills necessary to become college and career-ready by setting rigorous academic standards and high expectations for student behavior, with an emphasis on character education. Through the implementation of a guaranteed and viable curriculum, teachers ensure that students are presented with grade-level standards that will prepare them for future learning through a variety of tailored approaches to meet the unique learning needs of all students.
Teachers developed intervention plans for grade levels, small groups, and individual students to accelerate achievement and compensate for learning loss due to the previous year's school closure. These collegial conversations in weekly Professional Learning Communities led to improved classroom instruction and intervention. Professional development was targeted from classroom observation and student achievement data. Classroom teachers engaged in several instructional planning days and extra-duty planning after the school day in which academic conversations and planning focused on understanding the level of rigor within reading and math standards, planning units containing highly effective instructional strategies, and the development of standards-aligned assessments. Furthermore, there was an intentional focus through planning on providing not only quality core instruction but also small-group instruction to meet student needs.
We demonstrate our commitment to ensuring all students are successful by diligently tracking student data, utilizing research-based instructional strategies, and providing timely interventions and acceleration opportunities. An additional Reading Interventionist is funded with Title I to support students reading below grade level. All grade levels have common planning time, which allows teachers to collaborate and create meaningful lessons across all subject areas, as well as review student data with an emphasis on student growth and achievement. Teachers participate in ongoing professional development designed to improve teaching and learning while providing remediation and acceleration, analyzing data, and how to use technology to extend learning in meaningful ways. Together, we develop goals and teaching methods that are developmentally appropriate and meet the academic and behavioral needs of all learners.
A significant part of our curriculum emphasizes positive character traits, including responsibility, courage, gratitude, and respect. Students are rewarded for exhibiting positive character traits and are entered into drawings for prizes. Positive postcards are sent home to parents, and student pictures are displayed in the school.
We believe that collaborating with all stakeholders plays an important role in meeting the needs of our students. Through various platforms, we regularly communicate our vision, goals, plans, and priorities to staff, students, parents, and the community. We also involve staff, students, parents, and community members in needs assessments, problem-solving, and decision-making for school improvement. All major stakeholders contribute to planning, monitoring, and evaluating our school programs to ensure continuous improvement. Parent and community input is welcomed through PTA meetings, School Improvement Council meetings, and suggestions in response to surveys. Our community shares a sense of responsibility for the future of our young children. This is evident through the establishment of partnerships with local churches, numerous businesses, community mentors,
Ultimately, the goal of Lower Lee Elementary is to develop eager, well-engaged students who are problem solvers and critical thinkers, both independently and collaboratively, so that they become positive contributors to society. Lower Lee Elementary is a place where all faculty and staff believe that all students can learn, and our staff is committed to providing the type of environment necessary to ensure they can meet that expectation. By doing so, we are creating a brighter future for South Carolina by developing South Carolina graduates and future leaders.
