The faculty and staff of Foster Park Elementary school genuinely believes in our mission: Excellence and Greater Learning for Every Student. This is evident in the day-to-day instruction, interactions, and activities that takes place in our school. Our TEAM prides themselves in providing our students with rigorous, standards-based instruction that not only leads to world-class knowledge, but helps our students develop integrity, perseverance, work ethic, and self-direction. The World Class Skills that we instill in our students is the catalyst that will propel them forward to a promising future as a South Carolina Graduate and a World Class Citizen.
Moreover, our TEAM at Foster Park believes in collaboration. We believe the best way to inspire teamwork and collaboration in our students is to be positive role models. As students stroll up and down the hallways each day, they see evidence of collaboration among our faculty: grade level meetings, co-teaching assignments, and IEP meetings. In addition, teachers are intentional in creating innovative lessons that not only provide opportunities for collaboration, but lessons that teach students how to think critically while working through real-life problems. Moreover, to further prepare our students for society, our Connections Teachers (Related Arts) offers standards-based, rigorous instruction through music, art integration, computer science, and physical education.
Furthermore, Foster Park Elementary School believes that the most successful schools have a strong- home school partnership. As a result, we regularly communicate with parents concerning their child’s progress via Remind, Newsletters, Phone Calls, Agendas, and SwiftReach. Also, throughout the year, parents were given opportunities to positively interact with our faculty and staff. For example, during the 2021-2022 school- year, our guidance counselor and reading coach conducted Parenting Workshops on Reading Strategies and Parenting Tips. Moreover, we hosted the following virtual and in-person Family Engagement Events: Goodies, Goblins, and Good Books, Book Character Parade, Christmas Drive-Thru Extravaganza, and We Knocked it Out of the Park Reading Event. Each of these events provided families with materials and tools to assist them with their child’s academics. Furthermore, the State Department of Education offered a Reading Strategies Workshop for 4K parents entitled “Working with Words.” This workshop provided students and parents with strategies to decode words, analyze word parts, and write and recognize words. Each of these events allowed parents and the Foster Park Faculty and Staff to come together in a non-threatening learning environment.
Additionally, our TEAM prides themselves on educating the whole child which means ensuring that they leave us with the life-skills that will transfer to middle school and beyond. Each day students recite the Eagle Pledge during the morning announcements. “I am an Eagle strong and Free. I am special and proud to be me. Honest and kind I will always be. Doing my best is the choice for me.” This pledge reinforces work ethic, integrity, self-direction, and perseverance-all life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. In addition, students are taught the importance of having a Growth Mindset, and how having a Growth Mindset is connected to the characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. For instance, students are taught the power of the word “yet” and its importance in perseverance and success. In addition, a Growth Mindset quote is read daily on the announcements. Furthermore, through individual and group presentations, students are given the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with their peers on innovative projects. Moreover, being a one-to-one district, has afforded our teachers with the opportunity to receive intensive professional development on how to use technology to enhance their instruction. Teachers used the knowledge gained in these trainings to build students’ technological skills-an integral skill for the 21st century.
The goal of Foster Park Elementary is to lay the foundation for students to become productive citizens. Through innovative, rigorous standards-based lessons in English language arts and math, students will continue to grow academically to reach their highest potential. Also, through differentiated instruction that meets the diverse needs of our students, the Team at Foster Park genuinely believes that we help provide Excellence and Greater Learning for Every Student.
Finally, we will continue to monitor and seek feedback from all stakeholders to ensure that we are providing and implementing the best programs that will assist our students in receiving a World-Class Education. Foster Park Elementary School’s faculty and staff is on a mission to become a World-Class School. With the continued support of our parents, district office personnel, the school board, the PTO, the School Improvement Council, and all stakeholders involved, we will continue to Ignite a Passion for Love and Learning in all students.
Dr. Fran M. Adams, Principal
Mrs. Kathryn Sommer-Gough, Assistant Principal
