Bennettsville Primary School is committed to helping all students develop the World Class Skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. We achieve this by focusing on Standards and Assessments, Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development, and our Learning Environment to ensure every child reaches his/her maximum growth potential. We emphasize life skills, learning skills, and media, information, and technology skills for all students.
Our lessons adhere to the South Carolina Standards for kindergarten through third grade, and we utilize Creative Curriculum for our Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. Students are assessed using NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), Gold, Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA), and SCReady tests. Second grade students take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the CogAT to measure cognitive development and academic aptitude for identifying academically gifted students.
To determine individual performance levels, Bennettsville Primary School administers the PAST, Progress Monitoring, and MAP Reading Fluency (NWEA) assessments at least three times a year. These results are used as baseline data to plan and implement individualized instruction during small group or one-on-one instructional sessions.
In addition to varied and individualized classroom instruction, our Title 1 school uses Waterford (Pre-K) and IXL (K-3rd) programs for individualized computer aided instruction in reading, math, social studies, and science. Each student is expected to spend a designated amount of time each week on these programs to develop technology skills and increase academic achievement in the content areas. To facilitate these expectations, we have a computer lab, and we provide one-to-one devices for all students.
Recognizing that reading is key to academic success and lifelong learning, Bennettsville Primary School uses the Science of Reading Literacy Framework as the foundation of all instruction. This framework emphasizes direct instruction in Phonological Awareness and Phonics. Shared, Guided, and Independent Reading and Writing components enhance all processing systems for better understanding. Science and social studies lessons are integrated daily within math and reading instruction.
Our highly qualified teachers have access to a wide variety of sustainable and relevant professional development. Teachers participate in weekly Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and data meetings in which they analyze student data to discover a “Problem of Instructional Practice”. Once the area of concern is identified, teachers research effective strategies to implement in the classroom. Our faculty has completed LETRs Volumes 1 and 2 Professional Development which strengthens literacy skills through deliberate instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics. All staff, both certified and classified, completed a two-year course study on Teaching Children of Poverty, which provided insights and strategies for working with students, and Vector Training at the beginning of the year which covers all safe schools modules, procedures, and protocols. All staff members are fully Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (P.B.I.S.) trained, with frequent reviews and implementations to ensure students know and practice the school's expectations. Students earn Dojo points that can be spent each month at the “Rainbow Shop” for incentives.
Bennettsville Primary School celebrates our students in numerous ways. Every nine weeks, Awards Day Ceremonies recognize Principal List, Honor Roll, and Perfect Attendance. We held a Science Fair in February with 281 projects submitted, awarding First, Second, and Third Place prizes at classroom, grade, and school levels. We had 60 students graduate from Pre-Kindergarten, which provides additional assistance and enrichment before kindergarten. Monthly Parent Meetings and Workshops integrate information with engaging parent/child activities.
Community involvement and good citizenship are emphasized at Bennettsville Primary School. We aim to teach our students to become productive citizens who give back to our community. Our talented Parent Educator heads all community events for the year. We collect school supplies and book bags from our stakeholders. At Thanksgiving, our students and staff collected over 5,340 items for our local shelter for Domestic Violence. At Christmas, the staff participated in the Cares Tree to supply Christmas gifts to needy families in the community. We also collected over $1,321 for March of Dimes.
By introducing our youngest students to the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, we are developing the next generation of positive and productive citizens who will be lifelong learners. As all stakeholders unite to create a strong support system, each child can begin to develop dreams that will lead them into a future of excellence. Bennettsville Primary School’s motto, “Where Dreams Begin,” exemplifies our efforts to establish strong foundations that will give children the confidence to achieve dreams that will positively impact their future and our world.
Gail Redding, Principal
Cameika Gurley, SIC Chairperson
