During the 20-21 school year Charleston Charter School for Math and Science (CCSMS) focused on incorporating social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies into our STEM focused curriculum with a holistic approach to helping all of our scholars continue to develop the world class skills of SC’s Profile of the Graduate. Our 13th year of educating scholars will certainly be remembered by the collective experiences and the extraordinary circumstances schools faced around the world due to COVID-19. Our teachers and administrators continued to build on our strengths as a school community. Our strong relationships with our scholars and families sustained our drive to focus on what was critical for our scholars academic and developmental growth.
The CCSMS mission is to educate students for success in college and careers by providing an innovative learning environment that is academically excellent, developmentally responsive, and socially equitable. CCSMS families reflect the socio-economic and racial diversity of Charleston County, are committed to the mission of the school, and are genuine partners with CCSMS faculty and staff when developing reasonable expectations for our scholars. Our scholars and their families live throughout Charleston County School District with some walking to school just a few blocks and others riding a bus for nearly an hour. Nearly 20% of our scholars remained in remote learning for the majority of the school year based on the wishes of their parents and guardians.
During the 20-21 school year, our mission-driven commitment to growing our scholars was reflected in our work to develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Highlights of this work include our scholars collaborating through classroom projects, writing assignments, Zoom sessions, WeVideo, and photography to communicate their view points in multiple classes. This collaboration progressed even when we had scholars in multiple modes of learning at the same time due to the synchronous instruction our teachers committed to for the entire school year. All of our scholars are encouraged to combine their critical thinking skills and along with their creativity to solve real world problems both in our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) courses and more traditional classes. CCSMS was recognized again as a school of distinction by Project Lead the Way for both our middle school and high school programs. CCSMS scholars qualified for many academic events including placing 3rd in their Course at the Sea Perch National Competition.
CCSMS recognizes there are opportunity gaps in our community that our scholars come to us with. Many of our scholars have their first taste of academic success with us when we meet them where they are and help them grow. We create opportunities for scholars to broaden their understanding of the world, to make authentic connections with complex problems, and to explore STEM careers and the varied academic pathways to attain them. Our continued commitment to access and equity allows all scholars the opportunity to succeed.
Mary Carmichael, CCSMS Executive Principal and CEO
Russ Campbell, CCSMS Board Chair
