Overview: Narrative Description of the Process of Defining the School’s Beliefs and Mission

North Augusta High School originated the task of defining its beliefs and mission in a conceptual to concrete fashion. This evaluation process required the construction of a comprehensive consensus-building procedure that included teachers, students administrators, Board of Education, parents, members of the community, as well as a local university’s teacher-preparation program, the local newspaper, and the school newsletter.

In the spring of 2003, the administration and the in-house SACS coordinator selected a chairperson for the Beliefs and Mission team. This chairperson, in turn, selected foundation members from a faculty roster. The team members began to identify and involve the wide range of North Augusta High School stakeholders.

Concurrently, the team solicited input from the stakeholders and began examination of the school’s profile data. In particular, focus was placed on the demographic patterns and changes in the school and community. Equal emphasis was placed on the analysis and synthesis of the achievement levels of our students. The opinions of our students, teachers, parents, and community members concerning the quality of our school were then compared to the national sample, based on the NSSE’s opinion inventories. This examination provided the identification of issues pertinent to the students and community we serve.

The internal analysis provided the Beliefs and Mission team with a visual of our past and present. In an effort to balance our beliefs and mission with past, present, and future direction, teachers involved in recertification and in earning advanced degrees were questioned regarding current and future pedagogical issues.

Upon collection of the results of this self-examination, the leadership team divided into subcommittees to draft the beliefs and mission statement. The subcommittee presented the drafts to the committee-at-large for discussion and modification. Present at those meetings were nine teachers, five students and a parent representative. Upon final revision of the beliefs and mission statements, the faculty was once again solicited for feedback.

At the conclusion, consensus was reached and the Beliefs and Mission were adopted for North Augusta High School.

1. Student learning is the chief priority for the school and the community.
2. Challenging expectations and active engagement in the learning process increase individual student performance.
3. A variety of curricular and instructional practices, along with diverse assessment opportunities, accommodate differences in learning styles.
4. Each student is a unique individual with physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
5. Students are more successful when supported by positive relationships and mutual respect between themselves and staff members
6. A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes students learning.
7. Schools should promote and provide organized learning opportunities to all stakeholders within the school community.
8. A commitment to continuous academic improvement is necessary if students are to become confident, self-directed, life-long learners.

MISSION STATEMENT