Our school is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, nurturing, and academically challenging learning environment. Our school-wide theme “Imagine, Believe, Achieve” encourages our students to pursue opportunities, which will lead to a successful future.
Loris Middle School students are challenged daily in the four academic classes, which are based on rigorous standards that promote world-class knowledge. Students may earn high school credits by demonstrating mastery in Algebra 1, Geometry, English 1, Digital Literacy, and/or Google Basics. Through our school district’s digital initiative, teachers and students are provided with an Chromebook to promote deeper learning in the disciplines, personalize learning, and better meet each student’s academic needs. Using Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), we have evidence of our success with 64% of our students meeting their projected growth goal in mathematics and 63% in reading. Other evidence includes one student being named a Duke TIP, 11 students as SC Junior Scholars, and a record number of students being inducted into the Junior Beta Club.
Our Fine Arts Department excelled at district, regional, and state competitions with sixty-nine students selected to All-County, four students to All-Region, and one student to the Long Bay Youth Symphony. Selected eighth grade band students performed with the Loris High School Marching Band at the Rotary Club’s Waves of the Future production. Students also received additional recognitions with seven students competing at the state level for South Carolina National History Day and four competing at the national level. Several students participated in the HCS Technology Fair, and three students won the HCS Soil and Water Essay contest. Additionally, our archery team competed at the state, national, and world levels in its third year as a team. Through activities such as these, students are allowed to develop world-class skills such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Our staff members continued to grow professionally by completing graduate course work and by participating in professional development that aligned instruction with technology integration. Teachers learned to use effective strategies such as small group targeted instruction, Kagan cooperative structures, and digital content such as Achieve 3000, noredink, ALEKS, ITunesU, and Gizmos in their classrooms. Our teachers were recognized as school leaders with Mr. Russell Stroud being selected as Teacher of the Year. Mr. Jimmy Keel was named Support Staff Member of the Year, recognizing his critical role in the success of our facilities program.
Our students and staff further developed life and career characteristics by participating in service projects such as food drives and making donations to charities including March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, and Multiple Dystrophy Society. They also had opportunities to participate in sports such as football, cheerleading, basketball, baseball, and multiple other junior varsity and varsity teams.
The staff, PTO, School Improvement Council, community, and administration remain dedicated to our goal of achieving excellence for each student as we prepare them to Imagine, Believe, Achieve.
Shelley Todd, Principal
James Edwards, School Improvement Council Chairman
