WIXLIB

Banks TrailMiddle School1640 Banks RoadFort Mill, SC 29715803-578-2990http:// btms.fortmillschools.orgBanks Trail Middle SchoolTogether, Building a Tradition of Excellence.With a motto of,“Together, Buildinga Tradition ofExcellence,” BanksTrail Middle Schoolbelieves diversity isour strength. We'vebrought togethermany differentbackgrounds,talents, and ways ofthinking to createone of the finestmiddle schoolenvironmentsimaginable.Located in the Piedmontin Fort Mill, SouthCarolina, Banks TrailMiddle School openedits classrooms tostudents in the fall of2011. The schoolcontains 126,000 squarefeet of space thataccommodates ourcurrent enrollment ofapproximately 485students. There are 30classrooms (100% ofwhich are equipped withstate-of-the-art SmartBoards), nine sciencelabs, classrooms for finearts and vocationaleducation, and agymnatorium for specialperformances andassemblies. Our physicaleducation and sportsfacilities include agymnasium, a turffootball/soccer stadium,a baseball field andbatting cage, and fourpaved basketball courts.It is our desire to createa school environmentthat will be enrichedwith academic,extracurricular, andcommunity-basedopportunities that equipall Banks Trail studentsfor their journey intohigh school and beyond.It is our responsibility toensure that studentshave the knowledge,skills, and understandingto compete locally,nationally, and globallyin all aspects of theirlives. We sincerelybelieve middle school isa time when students areestablishing thefoundation for theirsuccesses in life throughacademic and socialdevelopment andindividual and societalawareness. We firmlybelieve these variablesare cultivated by:classroom lessons thatare rigorous, relevant,and engaging;extracurricular activitiesthat enhance studentlearning and selfdevelopment; andcommunityinvolvement, interaction,and service that makerelevant connections topractical and educationalexperiences.In striving for thatvision, our school hasrealized manyaccomplishments (seepage 5). BTMSstudents’ academicachievements havebeen well documentedby an Excellent ratingevery year in absoluteand growth ratings onthe State School ReportCard. Studentsparticipate and excel inlocal, regional, and statecompetitions thatrepresent all aspects ofschool life includingacademics, the arts, andathletics.Though always proudto discuss oursuccesses; the faculty,parents and students ofBanks Trail MiddleSchool realize thatexcellence is the visionand not the destination.Working together, wecontinue to identify andset goals that must beattained in order tocontinue providing thebest possibleeducational community.

Banks Trail Middle SchoolTeamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, LeadershipReport to Parents 2022-2023Dear Parents,Our focus at Banks Trail Middle School is to provide all students with the highest qualityinstruction and to develop the skills and career characteristics needed to be successful in the21st Century. Our school’s reputation of excellence and the Timberwolf traditions havebeen a part of the Fort Mill community for over ten years. Our goal is to raise the academicachievement of all of our students through inquiry-based learning, literacy strategies thatspan across content areas, and in connecting curriculum to real-world applications.We continue to implement new instructional strategies to impact each student’s individuallearning styles and needs. Banks Trail teachers participate in professional learningopportunities throughout the school year. These sessions are developed based on studenttest data, observational data, student needs, and the goals of our school. We continue toinclude research-based instructional practices, parent communication, data analysis, andtechnology integration. Through funding provided by our district, we will continue to offerone-to-one technology for our students and fully integrate technology into our curriculumand instructional programming.Banks Trail Middle School strives for excellence in the arts, athletics, and academics. Weoffer students the opportunity to take band, art, chorus, and drama. We offer Gateway toTechnology courses and computer science classes that help prepare students for possibleSTEAM based majors and career paths. Athletic opportunities at the middle school levelinclude football, volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, soccer, track and field, and baseball.Additional athletic options for 7th and 8th grade students are offered through our local highschools. We take great pride in delivering world class instruction through high qualityteaching, a wealth of academic resources, and the positive student and teacher connectionsthat the Fort Mill School District is known for.Banks Trail follows a model of high expectations and continuous improvement as we striveto be on the cutting edge of student engagement and achievement. We make every effort toprovide an educational environment in which all students have the opportunity to inspire,motivate, and live the “TRAIL” (Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity andLeadership) during the middle school years and beyond. We strive for our students to beglobally prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century and for them to be caring peoplewho help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding,cooperation, and respect.Marc PyrcPrincipalBanks Trail Middle School

