At Chester Park Elementary School of the Arts (CPESA) we are helping students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing our learners with differentiated instruction through the integration of arts in our core curriculum. We introduce our learners to multiple areas in the arts including dance, strings, visual art, and music. Through such experiences, we tap into various learning styles to present the content in an engaging and meaningful way. To ensure effective infusion, our teachers participate in differentiated professional development that is geared toward integrating the arts into the core curriculum. The aforementioned professional development is offered in the form of learning labs, peer observations, professional learning opportunities, professional book studies, external consultants, and teacher-led trainings.  We are proud to be an Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) and a Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) School for a number of years. We successfully went through the rigorous recertification process in 2020-21, allowing us an additional three years of essential grant funding and support to continued learning experiences for our students and faculty.

During the 2021-22 school year, teachers kindergarten through 3rd grade along with school level administrators embarked upon Language Essential for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training. LETRS is a professional development course that empowers educators to understand the science of reading.

Here at the Arts’ school, we have established a collaborative culture which is embedded into our school's instructional practices. Our teachers are engaged in weekly professional learning communities (PLCs) where they analyze and discuss data, examine the South Carolina State Standards, and share creative instructional strategies.

In addition, the use of technology is encouraged throughout the building to support our collaborative culture. Our Pre -Kindergarten classes are equipped with 1:1 Lenovo Think Pads sponsored by Waterford. Access to this technology allows students to engage in daily instructional family activities centered around the State’s Early Literacy initiative. In grades Kindergarten through fifth, students have access to 1:1 technology. Our school houses two computer labs and every classroom is equipped with an interactive Promethean board. Technology in our school is used to assist students as they access materials needed to support their learning.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our family events this school year were reduced to only Teacher Meet and Greet and the Family Literacy and Math Night drive-thru which gave families an opportunity to engage with teachers and staff. Teachers were creative in meeting with parents/guardians for conferences, including virtual conferences, phone conferences, or curbside conferences. Parenting and family engagement materials were replenished in the Parent & Family Engagement Resource Center. Each month, families could also participate in School Improvement Counsel (SIC) and Title I meetings virtually. A quarterly newsletter is sent home and additional information is available via the school website, Facebook, and automated phone messages through Blackboard Messenger.

 We are looking forward to the 2022-23 school year as we continue to cultivate a school of excellence through the arts.