At Creek Bridge STEM Academy (CBSA), our focus is supporting students in developing the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. We grow creative, independent thinkers and problem solvers. Because of CBSA’s commitment to solid instruction, challenging academics, and personalized relationships and support, our students are prepared to contribute positively to society. At CBSA, we uphold our motto, “We are Committed, Balanced, Successful Achievers.”
During the 2022-2023 school year, we provided our students, staff, and school community many opportunities to create a STEM culture grounded on collaboration and inclusivity. Because of the evidence of such culture being built, CBSA was awarded the National Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence Points of Light School award. At CBSA, we also engulfed in the STEM certification process. The STEM certification reviewers shared very affirming comments about CBSA’s STEM and overall culture.
CBSA stresses the importance of reading and math skills to our students, staff, and parents. At CBSA, we are firm believers in “People over Programs.” We teach the standards and use programs as resources to help support those efforts. Our elementary students utilized Fountas and Pinnell Classroom, which equips students to be competent and successful readers. Our new math curriculum, Into Math, focused on building foundational math skills and challenging students with opportunities to extend mathematical practice. Students needing extra support in reading or math receive intervention services through Reading Recovery and Leveled Literacy Intervention. In math, students receive additional support through daily small-group instruction models. Our middle school students, who need extra help, receive additional daily support through a tiered system during small group instruction. Teachers engaged students in daily socio-emotional learning activities to support the behavioral, wellness, and academic needs of students.
At CBSA, we provided many opportunities for students to engage in tailored learning with immediate feedback for academic growth. We allowed students to take ownership of their knowledge and express their mastery of that learning. We believe students must discover how they learn to increase success. Students engaged in Personalized Learning experiences this year through choice boards and the iReady learning pathway. Students engaged in Text Dependent Analysis learning and practice during their ELA and social studies classes. MyWritingAccess allowed students to receive immediate feedback about their TDA writing to support growth.
This year, CBSA held many learning events. One of the students’ favorites was our “One Book, One School, One Day” event. Students read Because of Winn Dixie in one day. They completed a choice board that encompassed all content areas. In addition to our “One School, One Book, One Day” event, we also had family math and reading nights. We were able to share tools with parents that could support their student’s learning in math and reading. We also held a Parent University. At the Parent University, we could share with parents content review sites and activities by grade level to continue supporting students learning.
Creek Bridge is proud of our STEM initiatives and efforts for this school year. CBSA is equipped with a state-of-the-art STEM lab with 3-D printers and other maker materials. Through STEM, our students engage in the Engineering Design Process--creating drones, remote-controlled devices, solar ovens, robotics, and much more. This year, CBSA’s Robotics Team attended a competition in which they placed 2nd place. We are engulfed in STEM regularly through classroom integration and our weekly STEM Friday activities. We were excited about our STEM collaborations with our communities. We had a STEM Night and STEM Day. Both were very well attended. We have increased student engagement, as it relates to the ELEOT observation tool, by implementing the 4Cs. The 4Cs ask teachers to plan with collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking opportunities at the forefront of students’ learning practices.
CBSA continues to make great strides, but we acknowledge the necessity for continued academic growth. Our Instructional Leadership Team works actively with teachers through instructional coaching--planning, observing, modeling, and co-teaching to support student growth. Our instructional team can provide immediate growth feedback to teachers through the use of Classroom Mosaic. Our team monitors progress data and uses data to inform instructional decisions with teachers. In addition to instructional coaching, teachers participate in weekly common planning activities to promote teacher-driven, student-focused practices. Teachers also participate in biweekly Professional Development sessions designed based on student and teacher data. Teachers take an active role in making data-based instructional decisions and implementing promising instructional practices in every classroom. We are confident that continuing this level of support will lead to significant student growth and achievement.
Dr. LaShay Barksdale, Principal
Mr. Keith Godbolt, SIC President
