January 13, 2011 | State, The: Web Edition Articles (Columbia, SC)Section: NEWS
RICHLAND 1
DISTRICT NEWS
RICHLAND 1 MONTESSORI INFORMATION SESSIONS are scheduled for parents who want to know more about the programs for the 2011-12 year for pre-school through third grade. Among sessions: Logan Elementary, 815 Elmwood Ave., 6 p.m. Jan. 27 and 8 a.m. Feb. 4 (for C.A. Johnson, Columbia, Eau Claire, Keenan high school attendance zones). Contact Donna Boyd at (803) 733-3028 or at dboyd@richlandone.org.
CAROLINA SCHOOL FOR INQUIRY will hold a student recruitment meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday at 7405-A Fairfield Road. The public charter school serves children in grades K-5. (803) 691-1250; www.carolinaschoolforinquiry.org
RICHLAND 1’s OFFICE OF ADULT EDUCATION has received six awards from the S.C. Department of Education for outstanding GED and career-readiness programs.
IDA THOMPSON, Richland 1’s director of instructional technology services, has received the 2010 S.C. EdTech Making It Happen award from the state department of education. The award, sanctioned by the International Society for Technology in Education, recognizes commitment and innovation to technology in education that has made a profound impact in the Palmetto State.
LEX-RICHLAND 5
CROSSROADS MIDDLE
CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL students donated 15 barrels of nonperishable food to Sharing God’s Love as part of the school’s Red Ribbon Week in November. In partnership with the Optimist Club of St. Andrews, classes competed to see who could bring the most canned food. Tara Sefriet’s and Brent White’s classes tied for first place, collecting than 700 cans for the drive. Both classes won ice cream parties but opted to donate the money back to Sharing God’s Love. This is the third year the school has worked with the Optimist Club and Sharing God’s Love.
CHAPIN MIDDLE
Sixty-five Chapin eighth-graders qualified for the S.C. Junior Scholars Program with either their October PSAT scores, their seventh-grade DukeTIP status, or both. Students are Zoe Anderson-Horecny, Jacob Barnes, Lucas Barnes, Connor Blackwelder, Nate Blankenship, Brad Bush, Andrew Bussey, Matthew Cabe, Helen Cantey, Rhett Casey, Austin Clawson, Christy Coghlan, Breanna Cole, Alyssa Cox, Ashley Derrick, Joe Devine, Connor Enright, Kevin Everett, Mackenzie Foster, Madison Foster, Savanna Fuller, Lindsay Gillikin, Shelby Green, Cadie Hall, Abby Holdeman, Davis Hunt, Chapell Johnson, Erik Kass, Emily Koon, Sean Kruzner, Evan McNall, Abby Malcom, Aaron Martin, Lillian Martin, Katherine Meyers, Wesley Moore, Ryann Nelson, Kendall Neubeiser, Hannah O’Quinn, Todd Overcash, Stephen Page, Laura Partridge, Jenna Pisano, Lindsey Richardson, Joey Robinson, Allie Rogers, Elizabeth Rogers, Brandon Samples, Beau Schelble, Jenna Schiferl, Anna Scott, Andrew Shealy, Kelly Stoudemire, Jordan Streett, Andrew Thompson, Jacob Timmons, Benny Trefsgar, Daniel Trujillo, Erin Underwood, Alexa Ussery, Morgan Walker, Connor Walpole, Grace Wheaton, Beth Wheeler and Katie Zobel.
DUTCH FORK HIGH
KATHY LOTT, an English teacher at DFHS, has been named the 2010 Distinguished Reading Teacher by the Columbia Area Reading Council. Lott has 21 years’ experience in South Carolina public schools and has been on the Dutch Fork faculty since 1995.
