White Knoll Elementary School is helping all students develop the world-class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating an environment that promotes rigorous instruction along with engaging activities to produce students who think critically and are able to solve problems collaboratively. The teachers of WKE are committed to ongoing analysis of assessments and classroom data to enable them to plan instruction and reach individual needs with a clear purpose.
As a school, doing what’s best for students continue to be our guiding statement. We are dedicated to serving our students and their families in making significant achievement gains to prepare them for the next level. During our professional learning time, called “Collaborative Conversations,” research-based strategies are discussed through vertical articulation teams. We utilize our instructional coaches and our interventionists to facilitate discussions to generate ideas for teachers so they yield the most academic gains in their classrooms.
At WKE we are cultivating leaders who celebrate the “Wonder” in all. Students studied Mr. Browne’s Precepts in the book “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. These precepts are important quotes or ideas that help students make important decisions based on kindness. This year, all members of the WKE faculty were given the picture book “We’re All Wonders” to use a foundation to make connections from all areas of the curriculum of acceptance of diversity and kindness. Students were recognized for their acts of kindness this year through our Kindness Cubs. Each Cub was given a button to add to our Cultivating Kindness Tree located in the atrium.
The faculty and staff at WKE established “Cultivating Kindness” as an overall theme this year. It is important to the faculty and staff to build genuine relationships with all students as a foundation for stronger classroom structures. To do this, we embedded “Love and Logic” strategies by Jim Fay in our classrooms and school to reinforce students’ self-concept, responsibility and choice. Giving to the community is one way students can develop their self-concept. WKE provided many ways students could support our community. Students participated in our annual Jump Rope For Heart, Relay For Life, honored many Veterans with a Veterans Day celebration breakfast, donated books for a book-sharing library, made cards for our community nursing home and donated food items for LICS (now Mission Lexington).
WKE was chosen as one of three schools in the state to partner with Code to the Future to implement computer science immersion across grades K–5. During 2017–2018, our students completed three coding cycles — Scratch, Legos and Minecraft. In cycle 1, students learned block-based coding. Cycle 2 showcased students working on analog activities to build and program robots. Students learned text based coding with Javascript during cycle 3. Students participated in building demonstrations of learning with culminating projects, which were presented as Epic Build Showcases and keynotes for parents, district leaders and community members. Along with learning to code, students continually practiced the four C’s of critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
Teachers are provided professional learning with our instructional coaches to build rigorous and engaging standards-based lessons. Through this professional learning, additional resources were needed for the successful implementation of our curriculum. Our PTO and community worked with school officials and students to generate more than $10,000 through their annual fundraising event. These funds were used to purchase additional resources for classroom libraries to reach the varying needs and interests of our students. We continue to involve our parents and community members by hosting events such as Muffins for Moms, Donuts for Dads, Reading Prize Patrol and Skate Night. Parents and community are an integral component of our school’s success.
WKE will continue to help all students develop the world-class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by nurturing a rich, positive school culture which sets high expectations for our students to excel. Our families and community will continue to be proud to support our motto: WKES — Where Leading and Learning Connect.
Nicole Mitchell, Principal
Ciara Hills, SIC Chair