Our district is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by continuing to focus on our mission of engaging students at all levels in educational experiences that ensure success and life-long learning. Our 12 schools and technologically-advanced career center continue to challenge almost 6,000 students.
Creativity and innovation are expected in the School District of Newberry County. Our teachers work diligently to prepare our students for future success. STEM initiatives of Project Launch and Project Lead the Way introduce and extend our students’ thinking through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. All elementary and middle schools have trained personnel who teach using real-world applications in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. Our students can use these foundational skills in high school courses and career and technology courses offered at our career center. Included in this cluster of offered courses is Mechatronics, Robotics, Biomedical Sciences, Engineering Design, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing. Several schools have implemented project and problem-based learning in order to promote critical thinking and problem solving. This is in addition to the Literacy Design Collaborative and Math Design Collaborative that our middle and high schools have been implementing for several years.
In addition to our STEM initiatives, students have multiple opportunities for excelling in the arts. Our Junior and Senior Beta Clubs have had state participants in pottery, painting, and photography. The Newberry Arts Center hosts a district-wide art show each spring and all schools have student artwork displayed for the community to view. Our music programs also provide opportunities for excelling. From elementary schools presenting musicals to middle and high school bands and choruses competing in state competitions, our students are excelling in and out of the classroom.
Our students are continuing their academic, athletic, and personal growth. Academic excellence has included a state champion Academic Challenge Team, who finished second in the national competition in Orlando, FL. Of the district’s 407 graduating seniors, 224 graduated with completer certificates from our career center. Almost 60% of our students received a Silver, Gold, or Platinum designation on the Ready to Work career assessment and 25 students participated in a community job fair sponsored in part by Piedmont Technical College. Our athletic teams had multiple individual state champions and a state champion basketball team.
We are proud of the leadership, collaboration, and teamwork taking place in our district. Student-led reading, writing, and individual learning conferences are occurring in our schools. Through a wide variety of learning opportunities, we are laying the groundwork for the leaders of tomorrow. Our future depends on it!
Communities, schools, and students continue to come together to embody our district brand of One District, One Team, One Mission.
Jim C. Suber, Jr., Superintendent