Sand Hill Elementary School is committed to helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, and academically challenging learning environment. Our mission to learn, grow, and serve defines our instructional focus.
We ensure that our vision is realized by challenging our students and maintaining high expectations with rigor and relevance. Through an intense focus on building strong professional learning communities (PLCs) and continuous professional development, our talented teachers utilize best practices and effective instructional techniques to help students reach their full potential and become college and career ready.
With a continued focus on literacy, numeracy, and infusion of technology, our students develop 21st Century skills in critical thinking, decision making, and problem-solving that positively impact their world and future. Because of the diverse and changing population of students served at Sand Hill Elementary School, our school shifted from being a Title I school for the 2020-2021 school year to a non-Title I school for the 2021-2022 school year. Though we were not able to provide two full-time interventionists, we were able to provide a math/literacy coach for 4K-2. Using ESSER funding, our Sandpipers and all Dorchester District Two students reaped the benefits of having a K-5 math coach. We continued to utilize curriculum materials purchased the previous year to support reading and math instruction in small groups. We started the school year, as a district, with the theme of “Normal…with Caution,” but we almost immediately had to adjust due to the challenges associated with a rise in COVID across the state and country. Our teachers were flexible and continued to provide support for all our Sandpipers. Our district-wide one-to-one technology initiative made it possible for every student to utilize a digital device, allowing them to continue learning even if they had to be at home for a few days. Teachers continued incorporating the digital devices into their differentiated instruction rotations as they provided small group, targeted instruction.
The district implemented Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) as an interim benchmark assessment during the 2021-2022 school year. Sand Hill faculty and staff utilized this tool to do deep dives into data to inform instruction and academic improvement. Students and teachers were celebrated for growth and achievement, and we were able to begin to see students take ownership of their learning as they set goals for themselves and their academic performance. We have continued to use the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Rewards program, and our counseling department continues to provide support through classroom guidance lessons, small group counseling, and individual check-ins, as needed.
The faculty and staff of Sand Hill Elementary believe the school, family, and community must share the educational responsibility of our Sandpipers. We are grateful to all our stakeholders for their support in helping to develop our future South Carolina graduates and world leaders!
Ms. Francina Gerald, Principal
Mrs. Martina Smither, Chairperson, School Improvement Council
