GCSD Magnet Connections

October 1, 2024

MSAP Grant Objectives

To implement high quality magnet programs that increase choice and promote diversity by reducing and preventing further minority group isolation in Carvers Bay schools.
To develop and deliver innovative theme-based curriculum at each magnet school that strengthens student knowledge in academic subjects and provides all students enrolled in Carvers Bay schools the opportunity to improve academic achievement, meet challenging State academic standards, and achieve postsecondary success.
To implement evidence-based interventions at each magnet school in the Carvers Bay attendance area through enhanced partner engagement that ensures all students have equitable access to high quality education and engaging learning environments.
To increase the capacity of magnet school administrators and teachers to deliver an academically rigorous, theme-based curriculum that is sustainable.

Upcoming Student Showcases

Thursday, October 3rd: PEDIS Student Showcase 9:00

Friday, October 4th: PHESA Student Showcase 1:30

Wednesday, October 23rd: BFESCPA Student Showcase 8:30

Thursday, November 21st: CBHS Student Showcase 2:00 and 4:30

Tuesday, December 3rd: PEDIS Student Showcase 9:00

Wednesday, December 18th: BFES Student Showcase 5:00

Wednesday, December18th: CBMSA Student Showcase 1:30

Friday, December 17th: PHESA Student Showcase 8:30

Developing Content-Expert Readers and Thinkers

Last month’s newsletter introduced AVID’s Critical Reading Process. Developing critical readers requires understanding how to plan for 21st century skills. Planning for critical reading and thinking begins with determining the skills that are crucial for students to develop. Academic thinking skills are universal skills used across all content areas, though the language and application of these skills will differ based upon the subject being taught. Focusing on literacy skills within the disciplines brings to life a much richer schoolwide learning experience as students learn how to use literacy for different purposes in various subject areas. Getting students to think about content requires targeted disciplinary literacy skills.

What is disciplinary literacy? AVID defines disciplinary literacy as an emphasis on the shared ways of reading, writing, speaking, and thinking within a particular content area or academic field. Disciplinary literacy practices are cultural constructions that are not learned simply by observation, and it is AVID’s philosophy that educators need to make explicit the discipline-specific literacy practices of their content area in order for students to know how to read, write, speak, and think like mathematicians, historians, scientists, and any other content expert.

5 Ways to Introduce Disciplinary Literacy to Students

Introduce and use the three phases of the Critical Reading Process.
Have students identify how to Read Like a Content Expert with the instructional strategies linked here.
Introduce students to Costa’s Levels of Thinking questions. Check out the sample prompts linked here for core content courses.
Create Academic Word Walls in classrooms that highlight the specific language and thinking skills necessary to excel in the content you are responsible for teaching.

Have students create questions and answers to a content-specific text to demonstrate understanding of each Academic Thinking Skill.

Magnet Schools AVID Portal

https://sites.google.com/gcsd.k12.sc.us/msapavid/home

Brown's Ferry Elementary School for the Creative and Performing Arts

At The Ferry, we have so many exciting things happening as we travel *On the Road to Excellence*! Our Bengal Ambassadors program is off to a fantastic start, and they’ve already selected Mrs. Owens as our first Teacher of the Month! Marching Band season is in full swing, with students proudly auditioning and seeing their names on the roster. They’ve got several engagements lined up and can’t wait to showcase their talents.

Our teachers are also embracing AVID strategies to enhance classroom learning. A special shoutout goes to Mrs. Snowden, our staff spotlight of the week! Her K-5 students are diving into 2- and 3-column notes and have started creating one-pagers for their novel study of *The One and Only Ivan*.

Lastly, our much-anticipated showcase has been rescheduled for October 23rd at 8:30 AM. Stay tuned for more incredible moments ahead!

