LITTLE MOUNTAIN — Little Mountain has something big to celebrate after being named one of the top nine finalists for the 2017 Palmetto’s Finest Schools Awards.
Last fall, 21 South Carolina schools submitted a 20 page application and received two on site evaluations. The application process includes elements on student achievement, instructional programs, professional learning communities and school culture.
Monarch Elementary and Round Top Elementary took home the 2017 Palmetto’s Finest School Awards in the elementary division, but Little Mountain Elementary Principal Kimberly Mack said that regardless of winning, the school is still a winner in her eyes.
“I think that just being a Palmetto’s Finest finalist, that makes us winners right now. The journey has been quite the learning experience, not only for our faculty and staff, but our students as well. This journey has given us the opportunity to reflect and become better at being educators and providing what’s best for our students,” said Mack.
To Mack, there were various reasons as to why Little Mountain is one of Palmetto’s Finest, one of them being the students.
“You can give them any task, and we have several things that we ask them to do, like exemplify leadership skills. They do that for us. That is probably the biggest thing we’ve got going on right now. Our students are always stepping up to the plate and they always go above and beyond of what is expected of them.
Mack also commended the Little Mountain Elementary faculty and staff who provide the students with the tools needed to prepare for higher education, along with the Little Mountain community.
“We have a supportive community in the School District of Newberry County, not only in our small town of Little Mountain, but throughout the county and you cannot have great schools without great support,” said Mack. “Our plan is to come back next year and it’s really just about working a little harder, being a little stronger and next year, maybe that will be our year.”
School Superintendent Jim Suber, along with other school district employees, was in attendance to recognize Little Mountain Elementary for their achievement.
“There were 21 schools that applied and Little Mountain was one that was selected for the top nine. We are certainly proud of their accomplishment, but this whole process just makes the entire school stronger,” said Suber. “If Mr. Bennie Bennett were here he would be extremely proud of their accomplishments and he would be the first one to tell them to go back to work tomorrow and apply for this award again.”
Former Rep. Walt McLeod also offered his compliments to Little Mountain Elementary students, faculty and staff.
“It was a pretty tough competition and I thought Little Mountain did extremely well. It was an honor to have a child that graduated from Little Mountain Elementary. I am very proud of the school and proud to be a strong supporter of public schools, including those in Newberry County,” said McLeod.
