Kershaw Elementary is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through the collaborative efforts of teachers, support staff, students, families and community members. All stakeholders are committed to creating a student-centered, nurturing academic environment that recognizes the varying learning styles of our diverse population. As the Bulldogs, Kershaw Elementary strives to instill a future-focus as evidenced by our mission statement – “Building Upstanding Life-long Learners. Developing Optimistic Graduates.”
The KES vision is to become a globally competitive school that embraces change and risk- taking and promotes high expectations for ALL in order to effectively experience academic, social, and behavioral growth for each of our students as they prepare to meet the challenges, demands, and opportunities of the 21st century. Our school motto is: “Whatever it takes, our kids are worth it.” Kershaw Elementary is committed to a culture of excellence that engages students in rigorous, real-world experiences. KES provides challenging opportunities that allow our children to make mature choices that enhance their learning.
Building World Class Knowledge is an on-going effort for both adults and students of KES. Teachers continue to participate in targeted professional development focused on balanced literacy, math inquiry, comprehension and processes through the workshop model, the authentic integration of technology into the classroom, and the creation of student-centered engaging strategies. For our students, we have incorporated 1:1 technology in grades 4K through five, with all grades having access to our computer lab and wi-fi in all classrooms, expanding their learning experiences to escape rooms, virtual reality, virtual tours, technological pen pals, differentiated learning, mystery hangouts with classrooms across the nation and family/community-oriented engineering projects.
Honing World Class Skills is fundamental to the teamwork, communication and creativity promoted at KES. The literacy leadership team, common planning times, STEAM/FLEX schedule days, professional learning community collaboration and schoolwide procedures, coupled with consistent high expectations, reinforce our commitment to working together effectively. This expectation is now extending to our students through small-group instruction, student individual accountability data notebooks, the integration of technology and the arts, and a move towards becoming a STEAM school. KES continues a partnership with Heath Springs Elementary and the Town of Kershaw.
Enhancing Life and Career Characteristics is vital to fostering well-rounded citizens. KES has introduced and implemented the “7 Habits of Happy Kids” and the iLead Leadership Program as the foundation for building positive character traits that include interpersonal, intrapersonal and problem-solving skills. In addition, KES has hosted Parenting Partners, a monthly opportunity for families to engage in positive dialogue with and about their children. KES created a community mentoring program for struggling students through local churches, KARE of Kershaw, and upper grade level peers. Our students participated in the community’s “Share the Table,” a food conservation program that prevented waste at meals.
Kershaw Elementary is committed to a culture of excellence that engages students in rigorous, real-world experiences and provides challenging opportunities that allow our children to make choices that motivate and enhance their learning. Kershaw Elementary is on the move!
Kelli Overcash, Kershaw Elementary School Principal
Anna Croxton, Kershaw Elementary School Improvement Council Chairman
