Wando High School
Wando School ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT June 2018 Improvement Council Members
Annual Message from Sherry Eppelsheimer, Principal and
Rebecca Imholz, School Improvement Council Chair Parents Kimberly Barber Rasheida Brown Joy Carey As one of the highest performing high We consider high school gradua- differen ated instruc on, person- Richard Hricik schools in South Carolina, Wando con- on an important step for stu- alized learning, technology imple- Pam Murray sistently proves that a large, public, dents but not the final goal. Each menta on, and standards-based EC Setser non-magnet high school serving a graduate is expected to leave instruc on and assessment. Rais- diverse popula on can produce out- Wando with a viable plan for his ing the academic bar for all stu-
Students standing results. We are commi ed to or her future educa on and career dents and providing academic Harper Catalano con nuous improvement and use goals. Our students are strongly support for those who struggle are Andrew Nguyen research-based best prac ces as our encouraged to con nue their crucial to the success of our Emma Sco guide. educa on at the next level. school. Emily Sierko Lleyton Spivey Avery Steeland In recent years, educators from across Our career-related Schools of Our dedicated faculty and staff the United States and from foreign Study and Ninth Grade Academy have spent many hours par ci-
countries have come to Wando to provide opportuni es for personal pa ng in professional develop- Community learn more about how a large school connec ons and help our students ment. Teachers share instruc on- John Brisini maintains a sense of community and see the purpose and relevance of al best prac ces and work in cur- Tavia Buck Cynthia Hart helps students remain “connected” to their work here. Through our riculum teams ensuring quality Rebecca Imholz school through the smaller learning Schools of Study, students are instruc on and assessment in all Beth Kerrigan communi es concept. provided incredible opportuni es courses. Faculty collabora on and Paul Kukes to explore their skills and talents teamwork are the norm. Melanie Maxwell Mike McEachen Wando High School is a comprehensive and refine their college and career Lisa Mitchell school for grades nine through twelve goals. Members of the class of We are blessed with a high level of Mathilde White with a diverse student body of more 2018 completed 1,033 majors, parental and community involve-
than 4,000 students. More than 25% four or more elec ve courses in an ment. Our School Improvement of our students excel in the visual and area of concentra on, and re- Council and our PTSO provide
Faculty performing arts. Ninety-five percent of ceived special recogni on at grad- outstanding leadership and sup- Caroline Albrecht the Class of 2018 plan to enroll in ei- ua on. port as well as helping provide the Jason Brisini ther a two or four year college or uni- future direc on of our school. Beth Darby versity. Wando offers over 250 course Our Ninth Grade Academy pro- Improving communica on with Krystal Gamage Elizabeth Johnson selec ons including Advanced Place- vides students an effec ve transi- parents and the community is a Catherine Lawson ment, Dual Credit, Honors, College on to high school which begins common goal. Our various boost- Caroline Taylor Preparatory, Applied Technology, and with a first day experience prior to er clubs and the School of Study
Excep onal Educa on. The Wando the start of school for the rest of Advisory Boards are also vital to High School Advanced Placement and the student body. Throughout the our school’s success. We appreci- Ex-Officio Members Kirk Beilke Dual Credit passage rates con nue to ninth grade year, our students are ate their support and con nued Jeff Blankenship be among the highest in the state of supported as they learn responsi- involvement. Charles Coker South Carolina. bility and make decisions about Sherry Eppelsheimer future plans. Students at all grade John Farese levels are assigned faculty advisors Misty LeClerc Mark Mitchell who meet with them bi-weekly.
