Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, and academically challenging learning environment. Our school vision strives for a school culture that students and staff “learn today to lead tomorrow.” We demonstrate this vision by establishing an environment where our staff, students, parents, and community members work together to cultivate an atmosphere that promotes leadership, world-class skills, and life and career characteristics to be college and/or career ready.
In 2021 our 7 Mindsets Journey began and continues today. This journey is a multi-year approach to help our students to be happy and successful. The 7 Mindsets provide the foundation for lives filled with extraordinary meaning, fulfillment, and success on one’s own terms.
As a 7 Mindsets school, students and staff will embrace and practice 7 Mindsets that will provide them with the tools to problem solve, collaborate, communicate, and innovate – all the skills needed to be successful in the 21st century.
Below are the 7 Mindsets along with a brief description:
Mindset 1: Everything is Possible (Dream big, embrace creativity, and expect great results.)
Mindset 2: Passion First (Pursue your authentic talents and deepest interests.)
Mindset 3: We Are Connected (Explore the synergies in all relationships and learn to empower one another.)
Mindset 4: 100% Accountable (Choose to be responsible for your own happiness and success)
Mindset 5: Attitude of Gratitude (See the positives from every experience and be thankful for all you have)
Mindset 6: Live to Give (Inspire and serve others while maximizing your potential.)
Mindset 7: The Time is Now (Harness the power of this moment, and take purposeful action today.)
Our PGE teachers continue to seek ways to collaborate and grow professionally. The faculty participated in many professional development activities this year including 7 Mindsets Training, Read to Succeed courses, content area workshops, STEAM training, content area PLO’s offered by the State Department of Education, Research to Practice Institute, SCIRA Workshops, technology training sessions, and the South Carolina Early Childhood Conference. Eleven faculty members at Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School are National Board Certified teachers. Twenty-five (74%) teachers have earned Masters’ Degrees or higher.
Students at PGE experienced many learning opportunities for leadership. Third grade students serve as Library Helpers, assisting the media specialist in shelving books. Fifth grades students, co-host our morning news show. Fifth grade students also were selected to serve as our morning STAR Patrol. STAR Patrol assisted in school morning duties and modeled character skills for our younger students. We have several fifth graders who also serve as Peer Tutors and mentor our younger children in the morning during breakfast time. We have a committee of students who serve on our Welcoming Team. Their role is to take our new students around to give a tour of our building and make introductions to the staff who they will likely see. Lastly, our school has an active Student Council. The Student Council members are voted on by their homeroom class to represent them on the council who meets to discuss school celebrations and improvement suggestions.
Our school and students had many accomplishments this year. Our students were recognized at the end-of-the-year awards ceremony to celebrate academic achievements. Parents and community members attended to support our students and their achievements. Our students set individual and class reading goals this year which were celebrated each semester. Seventeen of our students had writing pieces published in the district writing anthology and were recognized at a District Writer’s Celebration. Ten students’ art pieces were selected for the Newberry County District Art Show. Our school archery team competed at district and state-level tournaments.
Parents and community members actively support our school. Communication with our stakeholders is a top priority. PGE is proud that 98% of our parents participated in parent-teacher conferences during this school year. Our PTO and School Improvement Council were very instrumental in providing input and supporting fundraising efforts that help to provide materials and supplies for our school. Parent volunteers, community members, churches, and civic organizations were also very supportive in providing for the needs of our students. Thirty-five PGE students took home food sacks every Friday as a part of our backpack program supported by local churches. Our community attended our annual Career Day to present and speak to our students about potential career options and interests.
Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School is thankful for the level of community and parental support. With their help, the faculty and staff are providing our students with the academic knowledge, skills, and character traits necessary to increase student readiness and meet the demands of the 21st century.
Mrs. Shannon Bundrick, SIC Chair
Mrs. Lindsey Folk, Principal
