Brockington Elementary Magnet School (BEMS) serves 320 students in grades three through five in Darlington, South Carolina. At BEMS, preparing students for the 21st-century world is a priority across the curriculum. Historically, our magnet program was an opportunity extended only to students who met specific criteria here in Darlington County School District. However, opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) should not be limited to the elite few. All students should have access to STEM programs regardless of their geographical location, gender, or socioeconomic status. Starting the 2022-2023 school year, BEMS will transform into a full magnet school, offering STEM learning opportunities to all students. Each student will receive a subject area syllabus. Just as in a college setting, the syllabus will be an outline of what is expected of the students in the course.
Plans have been made for continuous improvement in the areas of English language arts and mathematics for the 2022-2023 school year. In the math classroom, teachers will focus on small group instruction to meet the needs of each student and work towards building a strong foundation of number sense and mathematical concepts. In addition, students will also engage in problem-solving activities that provide real-world connections to what they are learning in the math classroom. By developing number sense, students are more equipped to take on challenging problems and make sense of them through the use of different strategies as outlined in the Standards of Mathematical Practice.
With the support of the ELA Instructional Coach, the ultimate goal of the English Language Arts department is to assist students in becoming proficient readers and writers who value literacy. Students are provided with different reading and writing opportunities that encourage them to think critically about texts and express their understanding of literacy through various writing experiences. In order to meet the individual needs of each student, learning is provided in whole and small group settings that allow each child to develop at their own pace.
We are proud of the merger of our positive behavior incentive program and what we call “The BEMS Economy.” After completing a job application and a successful job interview, students are able to obtain a school-level job as a Safety Patrol Officer, Jr. Custodian, Office Helper, and more. Through positive behavior and other incentives, students are able to earn money to be deposited in their electronic bank accounts. With their school-level “income”, they are able to pay their “bills” and participate in special programs and incentives.
BEMS is proud of the partnerships established with community agencies. We are grateful to the following local community partners who walk along beside us as we continue to produce productive citizens. Thank you to the following partners: Holt Bros Bar-B-Que of Darlington, Sonic of Darlington, Waffle House of Darlington, Epworth United Methodist Church, St. James United Methodist Church, New Jerusalem Apostolic Church of Jesus, Petco of Florence, Vanguard Financial, Harry’s Automotive of Darlington, My Ryderz Bike Club, Goodson’s Auto & Tire Service, Mod Carwash of Darlington, Palmetto Subs of Darlington and Eads Chiropractic Wellness Center.
Brockington Elementary Magnet School for Science and Technology strives for success through collaboration and hard work. Together, we aim to fulfill our mission to “prepare students to be college and/or career ready, meeting the demands of the 21st century.”
Ada O. Sindab, Principal Johnette Campos, BEMS PTO President
