Our warm, welcoming atmosphere and personal relationships support our school’s and South Carolina’s profile of a Graduate by providing rigorous standards in language arts, math for career and college readiness so Killian students are Purpose Driven and Future Ready. Through innovative programs such as AVID ( Advancement Via Individual Determination) which has now become a district focus. Students in grades K-2 will now experience AVID to allow a continuing experience as they are promoted in grades K-5. K-2 students focus on understanding AVID terminology and structures. Our third through fifth grade classes are engaged with WICOR ( Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Reading) and are immersed in activities and tasks that help them to be college and career ready. Students in grades K-5 utilizes my Pathblazer to support them in the areas of Literacy and Mathematics. In providing more social emotional support will be provided by one of our two school counselors for grades K-2 and 3-5.
Students experience a variety of hands-on approaches to learning. In addition, many of our teachers have been trained with the Orton Gillingham structure literacy method to teach reading, writing and spelling. Students in grades K-2 will utilize the Open Court Reading Program. This curriculum was implemented over the past three years to build a strong literacy foundation. In grades 3-5 teachers and students utilize Houghton Mifflin Harcourts (HMH) for literacy. Killian students enjoy half-days with fun enriched days in which students are immersed in hands-on, mind-- on activities that highlight the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These projects foster students’ creativity and help them realize their gifts and talents on becoming Purpose Driven and Future Ready.
Our Leading Lions develop leadership attributes such as accountability, adaptability, initiative, communication, collaboration, creativity, teamwork and knowing how to learn. We are a school that strongly believes in community support so each school year we develop our theme based on School Beliefs. We instill our “I Can” statements in our students from the beginning of the school year. These “I Can” statements are, “Lead by Example, Do your Personal Best, Consider Others’ Needs and Be a Team Player. It is our expectation that students practice these principles on a daily basis. In addition, our students participate in effective mentoring programs such Essence Pearls, Boys Leadership and Girls Leadership. Also, we host a College and Career Day with a focus on STEAM careers. Our students participate in Beta Club Service Learning Projects, Recycling Club, Killian Network News Show, and many more extracurricular clubs and activities. In the area of the Arts, the students have many productions to include The Wiz, The Lion King and Moana.
Students are assessed using a variety of formal and informal prescriptive and achievement measures including state assessments ( SC Ready, SC PASS), Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA), Mastery Connect Benchmarks and Easy CBM. Students are provided differentiated support and encouragement to excel regardless of ability levels. KES has a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) plan that meets the diverse academic and social needs of students through intervention, acceleration and remediation. All school interventions will continue to be implemented for reading in grades K-5 by teachers using certain components of Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI). Killian Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for grades 2-5 to support students in English Language Arts and Mathematics. We continued support for all students through use of our two school counselors ( K-2; 3-5). Along with Richland School District, Killian will continue to address all safety issues with its stakeholders. As we continue to provide our students the “BEST” Engaging Learning Environment, teachers, staff and administration will focus on improving student achievement and engagement in a variety of ways. These high expectations will be met through hiring, retaining and providing meaningful professional development for Killian teachers. We are committed to our vision of “Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today” and strive to make this environment where students feel connected, engaged and supported so they can experience academic and personal achievement. .
Stacey M. Franklin, Principal
Tiereney Richardson School Improvement Chair