DUTCH FORK HIGH’S DECA students brought home 23 winners from the recent regional competition. First place winners were L.J. Borrmann, hotel and lodging; Laura Guirau, retail merchandising, Harrison Hall, sports and entertainment marketing, Andrew Klasnic, apparel and accessories; Morgan Soard, quick serve management; and Courtland Thomas, marketing management. Second place winners were Kaleek Graham, retail marketing; Laquan Kennerly, sports and entertainment marketing; Stephanie Krause, quick serve management; Emily Raup, restaurant and food marketing; and Courtney Thomas, marketing management. Third place honors went to Kristy O’Keefe, business services; Ashley Sease, apparel and accessories; and Richael Spilka, retail merchandising. Students placing in the Top 10 included Nicholas Cooper, business services; Soloman Goodwin, marketing management; Faith Holmes, sports and entertainment marketing; Charmain McKinley, apparel and accessories; Gabrielle Mullen, marketing management; Ben Rowland, restaurant management; Katie Walsh, business services; Arkevious Williams, hotel and lodging; and Karie Williams, sports and entertainment marketing
IRMO HIGH
IHS POETRY OUT LOUD WINNERS include Janay Chisholm, first place; Deborah Youmans, runner-up: and in a tie for third place, Summer Abrams and Janay Clytus. Chisholm will compete in the regional contest Saturday, Jan. 22, in Sumter. The state champion will receive $200 and an all-expenses paid trip to the national finals in Washington, D.C. The state champion school will receive a $500 stipend. The national champion will receive $20,000.
LAKE MURRAY ELEMENTARY
SPANISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS at Lake Murray Elementary held their fifth annual Mercado to benefit GOoDworks of Chapin. Students earn pesos through the year for classroom cooperation and participation. Around the holidays, they spend their pesos for items to be donated to the nonprofit organization to help make Christmas brighter for children in need in their own community.
LEAPHART ELEMENTARY
THREE LEAPHART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL teachers have achieved National Board Certification. Leah Melson, a multi-age third and fourth grade teacher, has taught at Leaphart for six years. Third grade teacher Erica Millwood has five years of teaching experience, all at Leaphart. Speech therapist Leslie Wisdom has five years of teaching experience.
NURSERY ROAD ELEMENTARY
DAVID DOWNIE III, Nursery Road’s Mentor of the Year, has been recognized for his volunteer efforts by the S.C. Board of Education. Selection was based on criteria of promoting student achievement, enhancing school-community relations, strengthening school or district resources, encouraging a positive climate and promoting teacher effectiveness. Downie has mentored at Nursery Road for more than 12 years and volunteers at other schools in the district.
DISTRICT NEWS
ROBERT GANTT, Lexington/Richland 5’s board chairman, has been elected secretary of the South Carolina School Boards Association. Gantt was first elected to the SCSBA board in 2009 as Region 9 director, which represents school boards in Lexington County.
SEVENTEEN TEACHERS have joined the district’s National Board Certified Teachers. Educators earning certification in 2010 include: Elizabeth Moody, Irmo High; Lorraine Floyd, Irmo Middle; Leslie Wisdom, Leaphart Elementary; Christopher Arnoult, CrossRoads Middle; Lori Latham, Chapin High; Christina Mento, H. E. Corley Elementary; Vickie Davis, Irmo Middle; Kimberly Roller, Irmo High; Kimberly Gallagher, Irmo Elementary; Paula McWhirter, Dutch Fork Elementary; Jennifer Cogle, Lake Murray Elementary; Erica Millwood, Leaphart Elementary; Steven Fisher, Dutch Fork High; Renee Wicker, H. E. Corley Elementary; Judith Head, Irmo High; Leah Melson, Leaphart Elementary; and Nancy Davis, River Springs Elementary.
ALL THREE LEXINGTON-RICHLAND 5 high schools have been recognized for outstanding achievements on the ACT and SAT college entrance exams. Chapin High received a Summa Cum Laude award for Distinguished Performance on the ACT and a Magna Cum Laude award for Excellent Performance and Rapid Growth on the SAT. Dutch Fork High received Cum Laude awards for Excellent Performance on both the ACT and SAT. Irmo High School received a Magna Cum Laude award for Excellent Performance and Rapid Growth on the ACT and a Summa Cum Laude award for Excellent Improvement on the SAT.
KERSHAW COUNTY
DISTRICT NEWS
THEODORE JACKSON is the interim principal at Midway Elementary School, replacing Jewell Stanley, who is now in the Title I office at the State Department of Education. Jackson was principal at Bethune Elementary 2000-03 and 2007 until June 2010, when he retired; he also served as principal at Jackson School 2003-07.
SEVEN MORE KERSHAW COUNTY teachers have earned National Board Certification, bringing the district’s total to 151. Newly credentialed teacher include Sam Watts, ATEC; Linda Dunlap, Blaney Elementary; Jody Lackey, Camden Middle; Mary Catoe, Doby’s Mill Elementary; Paula Farmer and Marsha Hough, Jackson School, and Linda Witcomb, Lugoff-Elgin High.
RICHLAND 2
ANNA BOYD SCHOOL
ISAIAH ALLEN, a student at Anna Boyd School, won first place in an essay contest sponsored by Health Plus Medical Equipment. His essay was on “My Career Choice.”
