James Island Elementary School (JIES) focuses on collaboration in everything we do with our students. Beginning with a productive interdisciplinary collaboration among our teaching staff, our teachers work together, both within and among different grade levels, on thematic units and family events such as Dr. Seuss Family Reading Night, our Prize Patrol “Get Caught Reading” program that incentivizes children to turn off their televisions and commit to reading books each evening for a week, and on Family Math and Science Night, an event that brings together the wider community. Collaboration also includes our teamwork with parents. Teachers, administrators, and parents work together to have family festivals and events such as the new Spring Fling and our annual Fun Run.
We collaborate to bring in the broader community through programs such as our local math buddies and reading buddies, special programs that are enhanced through our strong community relationships with local churches and other groups. Another collaboration with the community is our outreach to local real estate agents and professionals to ensure that they understand the spirit and strengths of our school. In partnership with other James Island schools, we have shared resources and provided our students with a smooth middle school transition by inviting alumni back to explain to our 5th grade students what they can expect. Finally, we have created a rich collaboration with our campus neighbor, the Charleston County Public Library.
As a STEAM school, JIES puts high value on creativity and arts education in all facets of our school life. Our understanding of creativity extends beyond the arts and into creative approaches to our academics. For example, in an initiative modeled after the Walk to Read program, we created a program that provides intervention by creating flexible and dynamic learning groups to strengthen students’ mastery of challenging areas. We have used creative planning to enhance our school into a healthy learning environment. Students and teachers express their creativity through new recipes featuring vegetables and novel combinations.
Our wellness team also encourages teachers to think creatively about classroom incentives instead of defaulting to sugary treats. In terms of artistic expression, we look for opportunities to bring the arts to all aspects of our school. For example, our 4th and 5th grade teachers work closely with our art teachers to develop synergistic projects that weave art and academic curricula together via science and social studies units. At the end of the year, students sculpt animals chosen during the ecology unit in their science standards and incorporate key natural history elements. Another showcase for creative expression is the talent show. This is an event that brings staff, parents, and community together to celebrate the many pathways to creativity, from those who plan and decorate to the performers who present music, poetry, and dance!
Jonetta Gregory, Principal
Jody Longo, SIC Co-Chair
Jessica Norris, SIC Co-Chair