Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating opportunities to "light the way" in personal character, academics, and community service. We understand the importance of creating culturally relevant learning experiences, incorporating opportunites to use varied technology applications, and focusing on emotional intelligence components that will allow our students to value the diversity that exists in the world around us. Understanding the important relationship between the physical body and the brain, we continue to incorporate our key 9 Body-Brain Compatible Elements in each of our classrooms:
- Meaningful Content
- Mastery
- Movement
- Choice
- Collaboration
- Absence of Threat
- Adequate Time
- Immediate Feedback
- Enriched Environment
- *Being There Experiences for Students
Bookman Road Elementary has strived to maintain a tight-knit sense of community among families, students, and educators. Bookman Beacons know firsthand how impactful it is to have warm, motivated and innovative teachers “lighting the way” each day as they model LIFESKILLS in a nurturing and safe environment. We are proud of how comfortable and inviting our school is, and that our staff is supportive, friendly and efficient in meeting the needs of our students. Because of our unwavering efforts, Bookman Road was named a 2021 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence!
Meaningful content, in richness and relevance, is an integral component of our Bookman Road culture. Our school’s comforting nautical theme travels throughout the entire building, with seaside murals of sandy South Carolina dunes and authentic South Carolina artwork adorning our hallways. Our Seaside Café is a refreshing reinforcement of what we present in our classrooms, with LIFESKILLS and Lifelong Guidelines hand-painted in ocean-themed designs on the walls. Classrooms are designed in calm colors represented in earth tones—proven to be best for brain-based learning in helping to avoid distraction—and present a natural transition from the coast hallway art.
Our staff goals continue to focus on enhancing on our own personal character and social-emotional state; implementing the use of MasteryConnect to create short, ongoing formative assessments to guide instruction, and supporting our students with the use of AVID organizational and note taking strategies to foster greater responsibility and academic success. Our teachers and staff engage in constant data analysis to ensure that students have access to differentiated instruction to meet their unique and specific needs.
When the School Improvement Council (SIC) analyzed the feedback on past school report card surveys, a cohesive effort was placed on maintaining a positive climate and culture within the school. The journey of our School Improvement Council last year was to reinforce what we already knew and know, which is that our school is a reassuring Beacon of light for our students, our families, and our community. Our teachers and staff work diligently every day to ensure our students feel safe and our school environment is one which empowers the students’ ability to learn. The SIC Climate and Culture Initiative that encompassed the Light Keepers, Parent Forums, Teacher Lunches & Teacher Copy volunteering has continued to encourage and empower our teachers and staff. As a result of these efforts, our School Improvement Council was a 2021-2022 Finalist for the Dick and Tunky Riley Award for SIC excellence. We are hopeful that the initiatives and projects our SIC supports will not only continue, but will be continuously improved upon in order to maintain the climate and culture that make Bookman Road Elementary School a wonderful place to be.
Dr. Kendra J. Hill, Principal
Mrs. Faith Shehane, SIC Chair