BLYTHEWOOD MIDDLE
TWENTY BLYTHEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL students were honored Dec. 17 at the school’s Character Awards Breakfast. Students who consistently demonstrate good character and positive life skills were Dimaunri Glover, Hailey Vinson, Aidan Massey, Gordon Perkins, Kenny Benton, Jenna Kramer, Andrew Williams, Rachel Reid, Sam Crosby, Maddie Hannah, Elexis Mitchell, Matt Frierson, Kelsey Crawford, Rebekah Williams, Summer Tieben, Peyton Trevenen, Raen See, Ansley Gilstrap, Gabrielle Smith and Jairad Hydrick.
RICHLAND NORTHEAST HIGH
RNE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER, The Cavalier, took two national awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, part of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Gold Circle Awards went to Laura Dorn and Caryn Wells for their work on 2009-10 issues. Dorn, a senior in RNE’s Convergence Media, Horizon, and Palmetto Center for the Arts visual arts magnets, received a certificate of merit for Photo Layout: Portfolio of Work. Dorn is editor-in-chief of The Cavalier this year. Wells, a 2010 RNE graduate, took first place for Personal Opinion: Off-Campus Issues for a column titled “Not My Barbie.” A graduate of both the PCA and Convergence Media magnets, she is a nursing student at USC.
RNE’s 800/36 CLUB has six new members. The group is comprised of students who achieved a perfect score on either the ACT or on a section of the SAT or ACT. Joining the elite are Davis Borucki, 800 SAT writing; Naomi Brown, 800 SAT critical reading; Laura Dorn, 800 SAT critical reading; John Parvin, 800 critical reading; Emily Theus, perfect 36 ACT; and Katherine Wallace, 36 ACT reading. All are seniors, except for Borucki, who is a junior.
SIXTY-ONE RNE juniors and seniors have been named to the John H. Hudgens Chapter of the National Honor Society. Inductees include Rehem Abuhashem, Clay Allen, Sameha Alshareef, Christopher Amaker, Akhira Ansari, Katrina Balsavage, Najja Bennett, Davis Borucki, Quyelle Brand, Logan Burney, Jalinda Cilien, Zakiya Clemons, Jennifer Copley, Jessica Cornell, Lucy Counts, Sheridan Covington, Laura Dean, Ave Dowell, Mary Ervin, Jonathan Franklin, Angel Giles, Cole Greene, Alyssa Greenhouse, Morgan Grooms, Cole Harper, Kyle Harper, Travena Hawkins, Lisa Houck, Cary Hutton, Malcolm Jones, Aniya Kelly, Corinne Knight, Diana Lem, Mei Liang, Xinyi Liu, Katherine Lott, Karen Magsino, Eleanor McIntosh, Brandi Mouton, Shelby Mueller, Joseph Nelson, Shikumar Patel, Allison Patterson, Abigail Pearman, Katherine Rieck, Helen Robertson, Chad Sanders, Jamiece Sanders, Molly Shields, Vera Shulman, Caroline Smarr, Sarah Smith, Jeona Spriggs, Michael Strickland, Catherine Ann Taylor, Rocio Torres, Johnathon Tucker, Karli Wells, Victoria Wiiley, William Wiseman and Maria Zubizaretta.
RNE’S YOUTH ACTION COUNCIL’S HOPE for the Holidays collected more than 26,000 canned goods and other nonperishable food items for God’s Storehouse emergency food bank. Students also collected 261 coats for the Tripp’s Cleaners Coats for Kids project; 338 toys for the Toy Box Program benefiting the Palmetto Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; 130 care packages for the homeless clients of the Salvation Army; adopted 149 families through Families Helping Families; and raised more than $900 in a fundraiser for the RNE food pantry. The school’s Youth Action Council has extended the winter activity to a year-round service learning initiative that addresses hunger, homelessness, educational and health care issues.
RICHLAND NORTHEAST’S Cavalier Chorale and PB&J Show Choir traveled to the Walt Disney World Resort for performances Dec. 2 and 3.
SPRING VALLEY HIGH
SPRING VALLEY’S AF JROTC unit has earned an overall unit assessment score of “Exceeds Standards,” the highest rating attainable from a recent comprehensive assessment by Air University, Department of the Air Force.
SV STUDENT WILLIAM FISHBURNE scored a perfect 36 on the ACT administered in October 2010.
