SME Welcome Letter

Smokey Mountain Elementary School

Dear Parents:

The North Carolina School Report Card provides important information about our school regarding the academics from the previous school year. Our school community stands behind its mission to Inspire Dreams and Promote Excellence. We are dedicated to creating an atmosphere of learning that supports the whole child and the community of those who are invested in their development. The passion our teachers have for student success is evident as we worked diligently to meet the state’s expectations for achievement and growth. There is nothing more important to our school community than ensuring that your student is ready for the next step in their academic career.

Our teachers, through Professional Learning Communities, collaborate and analyze student data in order to determine student need and to tailor their instruction to the individual student. On a daily basis rigorous instruction is provided to our students through researched-based programs, such as Wilson Fundations®, The Daily 5™, Investigations and Connected Mathematics ®, as well as, providing guided reading and math centers for exploration. Our staff also works to support the students by addressing any academic or behavioral needs through Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports and through NC DPI’s Multi-Tiered System of Support.  We provide targeted intervention and enrichment time to meet student needs that includes access to tutors, access to specialists in Reading and Math, and specific intervention time based upon student need.

In addition to our core academic subjects, our students participate in music, art, physical education, media and technology exploration, and clubs. We continue to offer extracurricular opportunities and clubs for our students, such as athletic teams, the National Beta Club, America’s Battle of the Books, New Century Scholars, and STEM-E clubs for elementary and middle school students. The Balsam Mountain Preserve, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Oconaluftee Indian Village, help support instruction through extension opportunities. With a multi-year grant for Indian Education, our Cherokee Culture Program provides a variety of activities that serve to increase academic achievement and the knowledge of cultural identity and awareness. 

Our students participate in various service projects that raise awareness for local and global issues. Our partnership with Communities in Schools assists with additional needs, such as attendance, and volunteer support. We have revitalized our NC Pre-K Program and the Afterschool program for Grades K-5. Please join us in closely following your student’s academic progress and work with his or her teacher(s) to help ensure they stay on track academically. Working together as a team, we can improve not only how well our students are performing individually, but how our school is performing as a whole. 

I look forward to working with you to make sure your student is on track for success. It is important to remember that one single score or grade does not tell the full potential and growth of a student, nor does it give the total picture about our performance and the opportunities our school provides. 

With the mindset that all children can be successful, we look for ways to strengthen the student’s natural interests and to support them in areas that are still in the process of developing. They are individuals with unique interests and who make our local and global community a better place to live!