Cherry Park Elementary School of Language Immersion is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe and secure environment, recruiting and retaining the best teachers, improving student achievement, fostering an effective school culture and communicating with all stakeholders. Last year, we recruited so many great staff members. James Ramere joined our staff as an additional assistant principal. Norma Vargas was hired as an English partner teacher in fifth grade and because she is bilingual, she will shift to become a Spanish teacher next fall. Ewa Leon joined our second grade team as a Spanish teacher and was very successful. Maxime Brizzard started the year as a third grade French teacher and had to leave us in the middle of the year. Carrie Missaggia took over the class at that point and did a great job with our students. Caroline Brouillet joined French teacher Manon Lopes as a French kindergarten assistant. We welcomed Meriam Polanco as a math instructional coach and Linh Le as an ESOL teacher. Marissa Holdaway taught music for half a day each day to support our related arts team. Maggie Feliciano Linares assisted in our UP3 class and Alex Mahoney was our part-time resource teacher. Each of these staff members contributed in such important ways to our students. This year we were awarded the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse designation. This recognition was determined by our students’ high academic achievement and quality school learning environment. Based on input from parents, students and staff, we met the criteria for each of the following areas: Student Focus and Support, Active Teaching and Learning, Leadership and Educational Vitality, School Organization and Culture, Technology Integration, School/Family/Community Partnerships, Challenging Standards and Curriculum, Professional Community and Indicators of Success. (Each of these areas of focus is based on effective schools research.) One reason why we were so successful was because of the supportive and positive culture at Cherry Park. Throughout the course of the year, parents, businesses, and the Parent Teacher Organization appreciated teachers by providing goodies and gifts. Their generosity, love and care were incredible sources of support for the staff. As a school, we completed a book study on The Energy Bus by John Gordon. We learned how we can be supportive and positive and the difference our attitudes and mindsets make every day. We took our next steps in working closely together to ensure all students will achieve at high levels. Our grade level teams collectively determined the learning targets, rigorous assessments, necessary interventions, and opportunities for acceleration for children. This work was done in Professional Learning Community meetings held on a weekly basis during teachers’ planning periods. In addition, our French and Spanish teachers further developed the second language literacy program which parallels our English language arts program. Students learn language and literacy skills in similar ways in both classes. At Cherry Park Elementary, we are changing the lives of children so they can go and change the world. We are so proud of our students, parents, staff and school family for coming together this year to ensure that teaching and learning were meaningful and relevant despite difficult circumstances. We are grateful and humbled by all our school family who worked together to help our children succeed.
