Gold Hill Middle School
2020-2021 School Improvement Council Report
1025 Dave Gibson Blvd. Tega Cay, SC 29708
(803)548-8300
Principal - Richard Eppes
Who We Are
Gold Hill Middle School, distinguished as a school of excellence, is centered on student learning that focuses on academic, social, and emotional growth that bridges the transition for students between elementary and high school.
Our mission is to continually provide learners with a rigorous education where all students are valued, and the faculty exhibits academic excellence by advancing knowledge through high expectations, collaboration, and engagement.
Celebrating Excellence
Teacher of the Year - Ms. Lindsey Everhart, 6th Grade Science
Support Staff of the Year - Mr. Philip Thompson, Custodian
Bulldog Brags
Coolest School in the State
Our students raised over $12,000 for Special Olympics via the Polar Plunge this year making us the top fundraising school in the entire state!
One Book, One School
We read Sharon Draper's, Out of my Mind, together as a school and learned about kindness, treating everyone with respect, and accepting everyone regardless of their differences.
WEB (Where Everybody Belongs)
We hosted our first virtual WEB Day and met our rising 6th graders before the school year even started. 8th grade WEB leaders were trained virtually, and then they were able to welcome our newest Bulldogs on the screen. Finally, we were able to meet on campus in a socially-distanced setting and still dial in our virtual students. Our WEB leaders have truly helped us embody the philosophies of "Where Everybody Belongs"!
Grants enhance our school!
Our teachers applied for and won over $2500 in grant money to enhance learning in their classrooms. Pictured here is our Outdoor Sensory Garden Grant that provides an outdoor space filled with sensory experiences for our special settings students.
Bitty & Beau's Coffee Cart
Socially distanced Pep Rally
Volleyball Champions
Academic Achievement
STAR Testing and SC Ready Expectations:
- Reading: 68% Meet and Exceed State Benchmarks (25% higher than the state average)
- Math: 61% Meet and Exceed State Benchmarks (22% higher than the state average)
Gifted & Talented: Over 55% of our students participate in GT coursework.
Incredible PTA Support
What makes us Bulldog Strong?
- Our Beta Club students read to our friends at the elementary school next door.
- Our Related Arts and Virtual teachers host Quarterly Incentives for students with good grades and behavior. (Bulldog Bingo, Bulldog Goose Chase, and more)
- Our Student Council recognizes amazing teachers each month with their Teacher of the Month program.
- Our QuaranTEAM (facilitated by Mrs. Grupp and Beta Club) puts together care packages for our students that are home due to Covid or quarantine.
- Our students performed and filmed Newsies with the help of local businesses, Kingsley, FMHS Buzz Program, and our Related Arts Department.
- Our Band and Chorus Programs performed at Festival of the Arts for the holidays.
- 7th Grade Girls Volleyball won the Championship.
- Football ended the season 5-2 in the Semi-Finals.
- 8th Grade Boys Basketball went to the Championship.
- Boys Track finished 3rd in the Conference.
- Girls Track finished as Conference Champions.
- Administration and School Counselors hosted BIT (Bulldogs in Training) Club to provide intervention for academically struggling students.
- Our GHMS Bulldog Singers performed Voices Lifted: A Celebratory Contribution to Black History Month.
- 7th graders competed with one another in our first ever GHMS 7th Grade Mini Documentary Awards.
- Our students raised over $3,800 to support Breast Cancer Awareness.
- Our Special Settings classes run a weekly Bitty & Beau's coffee cart for our staff.
- We hosted two outdoor pep rallies to support our athletes and show school spirit.
- Our Lead Dogs, teacher leaders, mentored several new teachers through our new Bulldog Mentoring program.
- Our new Dance Team started this year with performances at football and basketball games.
- Our 8th Graders participated in a virtual Job Shadow Day.
- Our 6th Graders participated in a STEAM Career Day.
- Our Academic Team came in 2nd in our region. They competed nationally and came in 2nd in the State and 15th in the Nation.
- Ten students participated in the You Be The Chemist Challenge hoping to defend their 1st and 2nd place titles from last year.
- School Counselors completed 265 Individual Graduation Plans with our 8th graders to prepare them for the transition to high school.
- 11 band students qualified for SCBDA Region Band and three made it to SCBDA All State Band.
- Our band students completed two recording projects in the fall semester and will be putting on three concerts this spring.
- Our Beta Club has been awarded the title of National Beta School of Distinction.
School Improvement Council Members
Andrea Drake-parent
Aaron Duda-President, parent
Angie Harms-Literacy Specialist
Matt Hilsmier-parent
Amy Rhodes-Related Arts teacher
Jeremy Robertson-Secretary, ELA teacher
Carrie Shearin-PTA President
Ann Slater-Community Member
Amy Wilson-parent
Richard Eppes-Principal
David Cheske-Assistant Principal
Caryn Scroggs-Assistant Principal