Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School is preparing all students to develop world-class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through our efforts as the Center for Innovation, Design, Engineering and the Arts. We maintain the foundational concepts of STEAM to help students learn and grow. When you combine the STEAM approach to learning with the exemplars of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, Fisher Middle School becomes an institution that truly blends the foundational tenets of high achieving middle schools with an innovative approach to 21st Century learning. The school's building design, which won the International MacConnell Award for building excellence, facilitates our unique curriculum and schedule.
Our students receive a rigorous, well-rounded education through inquiry and project-based learning models. Further, Fisher Middle School focuses on a whole-child approach to learning that balances academics, physical, mental, behavioral, and social-emotional learning. Our school culture is one of inclusion, enjoyment of learning, teamwork, and exploration, where all children are encouraged to succeed. We are committed in our efforts to create learning experiences for students that go beyond the walls of a traditional school.
At its inception, our school offered traditional core courses with an alternating block four-by-four schedule. However, Fisher Middle School has transitioned to a seven-period schedule during which our students will meet with their teachers in daily FLEX Time sessions, in addition to receiving instruction in the core content areas and Related Arts. Our students are taught through an interdisciplinary team approach and also through the project-based learning model. As a result, students learn the academic content; practice 21st Century skills such as collaboration, communication, and critical thinking; and, create high quality, authentic products and presentations.
We are a personalized learning middle school that integrates technology by assigning a device for each students' use during the school year. Students use these devices in all areas including core content digital textbooks, media center books, class assignments, projects, and homework.
Our School Improvement Council (SIC), founded at the beginning of the 2014-15 inaugural year, is a representative group of parents, teachers, administrators, and business/community members. The objectives of this effective collaborative group are to establish, monitor, and evaluate goals designed for on-going school improvement. This group has developed programs such as our Birdwatchers program, which is a parent volunteer program. They have established our WIN (What I Need) Closet to meet the basic needs of students in terms of school clothing and primary care items, and they offer each Thanksgiving a Family Photo Night and free Chili Supper for our learning community. Our Parent, Teacher, and Student Association (PTSA) has also had a tremendous positive impact on our school culture. It is a visible support system for our faculty, staff, and student body. Between school dances, grant opportunities, Fun Runs, family movie nights, Trunk-or-Treat and so much more, our school benefits from the relentless commitment of our families from communities throughout our county. We are able to continue to build upon our strengths and support our entire learning community with intensified efforts to develop our school and family bonds, our professional learning communities, and our instruction to meet the needs of 21st Century public education.
Fisher Middle School is proud of the working relationship with our business and community partners. Our partnerships facilitate real-world experiences, promote awareness of current workforce and career opportunities, and prepare our students for high school and post-secondary choices. Fisher Middle School is committed to contributing to the larger success of the Upstate by reciprocating our strengths and resources to our partners.
As a leader in educational innovation, project-based learning, and STEAM initiatives, Fisher has been recognized as a Palmetto Arts Education STEAM School of Excellence. This year we have also been named a Project Lead the Way Demonstration Gateway School. We built on the success of our previous years efforts and during the 2021-22 school were designated as a Horizon Schools to Watch school by the South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education and the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. We are proud to boast our first Schools to Watch Re-Designation for the 2024-25 school after three years of school improvement efforts. We remain committed to the vision of Dr. Fisher and remain steadfast in ensuring our teachers receive the necessary training for successful school-wide PBL implementation and technology enhancements. Fisher Middle School was additionally represented on the world stage at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, TX, sending four teams to this year's competition. Our teams finished ranked in the top ten in the state of South Carolina. Fisher Middle School’s music program continues to receive high levels of recognition with each group garnering Superior ratings in their various competitions. Our Strings and Band programs also garnered Superior and Excellent Ratings and performed at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, while our Honors Chorus found itself performing this spring at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City. Fisher Middle School is proud to be home to the number one clarinet player in the state as well. Our Drama team received a Superior rating this year for its county-wide competitive performance and put on an amazing performance of Annie, Jr. at the spring musical. Our Volleyball team captured its second region title and first ever district title while our boys basketball team made it's fourth consecutive appearance in the district championship game winning the championship for the 3rd time in four year to punctuate an undefeated season. Not to be outdone, our girls basketball team also claimed its second district championship. Our boys soccer team qualified for the playoffs in the spring.
We, at Fisher, believe that to help all students develop the world-class skills required of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, we must always seek to know our "why". As we engage the planet into our learning community, we recognize that pushing forward with a mindset of innovation, design, engineering and the arts and combine that with teamwork, exploration, application, and a mindset of growth our students are ready to take on whatever the future holds.
