Belvedere Elementary School embodies our motto of "Live. Love. Learn. Leave a Legacy." The faculty supports all students for future goals by focusing on the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate while creating a balanced environment of nurture and academic rigor. During the 2020-2021 school year, our school continued to focus on the following specific characteristics of the Profile: World Class Knowledge – rigorous standards in language arts and math for career and college readiness; World Class Skills – critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, and knowing how to learn; and Life and Career Characteristics – work ethic, and interpersonal skills and World-Class Knowledge – multiple languages.
To ensure our students are developing World Class Knowledge – rigorous standards in language arts and math for career and college readiness, teachers collaborated both vertically and within grade level teams to analyze benchmark assessment outcomes, common formative assessments, Fountas & Pinnell, Fast Bridge outcomes, Reading and Math Inventory outcomes, behavior and attendance data. Teachers then developed intervention plans for grade levels, small groups and individual students to accelerate achievement and compensate for learning loss due to school closure the previous year. These collegial conversations led to improved classroom instruction and intervention. Professional development was targeted from classroom observation and student achievement data. Classroom teachers engaged in three instructional planning days in which academic conversations and planning focused on understanding the level of rigor within reading and math standards, planning units containing highly effective instructional strategies and the development of standards aligned assessments. These instructional initiatives increased opportunities for students to develop their World Class Skills – critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, and knowing how to learn.
We are proud of our strong history of academic success. At Belvedere Elementary we also have various programs designed to focus on Life and Career Characteristics – work ethic, and interpersonal skills. Our Student Council planned several events to welcome new students and build student morale. Over 75 students applied and were selected to serve as Reader Leaders and read biweekly with younger students. A sock drive resulted in hundreds of socks collected to be donated to those in need. Belvedere also built and established a "Blessings Box" to collect and distribute canned food. With limitations on school visitors, our guidance department created and facilitated virtual tutoring for our students.
This year, there were two cohorts of Mandarin Chinese language learners, which is a Graduate characteristic in World-Class Knowledge: multiple languages. These kindergarten and first grade students learned Mandarin Chinese during their math and science instructional periods. The students also learned about the Chinese culture. Research has indicated that students that learn another language have many positive outcomes, including higher-level of academic achievement, more critical thinkers, and increased opportunities in the business world. These students excelled not only in Mandarin but in their native language on the Fast Bridge assessments, as well.
At Belvedere Elementary School, we believe all stakeholders share in creating our future South Carolina Graduates. We appreciate your support as we work together to leave a positive legacy. Allyson Long, Principal Mrs. Michelle Fowler, Chair of the School Improvement Council
