Bill Text: SC S0733 | 2015-2016 | 121st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Laing Middle School of Science and Technology
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-04 - Introduced and adopted [S0733 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2015-S0733-Introduced.html
A SENATE RESOLUTION
TO CONGRATULATE LAING MIDDLE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR BEING SELECTED AS A FINALIST FOR THE FLORIDA EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER STEM EXCELLENCE AWARDS.
Whereas, Laing Middle School of Science and Technology was selected as a finalist for the Florida Educational Technology Conference STEM Excellence Awards. The school was one of ten finalists chosen from over a hundred applicants; and
Whereas, the FETC STEM Excellence Awards were created to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of STEM education at the primary, middle and high school levels. The awards are evaluated based on the use of interdisciplinary curriculum, collaboration, design, problem solving, and the STEM experiences offered by each school; and
Whereas, Laing Middle School's history began with Cornelia Hancock in 1839. Ms. Hancock, an abolitionist, was raised in a Quaker home in New Jersey. After the war ended, she moved south and opened the Freedman School to educate young African American children. Within a year, the Freedman School had grown to two hundred students; and
Whereas, tragically, the school's building was destroyed by the Charleston Earthquake in 1886. Over the next forty years, the school was rebuilt and expanded to become Laing Industrial School where students received seven years of academic preparation. During the next several years, grade levels, curriculum, and student population increased. In the early 1970s, Laing was the eighth grade campus for Wando High School, and in 1974, the school began full operation as a middle school. In 2009, Laing began its transition to become Laing Middle School of Science and Technology; and
Whereas, Laing continues to progress with its science and technology curriculum emphasis, and in 2012, staff began working to become a fully integrated STEM school. Students are exposed to courses such as pre-engineering, robotics, video production, meteorology, forensics and marine science; and
Whereas, Laing is one of three middle schools in Mt. Pleasant and is the only partial-magnet middle school in the area. It is the only school in the area to have a whole school STEM initiative. Laing has received an excellent rating on the South Carolina Department of Education's Report Card for the past four years; and
Whereas, the home to approximately six hundred students, Laing's mission is to prepare and inspire generations of students to meet the challenges of our 21st century society by fostering technological literacy, academic achievement, innovation, collaboration, and creative problem-solving; and
Whereas, the members of the Senate are proud to congratulate Laing Middle School of Science and Technology on this extraordinary honor of being named a finalist in the FETC STEM Excellence Awards, and look forward to hearing of continued accomplishments. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Laing Middle School of Science and Technology on being selected as a finalist for the Florida Educational Technology Conference STEM Excellence Awards.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Deborah G. Price, Principal, Laing Middle School of Science and Technology.
