Meadow Glen Elementary School is helping all students develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating a culture of critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. We entered a year unlike any we had experienced before with a motto to Believe. Work. Grow… We are CREW. Our expectation regarding this year has been: through cooperation and creativity, we will work as a community to best support our young learners. By living the Lexington District One vision to Empower each child to design the future, we can and will develop individuals who will be the change we wish to see in the world (Gandhi).
The 2020–21 school year began with students learning in school and at home, and the need to grow as educators to implement innovative practices that meet the needs of our students. A dedicated professional focus was placed on understanding individual student needs and designing lessons that would empower students to learn and grow. As we recognized that we also needed support in social/emotional, physical and cultural development, a focus was placed on creating structures and opportunities to support students and staff.
“…has not only flourished in his reading and academics in general under her instruction, but I have had zero questions about the level of care that she has provided him for socially and emotionally as well.” —Parent
“…you [students] do it in the hope of seeing your classmates grow and excel like you. This is what leadership is all about — using your skills to help those around you become the best that they can be.” —Grade three teacher to students
Through our partnership with EL Education, MGES focuses on core practices and design principles that promote mastery of knowledge and skills, high levels of character and leadership, and the production of high-quality work in every classroom.
Committed in our approach and dedicated to the progress of all students, we made adjustments at home and at school. Teachers at each grade level taught our LOOLA (online learning) students while teachers in the building figured out how to build a classroom community while wearing masks, social distancing and following other safety protocols. We learned that we are resilient and can overcome challenges unlike anything we have faced before. Students and teachers successfully implemented 1:1 technology with iPads and Chromebooks, using learning platforms such as Seesaw, Google Classroom and Zoom. This allowed for more equitable access to instruction for all students. Our second year of student-led conferencing in grades K–5 added a technology component to our conversations around growth and next steps. CREW, in collaboration with our counselors, continued to be an important part of our day as we focused on the social and emotional needs of all students and staff. Participation in Linking Lexington, Kids Heart Challenge and Mission Lexington collections deepened our leadership through an ethic of service. We learned about ourselves and others as we celebrated Chinese New Year with our immersion students, and Asian American/Pacific Islander month with interesting facts from some of our own MGES students and staff. These are just a few of the many opportunities we took to learn about each other and the world around us.
It’s wonderful to see that the school appreciates and honors [qualities that are not just academic]. After all, kindness, respect, humility and empathy [are] paramount, and I am so happy and thankful to you all that our kids are learning that early on. MGES is excellent and I am so proud that [my child] goes there! —Parent
MGES believes our vision is to see, hear and experience life from various angles, allowing us a limitless future as we explore the world. As we Empower each child to design the future, our Explorers exemplify characteristics of young learners and leaders.
Jennifer McNair, Principal
Jennifer Gessner, SIC Chair
