Boulder Bluff Elementary strives to help all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a rigorous learning environment. that focus on the 4 C’s and leadership skills. In order to meet the academic and social needs of every student, our teachers placed an emphasis on leadership skills and the 4 C’s: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. All students in kindergarten through fifth grades received a personal learning device. Teachers used various digital platforms and software programs to deliver and support instruction. Teachers provided multiple opportunities for our students to express their creativity through the completion of projects. Collaboration was fostered during lessons in which students completed activities in pairs or groups virtually and in person.
This was our fifh year implementing “The Leader in Me” model. We are a Leader in Me Lighthouse School and received our Lighthouse renewal this school year. We continued to focus on setting academic and personal Wildly Important Goals (WIG’s). Math fact fluency was our school wide goal. We also had a goal of focusing on random sampling of key vocabulary words. Students met our school wide goal and received a weeklong celebration to celebrate their achievement.
Our school community set high expectations for all students and staff. Teachers modeled the importance of being life-long learners by receiving advanced degrees and participating in on-going staff development. In addition to our school based professional development, a Leader in Me consultant provided on-site virtual coaching which focused on continuing to grow our Empowering Instructional Strategies with 3i and an emphasis on vocabulary. The consultant met with teachers virtually during PLC and focused on four vocabulary strategies activities along with resources that teachers could use within their classroom. During our weekly grade level Professional Learning Communities, teachers discuss the standards, create common assessments, analyze student data, develop strategies for addressing student weaknesses, and plan rigorous lessons.
Our instructional programs provide opportunities for acceleration, remediation, and enrichment. Title I and district funds supported instruction by procuring resources in the areas of reading and math, instructional interventionists, additional technology, and family events. An emphasis was placed on math fact fluency, small group instruction, and goal setting. Students had access to various software programs such as Achieve3000, Lexia, SmartyAnts, Seesaw, and IXL. We continued to implement a structured Student-Driven Support System (SDSS) in which identified at-risk students in grades kindergarten through fifth received additional small group instruction in reading with the Read 180 program, LLI, and math with Do the Math program.
It is our vision that all students will take pride in becoming self-motivated, successful citizens. Therefore, we offered a variety of programs for students to participate in outside of academics such as monthly club meetings, Student Lighthouse Team, Broadcast on the Bluff, Looms of Love, Jump Rope for Heart, and Red Ribbon Week.
Boulder Bluff Elementary would not have been able to achieve its success without the aid of our wonderful community team. Our school has been fortunate to have an active PTO, an involved School Improvement Council, active volunteers, mentors, and local business partners. The Boulder Bluff Elementary family will continue to help every student reach their academic and leadership potential.
Andrea Salters, Principal
Brenda Howell, Chairperson, School Improvement Council
