Blacksburg Middle School (BMS) is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by continuing to strive to prepare students to excel as productive and responsible members of society and by providing rigorous instruction and extracurricular programs in academics, athletics and the arts. All BMS teachers participate in school, district, and self-selected professional development to be well equipped to challenge our students to reach their full potential. South Carolina standardized assessments, STAR 360, and classroom assessment data are utilized to develop instructional plans using SC College-and Career-Ready Academic Standards, district initiatives, resources such as Leveled Literacy Intervention, and Response to Intervention (RtI) research-based strategies to improve academic weaknesses and accelerate strengths.
The 2017-2018 school year saw a focused effort to improve world class knowledge and student engagement as teachers offered instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Students acquired world-class skills through innovative thinking, problem solving, collaboration, technology, media, and communication. Students used personal devices to expand research and communication capabilities and access assignments from outside the school setting. For many families, the devices provided opportunities to improve personal computing skills and open the world of research and communication skills between the home and school. Using these devices, students participated in project-based learning opportunities, in-depth research and collaboration resulting in completed projects presented to peers, members of faculty and staff, parents, and community members. Project work provided opportunities for students to improve research and communication skills while making real-world connections to curriculum.
In addition to the standard curriculum, BMS students experienced increased opportunities to improve personal integrity and life and career characteristics by participating in the Junior Achievement Program, Character Education classes, and career fairs to strengthen soft skills and provide opportunities for career awareness. Eighth grade students produced an in-house career fair for sixth and seventh grade students. Also, all students were given the opportunity to increase their global perspective by participating in multiple planned experiences to travel off location for field trips that strengthen and support curriculum connections.
BMS celebrates student accomplishments and recognized five Junior Scholars, one Duke Tip, two Limestone College Honors Band recognitions, and numerous writers, artists, and athletes. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade student teams participated in Academic Challenge, and the Lego Robotics Team represented BMS well at local and state challenges. The Lego Robotics Team won a Golden Ticket to the SC Lego Robotics Competition.
Service, work ethic, and improving interpersonal skills is also important at BMS, and students and faculty alike participated in community service projects such as providing for local Veterans a delicious meal to celebrate Veteran’s Day to recognize and honor their service to our country. Students collect can tabs for the Shriner's Hospital for Children, raise funds for Meals on Wheels, March of Dimes, Relay for Life, and Autism Awareness. For a local service project students collected over 300 canned food items for a community food pantry, and students participated internationally in Operation Christmas Child (OCC) by collecting shoeboxes and working at the collection center in Charlotte, NC.
The initiatives outlined above are woven together by the faculty and staff of Blacksburg Middle School in a purposeful effort to assist students’ growth in world-class knowledge, world-class skills, and life and career characteristics.