Through communication, collaboration, and creativity, applied via multiple modalities during a life-changing event for all stakeholders, Lugoff-Elgin Middle School assisted all students in developing world class skills and life and career characteristics represented in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate during the 2020-2021 school year.
The Kershaw County School District's Virtual Learning initiative allowed Lugoff-Elgin Middle School to take on the instructional and learning challenges presented by COVID-19. Having acquired a second year of eLearning experience during the 2019-2020 school year, we were able to capitalize on what we already knew to work together though the 2020-2021 school year as we taught in three ways: face-to-face, virtual live, and virtual self-paced. Students were able to collaborate to create projects and complete team activities throughout the year, and then they took that experience to use it to solve problems not just at school, but also from home when working virtually.
Communication became a focus to connect with students and teachers and to keep everyone motivated and engaged during the year for those unable to attend in person. Parents became more active in the instructional and learning processes, thereby gaining a broader understanding of what is involved in providing content to their children. Parents also gained a glimpse into their child’s learning experience. This partnership provided a broader view of the student’s educational journey, and it also illuminated how these three stakeholders, students, parents, and teachers, were affected by the shift to virtual collaboration between virtual students and face-to-face students. Consequently, teachers and parents were challenged to become innovative in finding measures to engage students and keep them active in instruction and learning, to harness more effective means of communication, and to celebrate successes in new ways.
During this extraordinary time, school administration and support services’ involvement in meeting students’ social-emotional needs changed. It became necessary to establish a new focus on determining mental health needs and providing them without the benefit of previously established face-to-face meetings for our virtual students. Additionally, striking a balance among teacher-parent, administrator-parent, and school counselor-parent contact became a priority. Methods of connecting with school personnel were regularly reflected upon and refined. For the benefit of our students, our growth in this area will be ever-changing.
Together with parents, community members, and business partners, Lugoff-Elgin Middle School continues to support and encourage students to develop world class skills and characteristics associated with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Students learn the value of collaboration, communication, and creativity as they participate in a variety of programs, courses, and activities at Lugoff-Elgin Middle School.
Bradley Brazell, School Improvement Council Chair
Gene Cameron, Principal
