At our school, we are committed to supporting every student in cultivating the exceptional skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. We achieve this by creating a secure and supportive atmosphere where we believe that each individual has the potential to become a leader. We empower all students to pursue personalized learning, tailoring their education to their unique needs and interests. Additionally, we actively involve everyone in our school and community, fostering engagement and collaboration. As a community school with a long-standing history of 100 years, we challenge our students and teachers to make a meaningful impact, both during their time with us and for future generations to come.
Life and Character Skills:
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School takes pride in serving a diverse student body consisting of 645 students. This year, we undertook several initiatives aimed at fostering higher levels of academic achievement, reducing disciplinary issues, and increasing engagement among students, teachers, parents, and the community. One of our key initiatives involved placing a strong emphasis on leadership skills and providing social-emotional learning opportunities during our advisory time. As a proud Leader in Me school, we focused on instilling the seven habits of highly effective people in our students. Leavelle McCampbell Middle School has embraced the house system as a means to foster connections among students beyond their usual class and grade boundaries. By doing so, we create a more inclusive and familial atmosphere, where students can forge new friendships and develop a sense of unity. This change of culture not only cultivates a smaller, more personal school environment but also offers ample opportunities for students to connect across different grade levels. Moreover, the house system promotes core character traits and instills a sense of pride, empowering our students to assume leadership roles and contribute to the overall success of our school community.
We are thrilled to announce that our school has been honored with the prestigious Whole Child ASCD Award, recognizing our commitment to providing holistic education and prioritizing the well-being of our students. This esteemed recognition underscores our dedication to nurturing the whole child, ensuring their academic, social, emotional, and physical development. Furthermore, we are proud to share that we have achieved the esteemed status of a Leader in Me Lighthouse School. This distinction is a remarkable accomplishment, as we are the first school within the Aiken County School District to attain this highly regarded designation. Being a Leader in Me Lighthouse School highlights our unwavering dedication to fostering leadership qualities and empowering our students to become responsible, innovative, and impactful individuals. These accomplishments are a testament to the collective efforts of our exceptional educators, dedicated staff, supportive parents, and, most importantly, our incredible students. We will continue to uphold our commitment to excellence, providing an enriching educational environment that cultivates the whole child and prepares them for a successful future. Leavelle McCampbell Middle School has earned the prestigious national School to Watch Award by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform and was recognized at the National Schools to Watch Conference in Washington, DC. This award demonstrated considerable growth and development as a School to Watch in the areas of Academic Excellence, Social Equity, Developmental Responsiveness and Organizational Structures.
We ensured that all our students actively participated in leadership clubs, which involved collaborations with community partners. Nearly 100% of our students engaged in extracurricular leadership opportunities, whether through participation in Beta Club, Student Council, Builders Club, Chorus, Band, Future Cities, Math Counts, Academic Team, Future Cities, Rock Press, Student Lighthouse Team, WEB leaders or athletics. These clubs and organizations placed a strong emphasis on service, both within our school and the wider community. Throughout the year, our students undertook various projects, including creating positive notes for teachers and students, organizing a food drive for ACTS, planning a Trunk-or-Treat for the school community, beautifying the school premises, and more. Our aim is to foster a robust work ethic in our students and develop their interpersonal skills, which are essential for success in life.
Moving forward into the 2023-2024 academic year, we remain committed to empowering our students through personalized learning, collective leadership, and the principles of the Leader in Me program. We have successfully implemented positive behavior supports to address specific behaviors, yielding impressive results in reducing disciplinary incidents. To reward our students, we organized enjoyable activities such as Kona Ice treats, gaming truck participation, food truck visits, choice days, and concessions, among others.
World-Class Knowledge and Skills:
To foster a world-class education for our students, the dedicated teachers at Leavelle McCampbell engage in weekly collaborative sessions. During these sessions, they design challenging lessons that promote student growth, analyze student data to track progress, and exchange effective teaching methodologies. While our focus remains on academic excellence within the classroom, we also believe in providing our students with opportunities beyond traditional coursework.
At Leavelle McCampbell, we ensure that all students have access to advanced and accelerated courses. Our seventh and eighth grade students are even offered the opportunity to earn high school credit in subjects such as Honors Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, Honors English 1, and Fundamentals of Computing.
We are grateful to have the support of our invested community at Leavelle McCampbell. Our dedicated parent groups and community partners, including local faith-based organizations, The Gifting Tree, Bridgestone, Kiwanis Club of Aiken, Leavelle McCampbell School Alumni Association, Sage Valley, Quality Print, and local media outlets, play a crucial role in our school's success. Our active PTO organizes engaging events for families and the community, such as Mistletoe Market, LMMS Pageant, concessions at sporting events, and Chick-fil-A breakfast sales. We also prioritize stakeholder events like Fruits for Families, Pastors and Pastries, and the 3E (Enrollment, Enlistment, and Employment) committee to foster relationships and inclusivity.
Maintaining a valuable partnership with the University of South Carolina at Aiken, we engage with college education majors who serve as mentors, practicum students, and interns. Additionally, we offer a free after-school LEADS (Learn, Empower, Achieve, Develop, Serve) program to further enrich our students' experiences. Certified teachers provide additional support in English Language Arts and math, while USCA students serve as mentors during the after-school program. We firmly believe that the involvement of parents and the wider community is essential to the success of our school.
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School has demonstrated remarkable growth in both reading and math, reflecting our unwavering commitment to equipping students with critical thinking and collaborative skills that will benefit them as they progress into the South Carolina workforce. We are dedicated to continued diligence in fulfilling our mission of providing an outstanding education for all students.
Brenda DeLoache, Interim Principal