School Improvement Council (SIC)

Meeting Agenda

1. Introductions and Share New Leaders
2. Review Last Months highlights
   • Produce Giveaway
   • Courtyard Improvements
   • GrandBeacons Breakfast and the Book Fair
3. Announcements and Upcoming Events
   • Lighthouse Gatherings for Students
   • DD2 Unity Day
   • Autumn Daze 5:00-7:00pm
   • Red Ribbon Week 10/27-10/31
   • Storybook Character Prade and Trunk or Treat 10/31
4. Goals for the 2025-2026 School Year
   1. Create spaces that promote critical thinking and rigorous learning.
      • Enhance existing outdoor classrooms and implement an adopt a corner of our world program.
      • Generate additional outdoor classroom spaces or resources for outdoor learning experiences.
   2. Continue Lighthouse initiative to promote student participation and community collaboration.
      • Link SIC/PTA leaders to the school Lighthouse Leagues.
      • Generate relative activities to promote a greater intrinsic appreciation for Lighthouse precepts.
      • Create (art infusion), Nurture (Ecology), Connect (Community Building), Think (Metacognition), Dream (Technology and Innovation), Live (Healthy Lifestyle).
      • Link Lighthouse Leagues to literacy development and appreciation.
   3. Revisit strategies to promote the whole child.
      • Continue to conduct morning meetings to address the social-emotional well-being of stakeholders.
      • Continue "Shake and Shine" initiative and expand to 2nd -5th grades, continue "Moving to the Middle" Initiative.
      • Foster more opportunities for community service (i.e., blessing box, Kindness Crew)
      • Provide training for teachers and staff for Capturing Kids Hearts.
5. Final Comments and Questions

• Introductions
• Last Month’s Highlights
  • Produce giveaway
    • Had a huge turnout
    • Next produce giveaway is on November 8th
    • There are no income requirements and everyone in the community should attend
    • You can collect food for other families
    • It was suggested that a video be made marketing the produce giveaway with this information
    • It was suggested to recruit volunteers; fourth grade kindness crew will volunteer
  • Courtyard Improvements
    • There are new turf and hammocks
    • Benches and tables will be ordered
    • This has been an initiative of the Boosterthon
    • Ms. Nix has been acquiring interactive items for the courtyard
    • The center can be used as an amphitheater; an entire grade will fit
  • GrandBeacons Breakfast and the Book Fair
    • Great attendance and success
  • Parent Feedback
    • Students “looped up” with teachers from next grade level to form connections and ease transition
    • Morning time: (areas for running, quiet time, movies, games, etc.) students can choose a different morning area each day, but must stay within the same area for the morning
    • Surveyed students for ideas on areas; way for students to decompress before starting the school day
    • Teachers have 30 minutes in the morning for planning and have lunch with their students; students were eating quickly and then it was like a free for all; teacher support needed in lunchroom
    • Teachers initially resistant but have reported less pressure of having to walk in the school with their kids
    • BROOD (boys rocking out on drums) on Tuesdays with Ms. Roland and Mr. Bedford; participation has significantly reduced referrals for fifth grade boys; dress for success days (encouraged to wear a tie); played at school for events but looking at performing outside of the school; will be sharing design with other schools
• Announcements and Upcoming Events
  • Lighthouse Gatherings for Students
    • Nurture, connect, create, dream, live, think
    • Will start on first Friday of October
    • Students are randomly assigned
    • Different from WERD clubs (every student gets to go to a WERD club on early release days; teachers pick a topic they’re passionate about and students get to choose a group)
  • DD2 Unity Day
    • National attention to anti-bullying
    • Students wear orange
    • Teachers will have activities
    • Helps identify difference between bullying and being mean
    • Counseling department will have cards for students to issue to other students when they are caught being kind
  • Autumn Daze (in October, 5pm-7pm)
    • A fall festival (similar to the spring fling event last school year)
    • Will do pumpkins again
    • Silent auction with gift baskets
    • Ashley Ridge leadership team coming to do face painting
    • Ashley Ridge football team coming to throw football
    • Looking to do a hayride
  • Red Ribbon Week (10/27-10/31)
  • Storybook Character Parade and Trunk or Treat (10/31)
• Goals for the 2025-2026 School Year
  1. Create spaces that promote critical thinking and rigorous learning
  2. Continue Lighthouse initiative to promote student participation and community collaboration
  3. Revisit strategies to promote the whole child
• Final Comments and Questions
  • Mrs. Harris discussed the website schooldigger.com which ranks all schools in each state; Beech Hill dropped last year because they did not factor in science scores which is a strength of Beech Hill; this year BHES is ranked 44th in the state
  • Current fundraiser is to support improving outdoor areas for students; Mr. Pressley suggested looking at Unity Park in Greenville for ideas
  • Ms. Suzuki asked for clarity on fundraisers and suggested additional clubs (use the Lighthouses) to apply for fundraising opportunities; maximum of two fundraisers per “club”/area; others recommended identifying in-kind donation opportunities versus fundraising for cash to purchase them
  • Challenges with fifth grade fundraising is that they are not going to see the product of the fundraising
  • Parent leader shirts can be worn to any school activity (meet the teacher, autumn days)

