Oakbrook Middle School is helping students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing all students with opportunities to work on interdisciplinary, real-world projects that involve creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork, communication, information, media and technology. We strive to create a nurturing environment where staff, parents, and community work together to provide challenges and opportunities for students to reach their maximum potential.
We strive to be Above The Rest by teaching the whole child with instruction that focuses on the three main areas of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate: World Class Knowledge, World Class Skills, and Life and Career Characteristics. Our instruction fosters growth in academics, fine arts, technology, and communication skills. Oakbrook Middle School provides our students with rigorous instruction as a platform to enter high school using South Carolina State Standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. We also offer advancement through the GATE program, high school credit courses, as well as remediation through several intervention electives. In addition, we offer many courses that help our students explore future career pathways.
To meet the needs of our students, we provided our students remediation opportunities and additional support through “Quarter Recovery” and “Academic Overtime.” These two initiatives served as catalysts to maximize the academic success rates of our students. Additionally, students were provided extra opportunities for instructional support through our Prevention and Intervention program.
The Oakbrook staff and faculty collectively implemented Jostens Renaissance, a comprehensive program that impacts school climate and culture, helps build relationships, while also incentivizing positive behavior by recognizing students who work to excel in the classroom and display what it means to be Above The Rest. Community members and parents donated items and time to operate a “Soar Store” each month. Students who were noticed exhibiting positive behavior or hard work were given SOAR cards by staff that could be used as currency in the store. At the end of each quarter, students were given the opportunity to participate in our Renaissance Rallies where we celebrated and recognized each of our students and their accomplishments for that specific quarter. Students who did not qualify were allowed to participate in academic remediation activities to improve their grades.
Several new initiatives were established to recognize and celebrate our students’ accomplishments beyond the classroom. For the Core Value Student of the Month, each month teachers nominated students who demonstrated one of the district’s core values. We celebrated our students’ academic success and growth at our quarter four MAP Celebration. These celebrations required different criteria where students could earn extra credit, an ice cream float, and the opportunity to earn a ticket to attend a GLOW party! At the end of the year, we had an awards banquet for each grade level to recognize our honor roll students, Students of the Year and other various awards.
Furthermore, OMS made great efforts to engage our parents and community in school improvement. Our PTSA helped provide volunteers for our Soar Store and for monitors during state testing, as well as a duty-free lunch for our teachers. The PTSA also organized three successful dances, a student “hoop shoot” contest, and the inaugural OMS student talent show. Our school implemented its first ever Literacy Night, Math Night, Technology Night, as well as opened our school to the community for a Health and Wellness Night and to showcase our library’s bookfair! We also had a very successful Rising 6th Grade Parent Night in March, where families of incoming students were provided with valuable information to prepare their child, as well as a chance to tour the school, meet faculty, and learn about electives and extra-curricular activities. Our School Counseling Department lead and hosted an 8th grade Reality Town where students experienced the necessity of world class skills for navigating life outside of school. Students had to manage budgets, obtain jobs, pay bills, and participate in other real-world activities that challenged them to use their critical thinking skills and make responsible decisions.
We are proud of what we have accomplished, and we feel strongly that Oakbrook Middle School is a place where students and staff alike can invest in opportunities, which makes us Above The Rest.
