Cyril B. Busbee Elementary School, a preK-5th grade Title I school, is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, and academically challenging teaching and learning environment through the implementation of our school’s Mission.
- Our mission is to be a community of leaders dedicated to recognizing the worth and potential in each student as we prepare them to be future ready leaders and life-long learners.
During the 2023-2024 school year, our school worked with intentionality to specifically focus on the following characteristics of the Profile: World Class Knowledge – rigorous standards in language arts and math for career and college readiness; World Class Skills – critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, communication, information, technology, knowing how to learn; and Life and Career Characteristics – integrity, self-direction, global perspective, perseverance, work ethic, and interpersonal skills.
To support our students in developing World Class Knowledge through rigorous standards in language arts and math for career and college readiness, teachers used data to both set goals and develop learning plans for students. To ensure that students were on track for continuous improvement, teachers progress monitored and further analyzed data in order to inform their instruction. Students were provided opportunities for World Class Skills through creativity and innovation during related arts and science instruction. Opportunities for working with others provided our students with real-world learning opportunities as they learned skills and characteristics such as problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork.
Our school district continued to equip our students to be future ready by initiating a one to one laptop initiative in kindergarten through twelfth grade. At Busbee Elementary, our students had previously used technology in their classrooms, in computer labs, and through the virtual learning platform. To their credit, students quickly acclimated to this learning platform. We are currently in the early stages of implementing a Blended Learning philosophy.
Busbee Elementary is proud of the opportunities that we offer to our students to support growth in Life and Career Characteristics such as integrity, self-direction, global perspective, perseverance, work ethic, and interpersonal skills. We have worked to infuse positive habits and character traits into each day. Students are recognized for demonstrating these positive habits through classroom recognition and for others in a monthly Bulldog Breakfast. Students often serve in leadership positions within classrooms or throughout the school such as school ambassadors during events, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee, and Clubs. Students are also chosen to participate in activities based on support needed – not just as a reward. Groups such as Paw Partners and Super Readers offer support for students to grow their interpersonal skills along with their academic skills. Service Learning Projects have also been successful for our school. Our school community comes together in big ways to collaborate with our students and model service to others. Busbee is also beginning the Leader In Me Process.
Many programs and activities at Busbee Elementary support students academically, behaviorally, socially, emotionally, and physically. These programs and activities include, but are not limited to; Voyager Intervention, Read 180/System 44, acceleration and remediation opportunities, Gifted and Talented, acGateway, technology integration, Spirit Weeks, Awards Day Programs, Bulldog Breakfast, Field Day, Field Trips, Unified Champions School, Parent Teacher Organization, School Improvement Council, Teacher Cadets, and Service Learning activities.
We truly appreciate the support that we receive from our community and district as we work to ensure that our students develop the World Class Knowledge, World Class Skills, and Life and Career Characteristics that they will need to become South Carolina high school graduates, life-long learners, and life-long Bulldog Leaders!
Mrs. Bridget Harter , Chair of the School Improvement Council
Jeffery A Matthews Principal
