Technology: Southside Christian Lower School is utilizing various technological strategies in classrooms to enhance the educational process. Fourth grade classrooms are equipped with Promethean Boards, which are interactive whiteboards that enable anything that can be seen or done on a computer screen to be projected onto a whiteboard. These whiteboards are used a across the curriculum to interactively involve students in the learning process in a fun and engaging way.

Fifth grade students use a response system to enable the teacher to assess learning and gain instant insight into whether students understand a concept, lesson, or idea in an engaging environment that encourages contribution and creativity.

All Lower School students used TI-15 Calculators in the classroom. The TI-15 is a useful tool that helps students make connections between classroom learning and real-world situations. The TI-15 has fraction capabilities, problem solving, and place value. It helps students explore their world through investigation and experimentation, and helps develop skills in addition, subtraction, powers, and answer format.

Student Council: Lower School Student Council is a representative structure for students, through which they can develop spiritual qualities, develop leadership skills, and give input into the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school administration for the benefit of the school and its students. The student council helps share students’ ideas, interests, and concerns with school administration. They also help create and implement school-wide service activities.

The council is representative-based. Student representatives and officers are elected from and by the student body. In fourth and fifth grade, there is one student representative per classroom. All officers are sixth graders. In the event that a representative is unable to serve the entire school year, a new representative would be elected.

Qualifications to serve on the Lower School Student Council:

·    Strong Christian testimony (no office referrals for discipline the semester  prior to election)

·     Good academic standing (no D’s or F’s on report card the semester prior to election)

·     Teacher recommendation

·      SCS student at least one semester prior to election

Lower School Student Council positions:

·     President: The president runs council meetings. Candidates should be comfortable speaking in meetings. The president may also represent the student body in meetings with school administration.

·    Secretary: The secretary keeps accurate records of meeting and student activities, programs, and sessions. Candidates should be organized and like to write.

·    Chaplain: The chaplain leads in devotions and prayer for the council meetings or activities. Candidates should have a heart for the Lord and like leading devotions and prayer.

The following students are on the Lower School Student Council for the 2008-2009 school year:

Representatives: Lia Stone, Leah Clark, Ryan Piller, Jacob Day, Macale Fusco, Andrew LaFlam

President: Maxwell Trammell        Secretary: Sara Marconi        Chaplain: Shelby Sibert

Bible Quiz: SCS Lower School students in grades three through six have the opportunity to participate in Bible Quiz.  Students who choose to participate are placed on a team with four other students. Each team member memorizes a set of verses prior to the preliminary quiz. The top two quizzing teams quiz during chapel to determine the winner. There are six quizzes each year.

In addition to regular Bible Quiz, there is also an All-star Bible Quiz team that travels to other schools to compete. Historically, SCS has always performed very well at these quizzes.

 Most importantly, Bible Quiz team members hide God’s Word in their hearts, which has great spiritual and eternal implications.

Math Olympics: Math Olympics is a competition that stimulates an interest in mathematics. Not only does this competition recognize the achievements of students in math, it also offers students an opportunity to glorify God in the use of their mathematical abilities beyond the classroom. Students take a preliminary math test in computation and reasoning to determine the top scorers. The top two students (one for computation and one for reasoning) are selected from each classroom to travel to the competition.

ACSI Spelling Bee: Students in grades 1-8 have the opportunity to participate in the ACSI Regional Spelling Bee. Students in each class take a preliminary spelling test to determine the best spellers in each grade level. The top spellers are given spelling lists to study in order to prepare for the regional spelling bee.  These students then travel to the host school for the regional spelling bee. SCS Lower School students are very successful in spelling competition. 

ACSI Science Fair: SCS Lower School students have the opportunity to participate each year in the ACSI Regional Science Fair. Lower School student are required to do a science project each school year. Many choose to go further by participating in the science fair. SCS desires to help students think critically and constructively from a Bible-based Christian worldview. Students must learn to rely on God and His plan, giving him the praise for all scientific discoveries and advancements and seeking to apply these for His glory. Science fair projects are rated on standards set forth by ACSI. Rating categories are good, excellent, and superior. Students can choose to do an experimental or non-experimental project. SCS students have performed very well at the regional science fair, with most projects earning superior ratings.

SCS Lower School Art Show: Each year Lower School students have the opportunity to participate in the Lower School Art Show. Students may enter several projects in variety of media such as pencil, colored pencil, acrylic, charcoal, and plaster. These are projects worked on during the school year. Students may also enter other artwork providing they did not receive direct help. During the art show, the mall if filled with wonderful and beautiful art projects for all to enjoy.

Accelerated Reader Program:  Students in grades 1-5 have the opportunity to participate in the Accelerated Reader Program. Library books marked with yellow spine labels have corresponding quizzes online. Students choose books to read and then take quizzes on what they have read during library time. Prizes are awarded for reaching benchmarks and climax with the top winners taking a trip to Monkey Joes with the librarian and the principal.

Crossing Guards: Responsible sixth grade students may sign up to be crossing guards. SCS Crossing Guards serve their fellow students every morning by opening car doors, helping to carry oversized projects, holding umbrellas, or anything else that would help get the day started in a positive manner. They follow the motto of the three “P’s”:  be prompt, be prepared, and be polite. These students are rewarded for their faithful service with a trip to Carowinds during education days each May.