New Providence Elementary School helped all students develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating a safe, nurturing, high-performance, family-oriented culture of excellence during the 2024–2025 school year. Through the efforts of our dedicated staff, our 17-year history of academic excellence is well-established. Our parents continued to fully support all of our school’s academic and social needs by participating in fundraisers and events, such as our annual Boosterthon Fun Run and our first-ever Snuggle Up and Read family night, that strengthened the home-school connection. As a team, we continued to demonstrate the four pillars of our school’s vision statement: Be Kind, Be Confident, Be Respectful, Work Hard!
English language arts was taught to all students through reading, writing and phonics/word study workshops in kindergarten through fifth grade. Teachers regularly worked together to examine student work, reflect on teaching practices and analyze assessment data to adjust instructional priorities. They collaborated with other staff members and administration to develop personalized strategies and interventions. Teachers also continued the implementation of the math workshop model to meet the various needs of our children in mathematics. Many of our teachers participated in Ongoing Assessment Project training, which added to their toolbox of engaging strategies to teach and assess critical mathematical skills. Furthermore, kindergarten through third-grade teachers completed the first two units of Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, and all other certified staff completed a yearlong book study focused on enhancing instruction and meeting the needs of all learners, especially our gifted learners.
Life and career characteristics were exemplified through a focus on the traits of kindness, confidence, respectfulness and hard work. Each week, our students had the opportunity to earn tickets for demonstrating the pillars of our school vision statement or one of the nine competencies in the Lexington One Graduate Profile. The six weekly award recipients were featured on our “Wall of Fame,” along with receiving a treat. Each quarter, through the generous donations of our PTA, students who had earned a ticket throughout the nine-week period were entered into a drawing for prizes during our Lions Roar character events. Life and career characteristics were also taught during lessons led by our school counselors, throughout multiple hands-on field experiences and during our inaugural NPES Vehicle Career Day.
Over the course of the school year, NPES students had many opportunities to be leaders in our school and local community. Students in fourth and fifth grade had opportunities to apply for various jobs such as card sorters, office runners, and our morning and afternoon safety patrol Students also had multiple opportunities to give back to the community by participating in fundraisers and service-learning projects such as Linking Lexington (Cancer of Many Colors), Relay For Life and Toys for Tots, as well as several others.
Beyond building a strong academic foundation and developing student leaders, NPES provided its students with advanced technology instruction. Students continue to be provided with the opportunity to learn and apply the fundamentals of computer coding, robotics and design principles through studies in both computer science lab and STEAM lab. These programs foster critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration skills. Students had a unique avenue to apply problem-solving, team-building and presentation skills as they collaborated and shared their thinking process with peers. Students also had the opportunity to explore applications such as Scratch, Tynker, LEGO Robotics and much more!
Through the incredible support of our PTA, School Improvement Council, parents and community, NPES continues to develop students who will be successful future leaders! We are proud of what we accomplished during the 2024–2025 school year, and are excited about our 18th year together and all that we will accomplish!
Robert Candillo, Principal
Melissa Newkirk, SIC Chair
