Charleston County School of the Arts Middle & High School

Breaking News! Tickets are now available for purchase for the 2023 SOA Homecoming event "Jump, Jive, & Wail"!!! The first 150 ticket purchasers get a $10 discount, so take advantage of the early bird special! Click here to purchase:

https://soahsband.sellfy.store/p/2023-jump-jive-and-wail-homecoming-ticket/?fbclid=IwAR2ZrDIhHuUAgpH3XMJv3AfgiLiWlv7Ues6Um5LZxaL9NdodOb5nzzOrAEo

This week brings an Early Release Day this Friday, September 22. (School will dismiss at 1:30 pm, and there will be no after school supervision.) This week also marks the end of the first half of the first quarter. Progress Reports will be sent to parents and guardians via email the week of September 25.

This year's first issue of Applause, our school newspaper, came out this week. Enjoy an e-copy of the paper by clicking this link!http://soa-applause.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/September-2023.pdf

SOA and our school newspaper, Applause, were honored to host nationally acclaimed poet and writer, Naomi Shihab Nye, this morning for a poetry reading and Q&A session with middle and high school 2nd Block English and creative writing classes. She could not have been more engaging or inspiring! Enjoy these pics of the event!

Here is a little more about Shihab Nye's honors and awards:

Naomi Shihab Nye is the recipient of numerous honors and awards for her work, including the Ivan Sandrof Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Book Critics Circle, the Lavan Award, the Paterson Poetry Prize, the Carity Randall Prize, the Isabella Gardner Poetry Award, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry award, the Robert Creeley Prize, and many Pushcart Prizes. She has received fellowships from the Lannan Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and she was a Witter Bynner Fellow. From 2010 to 2015 she served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. In 2018 she was awarded the Lon Ti**le Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Texas Institute of Letters. Nye was the Poetry Foundation's Young People's Poet Laureate from 2019-2022.

(Thank you to Patrick Martin for the photos!)

AMAZING NEWS! US News & World Report recently released their rankings of the best high schools in each state and the country. SOA came in at #2 in South Carolina and #142 nationally! Read all about this impressive ranking here:

How Does Charleston School of the Arts Rank Among America's Best High Schools? See how Charleston School of the Arts in North Charleston, SC ranks among America's best high schools.

The piano department’s first of three Young Artist Concert Series events will be Friday, September 22 from 6 - 7 pm at St. Johannes Lutheran Church downtown (48 Hasell Street.) This event is free and open to the public. Learn more about it at the link below and mark your calendars for the other concerts in this series scheduled for Friday, October 6 and Friday, October 20.
https://www.sjcharleston.org/events/young-artist-concert-series-1-of-3/2023-09-22

Young Artist Concert Series, 2 of 3 Event Details: Young Artist Piano Series Concert Date and Time: Friday, October 6th, 6:00 PM (Concert Start), 7:00 PM (Short Reception on the Portico) Venue: St. Johannes Lutheran Church, 48 Hasell St, Charleston, SC 29401 Musicians: Estee Yu and Jovanny Vilasquez, Piano Cost:...

The piano department’s first of three Young Artist Concert Series events will be Friday, September 22 from 6 - 7 pm at St. Johannes Lutheran Church downtown (48 Hasell Street.) This event is free and open to the public. Learn more about it at the link below and mark your calendars for the other concerts in this series scheduled for Friday, October 6 and Friday, October 20. (See additional links below.)
https://www.sjcharleston.org/events/young-artist-concert-series-1-of-3/2023-09-22

https://www.sjcharleston.org/events/young-artist-concert-series-2-of-3/2023-10-06

https://www.sjcharleston.org/events/young-artist-concert-series-3-of-3/2023-10-20

https://www.sjcharleston.org/events/young-artist-concert-series-1-of-3/2023-09-22

Young Artist Concert Series, 3 of 3 Event Details: Young Artist Piano Series Concert Date and Time: Friday, October 20th, 6:00 PM (Concert Start), 7:00 PM (Short Reception on the Portico) Venue: St. Johannes Lutheran Church, 48 Hasell St, Charleston, SC 29401 Musicians: Miranda Reed and Daniel Stroman, Piano Cost:...

