Our school maintains a focus on helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing rigorous and Arts-infused educational programs for students at Hilton Head Island Elementary School for the Creative Arts (HHIESCA), and for its annexed multi-age Daufuskie Island Elementary (DIES) satellite school. A collaborative relationship among teachers, an active PTO and School Improvement Council, and diverse community shareholders drives the implementation of the five-year strategic plan, supporting the whole child and the three-tiered South Carolina graduate profile-development of world-class knowledge, world-class skills and life and career characteristics.
World Class Knowledge is demonstrated at both school sites through the rigorous standards-based viable curriculum in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Integration of Arts-infused curriculum in collaboration with community shareholders provides evidence of authentic and meaningful learning across content. Specific partnerships include those held with the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, The Port Royal Sound Foundation, the Hilton Head Island Symphony Orchestra and the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation. Through the opportunities provided within these programs, teachers and children are immersed in academic learning and cultural experiences provided by experts and artisans from the community. Students receive world-class knowledge that will enable them to fine-hone skills of problem-solving and critical thinking while also applying characteristics of teamwork and interpersonal relationships. Professional development and implementation of inquiry-based learning and our commitment as a staff to facilitate a strong Arts-focused learning environment further supports evidence of achievement in the area of World Class Knowledge.
We are dedicated at both school sites to leading our students down the path of developing strong world class skills. In school year 2020-21, our school completed the recertification process for designation as a South Carolina Arts in the Basic Curriculum (ABC) site. We are recognized as an Arts-infused school of choice within Beaufort County School District, boasting a categorization as an Arts School of Distinction by the ABC Project. Our vision is inclusive of rigorous Arts lessons taught by instructors certified in the areas of Art, Music, Dance, and Drama/Theater. Our school works hand in hand with the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina to facilitate opportunities in which all classrooms at each grade level may work with an Artist in Residence on a unit of study directly correlating with the academic content standards taught at each level, as well as academic field trips to enhance student learning. Teachers receive training regarding best practices in Arts-infusion within the curriculum. Our experiences in the Arts support the research that student engagement through the Arts facilitates self-expression, collaboration, teamwork, and skills of creativity.
Our community-based partnerships create opportunities for students to study and become aware of history and culture of the local area, such as the February 2021 Gullah Festival held within the school for all grade levels, adapted to meet safety requirements of COVID-19 and provide virtual and socially distanced opportunities for learning to all students. During this event, students and the schoolwide community experienced Gullah story-telling; a STEAM lesson integrated Gullah history into the learning of how Tabby homes were built; Sweetgrass bracelet weaving; an interactive Gullah portrait workshop; a family passport activity centered on Gullah history activities within the local Lowcountry area; and Gullah Arts night for all school families.
Other opportunities include the establishment of Arts based clubs in the areas of instrumental and vocal music; theater; dance; and visual art. In June 2021, we hosted an Unmasking the Arts event in coordination with our annual BRAVO celebration of learning in which students engaged in different clubs were able to showcase their talents for parents and families within the school setting. Throughout this event, the school community viewed classroom science fair projects completed by all children of grades first through fifth with a focus area on inquiry and the use of the scientific method and problem-solving process.
As a school within a district that holds a 1:1 technology plan, students benefit from a technology-rich program. All students of grades K-5 at both sites are provided the opportunity to explore learning through use of technology, via iPads at the primary grade levels and laptops at the intermediate elementary levels. An Arts-infused Lego and STEAM Lab program is present within HHIESCA to create opportunities for students to plan, design, and experiment with models and creations. In addition to our Arts-centered clubs, students also participated in academic enrichment activities after school in the areas of Gardening, Math with Legos, Creative Writing, and Writing with Art.
The third tier of the Profile of the SC Graduate is the development of Life and Career Characteristics. In the 2020-21 school year, HHIESCA teachers continued practices surrounding the premise of responsiveness to the needs of a diverse learning community using techniques aligned with the Responsive Classroom approach of teaching universal expectations for maintaining a calm and safe classroom. Per the framework of this program, teachers facilitate daily classroom meetings focusing on maintaining high expectations for self and within a community of learners. Students are encouraged by teachers to learn the life skills of self-directing actions, utilizing a global perspective, and behaving with integrity. Our school has developed a committee dedicated to planning schoolwide initiatives through implementation of positive acknowledgements and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) for the achievements of students. The character education program in effect throughout Beaufort County School District is supported within HHIESCA and Daufuskie Island Elementary, as students are highlighted for demonstrating the monthly character traits exemplified through this program. All students are held to high standards and expectations to develop positive relationships and character traits demonstrating responsibility, perseverance, and positive work ethic. We are proud that two of our students were recognized at the district level during 2020-21 as the Hilton Head Cluster (Southern Beaufort County) Students of the Month for the character traits of Respect/Gratitude (November 2020) and Responsibility/Cooperation (May 2021).
We celebrate our continued progress within our Arts-infused school of choice, and are committed to the vision of providing a safe, nurturing, rigorous, and Arts-infused environment that will promote preparedness of all children for a successful future following graduation.
Pamela Lucas-Principal, Mike Quigley-SIC Chair-HHIESCA, Alana Adams - PTO President, HHIESCA, Erin Quinn - PTO President, DIES
