Northside Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, nurturing, and academically challenging learning environment. During the 2020-2021 school year, Northside focused 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, problem solving, collaboration, teamwork, knowing how to learn, and Life and Career Characteristics – self-direction, perseverance, and interpersonal skills. Instructional models, through which these World Class Skills were presented included three specific modalities: virtual, dual modality, and fully in-person. Throughout the 2020-2021 school, over fifty percent of our students remained in a virtual instructional environment.
All Northside students participated in virtual instruction, at some point, during 2020-2021 school year. This made it imperative that training be provided to students as to how to access learning content materials and applications in an effort to support the transition from traditional instruction to virtual. Each Northside student was assigned a Chromebook and Google Classroom and Google Meet were used to assist in content delivery. To support our students are developing World Class Knowledge – rigorous standards in language arts and math for career and college readiness, we have continued our Collaborative Team Meetings in which grade levels analyze STAR Reading and Math assessment outcomes, Dominie, Fountas & Pinnell, district common formative assessment data, and behavioral data. A focus upon attendance and socio-emotional need was implemented. These data discussions have facilitated deep and meaningful professional conversations that have improved classroom instruction, student engagement, as well as collaboration within common grade levels and through vertical articulation. School-based professional development was developed to meet the needs of our students and teachers based on technology needs, classroom observation data, the School Literacy Plan, and for district and school-adopted instructional models.
Classroom teachers participated in targeted professional development during Wednesdays throughout the majority of the 2020-2021 school year. Prior to returning to five-day face-to-face instruction, the District designated Wednesdays as independent learning days for the students and as school-based and district-based professional development days. These professional development days provided cross-curricular collaborative opportunities and additional support for targeted instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics. Additionally, teachers participated in technology training in areas such as, but not limited to, Google, Edmentum, instructional assessment tools and applications. An outcome of the professional development sessions were increased intentional opportunities for students to develop their World Class Skills – critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, and knowing how to learn. Students were provided significantly more opportunities to enhance their problem solving skills while working collaboratively with their classmates.
We have programs beyond academics to enhance in the development of the whole child. A school-wide initiative at Northside Elementary is The Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) program. Through PBIS, explicit behavior expectations for our students are taught. Students are then encouraged to meet expectations and recognized by earning points daily as well as by earning invitations to PBIS Celebrations. Additionally, 2020-2021 began the incorporation of the Quaver SEL Elementary Curriculum which was utilized by the school guidance counselor and Positive Behavior Support Specialist to aid in supporting students' mental and emotional health.
Northside promotes healthy living initiatives such as providing students weekly with fresh fruits and vegetables, providing Brain Breaks throughout the instructional day, and adopting health and wellness policies to support the physical health and well-being of our students.
Despite the restrictions placed on activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Northside students were able to participate in extracurricular activities such as, but not limited to, a virtual talent show, student art showcases, project-based learning, and their related arts classes including, art, physical education, and music. Our 4th grade students participated in a novel study that generated a philanthropic idea of creating a fundraising completion to raise funds for the county’s local animal shelter. Their creativity and hard work generated nearly $1300 within a week.
At Northside Elementary, our dedicated staff, hardworking students, and families support us in our endeavors to nurture, inspire, and guide our STAR students so they are prepared to be successful in tomorrow’s world.
Catherine Fanchette, Principal
Shannon Dandridge, School Improvement Council Chair