We constantly seek ways to im- prove instruc on and to increase learning opportuni es for our students. Our focus areas have been ac ve student engagement,
Wando High School Mission Statement
The mission of Wando High School, in partnership with parents and community, is to edu- cate all students by providing a challenging program of study, to encourage lifelong academ- ic and applied learning, and to graduate students prepared to meet the challenge of a rapidly changing and diverse global society. Wando High School Page 2
Ini a ves and Strategies for School Improvement
Ini a ves ing room in the curriculum for • Expand Advanced Placement par c- • Our Ninth Grade Academy houses career and technical studies, in- ipa on and support. our freshmen in a “school within a creasing access to academic stud- • Expand the use of data to differen - school” where they take core cours- ies, offering students a challenging ate instruc on. es. This smaller environment gives program of study, allowing oppor- • ninth graders the opportunity to tuni es for work-based learning, Expand CTE and Fine Arts courses to build rela onships and to increase suppor ng collabora on between meet students’ needs and interests. Wando High School was among a their sense of community. teachers, ac vely engaging stu- • Expand on-line learning opportuni- select group of high schools hon- • Our Smaller Learning Communi es dents in their learning, providing a es for credit recovery and ini al ored as a PLTW Dis nguished High guidance and advisement system, Ini a ve provides a reorganiza on credit. School. Schools and Districts u lizing a program for extra help of the Upper School, grades 10-12, • Provide professional development around the na on were honored and using assessment and data to into four smaller career-related on building posi ve, produc ve who have commi ed to increasing foster con nuous improvement. student access, engagement, and “Schools of Study.” We believe rela onships with students. using a career-related school ap- • We provide addi onal support for achievement in their PLTW pro- • Increase opportuni es for entry grams. proach to teaching and learning will students with academic promise help students see the relevance of who will be first-genera on college level workforce creden als and cer fica ons for our graduates. their coursework and its connec on bound. to the future. • Expand transi on and inclusion Strategies • Wando works within the High support for Excep onal Educa on students. Schools That Work Alliance , a • Raise the gradua on rate by estab- whole-school research-based re- lishing an interven on team offer- • Offer expanded career counseling. ing academic/transi on support. form effort. The HSTW model • Expand dual credit op ons. focuses on con nuous school • Expand the Golden Warrior Student • Expand the personalized learning improvement through key prac ces Recogni on and Awards Program. including high expecta ons, allow- program.
Three teacher cadets won the School Highlights: Academics
South Carolina Wando had 30 Na onal AP Scholars • Teaching Fellows • The Class of 2018 earned over There were 97 Early Awards recipi- with an average score of 4.42, one ents for the South Carolina Pal- Scholarship. $26.7 million in scholarships. • State AP Scholar and one AP Inter- me o Fellows Scholarship. Wando High School had seven na onal Diploma. • Two hundred sixty-one senior Na onal Merit Finalists. In addi on, • two students received Na onal We now have more than 520 mem- students in the Class of 2018 were Merit Corporate-Sponsored Schol- bers in grades 10-12 in the AP named Charleston County School arships. Academy. 104 seniors in the Class District Board Scholars. of 2018 received special Advanced • • 389 seniors took 1,006 dual credit The 2017 AP School Scholars from Studies recogni on due to earning courses earning college credit. Wando were announced by the at least six AP credits. College Board. There were 463 AP • Of the 2,873 courses taken by • The average GPA of the Class of Scholars. 183 students were named seniors, 1,138 of them were Ad- 2018 was 3.63. AP Scholars with an average score vanced Placement courses. of 3.17. 101 students were named • The State of South Carolina requires AP Scholars with Honors with the students to earn 24 credits in order average score being 3.64. There to graduate from high school. were 179 AP Scholars with Dis nc- Wando seniors earned on average on with an average score of 4.13. 31 credits.
