Heyward Gibbes Middle School (HGMS) is committed to helping all its students develop world-class skills in accordance with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through our emphasis on quality instruction, social-emotional learning, and robust extracurricular activities. At HGMS, we are engaging in a transformational educational model that aligns with the mission and vision of Richland County School District One.
The mission of HGMS is to develop 21st-century skills, life-long learning, and a sense of school pride among students as we prepare them for a successful future in a globally competitive society. HGMS focuses on "The Five' Cs' of Success" (Culture, Climate, Communication, Collaboration, and Celebration) to create a learning environment where our students thrive academically, our faculty and staff grow personally and professionally, and our school achieves its goals. HGMS Eagles S.O.A.R. with Pride and Success. We are: S- Safe, O- On Task, A- Accountable, and R- Respectful.
Academically, we offer a wide range of rigorous courses that challenge students. Our focus on quality instruction involves using the Visible Learning framework to help teachers implement instructional strategies with fidelity. Our professional learning communities (PLCs) and ongoing professional development activities are designed to help teachers identify and implement best practices in increasing student engagement, developing literacy and numeracy skills, and developing innovative assessment and data analysis approaches. Our highly qualified educators use strategies designed to increase academic achievement across the curriculum, improve school culture and climate, and meet the emotional needs of our students. We also offer academic intervention services through our MTSS framework, social-emotional learning and behavior support programs, and an extensive fine arts program to expand exposure and grow students' interests.
At HGMS, all students have laptops, and all classrooms have Smartboards, which provide access to digital learning platforms and enhance communication to improve the educational experience. Technology is utilized to foster collaboration among students, allow opportunities for students to work closely with their teachers on coursework, and help teachers differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students. Our teachers use a technology-integrated approach to assess our students' mastery of the standards while providing additional academic enrichment and support as needed. We also offer 18 student interest clubs, including Anime, Soap and Candle Making, Gardening and Beautification, Sports, Board Games, and Social Media, to provide time for students to build meaningful relationships with their teachers and peers centered on advocacy and mutual interests.
We are proud of our students' continued participation and excellence in extracurricular activities, athletics, and the performing arts. The HGMS Football team won the Richland One District Championship during the 2023 and 2024 season. All of our athletic programs qualified for the district playoffs, and our track team finished third at the Richland One District Championship. Our band, chorus, dance, orchestra, and theatre students showcased their talents by participating in district and regional competitions while winning individual and group awards. Our Academic Quiz Bowl, Lego Robotics, Math Olympiad, and Mock Trial teams offer additional opportunities to students with those interests. In 2024, we completed a Makerspace project, which concluded with the opening of a collaborative learning space that will help enhance STEM learning for our students. Further, we had students receive recognitions throughout the year, such as the University of South Carolina's Talent Search (TRIO), Richland School District One's Superintendent's Reading Contest, R1 Rising Stars, and R1 Middle School Scholars.
At HGMS, we are optimistic that the transformational model being implemented is effective and that there are tangible indicators of schoolwide growth. We remain committed to improving in all dimensions of school performance as we S.O.A.R. while demonstrating that we are Richland One's small school with a big heart!
Dr. Gregory T. Pickett
Principal
Mrs. Barbara Tiller
SIC Chairperson
