Letter from our Principal
Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members,
Welcome to Southwood Academy of the Arts - A Creative and Performing Arts Middle School and Fine Arts Campus for High School. Southwood Academy opened in the fall of 2011 as a pure magnet school for Anderson School District 5 by emphasizing advanced academics while using the arts as a vehicle for achieving academic excellence.
Our core curriculum instructors have been carefully selected for their dedication to students and their passion for teaching and learning. They each bring with them their own special talents and interests including dance, drama, art, and musical abilities. Classroom instruction will be based on state and national standards, but will be enhanced with learning opportunities infusing the arts based on specialized artistic training offered through the Peace Center, The Kennedy Center, and other areas of development opportunities. In addition, students will be able to receive specialized training in art, drama, music composition, band, strings, chorus, and dance from highly qualified and certified professionals.
By creating a nurturing artistic middle school experience, the district will be fulfilling a need for many children who will thrive in this unique environment. The faculty and staff will focus on building a strong sense of community and positive self-worth. Students’ strengths and accomplishments will be celebrated on a daily basis through school-wide morning meetings. Performances and exhibitions will be scheduled throughout the year to spotlight the students' talents.
President John F. Kennedy once stated:
"I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his/her vision wherever it takes him/her."
It is our goal at Southwood Academy of the Arts to help each student reach his or her fullest potential by using the creative and performing arts as a foundation for learning, creating, and living a productive life. I look forward to working with each of you in continuing to establish a school with high academic rigor and creative artistic endeavors in our community.
James A. Smith
Principal