In conjunction with Ms. Mitchell and the school, we co-funded the Technology Teachers Assistant.  This will be a full time position focusing on learning computer skills such as keyboarding, and applications like Word and PowerPoint.  This teacher will come on line sometime after the start of the school year.  This is an exciting time for the students, school, and parents.

People had a great time and the Endowment raised approximately $12,000.  Those funds are going right back to the school for a Teachers Assistant at the start of the 2009-2010 school year.  The Endowment is here to add value to the education and we are looking forward to seeing the changes.

Look for more advanced multimedia publications coming from the students in the near future. 

The endowment is turning over the first check to James B. Edwards for $1000 to the library.  The library will spend the money to update many older books.

The Community Advisory Board participated in their first meeting on that same date.

Students stretch, bounce and measure homemade silly putty while testing different formulas.  Young meteorologists record data from rain gauges, wind vanes, class-made anemometers and thermometers.  Children create animal-friendly tests to discover if mealworms prefer dark or light environments.  Students have fun while discovering science inquiry methods, measurement techniques and problem solving skills.

How are investigations like this possible?  Parent and community donations provided JBE with the Science Lab for the 2007-08 school year!  With state and district budget crises, funding for special programs is continually at risk especially higher performing schools like JBE.  Last spring, when the PTA publicized the absence of district funding for the Science  Lab , the JBE community demonstrated a commitment to preserve quality education by donating an astounding $63,000 to save the program.The JBE Science Lab provides the first through fifth grade students hands on science inquiry explorations.  A trained science instructor plans with classroom teachers to ensure that lab investigations correspond and enrich classroom lessons guided by state science standards.  Messy, material consuming, time encompassing, intensive explorations are made feasible with the JBE Science Lab.

JBE Science PACT scores are on the rise and students are talking more about science at home.  This early science background will give students a step ahead in future science classes and ultimately prepare them to succeed in the world’s innovations-based economy.

Thanks to continued donations, students will build science skills throughout their JBE years.  We’ll continue making solutions bubble, experience how matter changes when making ice cream, and learn from the amazing night sky in a portable planetarium!

Violins, violas and cellos are once again being played by our fifth grade strings class.  Three times a week, the beautiful sounds of an orchestra can be heard coming from the strings room.  These students are working diligently  under the direction of Nancy Cross.

Ms. Cross is one of the founders of the East Cooper Strings Program which was started in 1969.  Every week she travels to all seven East Cooper elementary schools to teach over 200 students.  Her dedication influences her students to stretch their ability and open their minds to playing an instrument that most have never tried before.

JBE students join other 5th graders, as well as students from Laing, Cario, Moultrie and Wando in the spring for an East Cooper Orchestra Concert.  Scheduled for March 20, 2008, this is a phenomenal experience to see and hear these  young talented musicians. .

Recently, our fifth-graders participated in an amazing field trip.  They were part of the inaugural Sea Spray Scout educational program aboard the new tall ship, Spirit of South Carolina.  Each class embarked on a day sail excursion in Charleston Harbor; some amidst intermittent drizzles of rain.  The weather did not stop the hard work and hands on learning that is required to sail a 140-foot, two masted schooner.  In fact, this wooden tall ship was designed primarily as an educational vessel.  The students practiced water salinity and solubility testing, navigation, and knot tying.  They read nautical charts, used compasses, and took measurements all compliant with state standards for math, science, geography and SC history. 

The teachers were given materials ahead of time outlining which standards would be addressed. Some teachers even participated in an educators preview sail during the summer.  Mr. Irwin, a seasoned math and science teacher commented on how impressed he was with the crew and their ability to keep the students actively engaged and on-target.  They were well-educated and savvy about working with this age group.  The students were listening and cooperating while gliding through the water.  One of the highlights of the trip was raising the jib-sail as all of them tugged on the halyard with their collective might.  According to fifth-grader, Bryan Cole, “It’s so fun.  You actually get to work the boat.”

The cost of each trip was $1,000 per class, which was off-set by generous donations from JBE parents.  The cost per child ended up being cut by half allowing everyone an opportunity to participate.  Fifth grader, Aaliyah Norman summed it up best by stating, “It is the most wonderful trip ever!”  Students, parents, and teachers consider it a most memorable trip as well.   In the hallway of the fifth grade pod is a fantastic bulletin board with pictures the students drew and letters they wrote about their voyage aboard the Spirit of South Carolina.