It’s Official… He’s Home. A New Era of Cyclone Football Begins!
There are moments that just feel right — and this is one of them. The Chester Cyclones proudly announce Jerry Caldwell as the new Head Football Coach at Chester High School.
Coach Caldwell isn’t just stepping into a position. He’s stepping into purpose.
A former Cyclone standout and All-State performer, Coach Caldwell was recognized as one of the Top 10 high school players in South Carolina during his playing career, dominating Friday nights in the very stadium he now leads. His talent and work ethic carried him to the collegiate level at Georgia Tech, where he proudly represented Chester against top competition.
After college, he built a successful professional career, gaining leadership experience and perspective that would later shape the way he mentors and guides young people. But no matter where life took him, Chester was always home.
For the past 10 years, Coach Caldwell has poured into this program — serving as Defensive Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator for the last six seasons. His defenses have played with toughness and discipline, reflecting the grit and pride of this community. Beyond football, he has served as Athletic Director, working tirelessly to support all student-athletes at Chester High School.
His leadership has not gone unnoticed.
• 2024 2A Upper State Assistant Coach of the Year • 2023 Scout for South Carolina in the North Carolina–South Carolina Shrine Bowl • 2023 Defensive Coordinator for the High School Blitz Junior Showcase
What makes this moment special isn’t just his résumé — it’s his heart.
Coach Caldwell loves this school. He loves this community. He understands what it means to grow up here, to be shaped here, and to carry the responsibility of representing Chester the right way. He knows the challenges. He knows the pride. And he believes deeply in the potential of every student who walks these halls.
“This place helped raise me,” Coach Caldwell shared. “It’s an honor to lead the program that gave me so much. Our focus will be on developing young men of character, discipline, and accountability — on and off the field.”
This is more than a new head coach. This is legacy meeting leadership. This is commitment meeting opportunity. This is a Cyclone coming full circle.
Chester — the future is in strong hands.
#CycloneFootball #ChesterPride #BuiltInChester #NewEra
Teacher of the Year, Keith Boyd, brings energy, enthusiasm, and positivity into everything he does. His vibrant spirit and genuine love for students make him a joy to be around. Keith creates an engaging and encouraging learning environment where students feel supported and inspired to succeed. His positive attitude is contagious, and his dedication to both his students and colleagues makes a lasting impact on our entire school community.
Congratulations to Keith Boyd on this well-deserved recognition! 🎉
Support Staff of the Year, Shon Darby, is truly the heart of our front office. From the moment you walk through the doors, you’re greeted with her warm smile and positive spirit. Shon handles the many responsibilities of the front office with professionalism, grace, and efficiency, all while making students, staff, and parents feel welcomed and valued. Her ability to juggle countless tasks while maintaining a calm and cheerful presence does not go unnoticed. She is exceptional with parents, always patient and helpful, and she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our school runs smoothly each day.
Congratulations, Ms. Shon Darby!
✨ Book Launch Celebration | December 16, 2025 ✨
A night to remember as we celebrated the official launch of the book The Voice of Chester.
The event came alive as the audience lined up for author autographs, witnessed powerful book readings, enjoyed behind the scenes presentations, and celebrated moments of recognition during the awarding ceremony.
We honored 14 incredible authors who not only wrote their own stories but also created their own original illustrations. Their creativity, dedication, and authentic voices truly shone.
This book is more than a collection of stories. It is a powerful reflection of student expression, imagination, and the pride of the Chester community.
A heartfelt thank you to our students, parents, administrators, and district staff for their continued support. Special thanks to Dr. Lisa Taylor and Interim Superintendent Ms. Tammy Snipes for accepting our invitation and joining us for this special event. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Estrada, our school IT, for his invaluable support not only in technology but in every aspect of this project.
Congratulations to our authors. Your voices matter, and today the world gets to hear them. 💙
#TheVoiceOfChester #BookLaunch2025 #StudentAuthors #StudentIllustrators #ChesterPride #YoungVoices #PublishedAuthors
Paramedics Hailee and Elizabeth led the hands-on training session, guiding cadets through essential hemorrhage control techniques used by first responders in emergency situations. The interactive training allowed cadets to apply and refine the knowledge they had gained throughout their first aid coursework, bridging classroom learning with real-world emergency medical practices.
This valuable community partnership was made possible through the initiative of Officer Pearson. This collaboration exemplifies how community resources can enhance JROTC programming and provide cadets with professional-level training that extends beyond standard curriculum requirements.
