Red Bank Elementary School is preparing all students to develop the World Class Knowledge and Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by meeting every child at his academic, social, and emotional level.
In order to empower students with world class skills of creativity, critical thinking, innovation, communication, collaboration, technology, and knowing how to learn, we believe in transparency of the learning expectations. What must be learned in the South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards is explicitly translated to the students so that they become owners of the goals they set in order to become proficient in their learning.
Every child learns in different ways and at different rates. We honor that in each individual so that children are supported to levels of proficiency before moving on to additional learning that is based upon other foundational skills. At Red Bank Elementary, we continue to strive to become a system of competency-based, personalized learning.
Reflection is an important part of student learning and, as a result, students set goals for what should be learned next, strategies they will use to work toward the goal, and track the strategies that lead to success. Each student tracks learning through a leadership notebook or digitally in Schoology. Keeping track of their learning makes them knowledgeable of the learning progression and allows them to be proud of the progress they make. Celebrating learning is important to all of us!
Red Bank Elementary was recognized by the SC Department of Education as an advanced cohort in personalized and competency-based learning. As a result, six teachers and an administrator were able to participate in professional learning customized to our school. We also hosted visits from other schools across the Southeast who hope to learn from us as they work to transform schools.
Student agency and leadership are central to the work we do at RBE. Students hold leadership roles in their classrooms and throughout the entire school. They apply for positions on committees and lead all programs and assemblies. Through Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, students learn the characteristics that will support them now and throughout their lives. These habits are integral to the way we work and learn together.
Through student agency, students have developed sales to support the American Society to Prevent the Cruelty to Animals, raising over $1,800. This money was raised through sales at the Charity Fair that has become an annual student-led event at RBE. The items sold were made by children and sold to children. Students also supported Relay for Life and Special Olympics through their desire to make a difference.
Additionally, a Community Development Block Grant and a Children's Trust Grant allowed students and families additional opportunities. The CDBG allowed students to have after school opportunities in the arts and fitness. The Children's Trust Grant provided the Strengthening Families Program which provided a meal and evening instruction for 14 weeks. This program provides learning activities to build a stronger and more effective family unit. These programs involved our community and school together.
Red Bank Elementary continues to be supported by business partners such as Michelin, Bojangles, and the local faith community. Over 50 students are provided with mentors through these partnerships.
As a faculty and staff, we continued to work on meeting students exactly where they are through continuous collaboration centered around formative student data. Both teachers and teaching interventionists tracked the progress of students and worked together, with the support of instructional coaches, to provide "just right" instructional strategies to promote student growth.
As a Title I school, we used data to determine precisely where to use our funding to have the most impact on student learning. Students were able to receive after school instruction and our youngest students who needed extra reading support participated in a three week summer reading camp.
At Red Bank Elementary, we strive to lead, to learn, and to love. With the child at the center, we live each day with purpose and urgency. Every child is worth our best...every day.
Marie Watson, Principal
Kim Cash, School Improvement Council Chairperson