TEACHER
1001 Wilann Drive
Charlotte, NC 28215
980-343-6475
http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/briarwoodES/
Pages/Default.aspx
TAKEAWAYS
uirk
By Bea Q
DEMY
D ACA
RWOO
5
BRIA
Principal Brenda V. Steadman
shares the top 10 things
you should know about
Briarwood Academy.
PRINCIPAL’S
1
TOP 10
“We believe our
students have endless
possibilities!”
Briarwood Academy is a Uniform
School, and we have almost 700
students in grades K-5. About 36
percent are Hispanic; most of the
others are African-American. Our
teachers and staff embrace diversity
and communicate high expectations for
academic success to all students.
2
Our Legacy of Learning program
presents each student with a book
four times a year. Students
are now able to request what
books they’d like to receive.
3
Our teachers are
collaborative and
resourceful
practitioners, and our students
are collaborative and resourceful
learners. Our teachers regularly
attend professional conferences
to learn innovative strategies to
increase students’ success.
Brenda V
. Steadm
26 – My School Rocks! | October2014
January 2013
an
4
Our parents are part of the
school leadership team and
volunteer in our classrooms.
The school building is not old – it
opened the same year I was born –
but it has style, grace and class.
6
We are creating traditions for our
students. We have big celebrations
during Black History Month, Hispanic
Cultural Week and on Cinco de Mayo.
In the past, our students have won the
CMS Martin Luther King Jr. Day writing
and arts contests.
7
Our Character Education program
is very important, and we invite
parents to the monthly assemblies.
8
We showcase our students’ talents
during lunch periods. We had a
special meal to celebrate Thanksgiving
this year, and we invited parents so they
could come during their lunch hour. Our
third graders provided entertainment.
Each student in grades K, 1 and 2
has artwork displayed throughout the
building.
9
The Greater Bethel AME Church,
which is near the school, partners
with us in many ways. They provide
school uniforms, school supplies and
summer camp slots.
10
We are very proud of our
mentoring clubs, Briarwood
Young Ladies and Briarwood YoungMen.
They learn about setting goals, etiquette
and carry on book studies.
MSR: Why do you like this method?
Shannon: There is not just one book
that everyone has to read. Students can
be successful and grow at their own
rate. They can apply reading strategies
at whatever level they have achieved.
One of my students was so excited
when he finished his book, he threw it
up in the air and shouted. I didn’t want
to dampen his enthusiasm, but I did
need to remind him that reading class
is a quiet time. This is very refreshing,
especially now that I am specializing in
reading.
STUDENT
STORY
I think we can do a better job this way.
Katherine
Shannon
Zoe, Thir
d Grader
“It’s so cool to hear my
students get excited
MSR: What do you like about going to
Briarwood?
Zoe: I’ve been coming here since I was
in kindergarten. I really like the teachers
and the stuff they do. I have a lot of
friends here, and we help each other,
especially in math and writing.
about books – it makes
them want to read more.”
Katherine Shannon has been
teaching at Briarwood for five
years – her entire teaching career.
This year, she began specializing in
teaching reading to third graders.
MSR: How do you teach reading?
Shannon: We are using a national
model called the Balanced Literacy
Fram