Northside Middle School is committed to enhancing student learning and fostering real-life transferable skills through the dedicated efforts of collaborative achievement teams and competency workshops. By integrating the competencies outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate and incorporating performance tasks, we prepare students for the challenges of the future job market while deepening their understanding of concepts through practical application and teamwork.
Community engagement is a cornerstone of our approach. Our Beta Club members contribute through a variety of outreach activities, among them reading to feeder school students, collecting animal food for local shelters, and making donations to support breast cancer research. We also gather valuable input through community focus groups such as "Pastors and Pastries," while the 3E committee assists with enrollment, enlistment, and employment efforts. Our Hispanic Outreach Committee plays a vital role in fostering connections and providing support within the Hispanic community.
To help students identify potential career paths, Northside students complete YouScience assessments, which align their career options with their aptitudes and interests. Field trips to places like Camp Leopold, Riverbanks Zoo, the SC State Museum, and the Lexington Two Innovation Center offer diverse experiential learning opportunities, giving students insight into potential careers and capitalizing on their individual strengths identified through YouScience results.
Parental involvement is another key aspect of our school community. Events such as Hispanic Heritage Night and literacy nights, which drew over 100 participants in the 2023-2024 school year, enhance parents' engagement and their ability to support their children's education at home. Additionally, nearly 200 parents and students attended our rising 6th-grade night, fostering stronger connections between families and the school.
The WEB program is designed to ease the transition for 6th graders into middle school. Built on the belief that students can help each other succeed, the program trains 8th-graders to be WEB Leaders. These mentors guide 6th-graders throughout their first year, helping them discover what it takes to succeed in middle school.
Our commitment to developing students' citizenship is evident through our Day of Caring activities. On early release days, students engage in various projects that build empathy and civic responsibility, such as making blankets for animal shelters, assembling care packages for the homeless, creating motivational posters for the school, and writing letters to military personnel overseas.
This year, we also implemented Wildly Important Goals with remarkable success. Our aim to reduce chronic absenteeism from 26% to 21% surpassed expectations, achieving a rate of 16%. Similarly, we saw a significant increase in the completion of DreamBox lessons, with 8th-graders averaging over 98% completion for multiple months, demonstrating their commitment to academic excellence.
Through these comprehensive initiatives, our school cultivates essential life skills, strengthens community ties, and promotes academic success, ensuring that our students are well-prepared with the world-class knowledge, skills, and life and career characteristics to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.
Dr. Tiffany Hall, Principal
Tim Culley, SIC Chair