Tabatha Astacio-ArceBTMS Teacher of the Year 2022-23“I am honored to be recognized as the 2022-23 Teacher of the Year for Banks Trail Middle School. I have beenteaching for 17 years and have taught in several different districts but I have never felt as much at home as I doat Banks Trail. I am so fortunate to work at a school that embraces the love of reading as much as I do. Thislove is felt throughout the staff and administration and trickles down to students. A school that creates readers is a school that createsstrong leaders.”Jennifer BrindisiPTO President“Why did I want to become PTO president for Banks Trail?Selfishly, I wanted to be more in the know about what was going on in middle school but it’s evolved into muchmore. Yes, I get to know what’s taking place but I’ve also been given a wonderful opportunity to find out firsthandthe administration’s goals for our staff and students. I’ve been able to help plan events to support these goals and gaina better appreciation for all that goes on behind the scenes in our school. I’ve gotten to know many of the staff members personally andhave enjoyed cultivating that feeling of community. I’ve met other parents and families I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to meet. I lookforward to continuing these relationships in the future as well as helping to make Banks Trail the best we can be.”Joshua DotyBTMS SIC Co-Chair“I’m honored to participate in the School Improvement Council with other parents, school staff and communitymembers. For me, it is an opportunity to help preserve the high quality of education which attracts so many to FortMill and to advocate for high academic standards to which each student should aspire.”Carrie SeekingsBTMS SIC Co-Chair“I am proud to have 3 BTMS graduates and 2 more in 6th and 7th grade. Being on the PTO and SIC, I have seenfirsthand how passionate and dedicated our administration, teachers and staff are about BTMS! It has been mydistinct pleasure to serve as the Co-Chairperson of the School Improvement Council. I look forward to seeingwhat next year will bring!”

AcademicHo Special Education Classes (Resource and Inclusion) Six-period daily schedulem Related Arts Electivese o Gateway to Technology (ITE) courses in: Intro to EngineeringS Design & Modelingc Automation & Roboticsh o Physical EducationTechnologyo oo ComputerFamily and Consumer Scienceo o Spanishl o Arto Theater ArtsC o Musico Media Center with 10,000 volumes, one full-timen certified librarianneEnrichmentcJunior Beta Club Yearbook StafftCharacter Education Program Class field tripsio 7th: Camp CanaanCultural & Performing Artso 8th: Camp Canaano Bandoo Drama/ Dance Club Timen Spirit WeeksA and A/B Honor Roll ProgramDigital Citizenship ProgramAcademic Challenge TeamsBattle of the BooksService LearningStudent Council Gifted and Talented Classesin ELA and Math Daily FLEX time High School Credit Courseso English 1 Honorso Algebra1 Honors Availability of Virtual Academy Timberwolf Time – Math andELA intervention twice a week Extra Help – Before school,during lunch, and after school Tutoring – Twice a WeekAfter School Small Group LiteracyInstruction as needed Career Developmento 6th: Virtual Career Dayo 7th: Career Fairo 8th: Job Shadow DayAthletics Middle School SportsooooooooFootballVolleyballCheerleadingDance TeamBasketball Boys and GirlsSoccer Boys and GirlsBaseballTrack Boys and Girls High School SportsooooooCross Country Boys and GirlsGolf Boys and GirlsSwimming Boys and GirlsSoftballWrestlingTennisHome School Connection Active School ImprovementCouncilAwesome PTORising 5th graders Tour andOrientationRising 9th Grade HS ToursBack-to-School OrientationFine Arts Performanceso Band & Chorus Faculty WebsitesWeekly Class NewslettersCommunity Service projects and eventsStaff LuncheonsStaff AppreciationCommunity Spirit NightsVolunteer Opportunities