1. Welcome

2. Last Month's Highlights

   • Unity Day (Thank you, Mrs. Shider)
   • Autumn Daze

3. Follow up on September Agenda Items

   • Projects to support our 25-26 SIC Goals

4. Announcements and Upcoming Events

   • Trunk or Treat/Storybook Character on 10/31
   • November 8th- Produce distribution sponsored by the Connect House

5. Final Comments and Questions

Next SIC Meeting: Thursday, November 13th, 7:30 am

1. November’s Highlights

   • Produce Giveaway
   • Veteran’s Day

2. Beech Hill’s Report Card

   Excellent with a score of 74

3. Tour of the School

4. Announcements and Upcoming Events

   • Spelling Bee
   • Balloon’s Over the Beech
   • Wonder Day (5th Grade)
   • Colonial Day (4th Grade)
   • Friendsgiving Feast (K)

5. Actionable Goals for the Year:

   • School Communication preferences

6. Final Comments and Questions

Next SIC Meeting: Thursday, December 18th at 5:00 pm

SIC Meeting Agenda Thursday, November 13th, 2025

1. November’s Highlights

   • Produce Giveaway -Ms. Foster (2nd Grade, News 2 Cool Teacher) organizes this event. This time we were able to give away hygiene items as well. Great turnout. Ms. Kemble made a list of other resources in the community for additional support.
   • Veteran’s Day- We had a great turn out. Thank you to Ms. Nix for putting together the slideshow and Ms. Golden for organizing the ceremony. The ceremony at Beech Hill is all kid lead, empowering our students. Next year, think about having tissues on each row.
   • Tomorrow is 6/7 day.

2. Beech Hill’s Report Card – Excellent with a score of 74

   Ms. Luciano said the school report card. Facts, last year’s report card was 67. We gained 7 points this year. It is hard to stay excellent. Our teachers have the growth mindset. The score of 74 is the highest in the entire district. Mr. Bedford discussed the difference between MAT and AVT to explain the data. At Beech Hill, some students get Summer Bridge books for the summer to help with the summer slide. Ms. Luciano discussed Walk to Read with our 1st graders. We discussed how schools qualify for Title One funds. The district visits each school yearly and the data from that visit is used by the school to improve. Mr. Pressley asked how the SIC team can help with the scores of the School Report Card.

   #3- IMPROVE STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE THE WHOLE CHILD

   • CONTINUE "SHAKE AND SHINE" INITIATIVE EXPAND SHAKE AND SHINE TO 3RD & 4TH GRADES and CONTINUE MOVING TO THE MIDDLE INITIATIVE

3. Tour of the School

   Ms. Golden took the SIC team on a tour

4. Announcements and Upcoming Events

   The admin team will work on how to clearly explain these events so that all stakeholders know what the events are.

