Fairforest Elementary School takes pride in its unique approach to education, which is centered around the development of The Profile of the South Carolina Graduate's World-Class Skills and Life and Career Characteristics. The school’s motto, “Empowering Learners to SOAR,” is a call to action as we strive to foster a lifelong love of learning through our rigorous, STEAM-integrated curriculum that provides engaging and relevant science, technology, engineering, arts, and math learning experiences for all grade levels. These experiences build critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity skills, all while opening students’ minds to how their passions and understanding of the world can impact their lives and the lives of others. The school also provides tiered support daily to meet students’ academic, social, and emotional needs through our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Program that focuses on individual student growth and success. The critical eye by which we make all decisions regarding student achievement led the school to achieve AdvanceED STEM Certification in 2016, gain recognition as a Palmetto's Finest Finalist during the 2019-2020 school year, and receive the honor of being named the 2023 STEAM School of Excellence by Palmetto State Arts Education.
At Fairforest, we understand that education is not just about academics. Our character education program, overseen by our school guidance and clinical counselors, is designed to foster character-building behaviors in our students. This program includes role-play scenarios, problem-solving activities, and group projects during class guidance lessons. Our counselors also hold small group and individual sessions throughout the week with students in need of additional social and emotional skill development. All classrooms have a daily social-emotional lesson that celebrates the unique personalities and abilities of our students, with a focus on discovering their strengths. The school’s OLWEUS Bullying Prevention Program is utilized to teach common language for bully prevention and focuses on building positive relationships among students, teachers, and parents.
Students benefit from a technology-rich learning environment at Fairforest, with every child in kindergarten through fifth grade provided with a Chromebook for individualized learning and research. The Chromebooks and hands-on technology, such as Ozobots, Lego Robotics, and Makerspace, allow students to utilize innovative programs and practices, fostering college and career readiness skills of collaborating, exploring, problem-solving, and creating.
Fairforest Elementary School understands the crucial role the overall school community plays in the success of our students. Parents, community members, and volunteers are not just welcomed at the school but are integral to our continuous improvement. The school is proud to have thriving partnerships with businesses such as Michelin North American, Bonnie Plants, Broad River Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Spartanburg Humane Society. These relationships have allowed our students to interact and communicate with professional engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and project managers through various engaging, learning experiences.
The school is fortunate to have an active School Improvement Council (SIC) and Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) comprised of parents, community members, and school staff who focus on student needs and increasing parental engagement. The SIC meets quarterly to review school data, budget, and the annual Report to the Community as well as to review, monitor, and adjust our five-year strategic plan. Fairforest’s PTO meets several times throughout the year to review fundraising opportunities for our school, evaluate the success of fundraisers employed, analyze the PTO budget, and discuss ideas to increase family engagement through school-wide events. Events such as “Fam Jam Breakfast Event,” FES International Night,” “FES’s AHOY MATEY! STEAM and Literacy Night”, FES’s Open House – STEAM Night,” “FES’s PTO Holiday Family Festival,” and “FES Spring Carnival” were just a few of the school’s successful events this year.
Fairforest Elementary School is thankful for the continued support and encouragement provided by Spartanburg School District Six Board of Trustees, our Superintendent, the District’s Leadership Team, and the community. The school is aware that their support is instrumental in helping us achieve our goal of providing students with a quality education that helps prepare them to be successful students in the classroom and upstanding citizens in society.
Kerrie Kish, Principal
Carmen Levitt, SIC Chair
