Blythe Academy of Languages is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, rigorous, and academically challenging learning environment. Our language immersion and FLES programs ensure that all students receive instruction in either French or Spanish and reach their full potential as world class learners both in English and their chosen target language. Approximately 84% of our students participate in our French and Spanish immersion programs, receiving their content instruction in math, science, and health in the target languages. Other content areas are taught in English. The remaining 16% of our students participate in the Spanish FLES program, receiving 30 minutes of Spanish instruction daily from a certified Spanish teacher. The success of our programs is recognized by strong performance on statewide student achievement testing, and student performance on the AAPPL language proficiency test. Eighty-seven to one hundred percent of our Spanish and French immersion students leave Blythe performing at or above the novice 3 level in listening, reading and speaking, which is above the district goal of mid-novice to low intermediate level. Many students are scoring at or above the intermediate I and II levels.
Our teachers are dedicated to professional growth and the use of research-based instructional best practices. These include Balanced Literacy, Guided Math, Number Talks, Interactive Notebooking, RtI and ERI, Learning Focused, science kits, and Utah Immersion Partnership.
We also have programs at Blythe that focus on and support the development of the whole child. We implemented The Seven Habits into our guidance program several years ago and continue to embed those habits and principles in classroom guidance lessons, the daily news show, and our school-wide PBIS program. We believe it is important for our students to learn effective leadership traits and be given opportunities to practice those skills. Student leadership opportunities include Safety Patrol, Communications Team, Library Helpers, School Yearbook, and Student Council Representative. Additional opportunities for students include band, chorus, garden clubs, green team, and boys and girls running clubs. In addition, Blythe partnered with Greenville City Police to offer Gang Resistance Education and Training to all 5th grade students this year.
We continue to use the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) program, which rewards our students for displaying positive behaviors. A strong PTA sponsored tutoring program and a Greenville Mentor partnership program provide additional support for students struggling with both academic and personal issues. Business partnerships helped to recognize student achievement and provide continued support of mentoring programs for the 2018-2019 school year.
At Blythe Academy, we believe strongly in our mission to work together with stakeholders to teach our students the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to become productive and responsible citizens in an ever-changing global society through instruction that includes language immersion education in French and Spanish. We are honored to work together with our families and community members to develop future South Carolina graduates and world class learners.
Bradly Lucas, SIC Chairperson
Sandra E. Griffin, Ph.D., Principal