Pleasant Hill Elementary School’s theme for 2019-20 was “Adventures Await for All.” Truer words have never been spoken, as this school year brought very unexpected adventures including school closure. As a result, we do not have much of the data from this year that we normally would have, and we know this leaves us with challenges going forward. However, we do have much to celebrate and share.
Pleasant Hill Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the South Carolina Graduate by focusing on critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity and by supporting Lexington County School District One’s System Commitments.
In order to ensure that “all students, regardless of circumstances, advance on time, prepared to graduate and ready to enter college, the military or industry with certification,” we provided opportunities for students to actively engage in reading, writing and math through the workshop model. We also provided activities for students that emphasized inquiry, problem solving and higher level thinking. We continued to concentrate on equipping students in grades K – 3 with foundational skills needed to be successful readers and writers. Our Reading Recovery program strengthened skills in first graders while we were in school as well as when we were out of school. During school closure, our Reading Recovery teachers/interventionists conducted 209 individual zoom lessons with students in Reading Recovery and 157 individual zoom lessons with students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 reading.
During the 2019-20 school year, we received two innovation grants from the Lexington One Educational Foundation to purchase giant blocks and a magnetic shapes board for the kindergarten playground to encourage students to collaborate, problem solve and create. We also received a Walter P. Rawl Farm to School grant to create a gardening area in the kindergarten playground. The PHES PTA received a $5,000 COVID Relief Fund Grant from the National PTA to fund a Learning Resource Lending Program. Through these funds, our school will be able to lend devices and leveled texts to support learning at home.
“Teaching and learning develop power skills in all students” is another system commitment. We continued to integrate perseverance, integrity, critical thinking, accountability, willingness to take risks, interpersonal skills, communication and collaboration into all curriculum areas. We encouraged students to apply these skills, name these skills when being used and to recognize these skills being used by others. During the school closure, the PHES staff made a video about the power skills that was sent out to all families. Families then joined us in the effort to help students embrace the power skills while learning at home.
The third system commitment is “Our schools are service-oriented centers of learning, committed to family and community partnerships.” We had many events for families this past year including our “Merry and Bright Curriculum” Night in which over 700 people attended to participate in family-designed activities in all subject areas. The PHES PTA presented a Family Wellness Night for the first time this year to enable families to join in fitness activities, to receive information on building healthy habits as a family and to participate in interactive food presentations. Our PTA also secured sponsors from the community that shared their support throughout the school year. During our school closure, our relationships with our families grew even stronger as parents and teachers joined together to make sure learning continued for all. We are truly grateful for the amazing support from our families, our community and our staff during our school closure.
Students also made connections with our community to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Our students participated in the American Heart Association’s “Healthy Kids Challenge,” and raised over $5,000.00 through their dance-athon. Students also showed that PHES Cougars care as they made contributions to Children’s Hospital, Mission Lexington, Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter and various animal shelters. Our fifth graders incorporated service to others into their research and writing skills.
Staff members participated in professional learning sessions throughout the school year so that “Every adult will be equipped with the skills and resources necessary to advocate for and ensure the success of all students.” To support this system commitment, all teachers participated in a book study on Take Time for You. Our literacy coach led teachers in professional learning on small group conferring, and our math coach led teachers in professional learning on effective math strategies. Our literacy coach also provided professional learning for kindergarten instructional assistants to equip them with skills needed to assist with small group instruction. During school closure, our literacy coach provided teachers with virtual professional learning on effective reading and writing strategies.
The 2019-20 school year is certainly one to remember. The closing of school brought many challenges. We greatly missed our students even though we tried to connect with them the best we could. We know that some students had to go live with other family members during this time, some did not have access to internet/devices and some had limited support at home. These challenges will bring opportunities for us to strengthen the academic, emotional and social skills and further support students when we do return to school. Although COVID-19 changed our world in many ways, we know we have much for which to be thankful. We thank our parents and our staff for always putting students first and for trying hard to provide normalcy for our children in a time of uncertainty. We are grateful that we could provide a drive-thru graduation for our fifth graders and that we could provide a “Celebrate Cougars” parade at the end of the school year. We know for sure that the PHES Family is ALL together – even when apart.
Margaret B. Mitchum, Principal
Missy Moore, SIC Chair