Our school, Summit Parkway Middle is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by consistently creating a learning environment that supports students gaining world class knowledge, world class skills, and Life and career characteristics. Our students grow and mature by embracing our core belief, “Students soar with pride, rising above their challenges and helping others to do the same, they glide through 6th, fly through 7th and soar through 8th believing there are no boundaries daring to be different destined to be great. Our students demonstrate this by achieving their personal best, persevering through their challenges and having the mindset that they can achieve greatness. The faculty and staff at Summit Parkway are continually working and learning to increase the excellent services and experiences we provide to both students and families. We have dedicated our development and application of best practices to using a Multi-Tiered System of Support for academics, behavior and social-emotional learning to include Depth of Knowledge, a continual pursuit of rigor, a Capturing Kids' Hearts culture, AVID, MDC and LDC Strategies, dedicated personalize and blended learning, 7 Mindset Character Education and a rich 1 to 1 technology framework that students use daily. Our magnet schools focus on STEM, the design process and innovation as well as physiology and exercise science. We are excited to be able to provide what our students need to utilize their talent and passions preparing them for the next grade level, high school, and beyond. The Center for Inquiry continues to be a national model as teachers work to study and expand their knowledge of an inquiry curriculum. Second grade teacher, Mr. Tim O Keefe, along with Dr. Heidi Mills, CFI's Research Partner from the University of South Carolina, were honored as the 2014 Outstanding Educators in English Language Arts by the National Council of Teachers of English. Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Barnes was selected as one of three finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teacher from the state of South Carolina. Teachers and students regularly host visitors and present on inquiry-based education. Students, parents, faculty and staff at Summit Parkway Middle School are proud to work together to offer a quality teaching and learning environment. This year Summit Parkway Middle School completed its second year of a state awarded grant to implement Capturing Kids Hearts. This is a school wide program that works on relationships, social contracts for every class and classroom, and a common language and set of behaviors that are focused on improving school climate and culture. These expectations flow into all areas of the school to include not only classrooms but faculty/staff meetings, assemblies, and community collaboration such as PTO and SIC. We have continued to provide content recovery programs and interventions focused on academic and social skill deficits found using a multi-tiered systems approach. The 7 Mindsets Character Education Program serves as a vehicle to engage students in social and emotional learning. Continued use of this program will enhance the growth mindset of the students, parents, faculty, staff and community. Professional development for teachers included, teaching strategies through AVID and SREB, as well as behavior strategies, trauma informed care, and restorative circles through the BEST framework. We will continue to provide teachers with the necessary tools to connect, engage and inspire.
April N. Shell, Principal
Jerel Arceneaux, Chair of the School Improvement Council
