Pelion Elementary School strives to help all students develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Caroline Graduate by structuring our learning experiences to stimulate creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication within a learning community focused on the development of every aspect of every child in every classroom. The entire staff works as a team to provide a safe and secure learning environment so that our students can develop their talents in a way that will enable them to go as far as their ambitions might carry them. Our goal is that they will be well-equipped as productive citizens and leaders in their community and beyond.
We are grateful for the support and patience from our parents as we all learned more about virtual learning through programs such as Google Classroom, Google Hangouts and Zoom. Teachers quickly learned how to navigate this new way of teaching with technology, with PES staff proactively learning how to best teach their students through the shutdown, taking online workshops and classes in order to meet the needs of our students. Although academics and learning are important, so are other areas of our families’ well-being. Our teachers and staff made contact with their students’ families to check on their social and emotional needs throughout the shutdown. If a family had a need, we pulled together as a staff to help.
PES teachers and staff created hundreds of learning packets for our students who did not have access to technology. There were two packet pick-up days for families to drive through our car line to receive their child’s packet of information. We gave each student three or more books on their reading level to keep at home. If a family was unable to come to the school, our teachers and staff divided into teams to deliver the learning packets to their homes. We also gave out food and supplies provided by local businesses and church food banks to families who were in need.
Throughout this year, PES teachers and instructional leaders continued to make data-driven decisions concerning the delivery of instruction in literacy and math to bring about growth targeted to identify areas of need. Our math and literacy coaches use a student-centered coaching model to assist teachers in meeting the needs of all their students, teaching model lessons and guiding teachers on best practices in teaching reading, writing and math. To encourage teachers to implement math workshops in their classrooms, teachers in K–fifth grade received training from Jennifer Lempp, a leader in implementing the math workshop in classrooms, along with professional learning with Sue O’Connell, another national leader in the area of mathematics. We will continue this learning in the upcoming year.
PES is a partner school with Teachers College in New York. Teachers receive excellent professional instruction with consultants in the area of writing using Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study. Our school data shows that writing is an area of concern for our students. The consultants held face-to-face and virtual workshops with our K–fifth grade teachers to provide in-depth, high-quality instruction and understanding of the development of writing for our students. In the classrooms, teachers practiced with their students under the guidance of our literacy coach and administrators.
This year, our first as a Coding Immersion School, we worked with the Code to the Future group to teach our students about computer programming through Scratch, LEGO Robotics and Minecraft. Although our students were unable to finish Minecraft because of the pandemic, parents, community leaders, district leaders and staff were invited to student showcases featuring their Scratch and LEGO Robotics creations. Showcase visitors were impressed with the quality of work produced by our students and excited about the opportunity for students to learn more about the fast-changing world of computer programming, which equips our students with tools to be successful in the future.
Our teachers also employ the latest technology along with books and hands-on methods to make learning engaging and meaningful, including access to a STEM program and computer labs. Our students in fifth grade were issued Chromebooks this year in order to complete work and use technology in an acceptable manner.
To develop artistic talents, PES provides excellent programs in music and art. Our fifth graders have the opportunity to take band and orchestra before our school day begins. To equip our students as global citizens, we offer Spanish instruction in our related arts rotation for second through fifth graders. Our physical education classes focus on building strong bodies through physical activity and healthy habits. Our fourth and fifth graders are able to participate in archery and our Pelion Running Club after school, led by one of our physical education teachers and classroom teachers. Both teams had a very successful year. Our PES Archery team finished second in the nation for elementary schools. We were state champions, and had the two top girls and boys archers for elementary schools.
Recognizing the fact that all our students have individual needs, our Response to Intervention program, special education and ESOL programs provide caring, targeted support to enhance learning experiences for all our students and their families. Beyond those programs, we have other grant-funded programs that are designed to ensure that all our students have equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of income or ethnicity, such as research-based interventions to students with deficits in reading and math through our 21st Century After-School program, a state-grant-funded after-school program for third, fourth and fifth graders. Our Summer Reading Program, taking place this summer through a virtual model with our literacy coach, provides individualized and small-group instruction to rising second grade students who are a grade level behind in reading.
PES maintains its strong connection to the Pelion community because of tremendous support from local businesses and community groups. Partnerships with Shumpert’s IGA, Sweet Magnolias, Pelion Church of the Nazarene, Convent Baptist Church, Florence Baptist Church and the Lexington County Public Library are beneficial to our students and staff. A strong PTO along with local churches and community groups generously supports our efforts as well. An active connection to the other schools in our feeder system provides continuity for our families and a sense of unity for the entire community.
Our parenting program, a key element in our service to the Pelion community, uses groups such as Panther Moms and All Pro Dads to connect with our students’ parents and to enhance the sense of community. Newsletters and other publications keep parents informed and solicit their input concerning our programs. Special events such as Coding Showcases, book fairs, Family Movie Night, Veterans Breakfast, Books and Bingo, Family Winter Celebration and Math-a-Palooza Morning offer more activities to reach out to families.
In the fall, our teachers and staff members rode school buses in the afternoons to see the “hidden communities” in our rural areas of Pelion, giving them a deeper appreciation and understanding of our students and their families. Staff also visited homes after school through our Reading Patrol Night. Our literacy coach planned this event where staff would be invited to visit homes of our students to “catch” them reading. Students received books and other reading materials through these visits.
At PES, our philosophy is that families, school and community must work in partnership to provide the best possible learning environment for our students. We continue to dedicate ourselves to strengthening the Pelion community by enabling its children to learn and grow.
Debbie Poole, Principal
Stacy Brown, SIC Chair