DISTRICT NEWS
RICHLAND 2 elementary schools are holding registration for kindergarten and child development programs through Monday, Jan. 31. If your child will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, register the child for kindergarten during normal hours of operation at the school the child will be attending (schools will be closed Monday). Parents should bring a legal birth certificate, South Carolina immunization form, Social Security number and three or more proofs of residence. (For guardianship, copies of the official documents establishing the guardian relationship are required.) Richland 2 will also be enrolling students in the Clemson Road and Spears Creek child development programs during the same time period. The Clemson Road program meets at Killian Elementary, 2621-A Clemson Road, (803) 699-2536; the Spears Creek CDC is at Pontiac Elementary, 500 Spears Creek Road, Elgin, (803) 865-5355.
GOSPEL EXTRAVAGANZA: 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, at Blythewood Academy auditorium, 501 Wilson Blvd. Tickets are $7; $2 for ages 12 and younger. Sponsored by the Richland 2 Custodial Advisory Council, proceeds will be used for continuing education scholarships at the W.R. Rogers Continuing and Technology Education Center. Michael Belton, (803) 699-3580
RICHLAND 2 LITERATURE AND ARTS FESTIVAL: Palmetto Center for the Arts 10th anniversary show, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, in the Community Room, Village at Sandhill. Danielle Howle in concert, 9 p.m. at Wild Wing Cafe. A percentage of the proceeds from food sales will go to the Richland 2 Education Foundation. Book signings, art workshops, storytelling and more, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Richland Northeast High School. Proceeds will benefit teacher recognition projects. (803) 929-6650; www.richland2.org/bookfair
RICHLAND 2 is home to 44 new National Board Certified Teachers, putting the district in the No. 2 spot in the state. Educators earning certification include Johnathan Abney, Windsor Elementary; Courtney Long, Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary; Amaya Adams, Bookman Road Elementary; Alzena McCrea, Joseph Keels Elementary, Blake Bare, E.L. Wright Middle; Trina McKnight, Spring Valley High; Kimberly Bone, Blythewood High; Christina Myllykangas, Blythewood Middle; Teneshia Bridges, L.W. Conder Elementary Arts Integrated Magnet; Lisa Nine, Dent Middle; Mary Burns, Killian Elementary; Laura Parker, Bookman Road Elementary; Kari Cope, Kelly Mill Middle; Catherine Prizer, Polo Road Elementary; Robert Dill, E.L. Wright Middle; Mahbobeh Ranjbarzadeh, E.L. Wright Middle; Paul Dobyns, Spring Valley High; Charles Reed, Polo Road Elementary; Blair Flora, Rice Creek Elementary; Jennifer Roberts, Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary; Jessica Fox, Blythewood Middle; Tabatha Rojas, L.W. Conder Elementary Arts Integrated Magnet; Mechell Hargrove, Summit Parkway Middle; Sheena Ryant, North Springs Elementary; Shaunna Hayes, Rice Creek Elementary; Latanya Shuler, North Springs Elementary; Sheron Hayes, Killian Elementary; Amanda Stiglbauer, E.L. Wright Middle; Andrea Hipps, Langford Elementary; Jean Sullivan, Round Top Elementary; Tiffany Hutchinson, Kelly Mill Middle; Eugenia Taylor, Blythewood High; Kristin Hutchison, Lake Carolina Elementary; Lilla Todd, Forest Lake Elementary Technology Magnet; Margaret Inman, Bookman Road Elementary; Joy Walker, Longleaf Middle; Raquel Jones, Killian Elementary; Faith White, Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary; Stephanie Kelley, North Springs Elementary; Nicole Whitley, Killian Elementary; Brenda Kirkland, Kelly Mill Middle; Peter Wittig, Lake Carolina Elementary; Esta Lampkin, Spring Valley High; and Kimberly Ziegler, Longleaf Middle.
RICHLAND 1
A.C. FLORA HIGH
A.C FLORA HIGH SCHOOL has received two Cum Laude awards for excellent performance on the ACT and SAT.
A.C. MOORE ELEMENTARY
A.C. MOORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S Ripples of Hope mosaic garden, which graces the front entrance of the school, has received the 2010 S.C. Literacy Champions Award and a $10,000 grant prize. The award, given by the S.C. Education Oversight Committee, recognizes service-learning programs in post-secondary institutions focused on building reading skills among the state’s public school students. The garden was created as a joint project of students, parents, teachers, staff, community partners, two USC professors and a number of artists-in-residence. The garden includes a fountain, seating, shade trees, student-created stepping stones as well as showcasing student poetry. The award money will be used to develop another arts-based literacy project at the school.
