In an effort to assist students in developing World Class Knowledge, South Pointe challenges all students to enroll in the most rigorous courses they are able to successfully complete. Support structures are provided for students to increase the likelihood of academic success. We offer honors-level, Advanced Placement (AP), and dual credit (college level) courses, in addition to courses within the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Qualifying students may also take courses through Accelerate, a program sponsored by the Governor’s School for Science and Math, through which a student may earn up to forty-nine college credit hours toward an engineering degree at a designated state university.
All students, in collaboration with their counselors and parents, select a career path with an individualized program of study. The district's Applied Technology Center offers a variety of specialized courses to supplement students’ academic pathways. South Pointe offers Spanish, French, and Chinese and encourages all students to enroll in a foreign language for a minimum of three consecutive years. Students have the opportunity to explore the social sciences by taking courses such as psychology, and sociology. Students continue to excel within the fine arts program through our chorus, band, visual arts, and theatre arts programs.
The integration of World Class Skills is exemplified through South Pointe's designation as a school of choice for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). The faculty and staff continue to participate in planning and professional development to support that philosophy. A cohort of teachers has incorporated challenge-based learning experiences that allow students the opportunity to gain knowledge through hands-on, real-world, inquiry based activities. Students are assessed in a non-traditional manner, resulting in products that require research, collaboration, and a creative presentation. Our new makerspace provided a state-of-the-art area for students to become actively engaged in STEAM-related learning activities, while our new One Button Studio enabled students to create and download video presentations to support their academic projects.
As a part of the district’s ongoing one-to-one technology initiative, each student was issued a laptop for his/her personal use at home and at school. This year, South Pointe began the implementation of the convergence media concept that will assist the individual student staffs of the television morning show, print news magazine, online newspaper, yearbook, and literary magazine to utilize technology to share information and resources. This will better enable them to creatively tell our school and individual student/faculty stories regarding academics, the arts, and athletics within the school and to the larger community.
South Pointe completed the fifth year of our “Living the South Pointe Way” initiative, emphasizing and rewarding the quality characteristics indicated on our school’s seal - Integrity, Community, and Excellence (ICE). As a part of our Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program, students are routinely recognized and celebrated for exhibiting positive actions within each of those areas. In addition, we have continued to implement the “On Pointe!” program which recognizes graduating seniors who have documented their efforts to exemplify the ICE characteristics during each of their four years at South Pointe.
South Pointe offers a variety of multi-cultural and service-oriented clubs and organizations. Examples include the Progeny Club that brings students together from all walks of life to recognize and celebrate diversity, and the Beta Club through which students come together to volunteer throughout the school and within the community. The school offers work-based internships, job shadowing opportunities, and college and career activities to expose students to various job fields and post-secondary options. South Pointe has many practices in place to recognize students for exemplifying 21st Century Life and Career Characteristics such as self-direction, perseverance, and work ethic. Each year, pictures of the previous year’s graduating seniors are prominently displayed in the main gallery, indicating the college they are attending. South Pointe hosted its third annual College and Military Signing Day, during which well-deserved recognition was given to students who made those life-transforming commitments to continue their formal education.
Dr. Al Leonard, Principal
Mrs. Rebecca Gilleland, SIC Chair