Our school is helping all students develop the world-class skills as well as the life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating an environment of excellence and high expectations for all students. Alston-Bailey Elementary School is a Title I school located in Summerville that serves approximately 640 students in grades 4K–5, including special education programs for preschoolers beginning at age 3. Alston-Bailey Elementary School continues to carry on the legacies of our namesakes, Dr. John H. Alston and Mrs. Clemmie Strother Bailey. We take PRIDE in the hard work our staff, our students, and their families put forth this year as we continue to strive for excellence. Our community has pulled together to put the needs of our children first and, through this communal effort, we work toward fulfilling the dreams left behind by Dr. Alston and Mrs. Bailey.
We worked toward our five instructional goals this year: To increase student achievement in all content areas; increase recognition opportunities for students that demonstrate world class citizenship; continue our literacy focus; increase math achievement so that all students are meeting and exceeding grade-level expectations; and increase opportunities for student leadership, service learning, and mentorship. These goals have helped us stay true to our mission statement, which reads “Alston-Bailey Elementary School prepares all students for college and life by providing a rigorous curriculum that is relevant to students’ lives in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.”
To increase student achievement, our teachers immerse students in opportunities to use technology by utilizing it within their classrooms. Technology is seamlessly integrated by using Interactive Flat Panels and laptops. Students can be seen daily interacting with technology on various instructional and learning projects using them as tools for research, collaboration, creation, and presentation. Students utilized online platforms like Canva to create and collaborate. Students complete work on Waterford, Edmentum Study Island, Exact Path, and Zearn which address grade level standards and are personalized to meet individual student needs. Students also participated in a reading buddy program with R.I.S.E. Academy Readers to support student achievement.
To produce world-class citizens, our students follow our P.R.I.D.E. matrix: Positive Attitude; Respect for self, others, and our campus; Invest in education; Demonstrate Determination; and Strive for Excellence daily. To recognize positive behaviors, we hold monthly Terrific Kids ceremonies and PBIS celebrations. Teachers use the ParentSquare platform to communicate with families about positive behavior and academic success. We also use the SimpliDiscipline platform to document and celebrate positive referrals completed by staff for students who consistently meet expectations, as well as to recognize the staff members who submit them. Students with exceptional behavior are further acknowledged through quarterly medal awards for good citizenship.
We were named a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School for the 2025–2026 school year, reflecting our continued commitment to providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for students. Through Capturing Kids’ Hearts, we have strengthened our focus on students’ social-emotional needs by fostering meaningful, reciprocal relationships and a strong sense of connectedness across our school community. We also recognized students each month for exhibiting the Capturing Kids’ Hearts Leadworthy Character traits. In addition, we were recognized at the district level for raising the most funds in support of Relay for Life and cancer research.
Throughout the year, we provided several family engagement opportunities to support student learning and well-being. These included book fairs that helped families build home libraries through the distribution of hundreds of free books, as well as educational puppet shows focused on litter prevention and dental health. Our Health and Wellness committee, headed by our phenomenal PE teachers, helped us run another successful Kids Heart Challenge as well as two successful fresh produce giveaways! We believe in supporting our community members and meeting their needs.
In addition to our strong literacy focus, we have also partnered with Engaging Creative Minds to further develop our fantastic creative arts program. Students participated in transdisciplinary inquiry that integrated the arts into their coursework. We also have our Tiger Cub Chorus who have sung at PTA meetings and performed concerts for students and families to enjoy. Our choir also performed at a music competition at Carowinds and received an overall Excellent rating. Our students’ artwork was also displayed at the DREAMFest and Carolina Fair.
We have promoted College and Career readiness by having college days, a career day, and college research projects. Our students have learned about a variety of degrees and career fields thanks to our volunteer speakers and members of our staff and community.
To ensure that students reach their maximum potential, we assess our students frequently throughout the year to determine their academic strengths and weaknesses. We gather data from the Measures of Academic Progress reading and math assessments and through district-developed common assessments using the Formative online platform.
We recognize academic achievement through our Exemplary Awards and Quarterly Awards programs. In addition, we provide enrichment opportunities and have offered supports such as after-school and Saturday tutoring. To strengthen relationships among parents, students, and the community, we maintain regular communication with families and host monthly school events in collaboration with our Parents and Teachers Association and School Improvement Council. We also partner with local churches and community organizations. We hold School Improvement Council meetings, Grandparents’ Bingo nights, PTA meetings and events, Glow Dances, and a Virtual Veterans Day program to welcome all stakeholders to our school. We hosted our Literacy Night, STEAM Night, and a fifth grade Sneaker Ball to engage our students and families and we have a robust school Facebook and webpage which highlight successes on our campus and provide families with at-home learning resources.
Alston-Bailey Elementary has a phenomenal faculty and staff who, in collaboration with parents, the PTA board, School Improvement Council, business partners, and community members, work together to achieve excellence!
Respectfully,
Kendra Kelso, School Improvement Council Chairperson
Vernisa Y. Bodison, Principal
