Dear Eagle Family,

Every November, I am always taken aback by the many things I have to be thankful for. Many of these carry over from year to year, such as my family. However, as I have reflected this year, I can't help but be especially thankful for the Chesnee community. From the support of our educators and students to the support of our extracurricular programs, and most recently, the overwhelming support of our community for the referendum. I am constantly blown away by the servant-minded attitude of this community and, more importantly, how much each person cares for one another.

As it pertains to the referendum, I am excited about the opportunities it will bring for our students. Chesnee is a fast-growing community, but it is one that remains deeply rooted in Eagle Pride. I can't help but think about how much pride our student-athletes, marching band, and the community who uses our facilities will take in our facility upgrades, as well as the opportunities we will have to host some very special events. While we don't know all the fine details yet about what the referendum will bring to Chesnee, I am confident that its impact on our school and community will be significant. I am excited about what the future holds!

I also want to take a moment to recognize our marching band, which recently won the first State Championship in not only our school's history but also the history of Spartanburg School District 2. Led by Mr. McGee and co-directed by Mrs. Keeling, these students have worked extremely hard over the past few years to accomplish this very special feat. When we talk about how special our community is, it is evident in so many ways. Whether it is being the highest-rated high school in the county on the State Report Card, winning State Championships on the athletic fields, or watching our students compete at the highest level in the Arts, Chesnee continues to show what is possible when a community comes together and Boldly Embraces the Standard. Through not only our individual talents but also our commitment to one another, we truly can accomplish anything here.

In closing, I am excited to announce our 2nd Annual Christmas in Chesnee, which will be held at Chesnee High School on December 4th from 6:00–8:00 PM. We hope you will join us for a festive evening that will include pictures with Santa, a free community meal, hot chocolate, games, the Holly Jolly Market, performances by our District Fine Arts groups, and, to close out the evening, the Christmas Story from Luke, read by the Mayo Youth Group. This event is an opportunity for our students and staff to serve our wonderful community and for all of us to make memories that will last a lifetime. I hope to see you there!

As always, if I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am grateful for your continued support, partnership, and belief in Chesnee High School. Together, we will continue to do great things for our students and our community.

#BEtheSTANDARD

Steven Fusaro
Principal
Chesnee High School
steven.fusaro@spart2.org
864.461.7318

Dear Eagle Family,

The first two months of the school year have flown by, and we enter October with a tremendous amount of momentum! One thing we pride ourselves on at Chesnee is being what we call a “Triple A School” or #AAA SCHOOL. You may see this referenced from time to time on social media or hear it in conversation. While we are all proud to compete in the SCHSL as an AA school, our reference to being a “Triple A School” represents something different. It means that we strive to excel in three areas: Academics, Arts, and Athletics. Over these first two months, that commitment has been on full display!

Our Orchestra kicked off the week with a great performance. Our students and Mrs. Burrows have worked extremely hard, and it was wonderful to see their dedication on display. Our Band was magnificent again last weekend and heads to Coastal Carolina this weekend to compete. In athletics, our students continue to compete at a high level. Our Volleyball team continues to roll through the competition, and our Competition Cheer squad returned to the mat last weekend with a great performance as they continue their pursuit of another state championship. To top it all off, our football team earned a HUGE win last night, defeating Clinton for the first time in school history! What a special accomplishment for our players and coaches!

Academically, our students continue to excel, and in the coming days, we look forward to sharing our state report card with our community. What you will see is a school that excels not only in preparing students who plan to attend college, but also in preparing those who plan to enter the workforce or enlist in the military. I am proud to say that Chesnee High School will be recognized as one of the very best schools in our area and across our state.

I share all of this because I know these accomplishments do not happen by accident. They are the result of the hard work and dedication of an unbelievable group of educators. Our teachers are exceptional, or, in state report card terms, “Excellent.” As a parent myself, I am incredibly proud that my own children have the opportunity to be taught by the outstanding educators who make up Chesnee High School.

We also recognize that this success would not be possible without the support of our District Office and School Board, who work to provide our students and teachers with the resources they need to compete with the very best. Most importantly, we know that none of this happens without the support of our families and our community. It is because of your belief in us and your continued support that we can work together to accomplish things that many outside of Chesnee may not believe are possible.

Personally, I could not be prouder of our school, our students, our educators, and our community.

As we continue to strive to be a #AAA School, we also recognize that we must continue to grow and improve in many areas. By now, I am sure you have heard a great deal about the upcoming referendum that will appear on the November ballot. I want to personally invite you to Chesnee High School on October 27 at 5:30 PM for a Community Town Hall Meeting with our Superintendent, Dr. Newman.

During this meeting, Dr. Newman will present the facts about the referendum, walk us through some of the renderings we have received from our architects, and answer questions our community may have. This will be an opportunity not only to learn more about the referendum, but also to gain a better understanding of what the future could hold for our great school and community. I truly hope you will be able to join us!

I also encourage you to visit our district website, where you can find additional information about the upcoming referendum: https://www.spart2.org/page/referendum. In the meantime, I will be happy to answer any questions I can.

We are excited about where Chesnee High School is today and proud of what our school has accomplished. We will always celebrate these achievements and remain grateful for the sacrifices made by so many to help us get where we are. At the same time, we will never settle. We will continue to grow, improve, and Boldly Embrace the STANDARD (#BEtheSTANDARD) every day.

Our commitment is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to be part of a school that excels Academically, Artistically, and Athletically. That is what being a #AAA School is all about, and that is what our students deserve.

As always, if I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am grateful for your continued support, partnership, and belief in Chesnee High School. Together, we will continue to do great things for our students and our community.

#BEtheSTANDARD

#AAA SCHOOL

Steven Fusaro
Principal
Chesnee High School

steven.fusaro@spart2.org

864.461.7318

Dear Eagle Family,

I want to start by thanking each of you for a great start to the 2026–2027 school year. We have gotten started quickly in academics, arts, and athletics, and we are excited about another year with your students. We truly believe this is going to be our best year yet!

During the 2025–2026 school year, we broke records academically. For the first time in school history, our graduation rate exceeded 90%. We look forward to building on that success this year and pushing that number even higher. We hope you will continue to partner with us as families to help our students become the very best versions of themselves.

We know that many of the students who graduate from Chesnee High School will continue to live, work, and raise their families in our wonderful community. Every student we graduate is an investment in the future of our community. That is why the work we do together is so important.

As principal, I also want to continue partnering with you by providing the most up-to-date information possible about what is happening at Chesnee High School. We will use this platform to communicate important information to our families each month. This will be especially important for those of you with seniors, as we will be sharing important senior information and reminders throughout the year.

I also encourage you to download and join the new Spartanburg School District 2 app on your phone and to follow along with updates on our website. These are great ways to stay connected and informed about everything happening at Chesnee High School.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to move our students forward. Thank you for believing in our teachers, who pour their hearts and souls into your students every single day. The work they do matters, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated educators serving our students.

As always, if I can ever be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out at any time. I am grateful for your continued support, partnership, and belief in Chesnee High School.

#BEtheSTANDARD

Steven Fusaro
Principal
Chesnee High School

steven.fusaro@spart2.org

864.461.7318