Building Excellence: Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day!
2015-2016
Lake City Early Childhood Center
Employee Handbook
August 6, 2015
Dear LCECC Family,
It’s my pleasure to welcome everyone back for another great year at LCECC. I hope that you have had a chance to spend some quality time with close friends and family. To those of you who are just joining us – Welcome to the best little school around. I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled and excited I am to be able to serve as your principal.
Our academic focus this year is on Literacy; our goal is to build readers, thinkers and writers. We want our students to dream BIG and Be ALL They Can Be!!! With our theme, we want to take our students on a journey through books as we build world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
We begin our new school year with high expectations and a goal to TAG (Teach, Assess, and Grow) every student. Our mission is laser focused “Building Excellence: Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day.” This statement speaks volumes about the “community” we build at LCECC. Our attitude is that of Excellence and people who expect the best usually get what they expect! By working together and believing that we can do great things – we will do great things! Our students deserve no less than our very BEST! Remember as we go through the year, we each have strengths and skills to share, and when we link our individual strengths together, we are invincible!
Please read your handbook and be familiar with the contents. Lake City Early Childhood Center is a special place where foundations are built and scaffold. We are all so lucky to be here and to be a part of the LCECC family. Let’s work together to combine our “Seuss Powers” to make this year a huge success!
If I can help you in any way, please let me know.
Fondly,
Mary
"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." -- Marva Collins
“Building Excellence: Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day!”
Professional Development Week
Lake City Early Childhood Center
August 6-13, 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015
8:00-11:30 / Opening Ceremony at LCHS (please be seated no later than 8:15 am)11:30-12:30 / Lunch will be provided
12:30-1:30 / Shout Outs, District Handbook, AUP, Staff Information Sheets
1:30-3:00 / LCECC Handbook and Expectations-“Fueling Up” - Procedures, Procedures, Procedures
3:00-4:00 / Leadership Team Meeting
Friday, August 7, 2015- (4K Home Visits)
8:00-8:10 / Team Building8:10-11:30 / Fueling Up with Data: OEC, Academic & Discipline
11:30-12:30 / Lunch on your own
12:30-1:00 / Curriculum Overview
1:00-1:45 / Arts Update/PD- ABC Grant Info- Staci Stevens
1:45-2:30 / Fuel Up: FERPA, Crisis Mtg, Classroom Mtg
2:30-3:00 / Team Building-Grade Level Focus Plan
Monday, August 10, 2015
8:00-4:00 / District-wide Professional Development- LCHSTuesday, August 11, 2015 (4K Home Visits)
8:00-2:00 / 1st-6th Grade Science Teachers Moore’s Farms8:00-10:00 / 5K PD
8:00-11:30 / Environment/Collaboration
Keys, Receipt Books, etc.-Chris Carden/Heather James
11:30-12:30 / Lunch on your own
12:30-3:00 / Environment/Collaboration
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 (OWL Training in Florence)
8:00-12:00 / Environment/Collaboration/ Technology Check Out: Chris Carden12:00-12:45 / Lunch on your own
1:00-3:00 / Literacy Update- R. Kirby- DO Conference Room
Thursday, August 13, 2014(OWL Training in Florence)
8:00-11:30 / Environment/Collaboration/Accommodation Meetings (4K-1st)11:30-12:15 / Lunch on your own
12:15-2:30 / “Fuel Up” your rooms ~ Environment/Collaboration/Accommodation Meetings: (2nd)
3:00-7:30 / Open House
Mission Statement:
The mission of LCECC is: “Building Excellence: Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day!”
Vision
Engaging Instruction
‘Xcitement for the Arts
Community Involvement
Expectations to Excel
Love of Literacy
Logical Thinking
Enthusiasm for Learning
Nurturing Environment
Collaborative Culture
Experience Success
We believe LCECC…
· will be a safe respectful learning community
· will have positive, consistent home-school relationships
· staff members will continually gain knowledge of best practices tailored to the needs of our students and through on-going staff development, we will provide engaging learning activities
The Elements:
The primary colors: red, blue and yellow illustrate the belief that education in and through the arts is a primary part of the development of every child.
The basic shapes: square, circle and triangle illustrate that the arts use a variety of “building materials” – performance and production skills - to create and communicate through the arts.
The Design:
The circle is the “educational pie” and the arts are an important part or “slice” of that pie.