   • Spelling Bee
   • Balloon’s Over the Beech
   • Wonder Day (5th Grade)
   • Colonial Day (4th Grade)
   • Friendsgiving Feast (K)
   • Academic Achievement Bowl

5. Actionable Goals for the Year:

   • School Communication preferences -Ms. Golden will send out a poll to ask parents for feedback on how to make the Peek of the Week more parent-friendly.

6. Final Comments and Questions

   • QR code on the back of the car rider tag suggestion – thoughts for next year with the calendar of school events
   • Month calendar starting with the current month – parents stated when it starts in July, it is difficult to find the right month quickly for reference.
   • Acronyms -many new families don’t understand what the acronym means
   • Car rider radio station suggestion for families to tune in to listen to upcoming events while waiting in the car rider line

Next SIC Meeting: Thursday, December 18th at 5:00pm

SIC Meeting Notes

Date: Tuesday, December 10

Time: 5:00 pm

1. Introductions

2. Last Month's Highlights

   • Veteran’s Day: This was discussed at the previous meeting.

   • Balloons Over Broadway: Students participated in a STEAM activity where they paraded their creations through the school.

   • Turkey in my Pocket: Teachers asked each other throughout the day if they had a turkey in their pocket. Those who did received a prize.

   • Thanksgiving Lunch: Ms. Harris noted that the district came and served Thanksgiving lunch.

3. Follow up on September Agenda Items

   • SIC Shirts: Shirts have been ordered and are expected to be delivered in January.

4. Announcements and Upcoming Events

   • SIC Meeting in February: The February meeting has been moved to Thursday, February 13th, to coincide with the Lighthouse Night wellness event. This includes a glow run, t-shirts for registrants, age-based prizes, reflective medals, and participation by business partners.

   • Shake and Shine Interviews: One-on-one interviews for fifth graders will take place on Friday with community members and business owners.

   • Robotics Competition: The competition is happening on Saturday, and students have been practicing.

   • Book Fair: The Bedford Falls book fair is ongoing and open during the community fair this evening.

   • 5th Grade Ellis Island Simulation: Students are preparing for an immersive immigration experience.

   • Staff Holiday Party: The PTA is hosting a holiday party next Wednesday with hors d’oeuvres and a DJ.

   • Polar Express Parade: This parade for kindergarten will take place on Friday before the holiday break.

   • Math Intervention: Starting January 6th, the PTA is supporting a math interventionist to provide one-on-one or classroom support.

5. Actionable Goals for the Year

   • Community Fairs: Individuals have been identified to share Produce Giveaway information and other events to garner more community and family support.

6. Final Comments and Questions

   • Ms. Hoffman responded to a parent query about in-person vs. virtual days, noting that the district makes these decisions.

   • Ms. Hunter asked about the Kindness Crew program, which is expected to roll out next semester.

   • Monthly lighthouse meetings allow students to participate in group activities.

   • A parent business owner offered to host an event for teachers, and Ms. Golden will follow up.

   • A parent inquired about providing event feedback, particularly for fundraising opportunities. Ms. Harris explained school guidelines, and Ms. Golden will follow up.

   • Mr. Pressley suggested recognizing donors through plaques or stones to encourage community support. Ms. Golden and Ms. Harris are working on related initiatives.

   • Ms. Harris mentioned a reading program partnership idea with grandparents during the Grand-Beacon breakfast.

   • Christian Duboise, a parent and barber, offered free haircuts for children in need, which could also support Shake and Shine students.

