Church Hill Middle School

I am a former teacher at Church Hill Middle School where I worked for 13 years. I have never seen more dedicated professionals who are more than willing to take the time to assist any student. The Principal and Vice Principal are very dedicated to providing the students with the best education. People on the outside looking in did not know the countless hours and generous deeds the principal, vice principal, and faculty gave to all students. But a good person would not announce that because they do not go into the profession for monetary reasons-they care about our youth and the future of our youth!
--Submitted by a teacher

I was a previous student at Church Hill Middle,and I have to say the school was probably the best school i've ever attended.The teachers are very friendly and very helpful when you need it. As for security, Its very good during school and for after school activities. This school is a very good school.

I hated the school. No one really cared about the kids who couldn't bring in a lot of money to dances, ballgames and such. The people here are right, this school only wants your money.
--Submitted by a student

I work at CHMS and would like to offer some advice. If you are having a hard time getting someone to listen, then move to the next person in line. If there is a problem with safety, note the problem and bring it to someone's attention. If it is a custodial problem, note the time and condition and bring it to someone's attention. I have never walked away from a parent who told me there was a problem, but there are shifts for us and we need to know where a problem is. The shift I work is proud of the school and make all attempts to maintain a high standard for the students and staff. The school has faults, as does all public schools, but some of the ones addressed here are correctable. We at the school are take pride in our work and in CHMS as a school.

The school is a no spirit, no parent involvement and a very hard place to get results. I have tried to get involved in the school but it seems as if the staff would ratther the parents stay home and forget about trying to get involved in their childs education. It was a big differance from Carters valley elem. the change to the mifddle school was like night and day. This school is very poor on safety, as has been said before. And they don't seem to want input nor criticism. The principal turns a deaf ear to any type of critical review and seems to want the lower income parents to just stay away. I am a single mother and I get the feeling of talking to a brick wall every time I have to go to the office about a metter involving my son. All I ask is that when I say something, I feel like someone in that place cared. But I guess next year I will be ab;le to talk to someone at Volunteer. It seems to be a school that cares for all students, not only the ones who live in brick homes.
--Submitted by a parent

I have a new student at this school (6th grade this year) and I have noticed a lack of dicipline and structure at the school. There is a dance almost every month, and the students roam the building and seem to do whatever they please during the day, so they figure they can at after school events also. School needs to be school time, not play time. There needs to be more structure and controll over the students. As for the staff, they have a hard enough job teaching, maintaining the school and feeding the kids, they don't need to be baby sitters also. The school needs a resource person to help with the safety and security everyone is so concerned about
--Submitted by a parent

The school as a whole needs a lot of work in the management department. There is a very bad lack of concern for security, as I see students roaming the halls, doors open to back areas and classrooms left unlocked all the time. We need to put more emphasis on keeping our kids safe, times are getting harder and safety can't be put off until after someone is hurt or someone's child is taken. Please, Mr. Christian, take this more seriously!!
--Submitted by a parent

To the person who worked at the school my sympathy. It was the worst place my grand daughter ever attended. The principal was impossible to talk with, the staff seemed more in a hurry to get through the day and the restrooms, hall and gym were almost always deploreably amiss. I don't know what school the others are seeing, but Church Hill Middle was not worth the taxes we paid to live in Church Hill. Sorry, but true.

The school its self is pretty good. As has been said before, the security is very lax, considering the state of things today. The cleanliness is good, but I have had my son come home saying he did not like to use the restrooms due to the tissue being wet or out, and the fear of some of the other students throwing stuff or otherwise harassing the smaller children. Maby better security could be obtained and the other parents would get involved in the school. It seems there is no voice for parents to discuss issues like this in the school. No PTSO or parent groups. The school is good, and my son seems to like it there, so besides the safety issue, I am very happy with Church Hill.

I worked for a time at the school as a custodian, and it was an experience I will not forget. The night shift there does 85% of the work and gets very little recognition for the excellent job they are doing trying to keep an older building in shape. Add to that the shortage of supplies and the constant battle to keep supplies and you get the picture of a typical small county school system. The teachers were excellent and professional, and the 10% of students that caused trouble keep the staff buisy. All in all, it is a great place, the other two night custodians who have been mentioned before were a pleasure to work with and f I had a child I would not hesitate to send them there, my only concern is the very blatent lack of security and safety measures. Keep going CHMS!
--Submitted by a parent