5877 Characters
Meadow Glen Middle School (MGMS) works to help all students develop the world class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing an active, challenging, meaningful, public, and collaborative learning environment. As an EL Education school, MGMS focuses on educating the whole child and continually assesses its effectiveness through the three dimensions of student achievement: Mastery of Knowledge and Skills, High Quality Work, and Character. Success in the areas of the three dimensions is measured by students’ abilities to demonstrate proficiency according to state standards, an analysis of beautiful work that students create throughout the year, and self-reflections on students’ development with learning and using the Habits of Success. MGMS helps students gain world-class knowledge and skills by engaging students in active learning, fostering student leadership opportunities, and leveraging community partnerships. In addition, structures like CREW, Habits of Success, student-engaged assessment practices, student-led Town Hall celebrations, student-led conferences, student passages, expeditions and case studies all give students a variety of opportunities to utilize the world-class knowledge, skills, and life and career characteristics they need to be successful, productive graduates and citizens of South Carolina.
During the 2019-2020 school year, under the theme All Means All, MGMS experienced many successes as a school community, the most noted being named a Special Olympics National Unified Champion School. This award recognized the intentional work of MGMS to create an inclusive school environment for all students, specifically the work done through the Unified PE class, which partners sixth grade students with our exceptional students to promote movement, activity, and a healthy lifestyle. In addition to this national award, MGMS received recognition within the EL Education network by being named a National Site Seminar School, allowing MGMS to host educators from network schools to showcase its successful work with the Habits of Success. MGMS was also named a Palmetto Silver School, recognizing outstanding academic achievement and student progress.
To support students’ mastery of world-class knowledge, MGMS continued to refine expeditions and case studies at each grade level. The sixth grade took on a new expedition entitled Community Faces that centered around the question, “How does understanding the human experiences of immigration help create a more inclusive community?” Students interviewed over 30 immigrants and then used those interviews to tell the immigrant’s story. The project culminated in a website, as well as a mobile display which featured 16x20 black and white photographs of each immigrant. Upon completion, this project was featured at the Southeastern Immigration Studies Association Conference held at The College of Charleston. In seventh grade, students explored water scarcity in the “What’s the Cost?” expedition. In response to their research and data collection, students organized a local 5K race fundraiser and donated 300 gallons of water to Transitions of Columbia Homelessness Resource Center. Finally, in the "Take a Stand" expedition, eighth grade students identified a community issue on which they would like to take a stand. Students then engaged in rigorous thinking, reading, writing, and speaking as they researched the problem and then prepared a plan. Students then implemented action steps to address their selected community issue.
To help students develop strong life and career skills, MGMS continued to develop and strengthen the structure of CREW and help students be “tenacious leaders who communicate and collaborate with integrity” through the Habits of Success. A CREW design team was formed, and teachers worked together to create a scope and sequence of meaningful lessons tying together the learning and application of the Habits of Success. This CREW design team also provided support for Student Led Conferences, Celebrations of Learning, and Passages. In regards to the Habits of Success, MGMS implemented a reflection process that facilitated students completing a self-reflection each quarter in the areas of tenacity, leadership, communication, collaboration, and integrity. Students would conference with CREW teachers after completing the reflection to receive feedback, and throughout the year, students were able to see areas of growth and improvement.
In addition to learning and leadership opportunities in the core classroom and CREW, MGMS students are provided with extracurricular outlets and experiences through exploratory classes to support development of these skills. For example, the Robotics program at MGMS creates a space for students to research real-world problems that affect their community and collaboratively find solutions. This year, the MGMS Robotics team qualified for the national competition, as well as presented to the Lexington County Council about plans for an inclusive playground proposal for the renovations at Virginia Hilton Park. In the Fall, the MGMS musical theater program presented The Lion King, Jr., with performances for elementary school students and community members. Also, in February, the MGMS fine arts department, in collaboration with another local middle school, designed and performed a Black History Month celebration, showcasing student artwork, choreography, and song. Students were also given the opportunity to become an apprentice at Chick-fil-a, become CPR certified through the Outdoor Education program, and contribute to the MGMS inclusive community through Unified Dance.
Whether through service, expedition, CREW, or the work of inclusion, MGMS students demonstrated across the board that they are thriving and preparing to create a better world.
Principal Bill Coon, Ed.D. and SIC Chair Bob Grant
