Lake Carolina is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by focusing on the whole child. We utilize AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) best teaching practices across grade levels and settings that give students opportunities throughout the day to think critically, move, and collaborate at their needed level of support. Through such practices, we can keep our students focused on learning and our faculty and staff focused on instruction that will yield student growth. We provide additional assistance for learners that qualify for Response to Intervention which is tiered support in academics and behaviors. We intentionally use our instructional practices to elevate our students with rigorous strategies to ensure that all students grow at their level. We cater to the needs of our students not only within the classroom but also provide extra opportunities for social and emotional well-being by providing Yoga groups that meet once a week with our guidance counselor. 

We serve a large military population at Lake Carolina Lower. Our guidance counselor, with the support of the entire school, provides activities for students and parents, including a Veteran’s Day Parade to honor veterans and other activities, such as dedicating a week to celebrate those currently serving. 

We offered after-school clubs such as dance, soccer, karate, and gymnastics, and we hope to expand our after-school extra-curricular opportunities. Our Later Gator after-school program served approximately 70 children, and they were provided homework assistance, arts and crafts, and opportunities for organized play/sports.

We successfully taught our young students about friendship and empathy for others and the world around them through care and concern. Students participated in “The Great Kindness Challenge,” where students could receive a certificate highlighting their acts of kindness.  This year's service-learning project focused on an “Attitude of Gratitude” by hosting a canned drive to be donated to a local organization. We also take pride in continuing to serve as a Unified School to create and foster a more inclusive world of acceptance for all students. The School Improvement Council partnered with the Audubon Society to allow our students to experience the joy of nature by installing five bluebird houses to be observed, especially during the breeding season.  

Our Media Center, also known as the “Hub” of our school, encouraged the love of reading by collaborating with our community and our faculty and staff. Collaborating with our Reading Coach, the students were challenged to read different genres monthly. The students were engaged and excited to read! We were also excited to resume Field Studies to expose our students to a wide range of enrichment activities. 

Our equitable commitment to continuous improvement is paramount.  Building culture and community and teaching lifeskills and lifelong guidelines help make all children feel safe. Our efforts to teach kindness, friendship, and acceptance of differences will impact students in the future.   Through the efforts of our LSS (Learning Support Service)  Team, we continued to focus on the social and emotional needs of our students.  Lake Carolina Elementary also partners with the University of South Carolina as a Professional Development School. The University of South Carolina provided various opportunities for the administrative staff to be involved in their conversations on equity in education. We partnered with one of our local high schools, and the seniors served as mentors for some of our students.

We also returned to several events this year that had to be suspended due to COVID, including our community spring carnival, known as “Gator Fest.” It was a huge success; the great turnout was a testament to our sense of community. 

Due to the dedication and commitment of TEAM LCE and the support and pride of our diverse parents and community, our accolades are many. However, we truly cherish our sense of community where TOGETHER, we will continue to "sail beyond excellence" for ALL children at Lake Carolina Elementary School.

Jacqueline J. Norton, Principal/Emily Glenham, SIC Chairperson