Our school is assisting all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by promoting critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. Our warm, welcoming atmosphere and personal relationships support our school’s vision to provide opportunities to prepare tomorrow’s leaders today. Through innovative programs such as AVID ( Advancement Via Individual Determination) which has now become a district focus, Killian (KES) has been selected to conduct several showcases to serve as a model to various schools in the state of South Carolina. Students in grades K-2 will now experience AVID to allow a continuing experience as they are promoted in grades K-5. Our third through fifth grade classes are engaged with WICOR ( Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Reading) and are immersed in activities and tasks that help them to be college and career ready. Students in grades K-5 utilizes My Lexia on-line programs for literacy. In addition, students will utilize pathblazer for additional support, etc.
Our vast curriculum is designed around problem centered learning approaches through a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) focused curriculum. KES has a STEAM Lab in which students experience a variety of hands-on approaches to learning. In addition, many of our teachers have been trained with the PBL and blended learning model. Students in grades K-2 will utilize the Open Court Reading Program. This curriculum was implemented over the past three years to build a strong literacy foundation. During the 2022-2023 school year students in grades 3-5 will have “New Curriculum” adopted for literacy. Killian students enjoy half-day S.T.E.AM. days in which students are immersed in hands-on, minds- on activities that highlight the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These projects foster students’ creativity and help them realize their gifts and talents because becoming Premier Starts with them.
Our Leading Lions develop leadership attributes such as accountability, adaptability, initiative, communication, creativity and teamwork. We instill our “I Can” statements in our students from the beginning of the school year. These “I Can” statements are, “Lead by Example, Do your Personal Best, Consider Others’ Needs and Be a Team Player. It is our expectation that students practice these principles on a daily basis. In addition, our students participate in effective mentoring programs such Essence Pearls, Boys Leadership and Girls Leadership. Also, we host a College and Career Day with a focus on STEAM careers. Our students participate in Beta Club Service Learning Projects, Recycling Club, Killian Network News Show, and many more extracurricular clubs and activities. In the area of the Arts, the students have many productions to include The Wiz, The Lion King and Moana.
Students are assessed using a variety of formal and informal prescriptive and achievement measures including state assessments ( SC Ready, SC PASS), Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA), Mastery Connect Benchmarks and Easy CBM. Students are provided differentiated support and encouragement to excel
regardless of ability levels. KES has a Response to Intervention (RTI) plan that meets the diverse academic and social needs of students through intervention, acceleration and remediation. All school interventions will continue to be implemented for reading in grades K-5 by teachers using Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI). Killian added another Interventionist for grades 3-5 to support students in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Along with Richland School District, Killian will continue to address all safety issues with its stakeholders. As we continue to provide our students the “BEST” Engaging Learning Environment, teachers, staff and administration will focus on improving student achievement and engagement in a variety of ways. These high expectations will be met through hiring, retaining and providing meaningful professional development for Killian teachers. We are committed to our vision of “Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today” and strive to make this vision a reality for each of our students by discovering their Pathway for success.
Stacey M. Franklin, Principal
Kenisha Thompson School Improvement Chair
