Beechwood Middle School (BMS) closed out its inaugural year in a non-traditional way due to the COVID-19 pandemic that forced school closures worldwide; nevertheless, we had many achievements and much to celebrate thanks to our staff, students, parents, and community. Regardless of instructional setting (face-to-face, virtual, or blended), BMS is committed to empowering each child to design the future with a specific focus on developing the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
BMS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) candidate school with a focus on computer science essentials. We provide our students with a rigorous, balanced, global, and inquiry-based course of study grounded in the South Carolina State Academic Standards and IB objectives. Through the IB’s Approaches to Learning skills and Learner Profile traits and an experiential curriculum that includes exploratory course offerings in the areas of world language, design, arts, and physical education, BMS cultivates the real-world connection of skills to guarantee continuous relevant learning. Teachers in all subject-areas design instructional units and experiences that allow students to create, innovate, think critically, problem-solve, work collaboratively with peers, integrate information media with communication skills and technology, and assess their development as learners and citizens of the world. Additionally, a comprehensive Response to Intervention program provides on- demand support to students in reaching academic and social goals. As a result, through performance-based assessment and application of essential skills, students demonstrate that they are well on their way to being ready for the next level, college, and careers.
Though our year was cut short, our students were recognized for their academic achievements in several ways:
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Fifteen South Carolina Junior Scholars
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Two Duke TIP State Recognition Finalists
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One Duke TIP Grand Recognition Finalist
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One hundred seventy-seven students initiated into Beechwood Middle and the National Junior Beta Club
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Three Sertoma Club of Lexington Essay Winners
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Three American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC8) Outstanding Achievement Recipients
BMS functions as a service-oriented center of learning and builds strong family and community partnerships. Students are empowered to research significant local and global issues and take action, resulting in young people who are creative and reflective citizens. In our first year, our students started a tradition of service through giving, participation, and outreach making a positive impact in many areas of our community.
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Anti-Vaping Presentation for Students
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Australia Bush Fire Relief Drive
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Coats for Kids Drive
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Happy Wheels Coin Drive
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Harvest Hope Food Bank Canned Food Drive
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Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Collection
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Linking Lexington Cancer of Many Colors
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Mission Lexington Pet Food Drive
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North Central High School Mobile Library Drive
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Pinkies for Polio
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Red Cross Blood Drives
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Special Olympics
Our Project Citizen students engaged in research and debate around the topics of school and district dress code and year-round school.
Our Design students hosted a Design Expo to showcase projects that they had engineered, innovated, and coded. With over 80% of our students and parents attending, participation was phenomenal. The projects focused on solving real-world problems facing nature, using microprocessors to engineer their own inventions Shark Tank style, and designing a game and a piece of assistive technology for their peers with special needs at BMS.
Additionally, our Parent Teacher Organization embraced the mission to improve the education and educational environment for ALL of our students. They harnessed the energy created by our family and school partnership to organize a fundraiser that allowed us to complement our Outdoor Education program. We were able to purchase a low-ropes course and a Gaga Pit that was used by our Outdoor Education and Physical Education students, school clubs, and athletic teams. Additionally, twelve faculty members and coaches participated in an intense low-ropes training program that will allow them to facilitate team-building activities for our students for years to come.
BMS believes that relationships are at the core of student success and that students need a teacher advocate to support them on their learning path. Through these relationships and dedicated time focused on advocacy and social emotional learning, students reflect on and develop integrity, self-direction, resilience, perseverance, work ethic, interpersonal skills, global perspective, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate and collaborate toward a common goal. Students have benefited from this work at BMS by achieving in all areas including athletics and arts.
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Volleyball-Undefeated Season, Lex10 Conference Champions
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Six students selected-Lexington District One Honor Band
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Eight students selected-SC Band Educators Association Region Band
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Fourteen students selected-Lexington District One Honors Orchestra
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One student selected-SC Music Educators Association (SCMEA) All State Orchestra
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Three students selected-SCMEA Region Orchestra
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Two Superior Ratings-SC American String Teachers Association Virtual Solo & Ensemble Festival
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One Excellent Rating-SC American String Teachers Association Virtual Solo & Ensemble Festival
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Eighth Grade Orchestra Superior Rating-SCMEA Concert Performance Assessment
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Thirty-five students selected-Columbia Metropolitan Airport AirSafe 2019 Exercise
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Ten students selected-Tri-District Arts Consortium
Though we were not able to end our first year with our Bengals in the way we had hoped, we were able to stay connected. We enjoyed a virtual concert from our orchestra classes, and our news show, Bengal Broadcasting, delivered to us the Corona Come Alive Challenge, weekly learning partner (pet) highlights, recognitions of health care workers who are part of our BMS family, and our own version of Some Good News. We prioritized celebrating our students through Bengal Drive-Through Days for 6th and 7th graders and a Drive-Through Completion Ceremony for our 8th graders. The music, attendance of all faculty and staff, signs, and cheering sent our students off in a way that honored them and their achievements.
BMS will continue to foster a culture of excellence and growth for ALL students. Through the expertise and dedication of our faculty and staff, support of our parents and the community, and perseverance and commitment of our students, our students will pursue their gifts in academics, arts, athletics, and other unique abilities while at the same time developing as well-rounded young people who can impact their world in a way that embodies the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate.
Gloria Jenkinson, Principal
Joeli Mulligan, SIC Chair