School Highlights: Communica ons and Fine Arts
• At the Southeastern Scholas c Art students were named to the All percent recognized at the na onal level. Compe on, Wando has three gold State Jazz Band and 54 were key winners and eight silver key named to the All State Band. • Tribal Tribune , the school newspa- winners. • The Southern Interscholas c Press per, received an All-Southern ra ng • The Wando Honors Orchestra was Associa on named the 2017 and the Scroggins Mark of Dis nc- on in South Carolina for the top Two Wando Economics teams, selected to compete in the Ameri- Legend the Best Yearbook in South newspaper from the Southern consis ng of four students can String Teachers Associa on Carolina. The 2017 Legend also Interscholas c Press Associa on. each, the Economic Warriors Na onal Orchestra Fes val. Con- received All-State (S. C. Scholas c Addi onally, Tribal Tribune re- and the Big Macks, competed cert and Chamber Orchestra Press Associa on), All-Southern ceived a Gold Crown from the in the statewide economics earned straight superior ra ngs at (SIPA), and Gold Medal (Columbia Columbia Scholas c Press Associa- compe on hosted by the the SCMEA Concert Performance Scholas c Press Associa on) on. University of South Carolina. Assessment. awards. • Tribe Talk received an overall supe- The teams placed first and • The Wando Marching Band won • One Wando student earned a second in the state. This is the rior ra ng from the Southern their 11th State Marching Band na onal silver medal in the poetry fourth year in a row that the Interscholas c Press Associa on. Compe on and placed second at category of the 2018 Scholas c Art Economic Warriors have won the Bands of America Super Region- and Wri ng Awards, presented by • The Outlet , Wando’s literary maga- the state tle. The Big Macks als in Atlanta. the Alliance for Young Ar sts & zine, received an All-State award advanced South Carolina’s Writers. This year nearly 350,000 from the S. C. Scholas c Press Na onal Economics Challenge • Six Wando students were selected works of art and wri ng were Associa on as well as an All- ranking to 15 th in the na on! for the Na onal Honor Band and submi ed with less than one Southern Award from the Southern Honor Orchestra of America. Nine Interscholas c Press Associa on.
Whyte Art Educator Award. Award. Educator Art Whyte
Associa on. Associa on. also received the 2017-2018 Mary Mary 2017-2018 the received also
from the Na onal Athle c Trainers Trainers Athle c Na onal the from Educa on Associa on (SCAEA). She She (SCAEA). Associa on Educa on
Lacrosse. Lacrosse.
Educa on at U.S. News. News. U.S. at Educa on Team recogni on recogni on Team 1 Schools, Sport of the Year by the South Carolina Art Art Carolina South the by Year the of
st State Coach of the Year for Girls Girls for Year the of Coach State
le c Trainers, received the Safe Safe the received Trainers, le c the 2017-2018 Secondary Art Educator Educator Art Secondary 2017-2018 the
Narayan, managing editor of of editor managing Narayan,
Brooke Black was named Lower Lower named was Black Brooke • •
and Alan Ridenoure, Wando Ath- Wando Ridenoure, Alan and Mary Catherine Peeples was named named was Peeples Catherine Mary • • their students," said Anita Anita said students," their
Coach of the Year. Year. the of Coach
Mark Buchman, Lauren LeGrand, LeGrand, Lauren Buchman, Mark
• • ing coursework and gradua ng gradua ng and coursework ing honor in three years. years. three in honor
Cheryl Durden was named SCADA SCADA named was Durden Cheryl
• •
Theatre Associa on. Associa on. Theatre second na onal coach of the year year the of coach na onal second ciency tests, offering challeng- offering tests, ciency
Year. Year.
the South Carolina Speech and and Speech Carolina South the Match for Team East. This is her her is This East. Team for Match expecta ons on state profi- state on expecta ons
Girls AAAAA Track Coach of the the of Coach Track AAAAA Girls Communica on Arts Award from from Award Arts Communica on Under Armour All-American Volleyball Volleyball All-American Armour Under
three main areas: exceeding exceeding areas: main three
Kevin Shiver was named Boys and and Boys named was Shiver Kevin
Glover served as head coach in the the in coach head as served Glover Lori Carroll received the 2018 2018 the received Carroll Lori • •
• • “Top-ranked schools succeed in in succeed schools “Top-ranked
Na onal Head Coach of the Year. Year. the of Coach Head Na onal
Alexis Glover - Volleyball Volleyball - Glover Alexis Teacher Service Award. Award. Service Teacher
