James B. Edwards Elementary (JBE), The School of Global Leadership, helps students develop world-class skills and the life/career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing authentic, challenging, creative experiences in a supportive and engaging environment.
JBE is determined to think creatively and work hard to ensure all students grow as much as possible each academic year in order to get every student reading on or above grade level. Last year, first-grade teachers completed Orton Gillingham training to provide a multisensory, structured approach to decoding words and spelling as part of the core curriculum. All Kindergarten and second-grade teachers will be trained in Orton Gillingham in the upcoming year. Additionally, last year third through fifth-grade teachers began implementing EL Education’s English Language Arts curriculum, a resource that requires every student to have access to complex texts in order to develop reading, writing, and thinking skills at or above grade level. This coming year, JBE is expanding the curriculum to all Kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms.
We are proud that JBE students continued to attend French 2-3 times weekly, a frequency required to actually learn a second language and not just be exposed to a culture. This investment of time will yield powerful dividends. We know that learning a second language increases students’ cognitive ability which will increase success in all academic areas. We continue to strive for our goal to have students who have had French three times/week performing at a Novice-Mid to Intermediate-Low level based on the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards for World Language Proficiency (2019) by the end of 5th Grade. This would mean that the graduating JBE student will be able to communicate in spontaneous spoken or written conversation using a variety of practiced or memorized words, phrases, simple sentences, and questions. The student will be able to present information on both very familiar and everyday topics through spoken or written language.
JBE continued to implement the 2nd Step curriculum school-wide, which, along with JBE’s PBIS and Leadership Principles created a cohesive social, and emotional learning program providing all students with direct instruction in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills. These skills, which are developed and deepened year after year improve students’ ability to effectively engage in collaborative, authentic experiences.
The JBE House System continued to amp up the excitement, collaboration, and just a little competition in our community. Students worked hard to earn points for their House by displaying JBE leadership principles. A student from each homeroom was selected and honored as the Leader of the Month and students with perfect attendance were honored and rewarded and earned points for their House. The first Wednesday of each month was “College Wear Wednesday” helping all students visualize the possibility of attending college while earning points for their House.
JBE continued to provide authentic learning experiences to develop global leaders with strong character ready to serve their communities!
Robin Fountain, Principal
Karah Viola, SIC Chair
