During the 2025-2026 school year, Lake Murray Elementary School continued to foster growth for every child around the competencies outlined in the Lexington One Graduate Profile. We achieved this through our school wide theme of “Team Up for Success at LMES.” This theme served as a reminder that it takes all stakeholders working together to ensure the most optimal growth for our students. We continued our commitment to creating a positive and supportive learning environment through the implementation of our daily “morning meetings” and “closing circles.” Our team worked with students to set goals around each of the following competencies — knowledgeable, creative thinker and problem solver, independent learner, communicator, collaborator, future-ready literate, personally and socially responsible, kind and resilient. Students were able to showcase their strengths and identify areas where they would like to grow. Our teachers diligently worked to embed this learning through discourse, videos, activities, books, monthly class challenges and school-wide service learning. Our fourth and fifth grade students shared their learning through digital portfolios highlighting evidence for each competency. Students were celebrated each month during team huddles and during our Leader of the Month Celebration for exemplifying the attributes of each competency.
Nurturing leadership potential and personal growth in all students remains a central priority at LMES. In our kindergarten through third-grade classrooms, teachers rotate leadership opportunities to help younger students discover what it means to lead. For our fourth and fifth graders, we offer hands-on service roles through various leadership teams, including the news, gardening, announcement, navigator, book buddy, flag patrol, friendly helper, and student council groups. Guided by dedicated staff facilitators, these students play an active role in shaping a positive school culture. We aim for every student to leave LMES equipped with a strong toolkit of leadership qualities and a commitment to community service. We also love celebrating our students' daily character choices through our LMES Model Mariner cards. Everything we do is driven by our core motto: “Anchored in Leadership,Anchored in Learning, Anchored in Love.”
Lake Murray Elementary School demonstrates significant academic strengths, maintaining an “Excellent” rating in Academic Achievement with 83-85% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in ELA and Math, as reported on the 2024-2025 State Report Card. We remain committed to teaching the South Carolina State Standards to empower our students to learn, grow and excel. Our teachers collaborated with our instructional coaches to unpack the new ELA and Math curriculum frameworks. They planned using a backward design to ensure that all standards were covered. A gradual release structure allowed for explicit teaching, modeling, guided practice with teacher support, and independent application. To further support these achievements, teachers engaged in professional learning such as: LETRS training, OGAP, and a school wide focus on formative assessments. Data digs and learning walks helped identify areas of focus for continued opportunities for growth. Reflective PLCs allowed our teachers time to collaborate around identified areas for growth and provided time for intentional planning to ensure students received high quality differentiated instruction.
LMES is deeply fortunate to benefit from such unwavering community support. Our school thrives on the robust engagement of our School Improvement Council, PTA, and community partnerships. This investment in our students is exemplified by the LMES Mentor Program, Mariner Mates, which pairs adult mentors with students for weekly guidance and encouragement. Additionally, our Career Cafe mornings inspire third through fifth grade students by connecting them with guest speakers from diverse professional backgrounds. Our commitment to student well-being extends to strategic collaborations with local faith-based organizations, ensuring the provision of weekend snack packs and essential school supplies. Furthermore, our school counseling team actively connects families with vital mental health resources and holiday assistance programs as needed.
Beyond receiving support, we are dedicated to instilling a passion for service within our students. This year, the student body successfully organized a food drive for Mission Lexington, collected tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, and raised significant funds for the Special Olympics and Relay For Life. This vibrant, collaborative culture among stakeholders, families, and staff empowers LMES to deliver exceptional learning experiences and opportunities for every child.
As we celebrate our team efforts for the 2025-2026 school year, we remain committed to prioritizing what’s best for each individual child in hopes of developing self-directed, global citizens who lead and learn with love and excellence.
Leisa Clamp, Principal
Matthew Altman, SIC Chair
