Bonner Elementary is a rural school located nine miles northeast of Moncks Corner, SC. Our students come from nine different communities. The staff, students and volunteers provide an exceptional environment where children are provided a rich, arts integrated education.
Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by building great teams while integrating the arts. Many of these world class skills can be and are developed through an Arts Education. Each art form and our design standards focus on creating, presenting/performing, responding, and connecting, all of which require our students to communicate, collaborate, think critically, and be innovative. Each of our students in all grade levels have diverse learning experiences through performances and residencies. Students attend weekly classes for visual arts, music, theater, physical education and dance and visit our Media Center/Maker Space. We received South Carolina’s Arts in Basic Curriculum grant, Distinguished Arts Program grant and worked with “Engaging Creative Minds”. These programs provide opportunities for Artist in Residence to work with our students in the school setting. Our students maintain a school garden. Computer programs such as Reflex and IXL were purchased to enhance math fact fluency. ReadNQuiz provides opportunities to increase reading comprehension. Current technology includes 1:1 Chromebooks in 2nd – 5th grade classrooms, iPad's in K-1st grade classrooms, and one kindergarten computer lab to enrich classroom instruction. Our instructional programs provide opportunities to develop cooperation, improve problem-solving skills, and make learning enjoyable.
Arts enhanced instructional strategies engage students while allowing them to create and explore while integrating the arts into all subject areas. These initiatives allow a vast amount of experience that create incredible opportunities and life long memories. Our students and staff ended the year with an amazing annual spring performance of "Snow White". Parent and community volunteers are crucial to our success. The PTO board continues their efforts to support educational field trips through the Box Tops for Education Program. Our students traveled to the Gaillard Center, USS Yorktown, Bee City, and Cypress Gardens, just to name a few. These educational activities create a lifetime of memories for our students and their families. Through our shared purpose, vision, commitments and goals, the Bonner staff, parents, and community continue to work diligently to ensure success for all students. We are confident that our programs challenge and empower all students for success.
Melissa Willis, Principal
Whitney James, School Improvement Council
