Week in Pictures -
March 2, 2010
Ashley River Creative Arts
Kindergarteners at Ashley River Creative Arts participated in the National "Super Bowl of Caring" during the week of February 1- 5 collecting 240 cans of soup for the Lowcountry Food Bank. Collection boxes were placed in the hallways throughout the school. The students collected the soup cans daily and kept a running count all week. Congratulations to these kindergarteners for making a difference in our community!
Belle Hall Elementary
The Student Improvement Council at Belle Hall Elementary in Mt. Pleasant is partnering with the Teachers' Supply Closet to provide free crayons for other schools. Dave Manzi, Belle Hall's Student Improvement Council Chair, helped spearhead the collection and distribution of new crayons. Principal Kevin Conklin stated, “The enthusiasm and support towards this campaign is impressive, and our parents and students have embraced it with passion.”
Chicora School of Communications
Every other Friday, you can see magic happen at Chicora School of Communications as the school transforms its cafeteria into a poetry café. Jazz music can be heard playing in the background and a hush fills the room as students take turns coming up to the microphone to read poems. Chicora’s Poetry Café began as a way to enhance literacy, writing and public speaking for the students beyond the classroom. When first grade teacher Ms. Jefferson was asked what she likes about the Poetry Café she replied, “It gives me another opportunity to observe student reading levels, and the students are filled with such pride when they are able to master their poem. They love to share what they can read.”
James Simons Elementary
Members of the Columbia Marionette Theatre performed for kindergarten through third grade students at James Simons Elementary on Monday, February 22. Students learned about litter and how they can help keep their school and community clean. The theatre gave a riveting and dynamic performance incorporating hand puppets, marionettes and stick puppets.
St. Andrew's School of Math and Science
Third grade students at St. Andrew's School of Math and Science are participating in a Journey North global project. The Tulip Test Garden project invites students around the world to plant tulip bulbs, record data, and share results. All third grade classes designed two gardens, prepared the soil, and planted 150 bulbs. The students will track the season of spring around the globe by reporting when their tulips bloom.
St. James-Santee Elementary
On February 17, students from the College of Charleston performed the opera "Three Little Pigs" for Child Development through fifth grade students at St. James-Santee Elementary. The students enjoyed wonderful melodies from opera composed by Mozart. The moral of the story focused on literacy, as the wise pig went to the library to search for the best type of house to build. This event was a great motivational and learning experience for the students.
Stiles Point Elementary
Last quarter, the Student Council at Stiles Point Elementary sponsored two collection drives. Grades kindergarten, second, and fourth collected 147 toys for the Charleston County Foster Children's Association. These items were given to children who entered the foster care system. Grades first, third, and fifth collected 124 items for Pet Helpers, a local animal shelter located on James Island.
Stono Park Elementary
Family learning is fun at Stono Park Elementary. The school recently held its 2010 Family Math and Science Night, which was a huge success! Fourth and fifth grade students completed an individual science project while first and third grade students completed a class project. Families visited classrooms to play math games and participate in a typical day’s math lesson.
South Carolina Counseling Association Award
Dr. Anne Dukes, Assistant Principal at Hunley Park Elementary, received the Outstanding Administrator Award from The South Carolina Counseling Association on February 5, 2010. Dukes was nominated for this prestigious state award by Sarah Moody, guidance counselor at the school. This is the second state-level award for Hunley Park administrators this year. Moody was also recently congratulated by being choosen to attend the Superintendent's Breakfast.
TOP Celebration
Over 100 CCSD elementary and middle school teachers were honored during the Teacher Outstanding Performance (TOP) ceremony sponsored and funded by key business and community partners. The teachers were selected based on national comparison group data, and the students in TOP teacher classrooms make outstanding academic progress during the school year. There were 93 TOP teachers recognized from the 2008-2009 school year, with 18 repeating from the prior year. This year, the TOP program was expanded to middle schools, recognizing seven math teachers and 15 literacy teams.
