The goal of Mossy Oaks Elementary School is to help all students develop the world class skills and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, collaborative, and rigorous learning environment. As a proud Title 1 school, our mission is to promote academic growth and character development in an environment where every member of our school community is in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing preparing children for their unique roles in the world.
Students and teachers are challenged each day to reach their full potential through the use of effective research based instructional practices. Our teachers continue to develop and professionals through regular participation in professional development opportunities to better prepare their students for the challenges of our global society. At Mossy Oaks Elementary we continue to develop 21st century learners by providing a curriculum that is rich in technology use and encourages students to take leadership roles. All students in kindergarten through grade 5 have a personal electronic device for their daily use, and teachers support and enrich educational opportunities through use of a variety of computer applications .Using a wide array of strategies, materials and methodologies, teachers strive to differentiate their instruction to address the educational needs and learning styles of each student. Our school utilizes a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to assist students that need additional help in academics and/or behavior. Our teachers work collaboratively with interventionists and instructional coaches to provide our students with comprehensive support. We maintain our belief that we can be most effective by meeting each student where he or she is, and growing. Academically and artistically gifted students received enrichment in these areas, and critical thinking skills were developed through the use of Brain Boosters curriculum in 1st and 2nd grade.
Mossy Oaks Elementary continues to provide students with a well-rounded curriculum including a focus on the arts. Many accomplishments took place as we completed our fifth year as an arts focused school. We maintained our designation as an Arts in The Basic Curriculum School (ABC), and through the re-application process were awarded a grant in excess of $8,000. This grant allowed us to provided many opportunities for our students. These opportunities included field trips, dance clubs, major musical theater productions, art clubs, and student publications. As an ABC designated school, we recognize the individuality and many talents of our students allowing them to demonstrate learning and leadership through visual and performance arts.
Additionally, we continue to hold the expectation for students to demonstrate and develop as caring, responsible, and trustworthy citizens. Our use of the PBIS model (grades Pk-1) in conjunction with the implementation of the House System (grades 2-5) allowed students to develop these skills through team building activities and service learning projects. Students adhered to the Essential 12 rules in order to create a culture with high levels of discipline, manners, and respect. Teachers awarded both House and PBIS points, and students were then able purchase items from our “Hoot Store”. With our emphasis on character development, we continue to move forward in our quest to build responsible citizens who will go out each day and make the right choices.
The success of Mossy Oaks Elementary can be attributed to the participation, involvement, and collaborative efforts of dedicated students, parents, community members, and staff that see the value and need for a quality education. This partnership allowed for the development of an Outdoor Classroom for Mossy Oaks Elementary. The space hosts native plants and animals, and allows students to participate in hands on activities and observation experiences to enhance learning across the curriculum. The space is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, and will also engage community members through Clemson Extension classes related to the design and upkeep of rain gardens. We continue to build our repertoire of STEM/ STEAM lessons, including career education, to ensure our students have exposure and experience with these concepts.
The stakeholders at Mossy Oaks strive each day to meet our mission of developing students who are always in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, and offering continued support our students and families.
Michelle Sackman, Principal
Donna Conlon, SIC Chair