Orangeburg Preparatory Schools

All areas of the school are going well, and each division is working diligently to operate as a cohesive unit. The OPS faculty is settling in and is academically challenging our students at both the Upper Campus and Lower Campus. This rigor is reflected from the Honors Chemistry students utilizing the chemistry lab with their experiment seeking the percentage of water in copper sulfate - hydrate through heat weight loss; first-grade art students are being introduced to Optical Art; and recent implementation of Shurley English curriculum in the Lower Campus English classes. As we continue to review all parts of our facets of OPS, it is vital that we are constantly communicating and receiving feedback from all constituencies. I cannot thank you enough for your prompt attention and honesty that you gave the OPS Administration on the spring 2019 Parent Surveys. We are striving to boost academic excellence. Our main objective is to prepare OPS students for collegiate and workforce success. Some of the information that we gained from the surveys reflects that students are being prepared in education; however, there are areas warranting concern. The areas of concern are the following: communication (administrative & faculty), safety, student well-being/ discipline, faculty placement, and course offerings. Upon receiving this data, the OPS Administration has begun charting a plan of action. First, we added highly- qualified individuals for key positions for the 2019-2020 schoolyear. Next, all curricula and extra-curricular offerings were reviewed for areas of improvement. At Lower Campus, in addition to the Shurley English programs for the lower classes, we have rearranged the third through fifth grade faculty to place teachers in their most productive subject areas. Middle school students will experience an emphasis placed on the writing curriculum. Additional extra-curricular classes were introduced at Upper Campus including robotics, forensics, and drama. High schooler students will enjoy the introduction for dual credit classes for grades ten through twelve with Troy University. Additionally, we have improved safety measures for both campuses. With the key fob system already in place at the Lower Campus, the next phase of security was to review and address the Upper Campus. All Upper Campus building doors are now locked at all times. The process, while not flawless, is going very well. Both students and faculty have learned the school's schedule and are executing protocols before school, between classes, nd all other school times. Additionally, the OPS faculty has received updated intruder training for the 2019 - 2020 school year, and the first intruder drills were conducted on August 29th and October 8th. Individuals from the Orangeburg County Sheriff's office were on hand to supervise the drills and to offer suggestive feedback upon their conclusion. Please know this training and the practicing of drills will be ongoing to assess areas for improvement. In conjunction with keeping everyone safe, the well-being of each individual at OPS is vital. It is our hope that each student has a beneficial and nurturing experience while attending OPS. The OPS Administrative Team and faculty are working closely to address any negative interactions and bullying. A second area of student well-being is health awareness. This is not limited to just living a healthy lifestyle, but the addressing of negative effects of outside influences such as vaping. In a proactive approach to educate our students, student assemblies were held on Tuesday, October 1st, to address the side effects and lasting negative consequences of vaping. This too will be an ongoing education process. Lastly, please note that all student discipline will be consistent with the OPS Student Handbook. The resounding key to everyone's success at OPS is through thorough clear, consistent communication. It is imperative that we not only have the support of our school and student families, but that our families know that the students are gaining an education that will help them be successful, both in and outside of the classroom. Communication is important to all faculty, staff, and administration at the highest level. Please know that we appreciate and value your voice and will continue to assess and address each area presented in the surveys. Again, thank you to the entire OPS family for making our school successful, and I look forward to an outstanding 2019 - 2020 school year. In an effort to remain vigilant, the review and assessment of all data will be continual. Please note that a second round of surveys will be administered during the spring 2020 semester. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns. Best,