Belle Hall Elementary School is proud to have been recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2021! Our mission is to develop skilled, respected, independent seekers of knowledge possessing World Class Skills by providing them rich, diverse, and challenging experiences. The school population during this third pandemic-impacted year of 2021-22 was 650 students ranging from a Child Development program (four-year olds) through the 5th grade. The enrollment consists of 85% Caucasian and 15% minority students. Instructional programs include various inclusion-based special education services, fine arts exposure, adaptive digital content software learning, extended research project work and regular intervention groups for students needing academic assistance. Our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support team is based on a Response to Intervention model and meets weekly to identify, monitor and support students in need and address any achievement gaps. Unfortunately, COVID-19 health safety restrictions limited many of our regular activities including field trips, assemblies, guidance groups, chorus, recorder pipes ensembles and handbells team. We remain hopeful that those opportunities as well as swimming, tennis, running and basketball athletics will resume in full effect for 2022-23. An after-school Kaleidoscope program serves 125 students daily and offers additional extracurricular activities. Almost half of the 3rd through 5th grade students qualify for the school district’s Gifted and Talented program. Students develop effective Life and Career Characteristics through school-wide participation in monthly charity drives, wellness programs, diversity awareness campaigns, a Student Council, grant projects and career exploration activities. Our celebrated environmentally-aware Green Team features student-driven initiatives such as recycling, food composting and an interactive garden!
Students gain the World Class Skills and Life & Career Characteristics from the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate as we emphasize the acquisition of World Class Knowledge through rigorous academics based on the SC Curriculum Standards. This is evidenced by the most recent SC school report card data which reflects grades 3, 4 and 5 SC READY exam results, 4th grade SCPASS results and survey feedback from students, teachers and parents. Teachers emphasize critical-thinking and problem-solving skills via the Bridges math curriculum. Accordingly, on-going faculty professional development focuses on OGAP math instructional strategies training and the iReady digital learning and assessment programs in math and reading. To realize our school district’s goal of having all students reading on grade level by the end of 5th grade in 2027, intensive staff planning time and collaboration efforts are committed to implementing the new EL language arts curriculum. Additional resources are directed to support all students with rigorous differentiated core instruction, academic intervention and regular benchmark assessments in order to meet this target. The aim is to support and challenge each student at his/her learning level to produce strong and engaged readers who are prepared for success at the next level of their academic pathway.
Our school setting prioritizes security, safety and a nurturing environment that promotes character development through regularly scheduled guidance classes, the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum and a school-wide Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS) system. Numerous initiatives are facilitated by our proactive School Improvement Council and PTA! Historically, Belle Hall Elementary has strived to acknowledge our diversity, develop citizenship and enable every student to become a successful, fulfilled learner. This collective goal continues and its success will certainly be a direct result of our strong school community involvement and spirit.
Mr. Kevin Conklin, Principal
Ms. Ashley Condon, SIC Chair
