On behalf of Horry County Schools and the Horry County Board of Education, I am pleased to present our 2023-2024 State Report Card, a summary of progress in upholding our commitment that all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Our students, parents, teachers, and administration embraced innovative methods for providing effective instruction for all students.

St. James Middle School, a seventh and eighth middle school, is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by teaching students to S-W-I-M (Stay Sharp; Work Hard; Inspire a Generation: Move Forward). We celebrated an exceptional school year filled with district, state, and national achievements. We engage students in high-performing instruction that allowed for the following student and staff celebrations this year.

• St. James Middle School earned Redesignation III status as a nationally recognized “Schools To Watch”® in 2023-2024 and members of staff presented featured strategies at the Schools To Watch® national conference in 2024.  

• Forty-nine St. James Middle School students earned South Carolina Junior Scholars honors for their PSAT scores. 

• St. James Middle School had 3 project entries that participated at the state level in the National History Day (NHD) State Competition. At the awards ceremony, St. James Middle School had 3 students (2 projects) that advanced to the National Competition held in Maryland in June 2024. Two students (1 project) won the Outstanding Award in Physical Science and Technology at the national level of the National History Day competition.

• One St. James Middle School student was the district-wide winner of the Soil and Water essay contest.

• One St. James Middle School student was accepted into the Band & Orchestra and Creative Writing Summer Programs at the Governor’s School.

• Eleven St. James Middle School students received area Artistically Gifted & Talented summer camps.

• The St. James Middle School MathCounts team earned 4th place in the region.

• One St. James Middle School teacher was honored as a district-wide Top 5 Finalist for Teacher of the Year.

• One Multilingual Language teacher served as a national presenter as part of the WIDA consortium® and has been invited to serve as a member of the 2024-25 WIDA Fellow: Instructional Expert cohort.

• One Fine Arts teacher was named an $18,000.00 DAP Grant Recipient (that supports Fine Arts).

• The SJM Junior Beta Club welcomed 50 new members and continued their support of local business partners by donating over 635 items for new parents through the Community Closet Drive. Junior Beta Club students wrote personalized holiday cards to residents of a nearby healthcare facility to show support during the holiday season.

• The SJM Student Council ran fundraising events to support the fight against breast cancer and to increase awareness of MS and to support research foundations working on a cure.

• The SJM Robotics Club Students took 2nd place in the regional Robotics Competition in Charleston.

• St. James Middle School hosted a talent show of 15 acts that spanned a multitude of talents, including dancing, singing, small group ensembles, and a classical piano piece, took to the stage in the school’s auditorium.  The students were judged by members of our community in the varied artistic talents shown by our students. 

• Students, staff, and community members were immersed in a wealth of culture at the SJMS Multicultural Program that was held on February 22, 2024. The 13 different cultural booths were created and set up by students, teachers, and community members to showcase the different cultures at our school and in the community. There was a great turnout of support and involvement from all stakeholders celebrating the many different cultures that represent the SJM community.

• Over 80 St. James Middle School students participated in Musical Theater class and performed Willy Wonka with some of the largest in-person audience turnouts in SJM Musical Theater history.

• Fifteen SJM students competed in the SJM Spelling Bee.  The winner advanced to the regional competition and placed 2nd in the region.

• Seventh and eighth grade students enjoyed “Breaking Out” for digital citizenship led by SJM library staff members. Groups of students were required to solve a series of logic puzzles (breakout boxes) in order to open all of the locks and earn a prize before time ran out. All of the clues and puzzles were related to digital citizenship and students were eagerly engaged to solve the puzzles as a team.

• One SJMS Archery Team student competed in the State Archery competition.

• Two Orchestra students earned Region Orchestra Membership this year.

• One Band student earned All-County Honor Band membership this year.

• In Chorus, 26 out of 26 students who auditioned received membership into All-County Chorus.

• Superior and Excellent ratings were earned by SJM Orchestra, SJM Band, and SJM Chorus students during the Music in the Park competition in May 2024.

• The Science and Environmental Club continued to support hands-on learning and healthy nutrition through the 5 raised garden beds built in 2020. As vegetables are harvested, they are distributed among students in the club and to students who participate in our BackPack Buddies program. Students enjoyed authentic team building and real-world service learning through continued service projects and partnering with students with severe needs to experience hands-on learning in science.

• Our custodial staff led reinstated efforts to promote recycling and composting as part of our breakfast and lunch procedures in the cafeteria.

• SJMS participated in national “Kindness Week” in which all of the schools in our St. James Cluster worked together to spread kindness. Students took part in a variety of lessons and activities to promote kindness each day.

• Over 400 of our SJM parents participated in two Parent Picnic events to eat lunch with their students, enjoy live music, and participate in parent workshops led by lead teachers and our librarian on online platforms and anti-bullying.

• Over 100 SJMS parents and community members attended our school-wide assembly in honor of Veterans Day on November 10, 2023. Music, art work, performances, video clips, and the high school’s JROTC worked together under the leadership of students and staff to honor the service of all of the military branches.

• The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) sponsored an online school store that promotes Shark gear for students.

• Our Guidance Department increased opportunities for working with parents by customizing in-person, phone, or virtual IGP conferences with 8th grade students and parents.

• Students celebrated appreciation for SJM staff members by choosing to complete Employee Appreciation certificates for staff.

We continue to focus on academics by implementing/adjusting our instructional strategies based on disaggregated data from district-wide common assessments, MAP and iReady assessments, and classroom assessments. We feel so fortunate to be able to work in a great school district with a wonderful PTA, School Improvement Council, Advisory Board, District Office, and Board of Education who enables us to reach our goals and aspirations.

Ms. Olga G. Toggas, Principal