Next SIC Meeting: Tuesday, January 21st at 7:30 am

SIC Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 7:30 am

1. Welcome and Highlights

• Boogie with a Book
• Boosterthon
• Field Day
• Produce Give Away

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

• 2nd Grade Market Day
• Tied to Brightness & Strands on the Beech (5th Grade)
• Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
• Assistant Principal Appreciation Week (This week!)
• Finding Nemo (4/29) & Beacon Buddy Reveal
• Spring Fling (4/30)

3. Actionable Goals for the Year

• Report to Parents: Begin working on the new Report to Parents and school goals.
  • Link PTA leaders to school Lighthouse Leagues.
  • Implement "Beacon Buddy" family links to help new families acclimate.
  • Add "Leaving their Mark" initiative for 5th graders to Goal #3.
• "Leaving their Mark" Initiative: Update: Pictures have been taken. Next step: Puzzle pieces.
• Shake and Shine: Build relationships with middle school SIC to support students in the Amazing Shake at Ron Clark Academy.
• SIC Parent Event Idea: End-of-year event to prepare parents for the next grade level (partnering staff and parents). Interested members should reach out to Ms. Luciano.
• Student Council Videos: Goal update: The first video has been created by Student Council and Mrs. Shider.
• SIC Conference: Scheduled for April 18, 2026, in Columbia. Mr. Pressley will attend. Seeking members willing to serve in elected roles for next year.

4. Final Comments and Questions

Next SIC Meeting: Friday, May 1, 2026, at 7:30 am

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 7:30 am

1. Welcome and Highlights

• Event Recaps: Mr. Pressley reviewed last month’s events, specifically highlighting the garden event held during the Produce Giveaway.
• Grant Updates: Mrs. Harris announced that students received the Hershey Grant. Mr. Pressley noted an additional grant is expected through his company.
• Current Highlights: Boogie with a Book, Boosterthon, Field Day, and Produce Giveaway.

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

Mr. Pressley discussed the following upcoming activities, noting that Market Day is a particularly memorable event for families:

• 2nd Grade Market Day
• Tied to Brightness & Strands on the Beech (5th Grade)
• Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
• Assistant Principal Appreciation Week (Current)
• Finding Nemo (4/29) & Beacon Buddy Reveal
• Spring Fling (4/30)

3. Actionable Goals for the Year

• Report to Parents & Committee Work: The council is drafting new school goals.
  • Committees: Planning to launch Grant Writing and District Initiatives committees by the Spring Fling.
  • Accountability: A tracker will be used in every meeting to monitor progress on all school goals.
  • Community: Linking PTA leaders to Lighthouse Leagues and implementing the "Beacon Buddy" link for new families.
• "Leaving their Mark" (5th Grade): The group is sourcing puzzle pieces from vendors (Etsy, CVS, Walgreens, Broad Street) to be delivered before summer. The back will read: "Once a Beacon… Always a Beacon." Mr. Farmer suggested the 1st-grade hallway as a potential dedicated wall space.
• Shake and Shine: The council aims to make this schoolwide, developing a skill continuum starting in Kindergarten (e.g., eye contact and handshakes) and progressing through grade levels. There is an emphasis on making PTA and SIC schedules back-to-back for better cohesion.
• Parent University (Summer Event): A summer event is being planned with stations focused on:
  • SIC Information & Grade Level Transitions
  • Preventing the "Summer Slide" and providing library/YMCA resources.
  • Potential scholarship incentives for Camp Invention.
• Student Council Collaboration: The first goal-focused video has been completed by Student Council and Mrs. Shider.
• SIC Elections & Leadership:
  • Conference: Mr. Pressley will attend the SIC Conference in Columbia on April 18, 2026.
  • Recruitment: SIC will create an educational video for parents with a nomination form.
  • Elections: To be held during the May 1st meeting. The group is discussing potential incentives for the Chair position.

