Bells Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate by immersing students in deeper learning opportunities through relevant learning experiences in Project Based Learning to foster academic success. Using the skills our faculty learned through the partnership we had with the New Tech Network, faculty and students are re-imagining teaching and learning through our participation in transforming our school by our instructional shift to Project Based Learning. Faculty and staff members participate in embedded professional development on a weekly basis to facilitate adult learning and model a growth mindset for students. Interventions are provided to students through the support of a Reading Coach, EL teacher, Instructional Facilitator and Reading Interventionists, along with software programs, such as, Imagine Learning and Imagine Math. Words Their Way is used in the classrooms as a component of a balanced literacy block to enable students to develop their spelling and vocabulary skills. The implementation of a Positive Behavior and Support system (PBIS) fosters positive behaviors inside and outside the classroom, as it is our goal to meet the needs of the whole child which includes social and emotional needs, as well as, academic. Through participation in Backpack Buddies healthy initiatives are in place to foster wellness in all students. We encourage all to participate in service learning opportunities by supporting March of Dimes, Jump Rope for Heart, and the Angel Tree which makes a difference in our community. The Friends of the Colleton County Animal Shelter (FOCCAS) worked with our fourth grade students on pet responsibilities. All of our fourth grade students completed this program and received their certificates. At Bells Elementary, we have a dedicated staff, hardworking students, and parents who support us in our endeavor to nurture, inspire, and guide our students so they are successful in tomorrow’s world. We believe our students are on the right path in becoming our future South Carolina graduates.
