Whittaker Elementary School is a student-focused Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade public elementary school, where learning comes alive! It is a school where the leadership team, teachers, parents, students, community partners, and stakeholders learn, invest, and grow side-by-side.
The students of Whittaker Elementary School are successful because of the unique partnership/relationship between their homes and the school. Students know that the school is an extension of their home, a place where adults care about what happens in their lives. Students feel safe at school and enjoy building social relationships and developing their individual and group social skills. The parents, teachers, staff, and administrative team work to ensure that all students are learning and growing towards meeting their individualized goals.
Our children are encouraged to work beyond what is comfortable and stretch to reach the raised academic “bar." At Whittaker, our highly qualified professional teaching staff utilizes a viable curriculum, coupled with effective teaching strategies to address our students’ learning needs. Our decisions are based upon the data and laser-focused on the rigorous standards outlined by the state of South Carolina. The students of Whittaker Elementary School are able to learn through a variety of modalities. Teachers identify the learning strengths of their students and incorporate learning activities that address these strengths. Furthermore, teachers develop a focus of teaching and learning based on student needs. Through opportunities to learn by collaboration, communication, technology-embedded learning, and critical thinking, our students are developing the skills needed to become productive citizens in an ever-changing global society. As we embrace the upcoming school year, we have intentionally set our focus on data, instruction, and continuous improvement.
The talents, creativity, and enthusiasm of our teachers, students, and staff create engaging, challenging, and dynamic learning environments. During the recent closing of schools due to COVID-19, our faculty and staff remained committed to working collaboratively to ensure that the children of Whittaker still had their learning and social needs met. The dedication and expertise of our faculty, positive contributions from actively involved parents, and the joyful enthusiasm of our students make Whittaker Elementary School a happy, friendly, and amazing school for learning--even from a distance!
The students of WES are eager, curious, and enthusiastic learners with a broad range of talents and interests. Our goal is to continue focusing on meeting the needs of all our students through high quality, effective instruction, the setting of realistic, high expectations, and differentiated instruction. We remain dedicated to fostering, nurturing, and advancing the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth of all learners.
As we continue to identify a repertoire of rich curricula, evidence-based strategies, and best practices to assist students in developing the skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate; we infuse life and career characteristics into our daily learning practices. Our priorities include student ownership of learning, promoting self-esteem, and good character. Children learn positive character traits through a shared district vision, our advocacy program, and PBIS initiatives. PBIS seeks to create an environment in which behaviors demonstrating respect, responsibility, kindness, and effort are valued and rewarded. Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to participate in age appropriate community service projects which instills in them a sense of pride--doing something for nothing in return. Our BETA Club Honor students have increased other students’ awareness of setting high academic goals and “owning” their learning.
Whittaker students are afforded numerous opportunities to extend their learning beyond their classroom walls. Whittaker teachers design enriching learning experiences with meaningful connections to the arts and physical education. Whittaker students' experiences include trips to Spellman and Morehouse Universities, The Freedom Trails Exploration in Savannah, Georgia, The State Capital, Education Day at Carowinds of Charlotte, North Carolina, The Bronx Zoo, The State Museum, and other field experiences that are coordinated throughout the year to enhance student engagement and learning beyond our classrooms.
Our outstanding programs, community service projects, and celebrations include our Fall Field Day, One Book - One Community, School Spirit Day, Reading Days, Math Carnival, Family Literacy Spaghetti Night, Christmas Assembly, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Pajama Day (Pajamas & Books Drives), Toy Drives, 100th Day of School Food Drive, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Contest, MAP Rally, Principal and Student Data Day, and High-Five Fridays. Whittaker's Safety Patrol, Morning News Team, Drill Team, and BETA Honor Clubs contribute greatly to sustaining the well-established positive culture and climate of Whittaker Elementary School.
During the recent pandemic, teachers, students, and parents had to forge a new way to facilitate teaching and learning. Through this experience, we developed better, effective communication skills, and shifted mindsets to become innovative versus irritated with the learning curve. Through ongoing collaboration, we became more astute facilitators of technology, parents shifted from supportive to involved, and students understood that learning was ongoing--even from a distance. Through this crisis, we took obstacles and made them into opportunities to grow and learn.
Whittaker Elementary School is indeed an amazing campus that truly believes “Success is non-negotiable!”