Volleyball Coaches Associa on (AVCA) (AVCA) Associa on Coaches Volleyball
Kevin Shiver - Girls Track Track Girls - Shiver Kevin
S. C. Economics 2018 Outstanding Outstanding 2018 Economics C. S.
college-level coursework. coursework. college-level
United States Marine Corps/American Corps/American Marine States United
Winde Ellenberg - Boys Tennis Tennis Boys - Ellenberg Winde
Tamie Betsill was presented the the presented was Betsill Tamie
• •
students are prepared for for prepared are students
Alexis Glover was named the 2017 2017 the named was Glover Alexis • • Cheryl Durden - Girls Swimming Swimming Girls - Durden Cheryl
on District. District. on
assess the degree to which which to degree the assess
Allyson Brown - Boys Swimming Swimming Boys - Brown Allyson
fied Professional of the Year. Year. the of Professional fied
from the Soil and Water Conserva- Water and Soil the from
underserved popula ons – and and – popula ons underserved
Jerry Lloyd - Boys Golf Golf Boys - Lloyd Jerry
Rasheida Brown was named the Classi- the named was Brown Rasheida
• •
standing Teacher Leadership Award Award Leadership Teacher standing
students – including historically historically including – students Country Country
er of the Year. Year. the of er Jessica Herbert received the Out- the received Herbert Jessica
• •
Jennifer Emerson - Girls Cross Cross Girls - Emerson Jennifer that best serve all of their their of all serve best that
Carly McRae was named Rookie Teach- Rookie named was McRae Carly
• •
Tyler Ann Smith - Cheerleading Cheerleading - Smith Ann Tyler Teacher of the Year. Year. the of Teacher na onwide to iden fy schools schools iden fy to na onwide
runner-up for the na onal PLTW PLTW na onal the for runner-up Region Coach of the Year: Year: the of Coach Region Year. the of Teacher than 20,500 public high schools schools high public 20,500 than
Christopher Sjolander was the the was Sjolander Christopher The following coaches were named named were coaches following The Wando’s named was Streets Andy
• • • • • The rankings evaluate more more evaluate rankings The
High School. School. High
School Highlights: Faculty and Staff Honors Honors Staff and Faculty Highlights: School
World Report as a 2018 Best Best 2018 a as Report World
silver medal from U. S. News & & News S. U. from medal silver
Wando High School earned a a earned School High Wando
& World Report Report World &
League. League.
U. S. News News S. U.
by the South Carolina High School School High Carolina South the by
country. country. were recognized as Scholar Athletes Athletes Scholar as recognized were
One hundred twelve senior athletes athletes senior twelve hundred One projects submi ed throughout the the throughout submi ed projects • •
their project in the top 10% of all all of 10% top the in project their
Volleyball
honorable men on which places places which men on honorable Girls Track and Field Field and Track Girls
Boys Track and Field Field and Track Boys raVision compe on and received received and compe on raVision
Girls Tennis Tennis Girls
na onal Toshiba/NSTA Explo- Toshiba/NSTA na onal Trident Technical College. College. Technical Trident
Boys Tennis Tennis Boys STEM team competed in the annual annual the in competed team STEM ship Signing Day that was held at at held was that Day Signing ship
Girls Swimming Swimming Girls
Design Compe on. A Wando Wando A Compe on. Design Annual Youth Appren ce- Youth Annual 4 the in
th th
Boys Swimming Swimming Boys
Preparatory School. Preparatory
the Introduc on to Engineering Engineering to Introduc on the Nine Wando students par cipated par cipated students Wando Nine
• • Girls Soccer Soccer Girls
Wando teams ed for first place in in place first for ed teams Wando
School and the West Point Point West the and School
Boys Soccer Soccer Boys Team Decision Making. Making. Decision Team
and Principles of Engineering. Two Two Engineering. of Principles and
Boys Golf Golf Boys Academy Preparatory Preparatory Academy state for Hospitality and Tourism Tourism and Hospitality for state
Introduc on to Engineering Design Design Engineering to Introduc on Girls Cross Country Country Cross Girls
ments to the Air Force Force Air the to ments
One DECA team placed first in the the in first placed team DECA One
• •
Cheerleading Cheerleading
competed in both compe ons, compe ons, both in competed
students received appoint- received students
NASA. NASA. won in: in: won on where Wando students students Wando where on
Addi onally, two senior senior two Addi onally,
Twelve Region Championships were were Championships Region Twelve Rocket City FRC Regional held by by held Regional FRC City Rocket • • Way statewide engineering compe- engineering statewide Way
Motorola Quality Award at the the at Award Quality Motorola
held their annual Project Lead the the Lead Project annual their held Volleyball Volleyball
Wando Advanced Robo cs won the the won Robo cs Advanced Wando Boys Tennis Tennis Boys
Academy at West Point Point West at Academy • • The University of South Carolina Carolina South of University The • •
Boys Golf Golf Boys
One to the U. S. Military Military S. U. the to One
Compe on. Compe on.
