Lake Forest Elementary School is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the profile of the South Carolina graduate by providing a safe, caring and academically challenging learning environment. Our motto, “Taking Pride in Learning,” is indicative of our school's vision and mission to equip all students with the necessary skills to achieve their full potential and become life-long learners and responsible citizens. We assure that we remain true to our vision by directly aligning the professional development of our teachers to exemplary research based practices that result in a wide range of academic practices and programs that challenge our students daily and help to create a strong foundation for success.
Academic achievement and social emotional learning are the top priorities at Lake Forest Elementary School. Our faculty and staff work together to plan and implement classrooms strategies that promote strong student academic achievement. Our teachers utilize Reflex Math, Every Day Counts Calendar Math, supplemental support for multilingual students at all grades, district science kits, field trips specifically aligned to science and social studies standards, and small group guided reading across grade levels that incorporate research based theories of Fountas and Pinnell. Additionally, our staff has been trained in the Project Read curriculum, a research-based language arts program which includes instructional materials for reading comprehension, written expression, and phonics. This program provides lessons built on direct concept teaching, targeted multisensory strategies, and higher-level thinking skills. Coupled with these instructional programs and strategies, our teachers continually collect and use data on a daily basis to guide teaching and learning.
To support students' social and emotional needs, our whole school participates in WIN Time (What I Need) every morning after the news show. Students learn self-regulation strategies and how to identify their emotions as a means to help them thrive in all situations and environments. We also incorporate best practices and strategies from Conscious Discipline by Dr. Becky Bailey. Conscious Discipline is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that provides an array of behavior management strategies and classroom structures that teachers can use to turn everyday situations into learning opportunities. In addition we partner with a neighborhood group, Mosaic, who provides tutoring and after school care for many of our multilingual students. As a school staff, we are committed to developing the whole child.
Programs to help students grow in all areas are provided at Lake Forest. We believe that students should have opportunities to be leaders at school in order to build confidence and problem solving skills. We continue to utilize the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) program. Our students are rewarded for displaying positive behaviors in all areas of school life, including the bus stop, bus transportation, field trips, playground and classrooms. Our school-wide fitness program promotes the importance of healthy minds and bodies. A variety of student clubs are offered to keep students active and moving, and teachers incorporate brain breaks/movement throughout the instructional day.
We also encourage participation in school-wide activities through our student helper programs (office helpers, school store, Safety Patrols, The Green Team, guidance, and media helpers), along with Student Council, Junior Beta Club, and a live morning news show hosted and operated daily by students. As part of a comprehensive school counseling program, our school counselors teach positive character traits identified by students, parents, and staff to build upon our character education program and soft skills.
Parent and community involvement is encouraged in all aspects of our school life. We are a community school where everyone shares in the responsibility of educating our students. Our neighboring churches and local businesses regularly support our efforts and help maximize the message that we can all be a part of educating our youth.
We are proud of our successes and continue to strive to develop future leaders.
Carrie Silver, SIC Chairperson
Julie Cooke, Principal
