Pelion Middle School (PMS) is helping all students develop world class skills, in addition to life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, by providing a learning environment that embodies a holistic approach to education and integrates highly effective practices throughout the school’s culture. Through an intentional focus on rigor and developing a sense of belonging across all students and staff, PMS empowers students with the tools they need to thrive in the 21st century. We continue to implement initiatives that highlight student achievement, establish and strengthen authentic relationships, and pursue community partnerships as a means of positively impacting student learning and growth. With a focus on educating “the whole child,” we remain committed to cultivating an environment in which all students can become extraordinary communicators, collaborators, creators and critical thinkers.
We continue to strengthen our practices in order to establish and leverage relationships among a collaborative team of caring certified and support staff. Staff members are committed not only to student growth but also to their professional growth. All certified staff members participate in weekly professional learning sessions in an effort to identify and implement best practices, self-assess and reflect upon their own instructional practices, and engage in the implementation of strategies that represent the most effective, impactful pedagogy. At PMS, we honor the process. We understand that we never “arrive,” but we, instead, continue to learn, grow and serve as a meaningful example of lifelong learning and opportunity. Staff members work to gain a deep understanding of the culture that represents and supports PMS students, their families, and the community while building and maintaining relationships, structures, and systems.
To support our students’ mastery of world-class knowledge, we remain committed to establishing an optimal learning environment in which all students, regardless of circumstances, have equitable access to quality instruction and resources. Our push-in approach to Response-to-Intervention in both English Language Arts and math continues to ensure that students’ needs are identified and addressed within the general education setting. The components of the Workshop Model are evident in various classes, and students are provided with timely, specific feedback. Through our continued partnerships with Teachers College, the Dynamic Learning Project with Google, and our Rolling Study Hall initiative, we are able to increase student engagement, impact student achievement, and provide sources of support and advocacy across all grade levels and content areas.
In order to support students’ efforts to gain world-class skills, we strengthened a variety of structures and introduced a partnership with the Paideia Institute. We continue to foster an environment in which students learn actively, make connections, think critically, and set academic goals. As a Paideia Institute partner, students have grown in their ability to communicate and access more complex texts. In addition to the core academic setting, students utilize world-class skills through our visual/performing arts offerings and clubs/organizations.
To help students develop strong life and career characteristics, we guide students to “honor their story” in the classroom and through school leadership roles. Through this guidance, students learn and apply life-ready leadership skills. At PMS, each student is known well by at least one adult within the school through our LEAD structure. Students have their needs met and strengths discovered through social, emotional, and instructional/academic support. LEAD classes meet every morning. To strengthen school-wide relationships and provide students with the opportunity to explore their interests, we also implement Sharpen-the-Saw Fridays. Each week students either participate in team-building activities with their LEAD class or grade level, clubs sponsored by teachers, or engage in school-wide activities that build community. We also plan family engagement nights, school orientations, and school-level service projects.
In closing, we know that the support of our staff, families, and community members were key to our school being able to accomplish what we achieved while we were on campus. During the time of responding to a global pandemic, and adapting an eLearning and Distance Learning model as a result, we pulled together as a community in an effort to continue maintaining relationships and addressing student needs. Though we missed seeing our students every day during the 4th nine weeks, we made an intentional effort to keep our lines of communication open. Hosting virtual Sharpen-the-Saw Fridays with grade levels, virtual awards ceremonies, and end-of-year drive-thru events provided us with an opportunity to celebrate each other and the perseverance of every PMS stakeholder.
As we continue to explore and shift paradigms, we are proud to establish an environment in which students will not only learn but they will thrive regardless of circumstances.
Kailanya S. Brailey, Principal
Randall Cooper, SIC Chair