CCSD wants to know your preference for the proposed 2024-2025 Academic Calendars as the options are a departure from past calendars. Click this survey (link below) between now and this Friday, September 15 to vote for your favorite option.

CCSD Schools 2024-25 Academic Calendar Selection Form Escuelas CCSD 2024-25 Calendario Académico, Formulario de Selección Following the academic calendar development process in spring 2023, a group of 56 members of the CCSD community volunteered to serve on a 2024-25 calendar planning committee. All members of the CCSD community were invited to participate on the committee via a district-wide call/email, web posting, a...

Tomorrow is picture day! School pictures will be taken during art major classes. Get ready to smile and shine for your yearbook pic!

(Senior make-up portraits will be Tuesday, October 3.)

This week brings our Open House Nights, and we strongly encourage parents to attend. High School Open House will be TONIGHT - Tuesday, September 5 at 6 pm. Middle School Open House will take place this Thursday, September 7 at 6 pm. (Parents will meet their student’s academic teachers at 6 pm and arts major teachers at 7 pm. Note-dance teachers will only be available Thursday night.) Don’t miss this terrific opportunity to follow your student’s schedule, connect with their instructors, and get an overview of their courses.

SOA picture day is coming! Also, check out the deals and deadlines for the SOA yearbook…

Bring cash during lunch for some Kona Ice this Wednesday!

SOA Band Boosters will be selling Kona Ice during middle and high school lunch on Wednesday, August 30th. Bring your money and enjoy the sweet, icy treat! (See prices and sizes below.) Don't miss this!

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Open Houses!

High School - Tuesday, Sept 5th
Academic Classes 6:00pm
Arts Major Classes 7:00pm

Middle School - Thursday, Sept 7th
Academic Classes 6:00pm
Arts Major Classes 7:00pm

We look forward to meeting parents and guardians!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 at 6:30 PM: Come hear the SOA Bands perform their annual Flip Flop Concert 🎶🎺🩴
The performance will take place in the Rose Maree Myers Theatre at School of the Arts. Admission is FREE.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 at 6:30 PM: Come hear the SOA Bands perform their annual Flip Flop Concert 🎶🎺🩴

The performance will take place in the Rose Maree Myers Theatre at School of the Arts. Admission is FREE.

SOA’s Nutrition Service Manager has notified us of a change in the price of school meals this new academic year. They are as follows:

Breakfast - $1.50
Lunch - $2.75

(Reduced meals are staying the same.)

Thank you!

SOA will audition for HS open seats throughout the summer. For more info: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuGhBlShYuxbuqnZvoLHHAWDN7uiN869yHMKRdxm_2tRoD_A/viewform?edit_requested=true

Are you a rising 6th grade girl at SOA who is interested in playing volleyball? Read on:
Pegasus 6th Grade Girls' Volleyball Opportunity! Stephanie Moore, parent of Leeanna Moore (Vocals '30) has volunteered to coach a 6th Grade Girls' Volleyball team. The cost will be $50 per player. Please fill out the Google Form (link below) if your daughter would be interested. Tryouts will be held soon as we are limited to carrying 12 girls on the team. Practices and games will start in August 2023 and the season lasts through the end of October. If any other parent would be interested in coaching with me, PLEASE let me know!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions,
Stephanie Moore
[email protected]
203-912-2192

Fill out the form here:

Pegasus 6th Grade Girls' Volleyball Hello! My name is Stephanie Moore and my daughter Leeanna (she's third from the left on the back row) will be a Vocals major at SOA next year. Last year we played Rec League Volleyball and loved it. Please fill out the below form if your daughter would be interested in trying out for the 6th Grade V...

The Visual Arts Senior Thesis Show will be Wednesday, May 24 from 5 - 7 pm in the cafeteria. Don't miss this!

Schools and offices will be closed this Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day.

This week brings final exams for students in grades 9 - 11 Please refer to the exam schedule below, and help your scholar-artist arrive at their exam blocks rested, prepared, and on time.

