Superintendent's Corner 18P

Are they really "does not meet" academically?

To change the trajectory of student success in CCSD our students need us to meet their social needs. Some can not achieve due to the “does not meet” in the area of food, housing, clothing, and parental support, which leads to worry and instability. In a wealthy, technologically advanced nation such as the United States, the only logical reason why failure among schools serving poor children is so common is that we haven't been able to generate and sustain the will to meet the needs of our struggling students. How can we be the change our students need?

Only a small number of U.S. schools today have implemented strategies of providing both academic enrichment and social support to generate sustained improvement in academic outcomes and school performance. I am proud to say that we are part of those schools and districts that have implemented several strategies to enhance student academic achievement. The U.S. made its most significant gains in closing gaps in student achievement during the 1960s and early 1970s, when an array of investments in social supports and economic opportunity were made as part of the "War on Poverty" (Barton & Coley, 2010). Do we have the will and the might to do it in CCSD today?

We want you, as parents, to ensure that you have a relationship with your student's teachers and administrative team. Make sure to attend School Improve Council meetings, Coffee with the Principal, and any other events the school may have. This is when we have discussions and find alternate ways to assist the student using staff and initiatives we have in place, such as our parenting liaisons, social workers, and guidance counselors. We are also working to provide a place where students may receive a bed, clothing, and food, amongst other necessities, to ensure that they have what they need to be their best selves when they come to learn. Thanks to Patricia Middleton and the Office of Student Services for heading this up. We want to ensure that your students have what they need at home and school.

I want us to focus on the whole child. Together we can "exceed" the needs of our students and help them to "meet" or "exceed" their academic goals.

• WGE held its Spelling Bee. Congratulations to the winners!
• CCSD schools continue to provide hands-on, project-based learning to educate.
• Our District Board of Education was recognized during the January board meeting.

Summerton Early Childhood Center

Linda Conyers, Teacher

Mary King, Staff

Manning Early Childhood Center

Carla Laney, Teacher

Dorothy Bethea, Staff

Manning Elementary School

Mr. Taylor Holladay, Teacher

Mildred Nick, Staff

Dr. Rose Wilder Elementary School

Stacy-Ann Blackwin, Teacher

Clifton Smith, Staff

Walker Gamble Elementary School

Jessie Welch, Teacher

Kelly Floyd, Staff

Manning Primary School

Catherine Mahoney, Teacher

Frances Ramirez, Staff

East Clarendon Middle/High School

Shelley Kirby, Teacher

Angie McKenzie, Staff

Manning Junior High School

Julia Abrajano, Teacher

Linda Stukes, Staff

Manning High School

Jordan Jefferson, Teacher

Kenneth Cantey, Staff

Scott’s Branch Middle/High School

Bryant Green, Teacher

Dawn Johnson, Staff

F.E. DuBose Career Center

Jennifer Hunt, Teacher

Ver’lita Green, Staff

Thank you for your kindness in showing how much we appreciate our CCSD District Board!

At MPS, Mrs. Glover's 3rd Grade students made open and closed circuits to light a lightbulb.

The STEM Lab at MES was in session as Mrs. Funderburk led Mrs. Ward's students in a lesson on how earthworms respond to stimuli.

At MHS, Mrs. Brown's Engineering and Computer Science students build and program bots. These bots handed out "Thank You" cards to our District Board of Education during their recognition.

Email: shawn.johnson@clarendoncsd.org
Website: clarendon2.k12.sc.us
Location: 15 Major Drive, Manning, SC, USA
Phone: 803.435.4435
Facebook: facebook.com/ClarendonCSD6
Twitter: @ClarendonCSD