The 2018-2019 school year was another successful and exciting time for our Carlisle-Foster’s Grove Cubbies. An innovative, nurturing, creative and collaborative school, Carlisle- Foster’sGrove Elementary is a place where faculty, administrators, district personnel, students and community work collaboratively to provide a safe learning environment where excellence and success are experienced. Our instructional vision and focus provide the leverage for our students to develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, which enable them to be college, career, and citizenship ready.
Our Teaching and Learning Teams (TLTs) have a great impact on student achievement as teachers participate in weekly focused, data-driven meetings using common formative assessments. Analysis of data plays a critical part in planning and differentiating instruction during our Teaching and Learning Teams. Our instruction is focused on differentiating and personalizing learning using vetted digital tools and adaptive software, coupled with sound pedagogy and practices such as guided instruction, RtI, and PBIS. Analyzing, reflecting and providing a variety of assessments have been a big focus, as we continue to use the data to provide interventions through individual and small group instruction. Our use of the CFG digital data wall provides access to student data anytime and from anyplace. This is important as we create a place that values inviting ALL students to come and learn, to belong, and to invest in their learning. Our school ranked 67th out of 649 schools in South Carolina on SC Ready, and we were the highest ranked in Spartanburg District Two, scoring at or above grade level. Our school scored an Excellent rating on the School Report Card and scored the highest on the state report card of any traditional school in Spartanburg County.
Technology is a natural part of our day-to-day instruction with the use of Google Classroom and one-to-one devices with all third and fourth graders. The SAMR Model for integrating technology into teaching, is the framework we utilized to meet individual student needs. We strive to provide an environment of high expectations, a rigorous curriculum, personalized teaching strategies,and a multi-tiered system of support.
Collaboration shows students how to work together to achieve a common goal. This year, our Student Leadership Team and staff led our school in a number of community outreach initiatives, including collecting food to donate to the Upstate Resource Center, Kids with Lids, Carton2Garden, STEM activities, STEAMstravaganza, Humane Society Service Project, Need a Book,Take a Book, collecting items for the local shelter, Cubby’s Readers, and Reader Leaders.
Creativity teaches students to think outside the box. Fine Arts and an emphasis on healthy living continues to be a source of pride for Carlisle-Foster’s Grove Elementary, as we celebrate and develop the whole child. Our students can participate in over twenty-five different clubs like: First Tee golf, Health and Fitness Club, Gifted Art, Cub Singers, the Fun Run, the “The Little Mermaid” production, 2019 UIM K-12 Art Contest and many more. In addition, we are excited and proud to be able to offer Suzuki Violin Strings to our students.
Communication lets students learn how to best convey their ideas. Our students are given certain tasks and have the opportunity to present their projects to a wide variety of audiences. During student-led conferences, they are able to communicate their strengths and weaknesses and set goals for future growth. Students are able to communicate the standards taught and the instructional goal for the standard.
Our emphasis on Hattie’s Leading High Impact Teams model has helped ensure that we reach our goals. Critical thinking is all about solving problems. STEM activities and performance tasks help develop critical thinkers in our building. Writing continues to be a big focus for our CFG students. Our staff believes that students are taught to have confidence so they want to take on challenges, develop a respect for self and others and have sensitivity to collaborate with others in the pursuit of learning.
We are proud of our faculty, staff and community as we partner together to continue to provide exemplary learning experiences for students. Our ultimate goal is to help students see something they may not see in themselves and inspire a life-long love for learning. Working together each day, this goal is becoming a reality for CFG students.
Cathy Garner, Principal
Caitlin Plumley, SIC Chairperson