4. Final Comments and Questions

Next SIC Meeting: Friday, May 1, 2026, at 7:30 am

1. Welcome and Highlights
   • Lighthouse Gathering – Supported our Garden Grant
   • Volunteer Breakfast – Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!
   • Tied to Brightness and Strands on the Beech
   • Finding Nemo performance
   • Spring Fling
2. Announcements and Upcoming Events
   • Teacher of the Year Celebration – Congratulations to Mrs. Fortner, she is a top 5 finalist!
   • SC Ready is in full swing – Thank you Mr. Bedford
   • Milestone celebrations for 4K, K and 5th Grade
   • Grad Walk – Thank you Mrs. Shider for organizing this.
   • Today is Principal’s Day! We love Mrs. Harris!
3. Highlights from the SIC Conference – Mr. Pressley
4. SIC Chair Nominations
5. Actionable Goals for the Year
   1. We will begin to work on our new Report to Parents; we will need to create new goals for our school.
      • Continue current goals.
      • Add Linking PTA leaders to school lighthouse leagues.
      • Add a “Beacon Buddy” family link to new families to help them get acclimated and build a strong community.
      • Update Goal #3 to include the “Leaving their Mark” initiative for 5th graders (Mrs. Robinson will work with Ms. Luciano).
   2. 5th Grade "Leaving their Mark" Project: What actionable steps need to be taken to have this completed?
      • Update: Picture has been taken.
      • Looking at the next step: puzzle pieces.
      • Needs follow-up.
   3. SIC Parent Event Idea: Consideration of an end-of-year event to prepare parents for the next grade level, featuring parent and staff member teams.
      • Interested parties should reach out to Ms. Luciano.

SIC Meeting Notes

Friday, May 1^st, 2026

1. Welcome and Highlights

·       Lighthouse Gathering – Supported our Garden Grant

·       Volunteer Breakfast – Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!

·       Tied to Brightness and Strands on the Beech

·       Finding Nemo performance

·       Spring Fling

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

·       Teacher of the Year Celebration- Congratulations to Mrs. Fortner, she is a top 5 finalist!

·       SC Ready is in full swing – Thank you Mr. Bedford

·       Milestone celebrations for 4K, K and 5^th Grade – held at East Edisto

·       Grad Walk – Thank you Mrs. Shider for organizing this.

·       Today is Principal’s Day! We love Mrs. Harris!

3. Highlights from the SIC Conference – Mr. Pressley

·       What impact are we trying to have on students? What are we doing to improve the building? We need a mission statement for the school. What legacy do we want to leave?

·       Everything SIC does should be data driven. The results should be reported, even if it appears “normal.”

·       Do parents trust SIC and the school?

o   Idea: SIC and others share experiences.

·       Ideas:

o   Handout card to car rider line with SIC information.

o   Teachers tell parents with concerns and/or complaints to come to SIC meeting.

o   Follow up with contacts.

o   Make sure everyone who works in and around the school knows what SIC is and understands the mission.

o   Provide childcare during SIC meetings.

o   Record important meetings.

o   Provide door prizes to attendees.

4. SIC Chair Nominations

·       Received a few nominations, will do another push for nominations and then put out a vote.

·       Chair is a two-year term.

5.  Actionable Goals for the Year:

o   We will begin to work on our new Report to Parents, we will need to create new goals for our school.

§  Continue goals, add Linking PTA leaders to school lighthouse leagues.  We are also wanting to add a “Beacon Buddy” family link to new families to help them get acclimated to the new school and build a strong community.  Added to goal #3 we are adding the “Leaving their Mark” initiative for 5^th graders.  Mrs. Robinson will work with Ms. Luciano

o   Last meeting, Mr. Pressley had a great idea of 5^th graders leaving their mark.  What actionable steps need to be taken to have this completed?

§  Update: Picture has been taken, looking at the next step…puzzle pieces. Needs follow-up

o   SIC Parent Event Idea- In other DD2 schools they have an event at the end of the year to prepare parents for the next grade level.  A parent and staff member teamed up together and presented ways to be successful as their child moves to the next grade.  If you’d like to be part of this, reach out to Ms. Luciano

6. Final Comments and Questions

·       Next school year there will be a link for attending SIC meetings virtually. The link will remain the same for the entire year so it can be bookmarked for the meetings.

·       SIC table at Facts & Fees event before the new school year.

·       Maybe reintroduce “room moms” to help orient new families to the teacher or grade level.

·       Can SIC work towards getting a live broadcast system like what East Edisto has? It would allow for more virtual attendance, particularly from out-of-town family members.

·       Mr. Pressley challenges SIC to invite friends and neighbors to attend a SIC meeting.