Story by Meeting Street Schools / June 13, 2022
It starts with our values. We have many, but here are a few:
Unwavering: continuing in a strong and steady way.
Belief: trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something.
High expectations: any effort to set the same high educational standards for all students in a class, school, or education system.
Community: a unified body of individuals sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
MS@Burns holds these values true and close. We are Turtles, but we don’t move slow. And this year we took our game to the #NEXTLEVEL!
This year we have experienced student growth that, to be honest, is not shocking to our team. We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at Burns, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment. Here’s a few keys to our success as we put our students on the Path To Success:
We believe in early childhood education and intervention. That’s why we have a Pre-Kindergarten program that starts at 3 years old. As our students continue to grow, we prioritize data. Teachers at all times know where their students are and where they are headed. Using this data we plan lessons that optimize our time with our students. Every moment matters!
We create rigorous lessons using best-in-class curriculum programs. We expose all of our students to above grade level curriculum. We provide extra intervention for students who may need some extra help, while simultaneously providing rigorous small groups for students exceeding beyond grade level. When our students achieve their goals, we create new ones. We never stop!
We develop THE WHOLE CHILD. This means building social-emotional skills and creating a worldly and culturally relevant environment. We practice meditation, self-awareness and assertiveness. The first few weeks of school, teachers focus on building a classroom environment that makes every child feel safe and respected. We are a whole child school with a holistic approach. You name it, we do it. We build strong relationships.
We instill core values of curiosity, self-control, optimism, empathy, gratitude, integrity, grit, citizenship. This is each student’s Path to Success!
We empower our students with the tools necessary to become strategic and reflective readers, prolific writers, and mathematicians. Throughout our entire school you will find a love and passion for literature. Our scholars’ potential is limitless!
We act each day on the same beliefs and values. We know our students are capable of closing the gap, exceeding limitations, and breaking systematic oppressions for generations to come. We stand, unshaken upon these truths. We are a true Public School of Innovation. We are part of an amazing network of 350+ Meeting Street Schools Team Members: Owls, Mavericks, Bulldogs, & Turtles.
The Meeting Street-Burns Turtles just had a very good year. Urgent and steady wins the race. We do all of these things and then some. We “Do the Most”! Turtle Power!
Niktoshia received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina. While attending USC, she was a South Carolina Teaching Fellow. Niktoshia has worked at Meeting Street Schools for five years where she has been a teacher, grade-level chair and is now the Academic Dean of PreK-1st for Meeting Street – Burns.
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Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
MSA Spartanburg stands as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. MSA Spartanburg is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
MS Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this school is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, MS Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. MS Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the MSS network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, MS Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at MS Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. MS Burns exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, MS Burns is forging a new path in public education.
MS Jasper represents the Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, MS Jasper puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the MSS ethos of empowerment through education.
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
Meeting Street Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships or loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
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