GITHENS MIDDLE SCHOOL DURHAM NC Katherine Spruill January

GITHENS MIDDLE SCHOOL DURHAM, NC Katherine Spruill January 2013

LOCATION Durham County, NC 4800 Old Chapel Hill Road Durham NC 27707

COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS The number of households in Durham Co. in 2009: 105, 309 Number of people in Durham Co. in 2010: 267, 587 Percentage of people under the age of 19: 25. 7

SCHOOL BOARD Durham Co. Board of Education has seven elected members. Chairperson and Vice Chairperson have oneyear terms, but much of the board seems to stay fairly consistent. The Board of Education is very active, and their monthly meetings are broadcast to the public Heidi Carter – Chair Minnie Forte-Brown - Vice Chair Natalie Beyer - Board Member Leigh Bordley - Board Member Nancy Cox - Board Member Fredrick A. Davis - Board Member Omega Curtis Parker Board Member Ann L. Majestic – Attorney Julianne Gates - Liaison to the Board of Education

SCHOOL HISTORY Githens Middle School was built in 1965 and named after a local scholar The school moved to a new building in 1988 Githens considers itself an integral part of the surrounding community

GENERAL INFORMATION Traditional calendar Serves 6 th -8 th graders School day: 7: 30 am -2: 20 pm Transportation provided Enrollment: 1050 Average class size: 21 -24 students

SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS Racial Demographics (2011 -2012 School Year) Race American Indian Pacific Islander Asian Hispanic Black White Multiracial Number of students 6 4 42 210 472 195 27 . 63% . 42% 4. 39% 11. 19% 49. 37% 20. 40% 2. 82% Percentage of student body

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION Githens has a principal and three assistant principals § Principal: Tonya Williams § Assistant Principals: Dr. Jack Butler, Ralph France, and Anna Kuykendal Each major hall of the school has its own assistant principal and guidance counselor § This “school within a school” environment is considered very helpful

NEW PRINCIPAL Tonya Williams became principal of Githens during the 2011 -2012 school year

TEST SCORES Test scores are below the state average, but the past three years has shown a positive trend for EOG test scores Designated as a “School of Progress” Growth is expected to continue 2011 goals were mostly met successfully

P. R. I. D. E. Githens uses a set of school-wide behavior expectations called PRIDE P unctual— Right place, right time R espectful— Treat others as you want to be treated I ntegrity— Do what is right D edication— No less than best effort E xcellence— Strive for greatness

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS Githens partners with the following schools, organizations, and businesses in exchange for tutors, volunteers, expertise, materials, and financial support: § Duke University § UNC Chapel Hill athletics department § NC Central University § IBM § Youth for Life § Walmart § Target § Local restaurants (Panera, Kanki, Vin Rouge)

EXTRACURRICULARS Clubs and teams § Gents and Queens § Show Dogs Drill Team § Student Government § Many more After School (4 days per week, with transportation home afterward) Sports § Football, basketball, baseball, softball, track, soccer, cross country, lacrosse, girls’ field hockey, wrestling, volleyball, tennis, ultimate Frisbee

CLASS OFFERINGS In addition to regular Pullout and classes in core inclusion classrooms subjects, Githens “Looping” to offers classes such as improve transitions Strings, Desktop from grade to grade Publishing, and AIG program Graphic Arts

TEACHER RESOURCES Teachers are required/encouraged to use certain resources § Durham Public Schools Webmail § NCWISE § Aesop Substitute System § Durham Public Schools Google Apps

TECHNOLOGY USE The Durham Co. Public School System has a technology policy by which Githens abides Each classroom is connected to the Internet The Media Center considers digital literacy extremely important

PTA The Githens PTA seems very active, hosting frequent events and reaching out to members and potential members § During this semester, they have been part of Staff Appreciation Events, monthly Spirit Nights, Honor Roll Ice Cream Social, Fall Harvest Dance, school book fair and family night, TRIPS for Kids, Reflections Art and Literature Contest, PTA membership drive, concessions, various fundraising events, and PTA board meetings as well as general PTA meetings. Its Twitter page is consistently updated