Oak Grove Elementary School continued the motto of “Leading Today the Patriot Way.” This motto is the foundation of both our school culture and student learning. As a Lighthouse School of Leadership since 2014 through FranklinCovey, our staff and stakeholders believe that we are committed to providing an environment that promotes not only shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning, but also setting high expectations for all students by developing and empowering students as learners and leaders. Every child at OGES has the opportunity to be a leader in some capacity. It is our belief that leadership leads to success! In addition to our focus on leadership, OGES is helping all students develop the world-class knowledge, world-class skills, and life and career characteristics listed in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring learning center where staff, parents and the community learn and collaborate. All students at OGES achieve their maximum potential, become self-directed 21st century learners and leaders, and become highly effective global citizens.
World-class knowledge with rigorous standards in language arts are taught to all students through Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study in both Writing and Reading, using anchor charts and comprehension strategies to challenge our students. World-class knowledge with rigorous standards in math are taught through Everyday Mathematics, focusing on a spiral curriculum that continually reinforces abstract math concepts through concrete real-world applications. Student Learning Objectives are designed to promote rigorous standards in all subject areas.
OGES supports the world-class skills of creativity and innovation through the study of STEM with Engineering is Elementary providing practice in critical thinking and problem-solving. The use of Paideia Socratic seminars fosters critical and creative thinking as well as communication skills. The Socratic seminar is a collaborative intellectual dialogue that supports our students in knowing how to learn and teaches them to “Think first to Understand, then to be Understood.”
World-class skills of information, media and technology are taught through the use of iPads and MacBook Airs that support rigorous standards in language arts, math, fine arts, social studies and Spanish. The use of technology provides personalized learning, allowing students to make choices and participate in activities such as technology-based clubs. Technology is used in Response to Intervention to help students fill gaps in their learning. Teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving are accentuated through the continued implementation of the Leader in Me program. Students are taught the importance of valuing other people’s strengths, learning from them and seeking out others’ ideas to solve problems.
Life and career characteristics are also taught through the Leader in Me program. Students are taught integrity though lessons about being responsible, taking initiative and doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Self-direction, perseverance and work ethic are taught with Habit 3, Put First Things First, as well as spending time on things that are most important, setting priorities, making a schedule and following a plan. Interpersonal skills are addressed in Habit 4, Think Win-Win, through teaching compromise and alternatives during conflicts. Global perspectives are enhanced through the use of technology, foreign languages, Skyping and virtual field trips.
OGES’s vision is for all students to be productive leaders who excel as citizens in our global community. Our students will lead the way in becoming creative, caring, productive, multilingual, responsible and self-directed learners.
Sherry Cariens, Principal
Trisha Miller, SIC Chair