The circle also represents the school with the triangle representing the arts as a vital part of the school. Note that the triangle (the arts) also extents in to the red square which represents the community to unit and connect community and school through the arts.
Finally the circle represents the child, the triangle the arts as they are both an essential and critical in the life and development of every child in South Carolina by placing both in the center of the red square representative of community and the state.
Mission of LCECC:
Ensuring Success through the Arts: Every Day, Every Child, Every Chance.
The Vision of Lake City Early Childhood Center is for teachers, students, and community members to work together developing arts centered, innovative experiences to ensure student success.
Lake City Early Childhood Center’s 5 Year Arts Strategic Plan
Mission: Ensuring Success through the arts: every day, every child, every chance.
The Vision of Lake City Early Childhood Center is for teachers, students, and community members to work together developing arts centered, innovative experiences to ensure student success.
Action Plan
Goal I: Develop and implement a standards based arts program that includes dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing to improve student achievement.
Strategy A: Provide comprehensive SCVPA standards-based instruction in dance.
Strategy B: Provide comprehensive SCVPA standard-based instruction in theatre.
Strategy C: Provide comprehensive standards-based instruction in creative writing.
Strategy D: Enrich the SCVPA standards-based visual arts program
Strategy E: Enrich the SCVPA standards-based music program.
Goal II: Develop and implement quality professional development to support arts integration and the arts specialists.
Strategy A: Provide time for teacher planning, collaboration, reflection, and resources concerning arts integration.
Strategy B: Provide opportunities for professional development in arts integration.
Strategy C: Provide art specialists opportunities for professional development in the arts.
Goal III. Develop and implement community arts involvement activities to improve awareness and support.
Strategy A: Expand arts performance as a community outreach.
Strategy B: Develop arts community and business partnerships with local businesses, higher education institutes, local arts agencies, and parents.
Strategy C: Improve public awareness through effective
.
Board of Trustees
The Florence County School District Three Board of Trustees is comprised of 9 members from seven voting districts. Each board member is elected to serve a three-year term. Each year, three trustee seats are up for election.
The board of trustees normally meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.A list of meeting dates and locations as well as meeting agendas have been posted to the website.Special meetings are scheduled as needed.
The board is charged with policy making, planning, goal setting, providing school buildings, and adopting an annual budget to finance instructional programs and services. Trustees must also be familiar with important legal decisions as well as state and national legislation and regulations.
Board of Trustees Members
Dr. Lane N. Floyd, Chairperson
Barbara Singletary-Bryant, Vice-Chairperson
Paula Morris, Secretary
Terrie Gaskins-Bryant
John L. Graham
Toby Ackerman
Michael Blakeley
Debra McKnight
Dr. Julia G. Mims
2015-2016 Board Meeting Dates
DAY / DATE / LOCATION / TIMEThursday / August 20, 2015 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / September 17, 2015 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / October 15, 2015 / Scranton Elementary / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / November 19, 2015 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / December 17, 2015 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / January 21, 2016 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / February 25, 2016 / Olanta Elementary / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / March 17, 2016 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / April 21, 2016 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / May 19, 2016 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / June 16, 2016 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Thursday / July 21, 2016 / District Office / 6:30 p.m.
Important Things to Remember in Seussville
Lake City Early Childhood Center
Faculty & Staff 2015-2016
Administration
Principal- Mary Howard
Assistant Principal- Chris Carden
Tonyelle Thomas- Admin Assistant
Parent Liaison/ Behavior Interventionist
Eleta McCray
Instructional Coaches
Renee Driggers
Terese Patterson
Guidance
Thressa Wilder
School Psychologist
Jennifer Altman
Secretary
Heather James
Clerical Assistant
Fedora McGill
Interventionists
Math: Tonyelle Thomas
Literacy: Darlene Matthews
Fine Arts
Art- Staci Stevens
Music- Sandra Howard
PE- Lindsey New
Media- Laura Ward
Purpose
This handbook is intended for informational purposes. The District’s regulations, policies, procedures, work site rules, and benefits are continually evolving. Therefore, this Staff Handbook does not contain all of the information you will need or be required to know during the course of your employment. It is your responsibility as a professional to read and know the contents of this Handbook and District Policy and act accordingly.