CRAYTON MIDDLE
CRAYTON MIDDLE SCHOOL was named first runner-up in the 2010 State Middle School Mock Trial Competition held Dec. 4. Individual honors went to Stephen McKinney as most effective witness; Libby Bagnal and Taylor Doggett were recognized as most effective attorneys.
DREHER HIGH
TWO DREHER HIGH students have earned perfect SAT sectional scores. Sarah Kendall aced the critical reading section with an 800 and Jane Xu’s 800 score was on the math section. The school also received the Summa Cum Laude award for excellent improvement on the ACT.
GADSDEN ELEMENTARY
GADSDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has been nominated for the 2011 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award, which honors schools for superior student academic achievement. Nominees must achieve in the top 10 percent of schools in the state and make Adequate Yearly Progress in order to be eligible. The winners will be recognized at a November ceremony in Washington, D.C.
GIBBES MIDDLE
HEYWARD GIBBES MIDDLE SCHOOL will hold an information session on school uniforms at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, in the auditorium. Refreshments will be provided. The school is at 3602 Thurmond St. Ericka Hursey, (803) 343-2942
HAND MIDDLE
HAND MIDDLE SCHOOL’S team scored individual wins in the regional division of the S.C. Bar Middle School Mock Trial Competition held in November. Sally Dey was named most effective defense attorney, Ebee Johnson was recognized as most effective plaintiff’s attorney and most effective plaintiff’s witness was Connor Slattery.
DISTRICT NEWS
RICHLAND 1 MONTESSORI INFORMATION SESSIONS are scheduled for parents who want to know more about the programs for the 2011-12 year for pre-school through third grade. Sessions are at Brockman Elementary, 2245 Montclair Drive, noon Jan. 19 and 8:15 a.m. Feb. 2 (for Satchel Ford, Brennen, Bradley attendance zones), contact Debra Murphy at (803) 790-6743 or at dmurphy@richlandone.org; Caughman Road Elementary, 7725 Caughman Road, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. Jan. 25 (for Burnside, Caughman Road, Meadowfield, Mill Creek, A.C. Moore, Rosewood, South Kilbourne attendance zones), contact Brian Cope at (803) 783-5534 or bcope@richlandone.org; Logan Elementary, 815 Elmwood Ave., 6 p.m. Jan. 27 and 8 a.m. Feb. 4 (for C.A. Johnson, Columbia, Eau Claire, Keenan high school attendance zones), contact Donna Boyd at (803) 733-3028 or at dboyd@richlandone.org; Gadsden Elementary, 1660 S. Goodwin Circle, Gadsden, 6 p.m. Jan. 20 (for 3K-5K only in Gadsden, Hopkins, Horrell Hill, Webber attendance zones), contact Cynthia Brown at (803) 353-2231 or cybrown@richlandone.org.
CAROLINA SCHOOL FOR INQUIRY will hold a student recruitment meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday at 7405-A Fairfield Road. The public charter school serves children in grades K-5. (803) 691-1250; www.carolinaschoolforinquiry.org
RICHLAND 1’s OFFICE OF ADULT EDUCATION has received six awards from the S.C. Department of Education for outstanding GED and career-readiness programs.
IDA THOMPSON, Richland 1’s director of instructional technology services, has received the 2010 S.C. EdTech Making It Happen award from the state department of education. The award, sanctioned by the International Society for Technology in Education, recognizes commitment and innovation to technology in education that has made a profound impact in the Palmetto State.
LEXINGTON 1
CAROLINA SPRINGS MIDDLE
DOT VAUGHN has been named Middle Level Art Educator of the Year by the S.C. Art Education Association. The Carolina Springs Middle School art teacher also received a $13,000 Arts Curricular Innovation Grant from the S.C. Department of Education. The grant will be used to purchase laptops and video recorders to help exploratory art teachers incorporate the new 2010 Media Arts Standards in their instruction and fund professional development institutes for three Carolina Springs Elementary art teachers.
GILBERT HIGH
GHS CHORAL STUDENTS have won a dozen spots in the All-State Chorus. Nine students made the Soprano, Alto, Tenor Bass ensemble, with six scoring in the top 10 in the state in their section. Three GHS students earned spots in the all-female ensemble. All-State Choral members include Victoria Brooks, Steven Craps, Kristi Garnett, Taylor Haynes, Gracie Johnson, Taylor Leaphart, Anna Pstrak, Hannah Roof, Jacob Seigler, Makaela Shealy, Elliot Stegall and Bree Watson.
