Leslie M. Stover is helping to prepare all students to use college and career readiness skills for the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by teaching skills such as positivity, respect and organization to grow wise, life-long learners. Stover’s vision—“to educate all students to be successful”—is evidenced by a safe, caring, and academically challenging environment. We demonstrate this vision by educating all students through a team effort of students, parents, school, and community. We hold all students accountable for their learning with high expectations paired with individual student conferences where students set goals and discuss academic progress with their assigned teacher.
Although students were taught through three learning platforms this year from day one, we were able to test over 80% of our students with MAP. Our teachers and staff examined the data to provide additional support through tiered interventions, tutoring, and Virtual Saturday Academy (VSA). We also established our inaugural peer and district/community mentoring programs to assist students in their academic needs.
Our school and district provided social and emotional learning support with our counseling department. Counselors provided group and individual sessions. Students could also request to speak to their counselors or administrators at any time via a Google Form. Additionally, Kershaw County School District partnered with the Alpha Behavioral Health Center and the Department of Mental Health to provide students counseling sessions throughout the school year. We will continue to expand our social and emotional support for students by introducing BASE Learning through Edmentum to offer social-emotional learning curriculum and assessment rooted in mental health and wellness principles.
Stover teachers are always seeking ways to learn new and effective strategies to use in the classroom. Teachers utilized many new technology platforms and software to engage students in the virtual learning environment as well as provide small group and tiered interventions throughout the school year. Classes for high school credit in English 1, Algebra 1, Spanish 1, and computer science were also offered this year through three learning platforms.
Leslie M. Stover Middle School has various programs in addition to academics to support the growth of our students. The school’s motto is Positive, Respectful, Organized, Wise, and Life-long learners. As we are returning back to face-to-face learning this year, Stover will use PROWL as our mantra to reinforce character education. Through PBIS, students are rewarded with positive behaviors monthly. In addition, our school offers numerous athletic and student afterschool programs to include: football, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling. Our students could also participate in archery, chess, and after school tutoring. Our goal is to expand our after school programs to include STEAM activities for the 2021-2022 school year.
Stover students participated in many community service projects and community outreach this year to include: Breast Cancer Walk for Life (students and staff raised over $1,400), Wands for Wildlife, Tigers Take Time to Care, Food for the Soul Homeless Shelter, and a basket of goodies for the local animal shelter. As you can see, our students were very busy!
At Stover, we believe that students, parents, school, and community are one unit that shares responsibility in educating our young men and women. Thank you for continuing to support and help develop our future Tiger leaders.
Dr. Chantelle Baker, Principal Leslie M. Stover Middle School
Derrick Stanley, SIC Chairperson
