York Middle School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate with a focus on world class knowledge, world class skills, and life and career characteristics. We are continuously seeking ways to improve and expand our instructional programs. Teachers utilize units of instruction which are developed through department and team collaborations to integrate the content areas, deliver quality instruction, and determine understanding through the evaluation of common assessment data. The curriculum and instruction focus for 2021-2022 school year was on curriculum mapping, vertical alignment and the development of common assessments.

York Middle School is a 1:1 school where all students have a Chromebook to use for instructional purposes. Teachers integrate these devices into all realms of instruction, including during elective classes. In modern classrooms, technology has become an invaluable instrument for students. It supports the learning process by engaging students in interactive lessons that delve deep into content and require problem-solving skills. Departments and teams of teachers utilize the 1:1 technology as a means to begin the process of creating mastery paths to learning where there is some individualization in learning and differentiation in the final product that represents learning. York Middle School is beginning the focus on Student Centered Learning where technology plays a role in individualized learning paths. 

York Middle School continuously evaluates school based instructional programs. Teachers creatively seek out ways to integrate enrichment and remediation periods for all learners, this can be seen through altered team based schedules to offer these additional instructional learning times for all students. In addition, the literacy support program, Read 180, was utilzied for targeted instructional support for 8th grade ELA students. 

Through the creation of ROAR (Respect, Organization, Attitude, Responsibility) and the electronic monitoring system for our PBIS programming, there has been a significant increase in participation in the program by staff and students. Thousands of points are awarded for students caught “ROARing” in the halls, classroom, during remote learning, and all other aspects of the middle school environment. Students exchange those points each nine weeks for prizes. Through numerous community partnerships, we are able to offer highly motivating incentives for all middle level learners.  There is a direct correlation between the integration of this program to the reduction of student behaviors throughout the school. In addition, we were able to hold a large PBIS ROAR celebration at the end of the school year for students who met behavior goals for the fourth nine weeks of instruction. 

With the implementation of a new Social Emotional Learning survey for all students, the Guidance Team was able to develop targeted lessons to meet the specific needs of classes and grade levels. Students were able to participate in a Guidance and a Careers course to further develop their understanding of career options as well as college and career opportunities after school. Lunch and Learns were held with students with people from various professions which helped to further expand students’ knowledge of college and career choices after high school. York Middle School hosted a career conference in May in which all students participated. They learned about the process for applying for jobs, interviewing, as well as heard from guest speakers in a multitude of careers paths. 

Cassidy Valerino

Principal

York Middle School