Chelan Middle School celebrates “Schools on the Rise” recognition with awards ceremony

CHELAN — Chelan Middle School students filled the gym Friday with cheers, high-fives, and laughter, but the occasion went beyond a typical student recognition assembly. In front of the full student body, Principal Terry Sanders and guests from the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) celebrated CMS as one of only 42 schools statewide to receive the 2025 “Schools on the Rise” award.

The award, presented jointly by AWSL and the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), honors schools where students and adults work together to improve school culture, elevate student voice, and build inclusive systems. More than 2,500 schools are eligible each year; fewer than 2% are selected.

‘A reflection of all of you’

Director of AWSL James Layman told students they were part of something exceptional.

“Newsflash, Chelan Middle School is one of the schools that won that award,” he said. “This is not a student award. This is not an adult award. This is a school award because you’re all working together to make Chelan Middle School one of the premier middle schools in the state.”

Layman pointed to initiatives such as student intervention teams, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and even CMS’s trademark “goat bucks” as examples of collaboration in action. Every teacher received a Schools on the Rise sticker to mark the achievement, and a banner was unveiled for the school.

Sanders emphasized the honor belonged to the entire community. “As James said, this is a reflection of all of you — our staff, our students, and the work that you all do to make this place special every day,” he said.

The celebration also highlighted the role of Associated Student Body leaders. Teacher and ASB director Jamie Mack introduced the 21 elected student officers for the year, encouraging classmates to bring them ideas for making the school stronger.

“Seek them out,” she told students. “These are the kids that you want to talk to if you have ideas on how to make this school even better.”

The Schools on the Rise program was launched in 2023–24 by AWSL and AWSP. Schools are nominated in the spring by educators, administrators, or students, and winners are announced each summer. Staff from AWSP then visit each school to present a banner in the fall.

Criteria include authentic student engagement, collaboration between staff and students, and data showing positive outcomes. According to AWSP, winners are chosen because they not only celebrate student voice but embed it into decision-making and daily culture.

Friday’s assembly mixed the award ceremony with student core-value recognitions, a showcase of new teachers, and a lively “heads, shoulders, knees, and cone” game to end the week. For Sanders, the morning was proof that recognition was well earned.

“Happy Friday at the greatest middle school in the state of Washington,” he told students as the assembly opened. By the end, with a new banner hanging in the gym and a fresh round of applause echoing off the bleachers, many in attendance seemed to agree.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media