FINAL EXAMS FOR 9TH-11TH GRADERS

Tuesday May 23 , 9th-11th
1A Study 8:30-9:40 (70 min)
1A Exam 9:45-11:35 (110 min)
3A Study 11:40 -12:25 (45 mins)
Lunch 12:25 -1:00
3A Study 1:05- 1:45 (40 mins)
3A Exam 1:45-3:30 (105 min)

Wednesday, May 24, 9th-11th
1B Study 8:30-9:40 (70 min)
1B Exam 9:45-11:35 (110 min)
3B Study 11:40 -12:25 (45 mins)
Lunch 12:25 -1:00
3B Study 1:05- 1:45 (40 mins)
3B Exam 1:45-3:30 (105 min)

Thursday May 25, 9th-11th
2A Study 8:30-9:40 (70 min)
2A Exam 9:45-11:35 (110 min)
4A Study 11:40 -12:25 (45 mins)
Lunch 12:25 -1:00
4A Study 1:05- 1:45 (40 mins)
4A Exam 1:45-3:30 (105 min)

Friday, May 26, 9th-11th
2B Study 8:30-9:40 (70 min)
2B Exam 9:45-11:35 (110 min)
4B Study 11:40 -12:25 (45 mins)
Lunch 12:25 -1:00
4B Study 1:05- 1:45 (40 mins)
4B Exam 1:45-3:30 (105 min)

Tuesday May 30, 9th -11th and Wednesday May 31, 9th -11th MAKE UP EXAMS
Students who are absent or want to take an exam early must work out with their teacher when to take or make up the exam. Students taking exams early must have a valid reason.

Our High School Band Boosters Auction will end on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 5:00pm. There are $26,000 worth of prizes, trips, a guitar, one night stay at Hotel Bennett, and many more items. Click on the link below to make a bid before tomorrow’s deadline.

SOA High School Band Boosters Spring Auction SchoolAuction.net and TofinoAuctions.com are web applications designed to simplify and streamline managing fundraising auctions.

We need your residency verification for the upcoming school year! These documents should be completed and uploaded to the online registration no later than June 30. The school district has already sent this link out to parents and guardians of all our current students. The registration can be completed using your Parent Portal account information. Below is the link to get to the registration portal. If you have trouble logging in, you can email Jennifer Gomez at [email protected] or DaLonzo Gibson at [email protected]. Be sure to have all required documentation uploaded by the end of June.

https://www.ccsdschools.com/2023Registration

TONIGHT! 10th and 11th grade creative writing majors will read from their short stories and personal essays at Kudu coffee house (4 Vanderhorst St.) downtown on Monday, May 15 at 6:30 pm. Don't miss this!

THIS FRIDAY: The SOA Creative Writing program is pleased to announce our annual senior thesis reading, Towards the Other Garden, at 6:30 pm on Friday, May 12 in the Rose Maree Myers Theater. Come hear our fourteen senior writers read their poetry, short stories and nonfiction. There will be refreshments and snacks available following the reading, as well as a book signing. We hope to see you there!

Congratulations to School of the Arts Middle School student artist Isabelle Oldal. Her piece, 'Taped Soldier' (pictured below), won 1st Place for both the Lowcountry Region and the entire state in the South Carolina Art Education Association Middle School Art Contest ✍️🎨🖼️🥇🏆
'Taped Soldier' also won 1st place in the Grade 6-8 division of the North Charleston Arts Fest Youth Art Competition 🥇🏆
Look for a gallery of award winning work by our students from that event soon!

Congratulations to School of the Arts Middle School student artist Isabelle Oldal. Her piece, 'Taped Soldier' (pictured below), won 1st Place for both the Lowcountry Region and the entire state in the South Carolina Art Education Association Middle School Art Contest ✍️🎨🖼️🥇🏆

'Taped Soldier' also won 1st place in the Grade 6-8 division of the North Charleston Arts Fest Youth Art Competition 🥇🏆

Look for a gallery of award winning work by our students from that event soon!

Mark your calendars for the "I Want my MTV: Songs of the Early 80s," featuring 18 classic 80s tunes performed by twenty-five SOA students, six AMHS students, and Dr. Cusatis, with special appearances by Dr. Shannon Cook and Ms. Rhetta Foster. This is a free show in the Rose Maree Myers Theater on Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30 PM.

