Oakbrook Middle School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by educating students to become proficient, responsible and caring citizens. Oakbrook Middle School strives to create a nurturing environment where staff, parents and community work together to provide challenges and opportunities for students to reach their maximum potential.
This year Oakbrook Middle promoted world class knowledge and skills by teaching the S.C. state standards focused on student achievement in math, English Language Arts (ELA), science and social studies. The South Carolina College-and-Career Ready Assessment (SC READY) and SC Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) assessments were given to all students in spring 2017. In Math and Science, all grade levels exceeded state performance levels. In Social Studies and ELA, 6th and 8th grade exceeded state performance levels. Algebra I and English I students surpassed the district and state performance levels on the respective End of Course (EOC) exams.
The OMS faculty focused on developing world class skills including creativity, innovation, problem solving, collaboration and teamwork through outstanding challenges and opportunities for our students. We organized community events that involved people from our local neighborhoods, business partners and our parents, students and teachers. In November, OMS hosted its Annual Veteran’s Day Celebration. We held a school wide ceremony with approximately 100 guests and veterans that celebrated the dedication, work, and sacrifice of our veterans within our OMS community. In addition, and in cooperation with Trident United Way, the administration organized the Annual Day of Caring on November 17th. Fifty volunteers from Cummins Inc. and Publix donated their time and efforts to repaint the sidewalk in front of the school, bus ramps, and courtyard for our students. They re-furbished the volleyball area; prepped the baseball and softball dugouts and fields; built two sets of corn hole boards; and repainted the basketball courts. Students understood their community cared.
Later in the fall semester, OMS students gathered 500+ canned goods for the Eagle Food Pantry in order to support local families in need. Additionally, our local Bethany United Methodist Church assisted OMS in helping families with food baskets for the holiday season. Over the winter and the following spring, our neighbor elementary school and OMS partnered to host the 3rd Annual Oakie 5k Run/Walk and raised $584 for Dorchester County Children’s Center. At the 2nd and 3rd quarter report card nights, Oakbrook students and staff sponsored two open houses that focused on community and increased literacy by providing Book Clubs, business partner displays and a student led ComiCon night. During the ComiCon night OMS teachers and parents donated 27 pints of blood to American Red Cross! In addition, our media center hosted featured author visits, online author webcasts, and a Book Fair for our students throughout the year.
Oakbrook continues to sponsor multiple successful teams that compete at the local and state level. Last year we had two Robotics Teams, an Archery Team, Quest Competition Teams, Math Counts Team, multiple clubs and athletic teams in football, volleyball, wrestling, basketball, softball and baseball. Here are a few highlights.
- Two OMS students won state recognition for the PTSA Reflections Competition for Middle School Division
- Tri-County Math Counts competition, OMS took 4th place overall, 1st place among public schools
- OMS Level 2 Math team took 2nd place in the Low Country Quest competition
- Competed at the FIRST LEGO League State Robotics Competition, 1st place in Robotics design at the district level
- Competed in the bridge building competition at Storm the Citadel
- Finalist in the District Spelling Bee, moved on to compete in Low Country Spellbound Regional Bee
- 7th grade student qualified to compete in the state level competition of the National Geographic Bee
- 8th grade student’s artwork was recognized and displayed at DD2 School Board meeting room for the year
- 8th grade student placed 5th in the state Algebra Nation Online Course Competition
- English Learners After-school program started this year with over 40 kids participating
- Spanish Club founded
- Archery Club with over 45 members (2nd year) competed at the state level and placed 12th out of 60 teams.
- Started Girls on the Run Club
- School wide HOUSE System implemented to provide character trait instruction and built in reading time
- Gateway to Technology (GTT) teacher recognized as Teacher of the Month by the Low Country STEM collaborative and News 4.
- EDGE Dance Company received top honors for their Hip-Hop and Contemporary pieces as well as an invitation to attend the NYC All Stars trip based on Contemporary performance
- Symphonic band earned Superior rating at the Concert Performance Assessment
- Three students made SC Region Band
- OMS Strings, Chorus, and Band performed in the Stars Festival at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL
- 2nd Annual Dancing with the Teachers was held
- Little Mermaid, Jr. was featured as the annual Musical Theater production
OMS students, teachers and parents continue to work together and give back to our community. Last year more than 500 OMS PTSA members funded $4,000 to directly support students’ education in our classrooms. Our student organizations raised money for the following groups: March for Babies - $1452, Hoops for Heart - $280, Juvenile Diabetes - $900, Summerville Relay for Life - $2,514 and the Dorchester Children’s Center -$584.
