Chesnee Middle School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing educational experiences rich in the four C’s: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Blended learning increases personalization and differentiation to better meet the needs of a diverse population of students. Opportunities offered in Project Lead the Way courses expose learners to technology, robotics, the engineering design process, and the medical field, allowing students to apply learning to tangible experiences. Student centered classrooms engage learners in research, rich discussion, rigorous thinking, and projects requiring all of the four C’s. Students participated in a 5k walk as part of a culminating fundraiser to build a clean water well in Sudan, Africa. We raised over $2800! Students at each grade level engage in projects to expand and apply the knowledge acquired in all subject areas. 6th grade ELA and science classes investigated the impact of friction on the amount of force it takes to move objects. Students completed multiple trials and then wrote their claims supporting them with evidence and explaining their reasoning. 7th grade geography classes created their own biome boxes. 8th Graders explored force and motion in action at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Collaboration, creativity, and communication are put to work every day! Personalized learning menus offer opportunities to demonstrate learning in alternative ways such as creating music videos and documentaries, developing presentations in multiple platforms, crafting mind-maps and artistic representations, and completing experiments to further explore concepts. Through AVID, students develop organizational, study, and soft skills and explore college and career options that exist for the future. Learning extends beyond the school walls through a range of community service projects: Characters Alive, Clemson Carolina Food Drive, and Pennies for Patients. Students showcase their talents through extracurricular opportunities that meet a range of interests including sports, fine arts, reading and writing contests, spelling bee, and book club. In the 2022-2023 school year, eight students were recognized as Junior Scholars and one student was accepted in the Spartanburg County Early College High School Program. Teachers and staff model lifelong learning and growth mindset through graduate courses, training in best practices and current trends, and Teaching and Learning Teams. Data from standardized tests, classroom assessments and common formative assessments is analyzed to assess students’ progress and differentiate instruction. Instructional coaches and lead teachers model lessons, support differentiation, and facilitate professional development. Chesnee Middle School strives to continuously improve and expand opportunities in order that all students are prepared for success in a challenging global society.
Laura W. Wyatt, Principal
Wes Boyd, School Improvement Council Chair
