Alma's History

Cherokee Progressive School was a brick, two-story building on Cherokee Avenue across from Chandler's Feed and Seed. The school was built on the hill. The school building was condemned in 1949 according to The Gaffney Ledger. The July 30, 1949 newspaper's headline stated that Cherokee Progressive School was in danger of collapse. Water had leaked in between the brick and wooden frame over the years and caused the wooden frame to rot. The next year, the children were bused to Midway School located on the frontage road of I-85 near Whelchel Road until the new school opened about 1951. The name of the new school was Alma Progressive according to the 1951-52 report cards.

About Us

Alma Elementary, located on the east side of Cherokee County, serves students in grades four year old kindergarten through fifth grade. Our school was constructed in 1951 on a five-acre tract donated by Mrs. Alma Hamrick Fullerton, and was named in honor of her. Our school has served its mill-village community since 1951 as a true neighborhood school. In the original structure, our third grade classes and our special area and specially designed classes are accommodated. In 1982, an educational wing was constructed which now contains our first and second grade classes along with our literacy center. In 1998, a separate building housing four classrooms for fourth and fifth grade classes was built. In 2005, a third remodeling project was completed in which the 1998 wing was enclosed with the main building plus a new library, office area, kitchen, and two new kindergartenclassrooms were added. There is one mobile unit in use for art classes. The last renovations have modernized the sixty year old plus structure bringing Alma Elementary into the 21st century with style and technological advantages the old structure could not accomplish. Our school motto is "SHINE: Stars: tHink, Imagine, iNspire, and cElebrate." Daily, each of our students, faculty/staff, and administrator work diligently and showcase our work throughout our building and into our community in a manner that says..."watch us SHINE."

Our school is referred to as "our learning home" by our principal, faculty/staff, parents and approximately 250 students. Alma Elementary has 13 classroom teachers (1 pre-kindergarten and 2 per grade for kindergarten through fifth) and 5 support staff assistants (computer lab, kindergarten, and special education). We have a full time literacy coach, reading interventionist, special education teacher and guidance counselor. Our gifted-talented teacher is part-time. Our physical education teacher is full time while our music, art, and media specialist are part-time.

We recognize the importance of developing the whole child with innovative teaching practices, extracurricular activities, and leadership opportunities.We are a goal-oriented school with a growth mindset for continuous improvement. Our test scores show a slight improvement from year-to-year. Even though our teachers constantly work with our students, we see the "transition from school-to school" as our biggest concern. We need our students with us daily to make the biggest gains.

School's Purpose

SHINE: Stars...Think, Imagine, Inspire and Celebrate! These words represent Alma Elementary School's motto of providing our students with a variety of learning opportunities today in order to foster their growth as leaders for the future. Our mission statement, "With families and the community, Alma Elementary School will establish a desire to learn, provide academic excellence, and promote a lasting appreciation of knowledge which will develop successful, respectful, and responsible citizens," truly embraces our school's mission for our students. Whether our students arrive as kindergarteners or transfer students, we want to motivate and inspire them; we want to provide quality daily learning while enrolled; we want to foster a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Our goal is to provide a safe, inviting, child-centered environment in partnership with students, teachers, families and community members.

We value the uniqueness, creativity, and educational rights, as well as, the well-being of all students. In developing the whole child, we believe that children are always our first priority; education is essential for the advancement of society; every individual has equal value; excellence is always worth the effort; a safe environment is a basic human need essential for learning; learning is a lifelong process; the family is the foundation of society; and everyone can learn. Along with our beliefs, our vision is strong in that "Alma Elementary School will provide a high-quality education in which teachers collaborate, integrate, and differentiate in order for students to engage and apply knowledge."

Academic Programs

Core Subjects: Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies
SC College and Career Ready Standards
Project-Based Learning
Special Areas: Art, Music, Physical Education, Library
Character Education in Guidance
After School Program (Boys and Girls Club)
One Book/One School Family Literacy Book Club
Schoolwide Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS)
Schoolwide Title I Project
Reading/Academic Interventionists
Reading Buddies
Small Group Daily Instruction in all grades
Bi-monthly study group for teachers
Technology Opportunities
Project Goal (GT) and Enrichment
Curriculum Lab (science/math activities)
One to One Technology for all students
21st Century Skills
Read to Succeed Literacy Coach Instructional Facilitator
Summer Reading Program
Community Service

Boys and Girls of the Upstate Site
School Improvement Council
School Leadership Team
Cherokee County Library Bookmobile monthly visits
March of Dimes
Relay for Life
Jump Rope for Heart
Love Care Packages to the Senior Center
American Education Week Activities
Community Guest Speakers and Readers
Special Programs throughout the Year from Neighboring Cherokee Technology Center
District Fine Arts Expo
Know(2) Partnership
Miracle Hill - Canned Food Drive
Donations to Locks of Love
Elks Club - Basketball Free Throw Contest
First LEGO Robotics
East Gaffney Church - Good News Club
First Tee Golf
Parenting

School Title I Parent Assistant
Annual Title I Meeting (Parenting Fair)
Mentor Program/Lunch Buddies (Hamrick Mills)
Partnership with Gaffney Fire Dept. Station 15
Special Programs for Families (Grandparents' Breakfast, Mother's Tea, Family Lunches)
Parenting Sessions (birth to fifth grade shared)
Title I Activities (Book Blast, Math Monday, Fall Festival, etc.)
Seasonal Parent/Student Activities
Student Activities

Boys and Girls Club of the Upstate
Good News Club
Council Junior Beta Club
Student Council - Grades 2-5
Literacy Days
Project Based Learning
Spelling Bee
Veterans Day Programs
Weekly "Starbuck" Activities
Monthly Attendance Incentives
Too Good for Drugs (1st - 5th grades)
Talent Show
Fall Festival
Honors Choir/Schoolwide Musical Presentations
9 Weeks Awards Program
9 Weeks Incentive for attendance, behavior, and homework
Field Day
Breakfast in classroom daily
Participate in District Writers Gala
First LEGO Robotics
First Tee Golf
Honors' Choir (5th Grade).

(https://aes.cherokee1.org/about_us

The choice to close down Alma Elementary breaks the hearts of our students and community. As well as the other Communities and students of the other affected schools. We have families who have had multiple generations that have attended our "Learning Home". Alma is a staple to our community and our children's future. Our Childrens future is our future. Please help us to keep ALMA ELEMENTARY OPEN. Also Goucher and Mary Bramlett.