Dacusville Elementary School is nestled in a large, rural community located in the northeast corner of Pickens County. Our teachers and staff members are dedicated to “Successfully Preparing You for the World You’ll Be Changing!” by providing rigorous and relevant educational opportunities and services to our students. DES is committed to helping students develop the 21st Century Learning Skills which include collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. We are currently in our second year of using the Positivity Project curriculum. We are the only school in South Carolina that has adopted this curriculum. The curriculum focuses on 24 character strengths throughout the year with a reoccurring theme of “Other People Matter Mindset.” Teachers lead students in mini lessons each day that allow time for reflection, discussion, and collaboration on topics like perseverance, integrity, kindness, and self-control. These 10 minute daily huddles have led to a positive change in our culture and increased conversation and discussion among students and staff about improvement as well as problem solving and creativity. In addition to this school-wide program, there are other unique and relevant opportunities to develop our students’ communication skills and ability to effectively collaborate with others. Our students’ communication skills are strengthened via weekly reading conferences (Conferring with Readers by Jennifer Serravallo), engaging in conversations and discourse in math (Number Talks by Ann Dominick and Sherry Parrish), participating in small group instruction in reading and math (Math Workshop by Jennifer Lemp), presenting projects, sharing their writing in our Author’s Tea events, performing in our grade level plays/musicals and after-school drama clubs, and Our teachers have been actively involved in developing a common language for standards and other school-wide expectations which has improved the communication with our students, staff, and parents. This year our school adopted more of a “Finnish Model”, which supports increased play and socialization, and added additional recess to our master schedule. Dacusville Elementary is also focused on fostering collaboration school-wide. We believe that in order for students to effectively collaborate, we must specifically teach and model for our students respect for others, active listening, responsibility, and compromising. Students’ interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate are developed through group projects, including STEM projects. In grades 2-5, where we are 1:1 with technology, these projects may include the use of Google Docs and/or Slides. Additional opportunities for students to collaborate include after-school clubs, Jet Toy, Sailboat Challenge, Chorus, Student Council, Pen Pals, MakerSpaces in the Media Center, Literacy Centers and Math Stations, YAMs (Young Appalachian Musicians), and our newly formed grades 3-5 Captains. While we believe that these programs and opportunities are “Successfully Preparing You for the World You’ll Be Changing!” we believe in a growth mindset and our staff is committed to improving our instructional program and the hidden curriculum so that our students can be even more prepared for “Success Beyond the Classroom.”
Mr. Travis Chapman, Principal
Mrs. Kelsey Sams, SIC Chairperson