Castle Heights Middle School is committed to helping all students develop the World Class Skills as defined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Castle Heights focuses on social equity, academic excellent, developmental responsiveness, and establishing organizational structures and processes that promote the wellbeing of adolescent learners. We promote a culture and atmosphere where student needs come first, by utilizing meaningful practices. Our goal is to develop our students as lifelong learners.
At Castle Heights, we are striving to create, design, and collaborate in a safe and secure learning environment where all students and staff reach their highest potential. One way in which we strive to achieve this goal is use of the workshop instructional model in areas of Language Arts, Math and Science. This model assists our teachers in providing students with a quality mini-lesson, followed by scaffolded independent work time, and ending with a time for reflection. Another way in which we strive to help our students reach their highest potential is through accelerated advanced core classes in all grade levels, English I, Algebra I, Spanish I and Geometry. In addition, all students identified as Gifted and Talented receive specialized instruction in Language Arts, and math classes.
Our teachers utilize Mastery Connect which provides data on student performance and mastery of essential learning standards. Teachers create trackers of student rosters then create assessments such as benchmarks, exit slips and other formative and summative assessments. Mastery Connect provides teachers and students with immediate feedback on the student’s level of mastery on assessed standards.
Another area in which Castle Heights is working to help our students reach their highest potential is in Related Arts classes. In Careers and Technology, students work together to experience a variety of jobs through project-based learning. One such project is the Knowledge Park Entrepreneurial Program where students create a business plan solves a real-world problem. They present their plan to business professionals in our city. Their presentation is judged on business readiness, background research, customer need, competitive advantage and quality work. This STEM project provides opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving and communication.
Our students report to Enrichment each morning for a 40-minute block of time. Staff members, including administration, guidance and instructional support work with a group of students. This time is diverse and caters to the need of the individual student. Some students are working in a “Pilot/Co-Pilot” mentoring program where identified students receive peer mentors who assist them with organizational skills, assignments, and remediation. Some students are identified by their math or Language Arts teacher to receive remediation and Tier 2 interventions. Some students are involved in enrichment such as Honors Art.
We strive to create a culture of reading in our school. Our media specialist is provides students with literature circles opportunities based on Project Lit books; author visits tied to One Book-One Author-One School; and teacher book clubs to facilitate our culture of reading. Our district is also supporting our reading culture by establishing a reading goal of 10 books per student. Students utilize a reading data dashboard for purposes of logging the books they have read.
Castle Heights continues to increase student recognition programs by engaging all students. Students are recognized for academic excellence, good character and citizenship. Quarterly assemblies are held to celebrate their success. Each grade selects Student of the Month. Students are also recognized on the school and district level for visual and performing arts, Duke Tip, Junior Scholars, and Perfect PASS score. Our school resource officer awards and recognizes students who demonstrate integrity and good morals.
Castle Heights focuses on building relationships within and outside of our school. Several community groups support Castle Heights. We have partnered with a neighboring church who has provided meals for families for evening events. We have two mentoring groups, the Kappa League and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Our Parent Support Committee and School Improvement Council offers parents, teachers, administration and other stakeholders the opportunity to discuss school events and policies that can enhance overall school performance. Parents were invited to ‘Learn With Me’ parent night where students had an opportunity to teach their parents/guardian instructional lessons. This event allowed parents get a glimpse of their child’s school day.
As we continue to examine our instructional programs and support the development of the skills and knowledge our students will need to be successful, Castle Heights has maintained the national and state award recognition of a Schools To Watch and in 2020 received Re-designation III.
Cynthia L. Robinson, Principal
