The 2017-2018 school year at Ladson Elementary proved to be another successful year of learning. We continue to place academics and student achievement as priorities as we focus on helping students develop the world-class skills of life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Our school provides a safe, nurturing environment where students are academically challenged in grades 3-K through 4th. By promoting character development through regularly scheduled guidance classes and the implementation of our award-winning Positive Behavior Supports System that includes Anti-Bullying efforts, parents are ensured that students are safe while at school and we live up to our school vision of “Em’bark’ing on a successful future by Becoming a 21st century communicator, Actively problem solving, Reading and writing effectively, and Keeping a positive attitude.
We continue to implement new initiatives in an effort to enhance academic performance and create a culture of success in our school. This year we continued our participation with Engaging Creative Minds model in third and fourth grades. Students were exposed to various artists and forms of art to enhance the grade level curriculums. Our primary focus this year included teaching students to think critically and to support students to become personally responsible for his or her own learning through Personalized Learning and one-to-one instruction. This one-to-one instruction was made possible through the use of Chromebooks with learning platforms such as Edgenuity , Dreambox, and Lexia. These learning platforms and teacher support were provided by our district. In our ongoing focus on literacy, Ladson was provided Reading Interventionists who supported the reading progress of eligible students in order to meet the high-grade level expectations set forth by South Carolina’s Read to Succeed legislation. Teachers continued to develop strategies to enhance differentiation for our students in all subject areas. Our Kaleidoscope after school program joined our literacy effort by hosting homework help and an increased focus on literacy after school.
Our school provides involvement opportunities for our students in a gardening club, a recycling team, a Robotics Team, a “Can”struction team and a school-wide chorus. Our school includes an outdoor learning space that reinforces our effort to connect students to healthy living choices and learning to appreciate our Green Efforts to protect the environment. Each of these opportunities allows students to hone problem-solving strategies as well as offering the setting where students can build collaboration and teamwork skills that are so critically needed to be successful in any career.
Teams of teachers, our Literacy Coach and our Lead teacher met regularly to map curriculum and analyze student performance data to extend student learning and create differentiated lessons that are challenging enough to meet every students’ need. Fall to Spring MAP (Measures of Academic Performance) and Text Level growth data continue to demonstrate significant growth of our students in the area of reading. Teachers frequently conference with students to set learning goals, discuss the students’ strengths and weaknesses and reinforce strategies to help them continue to demonstrate his/her best ability.
We engaged our families and school community in the education process every chance we get through an annual Meet the Teacher/Open house, PTA meetings, Family reading and math nights and wellness seminars. Parents are kept informed through school agendas, school wide texts, and with media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Remind. With the leadership and support of our Parent Advocate, parents are linked with community resources and volunteer opportunities within the school. We look forward to establishing new alliances with business partners and volunteers. We welcome partnerships with Community members such as the local colleges, local and international businesses, and athletic associations.
At Ladson we believe that it is our charge to develop every aspect of a student to compete in today’s society. We will continue to focus on providing a safe, challenging and caring learning environment where academic excellence is expected every day.
Celeste Spires, Principal
Susan Moody, SIC Chair