Limitations
It is impossible to list all the policies, regulations, and procedures in this document. All staff members have access at any time to FCSD3 Policies and Procedures that can be accessed at www.florence3.k12.sc.us.
Our Mission
“Building Excellence: Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day!”
Theme
“Oh the Places You’ll Go!”
School Pledge
I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself,
And others will be proud of me too.
I came to school to learn, and I will learn.
I will have a great day,
And I will make great choices!
School Rules
1. Be Ready
2. Be Responsible
3. Be Respectful
Commitments
· We are committed to Excellence.
· We are committed to professional learning communities (PLCs) as the means of continuous
school improvement.
· We are committed to regularly using data to guide change and improvement.
· We are committed to providing students with a rigorous and relevant curriculum needed for effective learning for all students.
Core Values
· We will provide a safe, inviting atmosphere for all.
· We will keep our students’ needs and learning first.
· We will collaborate using agreed upon norms.
· We will create and implement a curriculum that focuses on best practice and research based
strategies.
· We will set S.M.A.R.T. goals and use data to guide educational decision-making.
Lake City Early Childhood Center PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES
The three “big ideas” of a PLC are a focus on learning, collaboration, and a focus on results. Every teacher is a member of at least one PLC team that will meet regularly to address curriculum, instruction, and assessment issues with a focus on learning and results. In addition to weekly team meetings, vertical team meetings across grade levels will also be organized to ensure continuity from grade level to grade level. All teams will establish norms to guide their work and will follow these norms in their PLC teaming time.
Parents as Partners
The LCECC family understands that learning happens around the clock and instruction does not end when students leave our classrooms. Our parents are a valuable part of our learning community. Please work inclusively with parents and consider our parents’ needs and concerns as we work diligently to “Ensuring All Students are Prepared for Success”.
Character Counts at LCECC
Character Education is a critical part of our developing a well-rounded student. Each month, we will focus on a lifeskill. Students who consistently exhibit these qualities may be recognized at the end of the month.
August Relationships (No Put Downs, Friendship, Love Sense of Humor)
September Respect (Self, Others, Things)
October Cooperation (Flexibility, Citizenship, Courtesy, Dependability)
November Compassion (Humility, Gratitude, Kindness, Caring, Thankfulness)
December Patience (Conflict Resolution, Restraint, Forgiveness, Wisdom)
January Responsibility (Trustworthiness, Honesty, Integrity, Truthfulness)
February Honesty (Integrity, Honor, Morals, Ethics, Fairness, Truthfulness, Dependability)
March Diligence (Hard Work, Courage, Organization, Perseverance, Fortitude, Effort)
April Tolerance (Acceptance, Forgiveness, Cooperation, Sportsmanship, Courtesy, Civility)
May Loyalty (Commitment, Leadership, Pride, Devotion)
Sunshine Buddies
Lake City Early Childhood Center
2015-2016
Welcome to our “Seuss FAMILY”!!! Please know that we are ALL here to support you, but to be sure, we have assigned you a “Buddy”. These are your-GO-To-people if you have any questions.
Brandy Moore-Karen Ward
Chasie Cattenhead- Kathy Epps
Kristin Floyd- Abby Matthews
Shelbie Springs- Erin Sawyer
Lyn Sullivan- Jenn May
Shondricka Battiste- Christy Flowers
Gabriella Ion-Kristy Hudson
Erica Poston- Jacqueline Drost
Sara Speights- Shonda Brown
Barbara McFadden- Shameka Brown
Diane Singletary- Clem Jenkins
Laura Ward-Renee Driggers
Lindsay New-Staci Stevens
Darlene Matthews-Terese Patterson
LCECC Committees 2014-15
Committee Chair is expected to meet with the Leadership Team at least two weeks prior to the committee event. If materials will need to be ordered, plan to meet with administration at least four weeks prior to the event.
Memory Book & Photographers (Yearlong)
Chair: Jennifer May
Photographer: Staci Stevens & Trina Johnson
Candice Heyward, Cortney Harless,
Lyn Sullivan, Abby Matthews, Erica Poston
Sunshine Committee (Yearlong)
Chair: Jamal Clark/Terri Burgess
Helen Gardner, Christy Flowers, Renee Driggers
Terese Patterson, Shondricka Battiste
Green Thumb Committee (Yearlong)
Chair: Clem Jenkins