Katherine Spruil lJanuary 2013

GITHENS MIDDLE SCHOOL

DURHAM, NC

Durham County, NC

4800 Old Chapel Hill Road Durham NC 27707

LOCATION

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

COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS

Durham Co. Board of Education has seven elected members. Chairperson and Vice Chairperson have one-year 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 – ChairMinnie Forte-Brown - Vice

ChairNatalie Beyer - Board

MemberLeigh Bordley - Board

MemberNancy Cox - Board MemberFredrick A. Davis - Board

MemberOmega Curtis Parker - Board

MemberAnn L. Majestic – Attorney Julianne

Gates - Liaison to the Board of Education

SCHOOL BOARD

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

SCHOOL HISTORY

Traditional calendarServes 6th-8th

gradersSchool day:

7:30am-2:20pmTransportation

providedEnrollment: 1050Average class size:

21-24 students

GENERAL INFORMATION

Race American Indian

Pacific Islander

Asian Hispanic Black White Multiracial

Number of

students

6 4 42 210 472 195 27

Percentage of

student body

.63% .42% 4.39% 11.19% 49.37% 20.40% 2.82%

SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS

Racial Demographics (2011-2012 School Year)

Githens has a principal and three assistant principalsPrincipal: Tonya WilliamsAssistant Principals: Dr. Jack Butler, Ralph France, and Anna Kuykendal

Each major hall of the school has its own assistant principal and guidance counselorThis “school within a school” environment is considered very helpful

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

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

NEW PRINCIPAL

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

TEST SCORES

Githens uses a set of school-wide behavior expectations called PRIDE

Punctual—Right place, right time

Respectful—Treat others as you want to be treated

Integrity—Do what is right

Dedication—No less than best effort

Excellence—Strive for greatness

P.R.I.D.E.

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

Rouge)

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

SportsFootball, basketball, baseball, softball, track, soccer, cross country, lacrosse, girls’ field hockey, wrestling, volleyball, tennis, ultimate Frisbee

Clubs and teamsGents and QueensShow Dogs Drill TeamStudent GovernmentMany more

After School (4 days per week, with transportation home afterward)

EXTRACURRICULARS

In addition to regular classes in core subjects, Githens offers classes such as Strings, Desktop Publishing, and Graphic Arts

Pullout and inclusion classrooms

“Looping” to improve transitions from grade to grade

AIG program

CLASS OFFERINGS

Teachers are required/encouraged to use certain resourcesDurham Public Schools WebmailNCWISEAesop Substitute SystemDurham Public Schools Google Apps

TEACHER RESOURCES

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

TECHNOLOGY USE

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

PTA