Rocky Creek Elementary School is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by creating a safe, nurturing, learning culture of excellence. Our students acquire learning experiences in academics, arts, leadership and global citizenship. Through collaboration with our families and community members, RCES faculty and staff members strive to ensure that all of our Rangers grow to become self-directed learners, caring citizens and positive world-changers.
This year RCES partnered with Code To The Future to become one of South Carolina’s first Coding Science Immersion schools. Through this partnership, our students learn the fundamentals of computer coding as part of their daily curriculum. Our kindergarten through fifth grade students engaged in innovative block-based programming languages, robotics and text-based programming environments. Critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration were developed in all our students, and they were able to apply problem-solving and presentation skills through the experience of coding immersion.
Our students receive world-class knowledge from dedicated teachers who provide a rich curriculum based on the South Carolina state standards. In collaboration with their teachers, our Rangers create a positive vision of what they would like to accomplish academically, then purposefully drive to achieve their goals. We developed a comprehensive reading plan that immerses our students in a literacy-rich environment. Students are explicitly taught skills from Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study, and engage in authentic reading and writing activities to increase their proficiency. World-class knowledge of math is taught using the spiraling curriculum of Everyday Mathematics, which continually reinforces math concepts through concrete real-world examples. Our student-centered learning experiences require students to use critical thinking and problem-solving strategies in all academic areas. These educational experiences are designed to foster collaborative intellectual dialogue among students and teachers, as well as engage students in the meaningful practice of knowing how to learn.
We continually grow the positive school culture RCES has in place and develop student leaders through the Energy Bus for Schools Leadership Journey. This journey affords all stakeholders an opportunity to have a voice and choice through a shared leadership approach that incorporates seven common principles. It is through these principles that students learn about being responsible, taking initiative, self direction, perseverance, work ethic, and taking care of others and self.
At RCES, we realize that the meaningful integration of technology will prepare our students to become active, successful contributors to our 21st century society. Students are provided with a variety of digital tools which are integrated throughout the curriculum, affording students the opportunity to gather information, collaborate with others and creatively communicate their understanding of the content. Additionally, these digital tools allow students to receive individualized and differentiated instruction at a pace that suits the needs of each learner.
Beyond the core academic areas, we are committed to providing students with a variety of opportunities that develop the whole child. Students enhance their global perspective through their participation in our language and related arts classes. These classes allow students to grow their proficiency in Spanish, and develop an appreciation for art and music as well as the artists and musicians who create. Our physical education classes and after-school running clubs allow students to focus on improving personal health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. These physical activities also allow students to improve their interpersonal skills by being part of a team. And they help students learn the value of perseverance and a strong work ethic as they strive to achieve various athletic goals.
At RCES, students grow themselves as creators, innovators and problem-solvers by participating in a number of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) activities. Our Makerspace offers students a variety of opportunities to foster their passion to create and invent. A Family STEAM NIght was held to showcase the engaging, student-centered learning that can occur with this authentic form of learning.
Our students and staff also served our community by participating in a variety of individual and class service projects. Students participate in The Great Kindness Challenge each year. This year, we helped victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma in both Texas and Florida, volunteered and contributed to Relay For Life, held a canned food drive for Harvest Hope Food Bank and collected clothing items for Lexington Community and Interfaith Services (LICS), now known as Mission Lexington.
In collaboration with our PTA, SIC, families and community, RCES continues to provide our students with the academic knowledge and skills as well as the character traits necessary to meet the demands of the 21st century. Possession of these skills and traits will propel our students forward, toward a future with limitless opportunities.
Brenda Nichols, Principal
John Gagan, SIC Chair