GILBERT HIGH has received an ACT/SAT Performance Improvement award from the State Department of Education. Gilbert won a Summa Cum Laude award for excellent improvement in 2009-10 SAT scores.
GILBERT PRIMARY
GILBERT PRIMARY SCHOOL Parenting Center coordinator Tammy Reynolds has been named the school’s Support Staff Member of the Year for 2010-11. Trained as a parent educator, Reynolds teaches parenting classes to adults, as well as providing a foundation for learning to preschool children through the center.
LEXINGTON HIGH
LHS has received a Summa Cum Laude award for distinguished performance on the 2009-10 ACT and Cum Laude honors for excellent performance on the 2009-10 SAT. The State Department of Education recognizes schools as part of its SAT/ACT Improvement Program.
LEXINGTON TECHNOLOGY CENTER
LTC COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTOR ANN BROWN has been named ACTIVE Cosmetology Teacher of the Year by the S.C. Association of Cosmetology Teachers in Vocational Education. This is the second time Brown’s peers have given her the honor.
MIDWAY ELEMENTARY
KATHY MOSS, food services and nutrition manager at Midway Elementary School, has received the 2010-11 Support Staff Member of the Year Award. Moss has worked for Lexington 1 since 1999 and at MES for three years.
PELION ELEMENTARY
PES ART TEACHER ELIZABETH CLONTS has received the Promising Young Professional Award from the S.C. Art Education Association. Recipients musts be in their first five years of teaching art in the Palmetto State. Clonts was recognized for demonstrating exclllence in the classroom, advocating for art education and exhibiting leadership potential. She was honored at the Lexington 1 board meeting in November.
PELION HIGH
PELION HIGH has received a pair of awards from the State Department of Education for ACT/SAT performance improvement. The school was recognized with Summa Cum Laude awards on the 2009-10 ACT (for excellent improvement) and the SAT (for distinguished performance).
PHILIP SHUMPERT, a student at Pelion High School, has earned the top individual score at the FFA State Soils Contest, earning 230 out of 240 possible points. The soils competition promotes skills used for careers in environmental science, agribusiness and natural resource management.
PLEASANT HILL ELEMENTARY
DALTON REYNOLDS, a student at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, won first place in the fourth-grade division of the Congaree National Park Swampfest art contest. In addition to a $50 prize, Dalton’s work, a bald cypress in oil pastels and ink wash, was displayed in the park’s visitors center.
RED BANK ELEMENTARY
SANDRA SHEPPARD, assistant custodian at Red Bank Elementary School, has received the 2010-11 Support Staff Member of the Year award. Sheppard has worked at Red Bank Elementary for five years.
WHITE KNOLL ELEMENTARY
WKE ART TEACHER GINNY MERETT was recognized by the Lexington 1 board of trustees for winning the Artsonia Leadership Award. Artsonia, an online children’s art museum, honored Merett for going beyond classroom walls to encourage family and community involvement in arts education. Under her leadership, nearly 3,000 White Knoll Elementary works of art were showcased during the 2009-10 school year.
WHITE KNOLL HIGH
HOWARD BISSELL, a social studies teacher at White Knoll High School has been named an Educator of Distinction by the S.C. Council for the Social Studies. Presented at the association’s annual conference, the award recognizes Bissell’s success in the classroom as well as the work he does outside the classroom to promote higher standards in social studies instruction.
DISTRICT NEWS
LEXINGTON 1’s Teacher of the Year winners for 2010-11 include: Carolina Springs Elementary kindergarten teacher Kerry Pollock, Carolina Springs Middle seventh-grade teacher Denise Johnson, Forts Pond Elementary third-grade teacher Jennifer Clamp, Gilbert Elementary resource teacher Stephanie Motley, Gilbert High mathematics teacher Jennifer Dixon, Gilbert Middle sixth-grade teacher Melissa Reynolds, Gilbert Primary first-grade teacher Nora Prouse, Lake Murray Elementary third-grade teacher Vicki Hudson, Lexington Elementary fourth-grade teacher Jessica Allen, Lexington High mathematics teacher Claire Compton, Lexington Middle technology integration specialist Gloria Nester, Lexington Technology Center business education teacher Randy Scott, Midway Elementary special education teacher Sabra Denny, New Providence Elementary fifth-grade teacher Kelly Watkins, Oak Grove Elementary second-grade teacher Amy Hodgkiss, Pelion Elementary special education teacher Gaye Siler, Pelion High science teacher Deidre Culbreth, Pelion Middle resource teacher Traci Holcomb, Pleasant Hill Elementary immersion teacher Sylvia Shealy, Pleasant Hill Middle sixth-grade teacher Dianna Deaderick, Red Bank Elementary fifth-grade teacher Pattie Ziegler, Saxe Gotha Elementary chorus teacher Scottie Marsh, White Knoll Elementary third-grade teacher Cathy Wayne, White Knoll High biology teacher Lisa Rose and White Knoll Middle art teacher Carolyn Ellis.
