Story by Jen Jordan / May 10, 2023
Our alumni are such incredible humans with varied accomplishments, passions, and limitless potential to change the world. We have a future oceanographer, graphic designers, veterinarians, forensic scientists, an oncologist, screenwriters, many entrepreneurs, and more. During our third annual network-wide Alumni Weekend event in April, we celebrated, reconnected, and shared internships, programs, and community networks with our alums and our graduating classes!
We want to remove barriers and provide opportunities, so that these current and future leaders can fully and freely pursue their dreams. This Alumni Weekend was all about opportunities and “March Madness.” During our Community Expo, alumni were connected to select opportunities we vetted and chose specifically with them in mind. These opportunities are offered in partnership with community organizations like Green Heart, Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholarship, Grip Tape, Teen SHARP and more!
Most notably we highlighted our first ever Alum of the Year and Alumni Families of the Year. This will be a special honor bestowed yearly across the Meeting Street Schools Network. Our Alumna of the year is Ms. Sanaa Belcher, current 8th grader at Charleston County School of the Arts, majoring in dance. Sanaa is the epitome of doing the most and always reaching for her dreams! She has come to every single Teen SHARP workshop, she has stayed connected with her mentor, she works hard in school and takes every ounce of feedback possible, she follows up and goes the extra mile, she is kind, she is loyal, she is amazing. We want her to know that she has so many people in her corner who love and support her and cannot wait for her to represent the Meeting Street School Alumni community for the next year.
This first year of our Alumni Family of the Year awards, we would be remiss if we did not honor some founding and forever grandmothers who have been with Meeting Street every year since their grandbabies started. Many of them have grandchildren who have graduated and left Meeting Street Academy and come back daily to work and support the mission. They are a testament to One Team, One Family as all students know that they are loved and valued by them. A resounding congratulations goes to Ms. Darlene, Ms. Lynn, Ms. LaSheia, and Ms. Antionette. From the bottom of our hearts we are endlessly grateful.
We also held our second annual Alumni Basketball Tournament, this time coached and reffed by the College of Charleston’s Men’s basketball team. Our alumni teams were beautifully mixed with Meeting Street alums ranging from 7th-college freshman from all three Charleston campuses, current graduating Meeting Street students, current and alum parents and family members, former and current staff members, AND a few of College of Charleston’s basketball players. Not to mention our amazing families and community members who filled the stands. We had two close and super fun games and a nail biting final game which ended 45-44! Congratulations to our first tournament champs!
Want to listen to the full recap? Follow “The Alumni Pop By” Podcast and check out Episode 8: Where We Review Alumni Weekend, now on all listening platforms!
Join a community of incredible, passionate people working to change the lives of our students. Our compensation and benefits are a cut above the rest: the most competitive total compensation in the region.
Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
MSA Spartanburg stands as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. MSA Spartanburg is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
MS Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this school is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, MS Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. MS Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the MSS network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, MS Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at MS Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. MS Burns exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, MS Burns is forging a new path in public education.
MS Jasper represents the Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, MS Jasper puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the MSS ethos of empowerment through education.
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
Meeting Street Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships or loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
© 2024 Meeting Street Schools. All rights reserved.
