C.E. Williams Middle School (CEW) North Campus (6th grade) and South Campus (7th and 8th grades) is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing high-quality instruction, academic supports, and socio-emotional learning.
CEW accomplished this by using interdisciplinary and teacher curriculum teams to provide the structures to support learning while being developmentally responsive to middle-level adolescents' needs. Instruction focused on meeting the South Carolina state standards while exposing students to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) and foreign language opportunities through the various core and exploratory classes. Teachers delivered weekly lessons on socio-emotional learning, and school counselors reinforced those lessons through classroom guidance and small groups.
As we have resumed in-person school, emphasis has been placed on providing students and staff with the support needed to overcome the impact of the school closure due to the pandemic. This included providing reading and math support and enrichment using direct instruction, adaptive software, reading and math intervention courses. CEW also offered multiple opportunities for extracurricular activities and opportunities for students to obtain additional academic assistance after school with bus transportation.
Using our PBIS model, we implemented positive reinforcements for student academic performance and behavior. School-wide events, field trips, performing arts concerts, and student socials, including the 8th grade formal dance, were able to resume this year, which further assisted in helping our school community return from the pandemic.
In addition to supporting our students, we conducted parent workshops and provided resources to assist parents and guardians.
At CEW, we aim to be socially equitable, developmentally responsive to our middle-level adolescents and focus on academic achievement. We use data to inform our practices to provide our students with the skills and knowledge needed for high school, college, and careers in a global economy.
Maite Porter, Principal, North Campus
Kevin Smith, Principal, South Campus
Lisa Sessoms, SIC Chair