The Profile of the SC Graduate serves as a compass for teachers to design engaging and meaningful learning experiences for 21st century learners. North Springs is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by acting upon three shared beliefs: 1) That our students come to us with individual experiences and ideas that form a foundation for learning; 2) That our teachers design authentic and purposeful learning experiences for all students to pursue their pathway of learning; 3) That our school and community are committed to working together to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship. By using the Profile of the SC Graduate as a guideline, North Springs developed CRICKET Traits (collaboration, responsibility, integrity, collaboration, kindness, effort, and talent).
Our theme,” Many crickets, many connections, one community” is evident in all we do to make our students, families, and stakeholders a connected community. All students have access to a myriad of enrichment activities and clubs, which include mentoring programs, a chess club, a technology team, a safety patrol, and media center helpers. We value service at North Springs Elementary. Giving back to our community helps students see needs and think beyond themselves to serve others. With that in mind, each homeroom provides a service to our school community, such as picking up litter, welcoming guests, watering plants, and collecting recycled materials in our school community. We have gifted and talented programs for second through fifth grade students. Our award winning school-within-a-school STEMS magnet program serves students in grades K-5 and focuses on the design process. STEM activities filter through the entire school. This year was the third annual STEM Field Day which provided a full day of integrated activities for all students in our school.
At North Springs, we understand the importance of social-emotional learning. Students participate in a daily CIRCLE time using the 7 Mindsets curriculum to develop connectedness with the school community and soft skills needed to be successful. We value engaging, relevant, and rigorous learning. Students are provided with the opportunity to collaborate and think critically while interacting with standards and curricula on a daily basis. Our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support allow us to meet the needs of all students. Programs like Response to Intervention (RTI) and the Cricket Academy provide students with the support needed to become successful learners. Our STEMS program focuses on the 4 C’s (collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity). Our teachers use culturally relevant practices with STEM-infused instruction.
North Springs has received several awards that align with the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate. We were named a Magnet Schools of America (MSA) distinguished school in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, MSA school of excellence (2015), MSA Certification, and Demonstration School (2017). We were named a school of excellence by the National Association of Professional Development Schools (2009 and 2014). In 2018, our STEMS Program received a grant in partnership with Shell Oil Company to design culturally relevant STEM-infused professional development for faculty and staff. Our Parent Teacher Organization, STEMS Parent Advisory Council, and the School Improvement Council allow us to achieve continued success and strong parent partnerships.
North Springs Elementary will continue to set high goals for improved student achievement and focus our attention on a safe and healthy environment by hiring and retaining a high-quality teaching staff while building our leaders. We look forward to many successes as we continue to educate ALL students to the highest levels of academic achievement and empower them to build their emotional, social, and physical well-being.
Rashad Adams, Principal