SC Report Card Summary: Bethel Elementary
Bethel Elementary School has 354 students; grades Prek to 5th, two administrators, 37 teachers, and 32 staff members. The mission of Bethel Elementary, in partnership with the parents and community, is to prepare students to become productive, confident, and responsible citizens by creating a safe, friendly, child-centered environment that effectively addresses the social, emotional, and intellectual needs of each child.
School Celebrations
A review of our most recent school achievement data/extracurricular opportunities has given us a reason to celebrate. Those achievements and opportunities include:
1.) SCReady preliminary data shows that overall percentage of students achieving met/exceeded in ELA increase 4% from 2022 to 68.4% in 2023. 2.) We also implemented iReady pathways and diagnostic testing. The iReady data showed 80% of students K-5 performed on or above grade level in ELA, and 77% performed on or above grade level in Math. 3.) Our school has opportunities outside of the classroom to grow the whole child: Student-run television news show (WBET) and Student House Council 4.) Our school's Fine Arts Department represented us well at District and School Art Show.
Primary Goals
To accomplish our mission, Bethel Elementary has the following primary goals:
1.)Improve the academic achievement of all students by increasing the total percentage of students reaching Meets and Exceeds on the SC Ready ELA assessment from 64.5% to 70% by 2025. 2.)Improve the academic achievement of all students by increasing the total percentage of students reaching Meets and Exceeds on the SC Ready Math assessment from 64.5% to 70% by 2025. 3.)Provide a physically, socially and academically nurturing environment for all students, staff, and stakeholders by increasing the percentage of parents satisfied with home-school relations from 82.3% to 87.3% by 2025. 4.)Strengthen the professional knowledge and leadership capacity of the school by increasing the percentage of certified personnel holding advanced degrees from 66.7% in 2021 to 71.7% in 2025. 5.)Increase the academic achievement of students with disabilities by increasing the total percentage of students who meets or exceeds expectations on SCREADY Math from 11.8% to 15% in 2025.
Key Strategies:
Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through strategies that integrate critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity:
Academic Excellence
Personalized Learning
Implement an educational framework that supports all students by fostering student ownership of learning, developing learner profiles and learning pathways, and adopting flexible learning environments. Each student's educational experience is tailored to meet his or her unique strengths, needs, and goals.
Project-Based Learning
Implement Project-Based Learning to help students build 21st-century skills needed to succeed and develop students' capacity for critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
MTSS/RTI
Implement a multi-tiered framework promoting school improvement through engaging, evidence-based academic and behavioral practices. Meet monthly to review student progress and utilize data-driven problem solving to maximize growth for all.
RISE/RISE UP Groups
Develop RISE/RISE UP time within the master schedule to target reading instruction in grades 1st-5th. Students will engage in remediation or enrichment instruction in reading from a specialized reading teacher.
Community Feeling
House System
The house system is an idea adopted from Ron Clark Academy to give students the opportunity to connect with students across classes and grades that they may not normally have a chance to interact with. This helps students gain more friendships and create a family-like culture at our school.
TEAM Time
Provide "Together Everyone Achieves More" time within the master schedule to allow for flexible grouping of students across the grade level. During this time, students will be engaged in data-driven remediation or enrichment instruction.
PLC Meeting
Provide time within the Master Schedule for teachers to meet as a Professional Learning Team to collaborate, reflect on data for flex grouping opportunities, data-driven instruction, and create engaging lessons for students.
Webpage/Canvas
Staff will update their webpage with the current grade level and teaching assignment. Our teachers will include a link to their Canvas page. The Canvas page should be updated regularly for students and parents to access.
Embracing Change/Taking Risks
Morning Meeting
Morning Meeting sets the tone for respectful learning, trust, cooperation, problem solving, and a sense of community in the classroom.
SEL- Second Step
SEL also helps create a positive school climate and build community where students and adults can thrive together, improving educational and social-emotional outcomes. We will use the Morning Meeting time to complete short daily activities.
Productive Citizens
SOAR Behavior Matrix
Implement a PBIS Matrix of expectations to encourage good behavior. Communicated the contents of the behavior matrix to students and parents early in the school year through assemblies and guided practice with the classroom teacher and the use of colorful posters, consistent feedback, and reteaching.
Virtual Student Portfolios
Develop virtual student portfolios to empower students' ownership of their learning. Students will utilize the portfolio to organize processes for learning and document their progress. Students will write academic and personal goals to capture short-term gains and to motivate themselves to achieve long-range goals. Students will reflect on goal progress weekly and adjust goals as needed.
Student Agenda
Implement student agendas to empower students to become accountable for their learning. Students will utilize the agendas to keep track of assignments, test dates, notable events, and word lists.
Classroom Dojo/RCA House App
Implement the use of Classroom Dojo as a PBIS incentive program. Teachers will work with students to create classroom rules/expectations that align with the school-wide expectations. Students will also assist teachers in creating a list of incentives that they would like to earn. Parents will receive daily notifications of students' behavior.
Professional Development
Professional development efforts focused on building an understanding of Personalized Learning and student ownership. Many staff members attended the district’s summer mini-conference on personalized learning. We also had several staff members attend the RCA experience over the last couple of years, and our Administration attended the RCA two-day conference for administrators. Throughout the year, we provide our teachers with personalized monthly professional development based on their individual or grade-level needs.
Parent and Community Engagement
Our school PTO and parent volunteers have given their time, ideas, and energy to make this year memorable for all our students. They have assisted with the following events and activities: PTO Grants to teachers, Step It Up Kids Fundraiser, Book Fair, 5th Grade Fun Day, and Curriculum/Literacy Night. Our Student House Council was active in helping build community connections by raising money for Moped to Memphis, Cystic Fibrosis Run, Holiday Treat bags for Brookdale Assistant Living, Socks and Underwear Drive for the local shelter, and the Pet Drive. They also held a Penny War to help earn money to purchase soccer goals for our school, helped lead Kindness Week, and facilitated the Test Pep Rally. We are excited to continue to have such active community engagement paired with high parent involvement.