All SOA library books should be returned by Friday, May 26. Students have received emails with with details of their library accounts. The library does not charge late or overdue fines, but there is a charge for lost books. Questions? See Ms. Jennifer Gomez in the school library.

This week brings more AP testing as well as the middle school SC READY assessments. See below for a complete list of our spring testing dates, and thank you for helping our students rest well, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school before the first bell.

This Friday, May 12 is an Early Release Day with school and all supervision concluding at 1:30 pm.

Today brings the mid-point of the fourth quarter so be on the lookout for Progress Reports which will be emailed to you this week.

SOA sophomore Creative Writing major, Acadia Reynolds, just won 1st Place in the Medical University of South Carolina’s 5th Annual Septima P. Clark Poetry Contest! This annual contest honors acclaimed Charleston native, teacher, and "Grandmother of the Civil Rights Movement" Septima P. Clark for her dedication to service, education, and equality. As a recipient of the 1979 Living Legacy Award from President Jimmy Carter and of South Carolina’s Order of the Palmetto, she was known for developing literacy and citizenship workshops to promote equality. The contest was open stateside with the theme of "Unity in the Community: A World United." Acadia read her poem at the awards ceremony and won a computer!

Enjoy these photo/video highlights of the School of the Arts High School Jazz Band performing at the Charleston Jazz Academy Jazz Family Day last weekend!

Our Piano Dept. had some big wins in April! Here they are:
SCMTA State auditions Honors:
- Tallon Tirozzi 8th- Solo Recitalist Winner Division III
- Yidong Ye 8th- SCMTA State Auditions Soloist First Alternate Division III, Concerto Recitalist Division III; SC Federation of Music Clubs State Scholarship winner.
- Estee Yu 9th-Honorable Mention Division III
- Ben Williams 6th and Hillary Chang 6th -Honorable Mention Division II
- Caleb Banks, First place in State, 2nd place in Regional Talent Hunt for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

Welcome to May - the month of assessments! Click at the link below for a complete list of our spring testing dates. Also, see below for a brief summary of these upcoming assessments, and thank you, in advance, for making every effort to help our test-takers sleep well, eat a healthy breakfast, and get to school on time:

- Our high school’s AP Exams will run from Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 12, and they will be conducted on our campus.

- Our middle school’s SC READY testing will take place during the mornings of Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 10 (for ELA) as well as Monday, May 15 (for Math.)

- 6th grade students (only) will also take a SC PASS test (for Science) on Tuesday, May 16.

- Seniors will take their end-of-year class exams Monday, May 15 through Wednesday, May 17.

- Statewide End of Course exams for select high school classes will run from Tuesday, May 16 through Friday, May 26.

- High school class exams for non-seniors will take place Tuesday, May 23 through Friday, May 26.

https://www.ccsdschools.com/cms/lib/SC50000504/Centricity/Domain/22/Spring%20Testing%20Dates%203.png

Mark your calendars and purchase your tickets for the SOA Dance Departmental Show (featuring dance majors in grades 6 - 12) scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at 3:30 pm in the Rose Maree Myers Theater. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here: https://soadance.ludus.com/index.php

The SOA Creative Writing program is pleased to announce our annual senior thesis reading, Towards the Other Garden, at 6:30 pm on Friday, May 12 in the Rose Maree Myers Theater. Come hear our fourteen senior writers read their poetry, short stories and nonfiction. There will be refreshments and snacks available following the reading, as well as a book signing. We hope to see you there!

Mrs. Suzanne Reed, SOA Middle School Band Teacher, is an institution in the City of Charleston! Enjoy this post by Rob Fowler who helped celebrate Mrs. Reed yesterday - alongside Mayor John Tecklenburg and many, many others - as she prepares for her retirement at the end of this academic year. Mrs. Reed deserves an abundance of praise and accolades for all of the young musicians she has helped mold and inspire!

Mayor John Tecklenburg proclaimed yesterday, April 23rd, 2023 as Suzanne Reed day in the City of Charleston!

It’s Faculty Appreciation Week at SOA! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the celebration of our outstanding teachers through our “cruise destination” themed meals and gifts being shared and given over the next five days. It is a delight to honor the good work of the professionals who spend their days challenging and encouraging our artist scholars to think deeply and create.