Our school is helping all students develop World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing opportunities for students to be innovators and creators. Hillcrest Middle School offers a wide variety of both classes and clubs to challenge students' creative genius.
- Movie Making
- Video Editing
- Drama
- Makerspace
- Robotics
- Computer Science for Innovators
- Design Model
- Creative Writing
- Broadcast Journalism
- Student Council
- Principal's Council
- National Beta
These and many other examples allow our students to think critically and solve real world problems in our classrooms and after school activities. We focus on collaborative settings embedded in teamwork. Hillcrest Middle is expanding the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate in 2019-2020 by focusing on the soft skills required to be successful in life. The addition of an advisory block will allow for the study and discussion of life characteristics, social/emotional learning, and the interpersonal skills.
Our staff includes published authors and illustrators, VFW Teachers of the Year, Golden Apple Finalists, National Board Certified teachers, STEM certified teachers and Distinguished Teachers of Reading. Our teachers work collaboratively in professional learning communities in order to provide student-centered classrooms where discovery, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration are facilitated in all content areas. We will continue to work in interdisciplinary teams focusing on the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) essential abilities and the characteristics of successful schools. The implementation of the Hillcrest Middle School Philosophy is made possible through the adoption of the 16 characteristics of the AMLE:
- Educators value young adolescents and are prepared to teach them.
- Students and teachers are engaged in active, purposeful learning.
- Curriculum is challenging, exploratory, integrative, and relevant.
- Educators use multiple learning and teaching approaches.
- Varied and ongoing assessments advance learning as well as measure it.
- A shared vision developed by all stakeholders guides every decision.
- Leaders are committed to and knowledgeable about this age group, educational research, and best practices.
- Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration.
- Ongoing professional development
- Organizational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful relationships.
- The school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all.
- Every student’s academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate.
- Comprehensive guidance and support services meet the needs of young adolescents
- Health and wellness are supported in curricula, school-wide programs, and related policies.
- The school actively involves families in the education of their children.
- The school includes business and community partners.
All of our classrooms have multi-media capabilities, and all teachers infuse technology, the arts and literacy into their standards. We implemented a 1:1 chrome book initiative in 2018-2019 and will continue to expand the use of technology in our curriculum. Our related arts offerings have been expanded to include creative writing, broadcast journalism, speech and drama, virtual Spanish II, cultural Spanish, and Cyber Citizenship. Our students had a 100% passing rate on the End-of-Course exam for Algebra I and English I.
Our band, chorus, and strings programs consistently earn superior with distinction and superior, and excellent ratings with more than 80 students earning solo/ensemble awards. This year, each program presented two community programs. Our Broadcast Journalism students host, direct, and edit the daily Wildcat News program, individual movies and Red Carpet Nights.
We are proud of our multiple community partnerships and our award-winning PTA. Such partnerships allow our students to participate in community service projects and career information days. We work to expose our students to all career clusters by introducing them to Naviance, participating in field studies at the Career Center, the Fine Arts Center, and Clemson University. We constantly welcome guest speakers from across all clusters at Lunch and Learns and school assemblies.
William C. Price, Principal and Kelly Clark, SIC Chairperson