Pleasant Hill Elementary STREAM Academy

PHESA - Exciting Highlights from Our First Nine Weeks

As we wrap up the first nine weeks of school, our students and teachers have been hard at work, diving into engaging, hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Through Project-Based Learning (PBL), interdisciplinary learning, and a school-wide focus on the STAR strategy for note-taking, students are connecting content areas and developing essential academic skills. Take a look at this snapshot of what we have been doing as we embark on this exciting journey of learning and growth!

Kindergarten:
Our kindergarteners are becoming tech-savvy as they learn the basics of coding through action blocks and sensors! Integrating technology with early learning skills, these young students are building both computational thinking and literacy as they explore patterns and sequences. To help them organize their thinking, students are also learning to use two-column notes the kindergarten way, which helps them categorize and compare ideas in a simple and visual format. Collaborative learning is key as students work together to solve problems and create simple codes, fostering teamwork and early critical thinking skills.

1st Grade:
Our 1st-grade astronomers are reaching for the stars as they learn about patterns in the sky, combining science, math, and vocabulary building with creative activities. Students used models, like LEGO houses, to understand how the sun appears to move across the sky, helping them grasp daily patterns. They’ve also been expanding their vocabulary by learning new terms like "constellation" and "orbit" as they explore the night sky with "telescopes" and flashlights. Through this hands-on approach, students are not only growing their understanding but also developing a rich science vocabulary. Collaboration is central to their learning, allowing them to share and expand on their observations, building on each other’s ideas.

2nd Grade:
In 2nd grade, students are using Discovery Education to analyze landforms and create blueprints, combining science, geography, and engineering. As part of their exploration, students are using Minecraft to bring their favorite landforms to life in a highly detailed way. Whether crafting towering mountains, vast plains, or intricate rivers, students are applying their understanding of landforms by designing and building virtual models. The use of Minecraft allows students to creatively express their learning by adding realistic details like erosion, weathering, and natural features, helping them visualize how landforms are shaped over time. They’re also applying the FOCUS 5 strategy to collaborate effectively and using the STAR note-taking strategy to organize their observations and insights. Students are working with partners and in small groups to add to and refine their notes, ensuring deeper understanding.

3rd Grade:
Our 3rd-grade meteorologists have been forecasting the weather using Canva! By integrating science, technology, and communication skills, students are applying what they’ve learned about weather patterns to create digital weather reports. In addition, they’ve been thinking outside the box to engineer prototypes of never-before-heard-of weather instruments, using their creativity and understanding of weather to invent tools that could measure anything from new forms of precipitation to unexpected wind patterns. This project challenges students to apply their knowledge in innovative ways, developing problem-solving and engineering skills. Collaborative learning and STAR note-taking are central to their projects, as students work together to annotate weather data, make predictions, and share findings.

4th Grade:
4th graders have been using Book Creator to craft their own informational texts, combining literacy, research, and visual design to produce fact-based books that bring learning to life. Additionally, students have been using Minecraft to design and build structures that can withstand various environmental factors, such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. By applying engineering principles and thinking critically about materials, stability, and resilience, they created prototypes of disaster-resistant buildings. This hands-on project allowed them to explore how structures can be fortified against natural disasters, using Minecraft as a platform for testing their designs. The students have been practicing their note-taking using the Give One, Get One strategy, along with colored markers/pens and Post-it notes to add creativity and structure to their notes. They exchange information with peers, helping one another deepen their understanding before finalizing their books.

5th Grade:
In 5th grade, students have been synthesizing information from books about the Westward Expansion and transforming it into creative digital projects using Canva. Blending social studies, technology, and communication, students work collaboratively to enhance their research and understanding of historical events. Additionally, they’ve been incorporating the "A" in STREAM by creating detailed dioramas to represent their favorite scenes from a chosen piece of literature. These dioramas allow students to artistically interpret and recreate pivotal moments from their books, blending art and literacy in a hands-on, creative way. Through these activities, students are applying their note-taking and presentation skills to showcase what they’ve learned in engaging and thoughtful ways.

