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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MEADOWFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY TO BE CELEBRATED ON APRIL 27, 2018, AND TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE SERVICES THE SCHOOL HAS PROVIDED TO THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY.
Whereas, Meadowfield Elementary first opened its doors in 1967. In the first three years of its origination, the school served students in grades one through seven. The attendance zone of Meadowfield Elementary merged with that of Atlas Road Elementary in 1970. This led to Meadowfield housing kindergarten and all first through third grade students, with kindergarten and all fourth, fifth, and special education students housed at Atlas Road. In 1986, Atlas Road Elementary was reconfigured to provide an alternative learning environment for the school district, placing all elementary-age students at Meadowfield; and
Whereas, Meadowfield is the first, and currently only, certified National Paideia Model School in South Carolina. The Paideia philosophy encourages children to be active participants in a democratic learning environment, teaching students language and communications skills that will enable them to transition easily into career choices and the work force. The Paideia Model encompasses three distinctive columns of instruction: didactic, coaching, and Socratic seminar. Through curricular units of study known as Paideia Coached Projects, students are involved in rigorous, multi-disciplinary project-based learning experiences that uphold student choice and result in a final product or performance presented to an audience outside the classroom. Students learn to communicate successfully with other students and achieve true learning through responsible ownership of the curriculum. Paideia seminars are collaborative, intellectual dialogues facilitated by open-ended questions about focused texts. During seminars, students model and practice critical thinking skills and complex social skills through active listening and respectful responses. Student-led conferences afford students the opportunity to present their prepared portfolio of assessments at the end of the first, second, and third nine-week grading periods. This experience engages students in accountability for their own learning, self-evaluation, and goal-setting, enhancing their communication skills; and
Whereas, Meadowfield Elementary is further committed to involving the community in the quest for active, relevant, and rigorous learning. The businesses and community surrounding the Meadowfield Elementary School area recognize the importance of partnership development as a means of advancing intellectual and social growth within a healthy learning environment. Because of the strong support of business and community partners, students are encouraged to be lifelong learners as they develop in a safe, supportive learning atmosphere. Meadowfield believes in the continuous growth of its students in a global society. Due to this, they are committed to continuing to pursue and develop more relationships with business partners and community members; and
Whereas, the institution also has a long-standing partnership as a Professional Development School (PDS) with the University of South Carolina. Since 1991, Meadowfield teachers have supervised the training of early childhood and elementary education degree interns. As such, they have overseen practicum course experiences for second-year university students. Teachers participate in the USC PDS network and attend meetings and PDS conferences. In return, university faculty offer professional development for and collaborative exchanges with Meadowfield teachers. Meadowfield also hosts USC's Nature Based Inquiry class, which provides science-based professional development to several Meadowfield teachers, as well as teachers from other Richland One schools; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are grateful for the commitment to the betterment of the minds of our children and our community exhibited by Meadowfield Elementary and its faculty and staff and look forward to many more years of continued dedication. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor Meadowfield Elementary School on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary to be celebrated on April 27, 2018, and express gratitude for the services the school has provided to the Columbia community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Meadowfield Elementary School.
This web page was last updated on April 11, 2018 at 2:32 PM