Midway Elementary School is helping all students to develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by fostering a safe and nurturing environment for the development of each student through best practices and high expectations. We continued to embrace collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication (the 4 C’s). Social and Emotional Learning, physical activities and Power Skills, however, rose to the forefront due to the physical, social and emotional needs generated by the pandemic. MES also continued the development of inquiry-based learning and the workshop model as we redesigned learning that practiced the necessary safety protocols due to COVID-19.

New professional learning through the Center of Excellence for Research on inquiry-based learning was delayed until the end of the school year as teachers and staff strategically worked to first meet the social and emotional needs of students. The prior inquiry-based learning was extremely meaningful as it facilitated the focus on relevant and real-life application. The pandemic certainly provided learning opportunities in which our teachers were able to empower students to problem-solve current situations, i.e., area of a room or linear distance for number of allowed occupants. Students were able to engage and problem-solve in learning that applied to their current situations. This learning was only feasible after meeting the social and emotional needs of students.

The shift to focus on social and emotional learning provided greater depth and meaning to our Crew and Morning meetings. Teachers strategically provided times throughout the day to check on the well-being of the students. Situations were used to grow empathy, caring and self-awareness. Surveys were administered to gather an understanding of our students and staff’s social and emotional needs. Our school counselors supported teachers in developing lessons targeting these needs. They also provided individual and small-group support sessions, as well as whole-group instruction focused on identified social and emotional needs.

In using the survey data from the staff, a special committee, Sunshine and Horseshoes Committee, worked with our gracious PTO and the school administrators in providing morale boosters for our staff. Games and treats, such as the Mustang Family Feud, treat carts and more, were devised to increase interaction for staff while also meeting safety protocols.

As physical movement impacts emotional health, the need for physical movement truly increased during this time. Additional movement along with mask breaks was given by adding a second recess to our schedule for each class. Movement was extended into the classroom through the use of our student-led Tabata, programs such as GoNoodle.com and instructional strategies. Music became a time to move your body as we practiced safety and yet continued to grow our music knowledge!

This school year has brought many challenges, but has also brought celebrations! Our MES family including our students, staff and parents, pulled together in supporting each other. The administration and counselors greeted students each morning as they entered the building. With the requirement of masks, the coined greeting “Show me your sm’eyes!” for checking on student emotional well-being became our slogan as we looked for smiling eyes and those eyes that communicated the need for support. We have provided free breakfasts and lunches for all students. Our participation in our meal programs doubled as we met the needs of our families. We continue this service, as MES is the summer food distribution site for this area of our district.

With great gratitude, it is noted that our teachers gave of their hearts and endless hours as they sought to learn the digital world and devices while on the job. Teachers sought to teach virtually and then face-to-face while continuing to teach virtually during hybrid instruction. Once students were back for 5-day-a-week instruction, the demand for virtual instruction continued as students were quarantined; or teachers were quarantined and found themselves teaching from home. Their perseverance and selflessness were heroic efforts.

This gratitude is also extended to our parents and guardians as virtual teaching and hybrid schedules required adaptability and perseverance. Parents and students learned new digital platforms and new expectations for the virtual world. The learning curve was steep for many and yet the year was successfully completed. Thank you to each of our MES families, as this is a school year that required the “village” to bring success!

MES continues to bring a variety of opportunities for students regardless of the pandemic. We are a Partial French Immersion school for 5K–fifth grades and proudly accredited as a LabelFrancÉducation School by the French government. We provide Spanish instruction to our 5K–fifth grade students who are not in the immersion program. All students receive STEM-focused instruction in a coding class.

As our hashtag (#mesHEART) developed during the prior year, we continued this and also embraced the district’s hash tag (#StrongerTogether) as truly the past year-and-a-half have required heart and hanging together! Together, we are “making a difference for every child” during difficult and good times.

Jan Fickling, Principal

Amy Cathey, SIC Chair