Family STREAM Night: A Super Success!
We were thrilled with the turnout for our superhero-themed Family STREAM Night, where families completed interdisciplinary STEM challenges together. From building superhero mobiles to creating musical instruments that highlighted each element of STREAM, the night was filled with excitement, learning, and family bonding. Collaboration was key as families worked side by side to solve challenges, just like superheroes in action!

Clubs in Full Swing!
Our school clubs are now well underway, offering students the opportunity to explore their passions. Whether it’s coding, art, crafting, or gardening, students have the freedom to pursue their interests and experience how different disciplines connect. 4H Club is off to a fantastic start this year, as students recently discovered that there’s a lot of work behind harvesting vegetables and preparing the soil to plant a new crop! They are learning firsthand the challenges and rewards of sustainable agriculture.

Developing Future Leaders: Beta Club and Cub Ambassadors
We are proud to see the growth of our Beta Club and Cub Ambassadors, where we focus on developing future leaders. Both clubs are working to instill leadership, responsibility, and service in our students. We are excited to begin our service projects for the year, which will teach students the value of giving back to the community and working together to create positive change. Through these leadership opportunities, students are learning to lead by example, developing skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.

Interactive Lego Wall
This year, we are also excited to feature our new interactive LEGO wall, where students have been creatively engineering and building various models to bring their ideas to life. The LEGO wall has provided a hands-on, engaging way for students to explore concepts in design, construction, and problem-solving. This event will showcase how students are mastering core standards while engaging in hands-on, inquiry-driven learning.

Hydroponics - A School-Wide Initiative in Partnership with Green Our Planet
Our teachers and students across all grade levels are excited to dive into their classroom hydroponics units, a school-wide project made possible through our partnership with Green Our Planet. This initiative brings science, technology, and environmental studies to life, as students learn about sustainable growing methods and plant science. Collaboration is central to this hands-on project, with students working in teams to track plant growth and share findings. We are eager to see how their hard work will contribute to the PHESA Farm Market, helping students connect their learning to real-world agricultural practices.

This has been a remarkable start to the school year, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds for our curious, creative, and inspired students at PHESA.

Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion School

Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy

Marking It Up!!!

Healthy Food Choices with Coach DeJohn

In Mr. DeJohn's Health and Physical Education class, the students used a reading strategy called “Marking the Text” to engage with a lesson on making healthy food choices and analyzing nutritional value. Marking the text involves actively reading a text, underlining supporting details, circling key vocabulary, and writing notes in the margins to increase reading comprehension. This AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) strategy helps students better understand the content by identifying important details, making connections, and reflecting on the text. By annotating the text on healthy eating, the 6th-grade students could actively participate in the lesson, deepen their knowledge of nutrition, and make informed decisions about the foods they consume.

Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy Is One of America’s

Healthiest Schools!

Thanks to our staff's hard work and dedication, Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy has been named one of America’s Healthiest Schools for 2024 by the Alliance for Healthier Generation! We are one of 878 schools recognized across 30 states for supporting the health and well-being of students, staff, and families.

Awarded schools are recognized in up to nine categories. Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy was recognized for,

Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning, presented by Kaiser Permanente
Bolstering Physical Education & Activity

See the full list of schools at https://www.healthiergeneration.org/campaigns/americas-healthiest-schools , available in September 2024.

The administration team, teachers, and staff would like to recognize Mr. DeJohn for all his hard work as our school’s Health and Physical Education Teacher for ensuring that we are recognized as one of “America’s Healthiest Schools”!

Grandparents Day 2024: Bringing School and Community Together

On Friday, September 6, 2024, our school celebrated Grandparents Day with great success! Grandchildren had the opportunity to enjoy a delicious breakfast with their grandparents on our campus. This event also allowed grandparents to tour our facilities, meet administrators and teachers, and connect with members of our community. This event was our way of bring generations together and strengthen the bond between our school and the local community members. The smiles and laughter shared throughout the day were a testament to the joy and importance of these intergenerational connections.