In seeking to strengthen our provision of world-class knowledge through rigorous standards, Springdale Elementary’s teacher teams placed a renewed focus on working together to ensure students received a guaranteed and viable curriculum and mastered the essential skills and standards required for success at the next grade level. We began the year by digging deep into the district instructional plans and identifying the gaps in student learning. We shared the identified gaps with the teachers at the next grade level, so they could target the learning students missed in ELA and Math. Teacher teams meet weekly to discuss formative assessment data and monitor student performance to provide appropriate interventions and extensions of the learning. Our well-developed school-wide MTSS framework provided additional student support.
We’ve worked all the more to develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics students need to access the world-class knowledge coming to them in a variety of instructional models. Teachers utilized a blended learning model to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through the implementation of STEMScopes. Students honed their problem-solving skills to more effectively use technology, communicate with their teachers and others, and rely on perseverance and a strong work ethic to complete their school work. Building on their previous technology skills, students adeptly navigated Google Classroom, Google Meet, Dreambox, Seesaw, and a host of educational websites and platforms on their district-issued iPads and Chromebooks. Even though we are no longer providing instruction virtually, our teachers have continued modeling their commitment to life-long learning by further enhancing their use of instructional technology through collaboration and professional development in best practices.
Springdale remains devoted to developing the life and career characteristics described in the Profile of the SC Graduate. We continued our Dolphins D.I.V.E. behavior characteristics and recognition of individual students each quarter who exemplified showing Dignity, Interacting well with others, Valuing their education, and Encouraging self and others. Dolphin P.O.D.S. (Positive Outreach for Dedicated Students) met monthly to complete activities promoting positive choices, interpersonal skills, and creativity through STEM challenges and group discussions. Our administrators implemented a supplemental monthly character trait recognition opportunity, which highlighted students monthly from each class.
Springdale Baptist Church remained a strong partner in providing school supplies and weekly snack packs to our students. We were able to continue our after-school club sponsored by Springdale Baptist. We appreciate our close ties with the Town of Springdale and its offices, which are always willing to lend a helping hand. We continue to seek ways to improve as a school and appreciate the support and input from our School Improvement Council and active PTO.
In collaboration with our amazing PTO, Springdale was able to go back to hosting a myriad of events, among them Open House, Veterans Day parade, Books over Breakfast, Literacy Night, Fall Festival, Winter Market, STEAM Night, Glow Dance, quarterly Award Days, and others. During these events, students and families participated in hands-on activities to strengthen critical thinking skills and highlight home and school connections.
Thank you to our Springdale community for your support as we continue to strive toward excellence at Springdale Elementary. With students foremost in our minds as always, we will look ahead to next year ready to continue building world-class knowledge and skills, as well as life and career characteristics, for all our future graduates.
Annette Ariail, Principal
Jessica Dorn, SIC Chair