Hand Middle School
Encyclopedia
Hand Middle School is a middle school in Columbia, South Carolina
, USA
that educates around 950 student
s in grades 6-8. A Blue Ribbon school
, it feeds into Dreher High School
and it is one of Richland County School District One
's oldest schools. Marisa Vickers is the Principal. The mascot is the Hornet
and the school colors are Blue and Gold.
Children's author
Karen Petit writes fictional novels
for children in grades 4-8. To assist her, creative-writing classes of sixth-graders have edited each of the works; currently three such classes are involved. Petit commented favourably on the students' objectivity and attention to detail.
chose Hand Middle School as one of its three Schools of the Year for 2000-01. This is an honor that recognizes K-12 schools considered 'educational pioneers'. The school was also the subject of a feature article in the magazine.
at the School, was named Richland 1 Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005. He was also a 2003 'National Educator' award winner by the Milken Family Foundation, which recognizes 'exceptional teachers, principals and other specialists who are furthering excellence in (the) nation's schools'.
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that educates around 950 student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s in grades 6-8. A Blue Ribbon school
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
, it feeds into Dreher High School
Dreher High School
Dreher High School is a co-educational four-year public high school in Richland County School District One located in Columbia, South Carolina. Dreher, established in 1938, is one of the oldest public high schools in the state...
and it is one of Richland County School District One
Richland County School District One
Richland County School District One , is a school district with its headquarters in the Stevenson Administration Building in Columbia, South Carolina....
's oldest schools. Marisa Vickers is the Principal. The mascot is the Hornet
Hornet
Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps; some species can reach up to in length. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex , which is proportionally larger in Vespa and by the anteriorly rounded gasters .- Life cycle :In...
and the school colors are Blue and Gold.
Academics
This school was known for its low standards in the early 1990s. A recovery plan was implemented and Hand was awarded Blue Ribbon status in 1999-2000. Blue Ribbon schools are the highest award that can be given to a US school. Standards have continued to improve and in 2006-07 grades increased by 30% across the board.Children's author
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
Karen Petit writes fictional novels
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
for children in grades 4-8. To assist her, creative-writing classes of sixth-graders have edited each of the works; currently three such classes are involved. Petit commented favourably on the students' objectivity and attention to detail.
Time award
Time magazineTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
chose Hand Middle School as one of its three Schools of the Year for 2000-01. This is an honor that recognizes K-12 schools considered 'educational pioneers'. The school was also the subject of a feature article in the magazine.
Notable faculty
Cliff Barrineau, who teaches mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the School, was named Richland 1 Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005. He was also a 2003 'National Educator' award winner by the Milken Family Foundation, which recognizes 'exceptional teachers, principals and other specialists who are furthering excellence in (the) nation's schools'.
Notable alumni
- Sarah Rhu collected awards, in 2007, for her paper From Civil War Hero to Convicted Congressman: The Triumph and Tragedy of Robert Smalls. In the 2007 National History Day awards, she received the National Bronze Medal award in the junior division historical paper category. The Civil War Preservation TrustCivil War Preservation TrustThe Civil War Trust is a charitable organization whose primary focus is in the preservation of American Civil War battlefields. The Civil War Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war's history and the fundamental conflicts that...
also awarded Rhu a gold medal and a $1000 cash prize for her "outstanding entry".