Saluda Trail Middle School is committed to providing a learning environment where students feel safe and secure, so they may experience academic success. Facilitating the growth and development of World Class Skills for all students through a comprehensive curriculum is a priority at Saluda Trail, in addition to our comprehensive core content area instructional program. Students have the unique opportunity to engage in Related Arts courses such as: Sculpture, Digital Animation, Robotics, Engineering, Digital Piano, Chorus, Band, Theatre, Journalism, and Web-Design. The instructional staff effectively work in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to design, implement, assess, and reflect on the effectiveness of instruction students receive daily. Through PLCs, teachers have an opportunity to identify strengths and opportunities for growth for all students. Students' academic and social skills are strengthened through our Multi-Tiered Support System (MTSS). Saluda Trail continues to challenge all students to excel in areas of academics, arts, and athletics.
The faculty and staff of Saluda Trail continue to integrate World Class Skills strategically through our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program. They continually receive targeted professional development focused on the utilization of a structured framework for the design of effective and engaging STEAM and Project Based Learning (PBL) units of instruction. Saluda Trail partners with the South Carolina State Department’s Office of Personalized Learning. Through this partnership, our instructional staff have participated in professional development to ensure all PBL units are standards-driven and include appropriate blended learning experiences.
During the 2022-23 school year, Saluda Trail successfully completed the Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Institute recertification process. Being an ABC school, our students have more opportunities to excel in the arts due to funding provided by the Institute, the SC Arts Commission and support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Using the arts as a platform to grow and develop skills, this program encourages students to find their own voice through self expression, and integrates with our STEAM components.
Additionally, our students continued to experience success in academics, the arts, and athletics as follows: Two students placed at the National History Day (NHD) State contest and advanced to the NHD National competition; four students placed first in separate categories at the Rock Hill School District Piedmont Region III Science Fair; seventy-nine students became members of the National Junior Beta Club; seventeen students were recognized as South Carolina Junior Scholars; the 7th and 8th grade Wildcat Band received a Superior with Distinction rating at the South Carolina Band Directors Association Concert; the 7th grade football team won the conference championship; the 7th grade basketball team won the conference championship; the Boys Track and Field team won the conference championship; and the Wrestling team had two individual State champions.
Due to consistent work of all stakeholders in our school community, our students and faculty have been recognized for their amazing work and achievements. We will continue our work with the South Carolina State Department’s Office of Personalized Learning and look forward to being a host Middle School, so our peers throughout the state of South Carolina can visit our school and see the outstanding work our teachers and students are engaged in. Our unique STEAM program will allow students to complete STEAM and PBL projects in their core content area courses as well as take specialized Related Arts courses. As we continue with our partnership with Arts in the Basic Curriculum Institute, students will participate in musicals, learn from artists in residences, and receive specialized instruction from local poets in our school community. As a school community, Saluda Trail continues to serve our students with excellence and we look forward to providing multiple opportunities for our students to be successful through academics, the arts, and athletics.
Dr. G. Marek Marshall
