Beechwood Middle School is committed to empowering each child to design the future with a specific focus on developing the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, regardless of instructional setting (hybrid, face-to-face or virtual). BMS completed our second year with many achievements and much to celebrate thanks to our staff, students, parents and community.

An International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program candidate school, BMS focuses on computer science essentials. We provide our students with a rigorous, balanced, global and inquiry-based course of study grounded in the S.C. State Academic Standards and IB objectives. Through the IB’s Approaches to Learning skills and Learner Profile traits and an experiential curriculum that includes exploratory course offerings in the areas of world language, design, arts and physical education, BMS cultivates the real-world connection of skills to guarantee continuous relevant learning. Teachers in all subject areas design instructional units and experiences that allow students to create, innovate, think critically, problem-solve, work collaboratively, integrate information media with communication skills and technology, and assess their development as learners and citizens of the world. As a result, through performance-based assessment and application of essential skills, students demonstrate that they are well on their way to being ready for the next level, college and careers.

This non-traditional year, BMS and our students were recognized for:

• Cognia Global Commission Certificate of Accreditation
• South Carolina Unified Champion School Recognition
• National Beta Club School of Distinction Award and Merit Status
• 15 S.C. Junior Scholars
• 138 students initiated into BMS and National Junior Beta Club
• One state-level and six school-level South Carolina Academy of Science Middle/Elementary School Award recipients

As a service-oriented center of learning, BMS builds strong family and community partnerships. Students are empowered to research significant local and global issues and take action, resulting in young people who are creative and reflective citizens. This year, students continued the tradition of service established in our first year through the following projects:

• Socktober Sock Drive, ATL Canned Food Drive, Coats for Kids: Mission Lexington
• Linen Drive: PETSinc.
• School Supply Drive: students in need in Costa Rica
• Top Middle School and Overall Partner Donor: Cancer of Many Colors, Linking Lexington District One
• Student Council CandyGrams: American Heart Association
• Student Council Bengal Hat Day: Junior Diabetes Association
• Arts & Crafts Supply Drive: Prisma Health Children’s Hospital
• Miss Beechwood Pageant: Toby’s Place, Oliver Gospel Mission
• BMS Jr. Beta Club Pet Supply Drive: Lexington County Animal Shelter
• Project Citizen Research Program: reduce plastic bag waste from school cafeterias
• Patient Care Package Supply Drive: Brodie Derrick Memorial Children’s Hospital
• #WarriorSavannah wrist bands

A schoolwide COVID-19 Time Capsule project empowered students to use their experiences with COVID to help others, focusing on the strength of uniting our purpose to be “BMS Strong.” Students worked together in their advocacy classes to create artifacts that represented their experiences, reinforcing the idea of strength in communities and our dependence on each other, with a dedicated webpage that showcased individual projects.

Our PTO recognized the challenges in teaching and learning that our teachers and students faced in pivoting learning environments, and renewed their commitment to improve the education and educational environment for ALL of our students. They invested in the purchase of Pear Deck Slides, which allowed all of our teachers to engage every student in face-to-face, virtual and hybrid learning models, and funded ten teacher grants.

The BMS SIC developed a goal in collaboration with school administration and counseling to increase student safety by committing that students, through a variety of platforms, would engage with lessons and information targeted to grow their ability to navigate the virtual environment safely and confidently by the summer of 2021. To facilitate this goal, the SIC formed the Student Online Safety (S.O.S. — throwing students a lifeline in an online world) committee, targeting student internet awareness, safety and confidence, and setting the stage to expand the focus to parent internet awareness, involvement and confidence for the upcoming school year. Focusing on fostering empathy in our students, SIC members engaged in a book study of Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Michelle Borba.

BMS believes that relationships are at the core of student success and that students need a teacher advocate to support them on their learning path. Through these relationships and dedicated time focused on advocacy and social-emotional learning, students reflect on and develop integrity, self-direction, resilience, perseverance, work ethic, interpersonal skills, global perspective, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate and collaborate toward a common goal. Students benefited from this work at BMS by achieving in all areas, including athletics and arts:

• Volleyball: Lex 10 Conference Champions
• Basketball: Lex 10 Middle School Conference Girls North Division Champions; Lex 10 Middle School Conference Girls Champions
• Dance Team: 2nd Place Middle School Lyrical Category Wildcat Classic Dance Competition; 2nd Place Middle School Jazz Category South Carolina Dance Association Dance Team Championship
• South Carolina Band Directors Association All-State Band (two students selected) and All-Region Band (six students selected)
• South Carolina Music Educators Association Virtual Fall Orchestra Solo and Ensemble Festival: 41 participants, 20 Excellent Ratings and 12 Superior Ratings
• South Carolina Music Educators Association Virtual Spring Solo and Ensemble Festival: 55 participants
• South Carolina Music Educators Association Region Orchestra: two students selected and eligible to audition for All-State Orchestra
• BMS Robotics Teams: 8th, 9th and 10th place at the Clemson University VIQC Skills Challenge Competition

We stayed connected and provided engaging experiences. At the end of the year, we enjoyed physically distanced in-person concert performances with our performing arts classes. Our Bengal Broadcasting crew delivered a daily news show that set the tone for caring for ourselves, each other and our families by reinforcing inspirational moments during our year, and our safety protocols. We did culture-building activities such as spirit weeks sponsored by Student Council, Dogs at the BEECH drive-through in our car lines, and Pumpkins at the BEECH digital contest. We held a virtual Veterans Day ceremony to honor family members who served or currently serve our country in the armed forces. We celebrated our eighth grade Bengals through an Awards and Completion Ceremony held in person for students and livestreamed for parents and families. We celebrated our eighth grade Bengals through a Completion Ceremony and Drive-Through Event. Sixth and seventh graders were recognized for their academic achievements through their advocacy classes.

BMS continues to foster a culture of excellence and growth for ALL students. Through the expertise and dedication of our faculty and staff, support of our parents and the community, and perseverance and resilience of our students, our students pursue their gifts in academics, arts, athletics and other unique abilities while at the same time developing as well-rounded young people who can impact their world in a way that embodies the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate. 

Gloria Jenkinson, Principal

Rosalind Thompson, SIC Chair