Heath Springs Elementary School is committed to helping all students develop the World Class Skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the SC Graduate by providing opportunities for students to master grade level standards across the curriculum through project or problem based learning experiences. We provide these experiences through an implementation of our school vision: Change Your Mindset, Expand Your World! We demonstrate this vision by challenging our students with best practices and professional development for our teachers. These learning experiences will emphasize STEAM activities, encourage creativity, innovation, critical thinking and collaboration. These experiences will also promote self-direction, perseverance, tolerance and a positive work ethic as new windows are opened to global perspective. We have a STEAM lab which includes a science lab, drama room with a dance floor, and pottery room. Teachers use the state STEAM Continuum to evaluate and plan for improvements in our STEAM initiative each year. We have two computer labs, computers in the classrooms, and are one-to-one in 4K--5th grades. We facilitate the development of engineering and math through opportunities with building and design activities with LEGO blocks and sets, KEVA planks, project design, and coding.
Heath Springs Elementary School’s curriculum emphasizes the whole child education, reading and writing across the curriculum, and the response to intervention (RTI) protocol. Our faculty and staff study and use data results to develop instructional goals and plans to meet each and every child’s needs. In the 2022-2023 school year, Heath Springs Elementary served 356 students in Prekindergarten to Grade 5, with 46 percent being female and 54 percent being male. Approximately 72% percent of our faculty members had advanced degrees. HSE determined strategic steps to follow a multi-tiered system of support in order to meet the needs of all students. The MTSS process ensured that students’ academic needs, as well as, social and emotional needs were addressed. Students that were not responding to tier 2 and tier 3 instruction in the classroom, began the referral process. These students were referred to our MTSS Leadership team and had speech, hearing, and vision screenings. Once health screening were passed, the student was assessed by the MTSS interventionist using Spire and FastBridge as they began intense interventions for 6 weeks. Based on the intervention data, the team determined if the student would continue interventions in the classroom or move forward to further testing with the school psychologist.
In the spring of 2022, Health Springs Elementary students scored 39.2 percent meets or exceeds in math on SC READY (compared to a state average of 38.9 percent and district average of 45.5 percent). Meanwhile, 38.6 percent of students reached the same level in SC Ready ELA (compared to a district average of 47.9 percent and a state average of 46.6 percent). 49.0% of students scored meets or exceeds in SC PASS Science (compared to a district average of 47.2 percent and state average of 46.0 percent.)
We are an arts infused school. We receive funding through ABC-Arts In Basic Curriculum and DAP-Distinguished Arts Program grants. The teachers coordinate opportunities for the arts to be blended across the curriculum. We had two drama productions in 22-23. Mrs. Leis, our music teacher, produced and directed our 3rd-5th graders as they performed Grumps of Ring-A-Ding Town and K-2nd graders performed It’s A Jungle Out There. . Mrs. Gardner, our art teacher, along with a student stage crew directed the stage set and design. We had artists in residency which included Vicky McLain with oil paintings for grades k-5, Caroline Hoadley and dance with 4th grade,, Porkchop Productions as well as artist Bob Doster. We applied for and received certification as an ABC Arts School in March, 2022.
[1] “Home.” Heath Springs Elementary School. http://hses.lancastercsd.com/
