Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the Graduate by providing high educational opportunities leading to successful college and/or career choice. We are committed to educating, empowering, and encouraging students in a safe, nurturing environment. Through our commitment to collaboration and critical thinking, students are challenged to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. All stakeholders are committed to creating a culture of respect and responsibility where students develop skills that contribute to their overall success and well-being.
Collaboration is greatly encouraged with all stakeholders. Our instructional staff strives for excellence through the implementation of standards-driven instruction and participating in continued professional development through collaboration on a consistent basis. Weekly Professional Learning Communities are held with instructional staff to work on increasing our effectiveness in the classroom. These learning opportunities provide teachers with ways to increase content knowledge, improve professionally, and collaborate on instructional strategies and best practices that will improve student achievement. Professional development opportunities focus on a variety of topics that are aligned with the SC instructional standards, data, and common assessments. We use the Balanced Literacy Framework to guide students toward becoming proficient, lifelong readers. Programs and strategies such as reading intervention, progress monitoring, and 120 minutes of daily uninterrupted reading instruction are used to support the learning process. Academic achievement is our primary focus. Furthermore, using data to monitor, assess, and adjust instruction based on the needs of our students is key.
Building positive relationships is vital to our school family. Character education lessons are embedded throughout school life to help students develop the social and life skills needed to foster the development of the whole child. Beyond the classroom, enrichment activities offer students additional opportunities to explore their interests and talents. Students are provided with leadership opportunities as members of our National Jr. BETA, ROYAL, and ELITE, Art Club, Chorus, and P.E. clubs. At VPE, we offer students the opportunity to experience life and career characteristics through events such as Literacy night, our 5th grade DARE program, and our 4th grade GREAT program. We also have a school-wide Book of the Month initiative which is used to highlight character traits. These opportunities provide additional experiences that promote learning and build confidence in our students.
At VPE, we realize the importance that climate plays in the academic success of our students. In support of this, we continue in our efforts to provide a nurturing and engaging learning environment through our continued use of initiatives such as CHAMPS Proactive and Positive Approach to Classroom Management, and Kagan Cooperative Learning. The School Improvement Council (SIC) and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) continue to be active at VPE. Both organizations meet to collaborate on ideas for improving our school and setting academic goals. It is the mission of Vance-Providence Elementary School to provide a learning environment that will prepare students to compete in a global society. As we journey through the 2020-2021 school year, we aim to increase our overall student achievement in all areas. We are seeking ways to improve teaching and learning as we navigate the new territory of distance learning. Providing teachers with professional development in teaching reading, writing, math strategies, and effective use of technology will also be a focus. Deepening the rigor, relevance, student engagement, and relationships will also be key points of focus. Additionally, it is our goal to improve the overall climate of the school and increase parent engagement. We are constantly working as a team of teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and students to build a strong foundation for our students so that they are prepared for the next level.
Malqueen E. Rivers, SIC Chairperson
LaTonya S. Durant, Principal