- Mill Creek Elementary
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Academics and Programs
During the school year, MCES has a broad range of offerings and opportunities. Whether embedded in the school day, before or after school, there are various avenues that provide enrichment and student growth.



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Specials Classes
Each day, MCES students attend Specials Classes for 45 minutes where they are challenged by Highly Qualified teachers in that specialty subject. Below you can find a description of each Specials Class your child will attend.
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Art
In Art at MCES students will learn about the Elements of Art and Principles of Design as the students are taught how to express themselves creatively through a variety of art mediums such as: drawing, painting, sculpture/installations, textiles and clay. We will discuss famous artists, art history and cultural art forms. Students will discover, through collaboration with the Art and classroom teachers, the connections between different subject areas such as social studies, science, language arts and math, reinforcing material learned in their academic classrooms.
Kindergartners will specifically focus on developing their fine motor skills through centers in the classroom as they build their knowledge of the Elements of Art and experience new art mediums.
There will be multiple opportunities for students to display their artwork including: exhibits at the Frist Center for Visual Arts, Williamson County Libraries and other art exhibition spaces and a digital portfolio, on our online platform, where parents can view artwork all year long and purchase products that will help fund the art program! Some students will also be able to display their work at a variety of art festivals.
The goal is to create an exciting learning environment where students can develop a positive sense of self and community by problem solving, becoming well-rounded, lifelong learners through Art.
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Guidance
Your school counselors enjoy teaching classroom guidance as part of the Specials rotation. We share a teaching slot with library class, thus engaging with every student about twice a month.
To build developmentally appropriate academic, social, and emotional skills, we maintain a consistent structure to our classes. Our curriculum is developed from both our American School Counseling Association’s standards and the Williamson County Counseling scope and sequence. Each month, we align lessons to Quantum Learning’s character keys of excellence. After practicing and promoting each character trait, our Specials colleagues join us to recognize students who modeled the character key as a “Special Key Turner”.
For every Guidance lesson, we begin with an interactive game called, Who are the Bucketfillers of the Day? Students proceed to figure out who are the helpers and role models of that class period, following the “bucketfilling” notion first introduced by Don Clifton. We believe that this grants each student the opportunity to nurture leadership, advocacy, and empowerment. From here, your school counselors utilize multi-media approaches to teaching, facilitate open conversations, and design a creative activity as a takeaway. To conclude Guidance classes, students listen to a song that is carefully selected to enhance the character key of the month.
We hope our students enjoy this facet of our school counseling program as much as we do!
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Health
In Mill Creek Health class, we will learn how to develop and maintain lifelong healthy habits! Each class will focus on a different health topic such as nutrition, physical activity, safety, mental health, social health, personal hygiene, etc. There is always some physical movement embedded in the lesson as well. So, get ready to move and discover the amazing body!
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Library
Library is a related arts class that follows the color day specials rotation. Students will participate in a lesson, activity, and book checkout during each class. Students will also have the opportunity to check out books during Guidance classes.
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Music
Through singing, playing instruments, and creative movement, students at Mill Creek Elementary School experience the joy of music. The MCES Music Room is equipped with a wonderful large assortment of pitched and un-pitched classroom percussion instruments. Each grade level is showcased in a music program once a year. These performances are a great way for students to share some of what they have learned during music class, as well as gain experience performing for an audience on a stage. Recorder lessons are a part of the 4th and 5th grade curriculum. We look forward to sharing our love of music with your child at MCES.
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Physical Education
The mission of Mill Creek Elementary Physical Education Department is to develop healthy bodies, promote positive attitudes towards lifetime physical activity, practice sports skills, learn about physical fitness, and most importantly to have fun! Physical Education is an integral part of the total education process. It gives the students the opportunity to develop physically, mentally and socially through the use of physical activity.
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School Sponsored Activities
Mill Creek Elementary offers a wide variety of before and after school activities. Check out the many ways that your kids can get involved!
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Charger Chorus
This extra-curricular activity is open to all fourth and fifth grade students who are interested in singing; no audition is required. We will work on breathing, intonation, enunciation, rhythmic and vocal production. The chorus will have several opportunities to perform throughout the school year.
Sponsor: Ms. Beth Kolwyck
Cost: $0
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Charger Council
The purpose of the Charger Council is to:
- Strive for good citizenship and academic excellence.
- Promote teamwork
- Foster leadership, fellowship, and passion for service.
- Provide the opportunity to practice democracy.
- Help citizens and groups within the MCES community and beyond.
The Charger Council will be made up of two students from every fourth and fifth grade homeroom. These students are born leaders who take charge of their learning, actions, and environment. Charger Council will collaborate with the administration to plan social events and help to raise money for good causes.
Sponsor: Jennifer Kilpatrick
Cost: $0
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Creative Corner
Creative Corner is for students in grades 3rd-5th that are looking to channel their creative side. Students will be creating art each week with a variety of different media. You will paint, weave, sew, build, collage, stamp and so much more!
Sponsor: Mary Tomlin
Cost: $0
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Green Team
Green Team is for students in grades 3rd-5th that are interested in recycling and keeping the Earth Green. Students will meet once a month.
Sponser: Jennifer Kilpatrick
Cost: $0
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Inspire Hope Squad
The vision of our Inspire Hope Squad is to create a safe school culture by promoting connectedness, supporting bullying prevention, and encouraging mental wellness.
Sponsor: Deb Finch and Ryan Pepperman
Cost: $0
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Mainstage
Mill Creek Mainstage will give fourth and fifth grade students an opportunity to audition to participate in supervised creative dramatic activities including a final production in the Spring. Students will be exposed to different aspects of theater including impromptu skits, vocal music, dance, costume design, set design, props and tech crew. Students in Mill Creek Mainstage will work on creative thinking skills, encourage teamwork, and provide students with enriched learning experiences in the area of performing arts.
Sponsor: Jennifer Kilpatrick
Cost: $0
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MCTV News Crew
Fourth and Fifth Grade students can audition to be on the MCTV News Crew. This news crew will work together each morning to create a school-wide news show during the week.
Sponsor: Josh Taylor
Cost: $0
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Run Team
Run team is a before school activity for students in grades 3-5 that focuses on the joy of running. Using fun warm-ups, games, mile runs, toe tokens, and friendships, all students should start their day on a positive note with more mental focus.
Sponsor: Nancy Rose
Cost: $0
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Safety Patrol
Safety Patrol is for 5th grade students looking to help with arrival.
Sponsors: David Hockenberry and Matt Crawford
Cost: $0
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Sports Crew
This club is for students who have a passion for sports and being active! We play a variety of sports and work on different life skills such as teamwork, problem solving, and empathy. Sports Crew is for students in Grades 3rd-5th.
Sponsors: David Hockenberry and Matt Crawford
Cost: $0
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VSBA Book Club
Book club members read 3 of the current year's Intermediate VSBA (Volunteer State Book Award) Nominees. As a result, they are eligible to vote in the statewide contest and receive fun library prizes. Students participate in in-depth discussions of characters and themes and partake in fun book-related activities. This club is open to 4th and 5th graders who love to read!
Sponsor: Candice Beshay
Cost: $0
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Yearbook Staff
Yearbook Staff is for 5th grade students interested in helping make the memories and joys of the school Yearbook.
Sponser: Brittany Napier
Cost: $0