Hand Middle School’s number-one priority without exception is to help scholars reach high levels of achievement in a safe, secure, and positive learning environment, including an added affirmation: to help our scholars develop World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate as organized around the four 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity (4 Cs), and to empower each scholar to acquire new knowledge, apply knowledge to solve problems or meet challenges, and to work together to create new knowledge that accounts for its usefulness.
During the 2023-2024 school year, the South Carolina Middle-Level Schools To Watch Team conducted an on-site review of our school. They determined that Hand emphasized strong academics, sensitivity to young adolescents’ needs and interests, and commitment to providing all scholars equal access to a high-quality education. The team affirmed that the collaboration, communication, and commitment of our faculty, staff, parents, and community partners directly impacted our culture and climate, providing collective guidance and support for the beauty that is Hand Middle School, our exceptional Scholars. And because of this, our school was designated as a 2023-24 Schools to Watch® by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.
Accordingly, Hand’s Administrative Leadership team is committed to demonstrating the assignment of serving every child every day by having core beliefs and by serving the purpose of helping all scholars reach high levels of achievement. Hand’s Administrative Leadership team includes the school principal, assistant principals, department heads, teachers, staff, and members of parent and community partner organizations for excellence in education and for preparing all scholars to be ready for high school, “college, careers, and citizenship.” Our collective beliefs ensure that we foster positive relationships with our scholars in a conducive learning environment, have high expectations and promote pride, educate the whole child, and elevate opportunities and expectations to develop character to help our scholars achieve success in preparation for college and career readiness. Our core beliefs are the foundation of our scholars reaching their fullest potential in an environment conducive to learning. We relentlessly focus our efforts on scholar competencies across all content areas and the S.C. Curriculum Standards, Targeted Goals, and Performance Indicators as set by the State of South Carolina, and in turn, as expected by Richland School District One in Columbia, South Carolina.
It is important to note that our scholars are learning how to learn and, with an acute sense of curiosity, inquiry, and creativity, are learning how to transfer their knowledge to academic, creative, and behavioral interventions and intentions to show improvement in learning. Our faculty and staff have a keen sense of knowing that to be competitive and to succeed in the 21st century, locally, nationally, and globally, scholars must be taught the four Cs to achieve positive recognition, success, and jobs they are eager to apply for, even while in middle school. We have high expectations for our scholars, and they consistently meet and/or exceed them through academics, arts, athletics, and attitude.
During school year 2023-24, approximately 40 % of our scholars (per grade level) achieved a 3.5/higher GPA every quarter. Forty-one of our eighth-grade scholars were recognized as Richland One Middle School Scholars for maintaining a 3.5/higher GPA for three consecutive years, participating in 2/more Honors and/or Gifted and Talented classes, and participating in community service projects. Because science happens at hand, six scholars were placed at the USC Regional Science Fair.
We have also maintained our designation as an Arts in Basic Curriculum School for over 20 years. We foster a love for the arts in our scholars, and because of this, they received numerous school, district, state, and regional awards during the 2023-24 school year. Our scholars also excelled in athletics for basketball, our male scholars placed 3rd in the district during the regular season, and our female scholars placed 1st during the regular season and the R1 runner-up; in football, our scholars placed 3rd during the regular season; track and field our 6GR scholars were the district champions, our 7th and 8th Grade males were district champions, and our 7th and 8th-grade females placed 2nd in the district.
Seven members of Hand Middle School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organization were recipients of the District II leadership award, won state awards, and six qualified for the National FBLA Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. And they received the FBLA Community Service Award. One of our Family and Consumer Science Scholars participated in the Education and Business Summit for her My CTE Story feature film. Lastly, our Language Immersion program is in its second year, and our scholars are excelling in reading, speaking, and writing Chinese and Spanish, respectively. They are well on their way to becoming fluent bilingual scholars who can confidently and competently express themselves in their respective languages. These are just a few examples of how we foster and support the holistic growth and development of the scholars we serve.
In conclusion, at Hand, we embrace the African Proverb that says, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. We are even more committed to the joy and passion of teaching, learning, and best practices as we continue engaging our scholars in developing World Class Skills, particularly emphasizing Critical thinking and Problem-solving. Indeed, our trajectory of progress is excellent; we are thriving.
To learn more about Hand Middle School, please visit our webpage: https://www.richlandone.org/hand.
Respectfully,
Patrice T. Green, EdD, Principal
Eulela Fleming, SIC Chair
