Laurel Hill Primary continued to focus on critical thinking and creativity as we developed the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate for all students throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Critical thinking is essential in developing independent learners. The Bridges Math Curriculum, EL Curriculum, The Ongoing Assessment Project (OGAP) strategies, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) strategies, and Adaptive Digital Content (ADC) continued to be utilized to create differentiated learning opportunities for students. They allowed our teachers to pre-assess student skills and individualize instruction to meet student needs. Teachers also utilized adaptive digital resources to allow students opportunities to practice skills in both content areas. The EL curriculum helped with increased rigor and engagement in reading and writing. The modules and skills block provided opportunities for students to have access to complex and diverse text. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II and ESSER III grants funded two part-time reading intervention teachers who worked with kindergarten and second grade students, and one full-time certified math intervention teacher who worked with first and second grade students. Data in the spring of 2023 indicated positive growth in the areas of both math and reading across all grade levels due to targeted intervention provided through our intervention program. Finally, over 80 percent of our teachers recognized the benefits of LETRS training and are currently enrolled in or have completed the LETRS coursework.
In order to have the success we experienced this year, our teachers had to get creative. They worked together to optimize the learning environment by providing differentiated texts, implementing personalized learning, engaging students on digital learning platforms, and ensuring that all students were provided with the necessary resources to be successful. With student achievement in mind, we developed our programs to ensure all students made significant growth by the end of the school year.
Our 22-23 motto was “Best of the Best”. As we approach the 23-24 school year, we are committed to ensuring that all students receive the “Best of the Best” with instruction from highly qualified teachers so that all are on grade level in the area of reading by 2027.
Ashley Dorsey, Principal
Sharon Disher, SIC Chairperson