LEXINGTON 1 congratulates the district’s 14 teachers who earned National Board Certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. The newly board certified teachers are Mary Jane Britt from Rocky Creek Elementary, Ashley Cannon from Carolina Springs Middle, Candace Cannon from Lexington High, Elizabeth Goodwin from White Knoll Middle, Amy Gunter from White Knoll Elementary, Leslie Hamby from Pelion Middle, Brandi Humble from Gilbert High, Anedra Kelson from Carolina Springs Middle, Carolyn Mishoe-Coon from Pleasant Hill Elementary, Jamie Powell from White Knoll High, Patty Shealey from White Knoll High, Christy Steelman from Lexington Middle, Julie Taylor from Pleasant Hill Elementary and Jonny Thompson from White Knoll High.
LEXINGTON 1 educators have received $7,900 in Mid-Carolina Bright Ideas Grants. The following teachers were recognized at the November district board meeting. Michelle Lutz, Forts Pond Elementary, $850 for Hooked on Nooks, providing students’ access to e-Readers; Beverly Adams, Gilbert Elementary, $1,000 to bring Capt. Sadler’s Living History Camp to the school’s fourth-graders; Miki Wright, Gilbert High, $851 to fund a community concert featuring GHS students and the Lexington Choral Society; Jennifer, Gooding, Sharmen Oswald and Carla Stegall, Gilbert Middle, $1,000 to purchase e-Readers to support ESL students. Eric Sharpe and Lois Byars, Lake Murray Elementary, $1,000 for a hands-on wetlands science research project; Sandy Jowers and John Leneschmidt, Pelion Middle, $760 to purchase a laptop computer for the Soaring to Success project; Amy Quiat, Rocky Creek Elementary, $700 for mp3 players to support the Listen! Learn! Lead! project; Shannon Bussell and Cathy Wayne, White Knoll Elementary, $935 for the History in a Box project for third-graders; Ginny Merret, White Knoll Elementary, $796 to support a cultural arts lesson.
CINDY SMITH, Lexington 1 school board chair, assumed the office of president of the South Carolina School Boards Association Dec. 4.
LEXINGTON 2
CONGAREE ELEMENTARY
CES TOP READERS in the first phase of the Lady Gamecock reading program were Sanaa Greene, 526 pages; Jonathon Smith, 1,499 pages; Mindie Jeffords, 5,850 pages; and Taylor Willard, 4,734 pages. Mindie Jeffords was the fourth-grade top reader in the state and was honored at the Lady Gamecocks basketball game Dec. 1.
FIFTH-GRADER PEYTON REED has been named a winner in the Lexington County Spare the Air Calendar contest. His drawing will be featured in the 2011 calendar that seeks to promote awareness of air quality in the Palmetto State. Peyton will be honored as a Clean Air Champion at the Tuesday Lexington County Council meeting.
DAVIS ELEMENTARY
FORTY STUDENTS at Davis Elementary School for Technology received new shoes thanks to the Cayce-West Columbia Rotary Club’s Happy Feet project. Students were able to choose their own shoes from Payless Shoes in West Columbia.
GEORGE I. PAIR ELEMENTARY
PAIR ELEMENTARY’S Student Council raised $686.43 from its Santa Store sale. Donations of $200 each went to God’s Helping Hands and the Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter; the remainder was used to help community families in need.
NORTHSIDE MIDDLE
NORTHSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL Students of the Month for November were McKenna Cassella, sixth grade; Kelsey Sox, seventh grade; and Diann Huynh, eighth grade. Selection criteria included perfect attendance for the month, no discipline notes, good grades and positive contributions to the learning community.
