Two Hilton Head Island Elementary Schools, One Shared Goal: Helping Students Thrive

From International Baccalaureate to arts integration, explore two Hilton Head Island elementary schools with unique approaches to helping students succeed.

Photos courtesy of Beaufort County School District

On Hilton Head Island, elementary schoolers rarely begin their day around a desk. When the first bell rings, students could be engaged in a trust-building exercise, reenacting a historical event or working together to solve a problem. It’s unconventional, but that’s the point.

“Learning isn’t something that just happens to our students. They are active participants in it,” says Dr. Staci Souhan, principal of the Hilton Head Island Elementary School for the Creative Arts.

This elementary school is one of two offered by Beaufort County School District on Hilton Head Island. The other, Hilton Head Island Elementary School (HHIES), follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP). Despite their differing approaches to primary education — one centered around the arts and another focused on global education — they both share a commitment to helping students discover their strengths and see what’s possible.

“Ultimately, we want children to love coming to school,” says Souhan. “We want them to be excited about learning, discover what they are good at and leave us believing there is no limit to what they can accomplish.”

Related read: How Beaufort County Schools Are Reinventing Education with Changemakers

Hilton Head Island Elementary School: International Baccalaureate and Global Learning

As one of the first elementary schools in the country to adopt the PYP, HHIES has a history of educational innovation. To Principal Michelle Brockway, the PYP goes beyond traditional academic expectations.

“The IB PYP framework prepares students to be more than successful students — it helps them become curious thinkers, compassionate individuals and internationally minded citizens,” she says.

In it, classes are guided by discussions where students can ask questions, collaborate with their peers and apply lessons to real-world problems. Subjects such as language arts, mathematics, science and social studies are taught not as separate topics but as interconnected. In addition to a schoolwide language program, students are granted the opportunity to enroll in Dual Language Immersion, a program that helps develop proficiency in Spanish or Mandarin Chinese. Brockway says this type of instruction can open doors for students in their future academic and professional careers.

“Students learn to navigate different languages and perspectives, collaborate with others and become more comfortable communicating across cultures,” she says. “These skills can provide a strong foundation for future academic opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world.”

Beyond career success, Brockway believes the PYP’s approach helps mold student into well-rounded individuals and members of a larger, global community.

“It helps students develop a lifelong curiosity about the world and a belief that they can make a positive impact,” she says.

Related read: How Beaufort County’s IB Program Prepares Students for College and Life

Hilton Head Island Elementary School for the Creative Arts: Learning Through Arts Integration

With an arts-based education, there are often questions about the material students will learn. School of the Arts principal Souhan has answers.

“There’s sometimes a misconception that arts integration means taking time away from academics. We see it exactly the opposite way,” she says.

Instead of replacing traditional subjects, arts integration teaches them through creative outlets. Souhan explains how abstract ideas, such as mathematical equations, can become easier to understand when represented by tangible, movable objects. Science concepts can be expressed through drawings or dioramas, and history lessons can come to life through performance.

At the same time, students are prompted to think critically about the lessons being taught and to take ownership in their understanding of them. Instead of a pop quiz, students demonstrate their comprehension of a topic through the ability to translate it into something they can see, hear or touch.

“That multisensory approach helps students make connections in their learning and strengthens engagement and memory,” Souhan says.

Especially for students who work best in creative environments, an arts-based education can deliver the same academic material in ways that match their natural learning style. Souhan acknowledges that each student learns differently, and by offering more unique educational models, there’s greater opportunity for all students to succeed.

“Sometimes a child discovers his or her strength through music, movement, visual art or performance, and suddenly that child sees themselves differently as a learner,” she says. “That’s a huge win for kids.”

A Shared Mission: Helping Hilton Head Students Thrive

While each elementary school breaks convention in its own distinct way, they are aligned on the same fundamental goal: to empower students.

“We want every child to leave with the confidence to learn continuously, care deeply and contribute positively to the world around them,” Brockway says.

For Souhan, that confidence motivates students to take risks. Whether presenting class material in an original way or being unafraid to ask questions, students are emboldened to try something new — even if they may fail.

“We want students asking questions, discussing their thinking, solving problems, working collaboratively, revising their ideas and learning that mistakes aren’t something to fear. They’re part of the learning process,” she says.

In turn, the schools create spaces where students feel uplifted by their teachers and their peers. They help children learn, grow and thrive not only in the classroom but in life outside of school.

The instruction may be untraditional, but to Souhan, there’s a real, meaningful impact.

“I want [students] to discover their talents, find their voice, challenge themselves and leave thinking, ‘I’m good at something. My ideas matter. I belong here, and I can do hard things,’” she says.

“If we can give children that foundation, we’re doing something pretty amazing.”

Schedule a Tour of Hilton Head Island Elementary Schools

Interested families can learn more about each school by scheduling a private tour. Visit beaufortschools.net to make an appointment.

Related read: How a Reimagined Hilton Head Island High School Will Shape the Community’s Future

This article was created by LL Partner Studio on behalf of Beaufort County School District.