Eastside Elementary School continues extending students life long skills through Leader In Me. Students focus on determining a personal growth area, writing a goal, and celebrating achievement. Participating in these experiences cultivate world-class skills and life and career characteristics as outlined in the Profile of the Graduate. Eastside Elementary continues providing high quality educational leadership roles, club experiences, and performance opportunities. Our district mission guides our school in efforts to advocate for all students by allowing student voice when developing school, class, and personal mission statements.
Surveys from businesses indicate that ‘soft skills’ are vital for our community's graduates. These skills include communication, teamwork, and adaptability. In classrooms across our campus students are engaged in developing the ability to understand, express, and manage their emotions. A large emphasis is placed on forming and maintaining meaningful relationships with others. Through the use of multimedia resources, authentic school situations, and focused discussions students are able to rethink situations and determine a strategy to use next time. With the increase in social emotional learning and relationships the school has again seen a decrease in student discipline, a decrease in the percentage of chronic absenteeism, and an increase in the use of students’ voice in school decisions.
In an effort to improve students’ world class knowledge, Eastside continued to use best practice learning strategies with Leader in Me (LIM). LIM instructional practices support all areas of the world class skills South Carolina students need to succeed: creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, communication, information, media and technology, and knowing how to learn. Additionally, Eastside Elementary expanded partnerships with Clemson Extension, Davidson Street Baptist Church, Roper Mountain Science Center, Duke Power and the STEM Center.
Eastside Elementary continued its implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). Teachers and staff worked to embed PBIS, LIM, and Social Emotional Learning into all aspects of the school day. Students were recognized for displaying positive behavior and leadership skills. Additionally, students were encouraged to identify which leadership habit the student most improved on during the year.
To deepen individual student support through MTSS, Eastside Elementary staffed one and a half full time interventions. Students were served in reading, math, and behavior. MTSS meetings were strengthened by the increased collaboration of the team members.
As the vision of Laurens County School District 56 states, we strive to provide a learning environment where students become ethical and productive citizens by achieving excellence, embracing innovation, and forging new traditions.
Tanya Wilson, Principal
Jo White, SIC Chairperson
