In 2025-26, the Pleasant Hill Elementary School family celebrated 20 years of “Preparing and Honoring Every Student.” Pleasant Hill Elementary School staff focused on World-Class Knowledge, World-Class Skills and Life and Career Characteristics as they “Guided all students to learn, grow and excel.” Our school’s theme for 2025-26 was “Teaming up to Learn,” and both students and staff collaborated with others to set goals, monitor progress and achieve at high levels. 

WORLD-CLASS KNOWLEDGE
Teachers received professional learning such as Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRS, training, OGAP (Ongoing Assessment Program) training and the Lexington One Vocabulary Clinic to enhance their ability to deliver rigorous instruction to all students. Teachers also met with i-Ready consultants several times during the year to analyze data and monitor students’ progress. Teachers collaborated with coaches to unpack the new math standards and to study the ELA standards in more depth. Teachers presented lessons with clear learning targets, and they used exit tickets to monitor students’ progress. To meet the needs of every learner, teachers worked with students in small groups and provided remediation and acceleration as needed. Through this intentional instruction, students developed not only strong academic knowledge but also the habits of independent learners. They learned to monitor their own progress, reflect on their growth and take ownership of achieving their learning goals. 

All students in our school receive instruction in Spanish related arts. They learn various concepts in Spanish, and they learn about the Spanish culture as well. All students also receive STEM instruction in our Innovation and Design Lab related arts. Students study the engineering design process, create projects and test hypotheses and refine their thinking through collaboration and problem-solving — skills emphasized in the Lexington One Graduate Profile. In their classrooms, students participate in science experiments as they learn science concepts.

Two classes in each grade level are dual-immersion language classes. Students receive their ELA and social studies instruction in English, and they receive their math and science instruction in Spanish. Students learn Spanish as they learn math and science. During the 2025-26 school year, we celebrated 20 years of dual-language immersion at PHES and in Lexington One. Our Spanish Immersion Parent Advisory Team (SIPAT) hosted Noche de Familia, and immersion students in each grade level presented a segment of the program, and Cameron Beckum, one of the students in the first 5K dual-immersion class when PHES opened in 2006, shared a special message in Spanish and English. 

WORLD-CLASS SKILLS
Every homeroom at Pleasant Hill Elementary School has a Service Learning Representative. These students collaborate to determine and implement school-wide service learning projects. Examples include hosting a coat drive, helping a local animal shelter and providing needed supplies for the Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter. A special event in 2025-26 included inviting all local first responders to drive through the PHES driveway on National First Responders Day so that students could greet them with thank you signs and present them with gift bags. Through these experiences, students developed leadership, collaboration and personal responsibility while learning that they can make meaningful contributions to their school and community.

Every homeroom at Pleasant Hill Elementary School also has a member  on our Principal’s Cabinet. During the Principal’s Cabinet meetings, students share ideas with administrators for improving school life at PHES. Students strengthen the Lexington One Graduate Profile attributes of communicator, creative problem-solver and responsible citizen as they share ideas, listen respectfully to others and help improve school life. 

Students in all grades create works of art during the school year, and each child has two to three pieces of artwork displayed at the PHEStival of Art in the spring. Families and community members are invited to view the amazing work of our elementary artists.

In 2025-26, every classroom in PHES received a new ViewSonic interactive board. These boards allow teachers to actively involve students as they integrate technology effectively into their instruction. Every student at Pleasant Hill Elementary School has an iPad, and students are taught how to use the device to acquire knowledge, collaborate with others and communicate with others. Students are also taught digital citizenship and the importance of being responsible. In the spring of 2026, the PHES School Improvement Council sponsored a workshop for parents/guardians entitled, “Power Up Your Parenting” Technology Night. Families attended sessions on the importance of limiting their child’s screen time, internet safety, utilizing AI in the classroom and exploring our new Viewsonic interactive boards in classrooms.

LIFE AND CAREER CHARACTERISTICS
Our students learn to persevere as they continuously increase their reading stamina, as they solve more challenging word problems and as they research information that is new to them. Our teachers help our students develop a growth mindset and to learn from their mistakes.

To help our students develop a global perspective, they learn about other countries and other cultures during Morning Meetings every month during the school year. Our PTA hosts an International Fair every spring. Our students and their families enjoy foods, dances, crafts and exhibits from countries around the world. In addition, our SIPAT sponsors “El Mercado”, a market featuring seven different Spanish-speaking countries, for all fifth graders in our school. 

To help our students understand careers, our school hosted a Career Day in April 2026. More than 50 presenters shared their careers with our students in 4K through grade 5, and our students dressed to represent the career they would like to pursue. Students gained an understanding of job requirements as well as essential skills needed to be successful in a career. Students also learned that success in any career depends on qualities such as integrity, responsibility, communication, collaboration, self-direction and a strong work ethic, skills that are central to the Lexington One Graduate Profile. 

Celebrations at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in 2025-26 include the following:

• Mary Elizabeth Copeland, teacher of third graders, was named PHES Teacher of the Year and a finalist for the Lexington County School District One Teacher of the Year.

• Heidi Wiser, library/instructional assistant, was named PHES Support Staff Member of the Year.

• Katy Schrodt, first grade teacher, was named the Early Childhood Induction Teacher of the Year for Lexington One.

• PHES was again recognized as a Certified Green Steps School and a Special Olympics Unified Champions School.

• PHES was recognized as a Palmetto Silver School of High Performance.

• Staff members were recognized for 10 years and 20 years of service in Lexington One.

• PHES participated in the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge and also received a grant from the American Heart Association to purchase equipment for physical education.

Margaret B. Mitchum, Principal
Lauren Cone, SIC Chair