The cadets appreciated the additional training, certification, and support from our local paramedics.
Presented by the Parent and Community Engagement Committee
📍 Chester Senior High School
📅 November 6, 2025
Families came together to cheer on our talented CHS students as they showcased their incredible skills — from soulful singers and gifted musicians to creative artists and dynamic performers! The night was filled with energy, creativity, and community pride. 🌟
A huge thank-you to our amazing panel of judges:
Mr. Abram Scott (CHS Principal), Mr. Hubert Jayakumar (LHS Principal), Ms. Felicia White, and Ms. Larissa Thompson-Land — your encouragement and expertise made this event truly special!
Special thanks to our Parent and Community Engagement Committee organizers:
Ms. Terrenicia Sanders, Ms. Cherylee Tablizo, Mrs. Jenepher Oracion, Mrs. Jonalyn Estrada, and Mrs. Evelyn Dusaran. Your dedication made CHS Got Talent 2025 a huge success! Shoutout to Brady Bass for assisting the organizers throughout the event.
🏆 And lastly, congratulations to the very first CHS Got Talent champion — Alissa Clayton! Your talent and hard work truly shined on stage! 🌟
#CHSGotTalent #ChesterSeniorHigh #CommunityStrong #PCEC #StudentSpotlight #ChesterPride
End-of-Course exams begin soon and count as twenty percent of each student’s final grade.
Testing dates are:
• December third – English Two Writing
• December ninth – English Two Reading
• December tenth – Biology One
• December eleventh – U.S. History
Please make sure your student is present, reports by 8:15 AM, and brings a fully charged laptop and charger.
Why Attend?
Explore Dual Enrollment and Early College course offerings
Learn about CCSD Advanced Placement (AP) course options
Discover technical training and career-focused programs offered to students
We look forward to helping you plan for your student’s future success!
Why Attend?
Explore Dual Enrollment and Early College course offerings
Learn about CCSD Advanced Placement (AP) course options
Discover technical training and career-focused programs offered to students
We look forward to helping you plan for your student’s future success!
Don’t forget to join us at Chester High School for our 2nd Annual Fall Festival tomorrow!
📅 Date: Tuesday, October 21
⏰ Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Front Courtyard
Enjoy food trucks, fun activities, exhibits, games, plenty of candy, and a band concert in the Gym at 7:00 PM!
Bring your family, celebrate our students, and show your Cyclone pride. We can’t wait to see you there!
FCCLA & YAB look forward to seeing you participate on October 23 to 31, 2025
🍂 2nd Annual Fall Festival
Date: Tuesday, October 21
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Front Courtyard
Enjoy food trucks, fun activities, exhibits, games, plenty of candy, and a band concert in the Gym at 7:00 PM!
🏹 1st Archery Tournament
Date: Thursday, October 23
Time: 4:30 PM
Location: Gym
Come cheer on our students in the first-ever Archery Tournament!
Join us for an evening of fun, games, and community spirit. These events are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students and show your Cyclone pride!
We can’t wait to see you there!
Seniors — are you ready to get free money for college?
Bring your parents and join us for our FAFSA Workshop!
📅 Financial aid representatives will be on site to help you and your family complete the FAFSA and answer all your questions.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to secure your college funding!
The FCCLA & Youth Advisory Board are spreading Halloween cheer with Boo Grams!
🍬 Purchase a sweet treat and a friendly message for yourself or a friend for just $5!
🕸️ Order anytime from October 1–28 and your Boo Gram will be delivered during 3rd and 4th block on October 31st!
See Mrs. Thompson-Land, Ms. Graham, or any FCCLA member to order.
Don’t miss out — make someone’s Halloween a little sweeter! 🍭🎃
🎤 CHS Got Talent Sign Up Now!
Auditions will be held on Monday and Wednesday over the next two weeks. Apply through the link provided! You must go through auditions in order to perform. There will be snacks and awards at the event. We highly encourage anyone with talent to sign up and invite all family and friends to come out and support! This show is open to students, teachers, AND parents to perform, so come get in the spotlight! Parents can sign up at the Fall Festival on October 21st.
Bring the whole family for an evening of games, candy, crafts, STEM fun, face painting, and more at Chester High School!
🗓️ October 21 | 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
🎶 Don’t miss the Band Concert at 7 PM in the Gym!
⭐ FREE admission – everyone’s welcome!
📍 Chester High School – 1330 JA Cochran Bypass
Let’s make this Fall Festival unforgettable!