State Forum. Forum. State
were won in: in: won were
YESCarolina’s State Business Plan Plan Business State YESCarolina’s
Carolina Junior Classical League League Classical Junior Carolina
Three Lower State Championships Championships State Lower Three
• •
of the top six finalist spots at at spots finalist six top the of Classical League won the South South the won League Classical
Guard Academy Academy Guard
Boys Swimming Swimming Boys
ond, and third place as well as five five as well as place third and ond,
The Wando High School Junior Junior School High Wando The
One to the U. S. Coast Coast S. U. the to One • •
Girls Swimming Swimming Girls
Wando students placed first, sec- first, placed students Wando
• •
Boys Track and Field Field and Track Boys sport. sport.
Girls Track and Field Field and Track Girls Region Player of the Year in their their in Year the of Player Region most knowledge about wind power. power. wind about knowledge most
Force Academy Academy Force
Boys Soccer Soccer Boys
Seven student athletes were named named were athletes student Seven winning the Judge’s Award for the the for Award Judge’s the winning • •
Three to the U. S. Air Air S. U. the to Three
Boys Lacrosse Lacrosse Boys
Tournament hosted by The Citadel Citadel The by hosted Tournament
State players. players. State
Six State Championships were won in: won were Championships State Six
• •
par cipated in the first Kid Wind Wind Kid first the in par cipated Forty-one students were named All All named were students Forty-one
• •
the playoffs. playoffs. the
The Wando Wind Turbine Team Team Turbine Wind Wando The
• •
selected for State All Star Games. Games. Star All State for selected
Academies: Academies:
Twenty-two varsity teams qualified for for qualified teams varsity Twenty-two
• •
Fourteen student athletes were were athletes student Fourteen • • Bowl) and won first place. place. first won and Bowl)
three of our U. S. Military Military S. U. our of three
for the Na onal Ocean Science Science Ocean Na onal the for compete in college. college. in compete
received appointments to to appointments received
playing field. field. playing
or were given the opportunity to to opportunity the given were or
ray Bowl (the regional compe on compe on regional (the Bowl ray
Five senior students students senior Five
athletes shining on and off the the off and on shining athletes
Thirty-two student athletes signed signed athletes student Thirty-two and Georgia at The Southern S ng- Southern The at Georgia and • •
outstanding year with student student with year outstanding
against teams from South Carolina Carolina South from teams against named to All Region Teams. Teams. Region All to named Athle c Program had another another had Program Athle c
The Marine Science Club competed competed Club Science Marine The -nine Wando athletes were were athletes Wando -nine Forty The Wando High School School High Wando The • • • •
School Highlights: Athle cs and Ac vi es Ac vi es and Athle cs Highlights: School
Page 3 3 Page
May 2018 2018 May 2018
The Wando School Improvement Council meets monthly to plan, moni- tor, and evaluate improvements at the school level. Their work includes school planning as well as communica on between students, teachers, parents, and the school administra on.
Our PTSO serves as our primary fundraising group for school-wide pro- jects and is the group that organizes and assigns volunteers, works on Wando High School beau fica on, supports school celebra ons and recogni ons, and pro- 1000 Warrior Way vides ac vi es for faculty and staff apprecia on and support. Our PTSO Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29466 is a 501.c(3) charitable organiza on.
The Wando Family would like to salute our SIC, PTSO, Booster Clubs, parent volunteers, community supporters, and the Town of Mount Pleas- Phone: 843.881.8200 ant for their con nuing support. We would also like to thank the Fax: 843.849.2890 Charleston County School District Board of Trustees, the Charleston www.wandohigh.com County School District staff, the St. James-Santee District 1 Cons tuent Board and the Moultrie District 2 Cons tuent Board for their assistance.