Silver Bluff High School has developed a comprehensive instructional program to ensure that all students graduate with world-class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. In the 2017-2018 school year we began our deliberate focus on this Instructional Program which consists of three key components: School-wide Instructional Focus & Program of Study, Planning for Instruction and Assessing Content Mastery and Learning. This is our school’s model to ensure we are focused on a world-class education for each of our students. A major part of this three-pronged program is our instructional program of study which is guided by and built around our new Advanced Studies Academy of Technology, Engineering and the Arts.
The newly redesigned Advanced Studies Academy of Technology, Engineering and the Arts helps all students find their path to college or a career. This academy is our school’s engine to provide opportunities to students, make connections with community organizations, business and higher education. Our goal is to increase the number of students taking a course at the honors level or higher, and grow the number of students enrolled in a Career and Technology Education course leading to a completer certificate.
Students explore and enhance their 21st century skills through course work and connections made in the Academy of Technology, Engineering and The Arts. The Project Lead The Way engineering curriculum introduces students to creativity and innovation through team work and the engineering process. Students have the opportunity to design solutions to real-world problems and create projects using technology and tool kits that mirror the STEM industry.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are also developed in our various technology classes including our newly designed focus on information technology and the cyber industry. With a first-of-its-kind partnership with neighboring Fort Gordon and the US Army Cyber Command, our students are able to make technology connections to the world of cyber security and put these skills to use as part of the Cyber Patriot competition and program. As we further develop partnerships with the US Department of Energy, Aiken Technical College and the community, we are able to begin the process of ensuring students have a path to industry certification and further education.
Our school’s connection to the arts industry and coursework helps us provide students with further opportunities to express their creativity by collaborating with other students to create works of art. Band concerts, art shows and the annual Harmony Day show allow students to work together to showcase the skills they’ve learned in the academy.
Silver Bluff High School was recently accepted into the National Math and Science Initiative College Readiness Program. With a generous donation from Centerra, our partner with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions organization we are able to join the three-year program to grow our Advanced Placement options for students and give more students access to this rigorous course of study. The NMSI College Readiness program assists us in preparing students from 7th to 12th grade for success in these college level AP courses. Teachers receive annual training with follow-up sessions throughout the school year and students attend Saturday study sessions for each AP course they take. The College Readiness Program with NMSI will be the underlying foundation of our Advanced Studies Academy of Technology, Engineering and the Arts.
We are excited about the progress we have made in the 2017-2018 school year toward the development and implementation of our school-wide Instructional Program and look forward to the development and full implementation of its key components. The SBHS Learning Community believes this will push us forward and allow us to continue to provide our graduates with world-class skills and give them a competitive edge as they become players on the world-stage.