Chandler Creek Elementary School is developing world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, and academically challenging learning environment. Our school community is focused on meeting the needs of each student with goals for academic excellence, social and emotional growth, and model citizenship. As our school mission states, “We seek to empower students to be leaders, learners, and caring citizens who strengthen our community.”
During the 2020-2021 school year, our school was honored to be recognized as a Capturing Kids Hearts Showcase School. This award was received after a rigorous assessment process surveying students, staff, and parents. Our school was part of a site visit in the spring of 2021 and we were pleased to be affirmed with as a Capturing Kids Heart Showcase School recognition for the first time.
Despite the challenges of Covid 19, our school strengthened the social and emotional climate with events such as "Rock Your School" , Kindness Week, Unified Special Olympics Week, and a virtual Real Men Read program. Grade levels were creative in approaches to learning and hallways were transformed with Glow day, Reading Stamina Challenges, and project based learning. A highlight of the school year was One School, One Book, where the school community read "Fenway and Hattie" by Victoria Coe. Readers participated in daily trivia. read aloud time, scavenger hunts, and adventures with a Fenway puppet to engage students.
The school year brought remediation efforts with before school tutoring, afterschool clubs, and the Summer Bridge Program. We were also able to provide math intervention for students from k5 to fifth grade. Our teachers benefitted from grade level planning days and support from academic coaches. Data days were held three times during the school year to support academic collaboration and the school was involved in two book reads to focus on classroom talk and supporting Multi- lingual Learners.
With the combined support of PTA and Cares Act Funding, the school was able to purchase industrial picnic tables to create outdoor learning spaces. Additionally, with support from the School Improvement Council, the staff was treated to affirmation and appreciation gifts from numerous community partners. Students were affirmed with weekly Happy Camper Citizenship Awards and the newly introduced Spirit Stick Program to recognize students for academic growth, behavior, and modeling the schools S.T.A.R. motto.
We closed the year with a car parade to salute our fifth grade students before they head to middle school and beyond. The students buried a time capsule with memories from a quite unusual school year. The time capsule will be opened in the year 2028 when these students graduate from high school.
Chandler Creek Elementary continues to strive to be a community school that ignites learning for students both inside the classroom and extensions into the larger area of Greer, South Carolina. Through authentic learning experiences that apply to real life, the students of Chandler Creek Elementary are becoming leaders, learners, and caring citizens who display the characteristics of the SC Graduate.
Jane R. Mills, Principal
Ansley Wright and Lyndsey Stevens, SIC Co-Chairs
