Whitesville Elementary School (WES) is a Palmetto Silver Award Winning School that strives to ensure that all students develop world-class skills, as well as life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a quality instructional program. We accomplish this by focusing on deeper learning through the four Cs – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Students are encouraged to become responsible for their own learning by collaborating with others to think critically, problem solve and share ideas. We incorporate Personalized Learning to individualize learning for each student based on their individual strengths and promote an environment that is conducive to learning while building community support. The success of our students academically and socially is cultivated on the foundation of teacher preparation and parental involvement. As we continue to strive for excellence, the administrators and faculty continue to expand their expertise through professional development and provide dynamic learning experiences for the students.
Our goal is to continue to provide high quality learning opportunities to all of our students. We focused on strengthening our collaboration through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). The Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) of WES provides support for teachers by identifying individual needs and providing targeted intervention. Two Instructional Coaches provide support for teachers with struggling students, curriculum, and instruction. In addition, professional development is provided to increase student engagement and achievement. Technology is utilized by every student to enhance student learning, as we are a one-to-one device school. The WES staff, students, and community work extremely hard this year to grow academically. Through ESSER and Title I funds, we provided intensive academic recovery and remediation options for students with academic deficits.
At WES, we are proud to spotlight several programs, partnerships, and initiatives from the past school year. We focused on goal setting for academics, using i-Ready, and included behavior, using school and classroom expectations. To encourage growth, we celebrated student successes throughout the year and ended with a culminating SOAR event. Character Education and BCSD Work & Life Skills were imbedded in Morning Meetings throughout our school to emphasize valuable life skills. All students were exposed to the arts through cultural experiences and a rich integrated standards-based curriculum. Our arts initiative was supported through Engaging Creative Minds (ECM) and Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC).
Parent and community support are essential in creating a strong foundation. Post-pandemic, we have been able to strengthened our WATCH D.O.G.S volunteer program by welcoming 200 male role model volunteers into our school. They serve as mentors and supported students during the school day. We have continued our collaboration with Reading Partners and provided intervention for 33 students. Over 20 community volunteers mentored and tutored students.
Our school accepted the Medical University of South Carolina’s challenge to improve the wellness of students and staff. We believe a healthy body and mind makes learning possible, and we strive to produce well-rounded students. WES provided opportunities for students to participate in a variety of clubs and extra-curricular activities. We were pleased to sponsor Chorus, House Leadership, Trading Cards, Lego and Art Clubs. Next year, we plan to expand our offerings of clubs to explore students’ talents and interests.
We strive to challenge and empower our students to become productive 21st century citizens. Our students gain interpersonal skills, increase their global perspective, and have strengthen their self-directed learning skills. These foundational skills will prepare them for college and career readiness.
Mrs. Katie Taie, Principal
Mrs. Suzanne Johnson, School Improvement Council Chair