SALUDA RIVER ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS
ARTS UNLIMITED, SRAA’s performance troupe of fourth- and fifth-grade students, joined Grammy Award winner Natalie McMaster for “Christmas in Cape Breton” at the Brooks Center in Clemson on Dec. 13.
CONNIE BOLEMAN and LINDA LINKE were presented with the Dr. Deborah Smith Hoffman Mentor Award for Art at the S.C. Art Education Association’s fall conference. Boleman is an art teacher at Saluda River Academy and Linke recently retired as a drama teacher at the school.
DISTRICT NEWS
LEXINGTON 2 has announced its newest batch of National Board Certified teachers. Educators receiving certification in November 2010 include Rachel Richards and Terri Austin, B-C Grammar #1; Katherine Murphy Hutto and Anita Hutto, Congaree-Wood Early Childhood Center; Hallie Sneed and Mary Thomas, Davis Elementary School for Technology; Heather Taylor Williams, Springdale Elementary; Heather Wisnant, Taylor Elementary; Stephanie Hucks, Busbee Creative Arts Academy; Angela Hoffek, Pine Ridge Middle; and Anna Parks, Airport High.
LEXINGTON 2 is accepting applications for its Limited School Choice program. Limited School Choice allows legal district residents to request placement for their child at any of the Lexington 2 schools. Applications are granted based on space availability, the parent’s willingness to transport their child to and from school, and ensure the student’s punctuality, daily attendance and appropriate behavior. Applications will be available beginning Tuesday at all district schools and should be returned to the Office of Student Services, 1407 Dunbar Road, Cayce, SC 29033, by March 25. (803) 739-3127
LEXINGTON 3
BATESBURG-LEESVILLE ELEMENTARY
BLES CHARACTER EDUCATION WINNERS for October include third-graders Cayden Bundrick, Jonathan Eargle, Mecca Isreal, David Leaphart, Maniya Morris, Diavionne Preston, Susan Taylor; fourth-graders Semaj Blackwell, Mackenzie Bundrick, Erasmo Cadena, Liam Fort, Mariah Jerry, Chardaisa Leaphart, Bryan Martinez, Tamirah Parks; and fifth-graders Andrew Barker, Tyric Coleman, Jacob Enlow, Larry Gaines, Osvaldo Hernandez-Guerrero, Alexus Highley and Toni Thompson. The October character trait was bravery.
BLES CHARACTER EDUCATION WINNERS for November include third-graders Abigail Blume, Amber Miller, Da’Sya Morris, Brayden Patrick, Allissa Reichard, Shelton Shealy, Briseida Trejo-Ramirez; fourth-graders Bailey Allen, Samantha Clark, Francisco Cruz-Torres, Shanise Dunn, Hunter Eargle, Aurnaeshia Henderson, Lydia Swygert; and fifth-graders Meredith Black, Arianna Derrick-Jones, Kacie Enlow, Victor Estrada, Jada Leaphart, Taliyah Long, Nila McKie and Eve Robison. The November character trait was attentiveness.
BLES CHARACTER EDUCATION WINNERS for December include third-graders Toby Burgess, Sydney Carmichael, Angel Coleman, Austin Guo, Alyssa Heatley, Tamara Jimenez, Jy’Quez Tolen; fourth-grqaders Adam Almgren, Samuel Driggers, Olivia Fallaw, Zoe Jackson, Octavius Jay, Katyiah Jennings, Ryan Nguyen, Heaven Sapp; Matthew Warren; and fifth-graders Robert Adams, Hannah Chavis, Cooper Gettys, Nicole Lee, Beth Ann Puryear and Kaitlyn Shumpert. The December character trait was generosity.
BATESBURG-LEESVILLE HIGH
MADISON ELIZABETH DUKES, a senior at Batesburg-Leesville High School, was named the 2010 Miss North-South All-Star Game Queen on Dec. 11 in Myrtle Beach. The daughter of Shane and Jamie Dukes of Batesburg-Leesville, she received a $1,000 scholarship.
MEGAN GOODSON has been named the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership seminar ambassador for B-L High. The seminar will be held at Erskine College June 24-26. A sophomore, she is the daughter of Mark and Joanne Goodson of Batesburg-Leesville.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
MIDLANDS SCHOOLS fared well at the S.C. Independent School Association State Middle School Math Meet in Orangeburg. In Division I, Hammond School’s Team 1 took first place and Hammond’s Team 2 brought home second-place honors. The team from Covenant Classical Christian School won Division II; Timmerman School and Lexington’s Heritage Academy tied for third place.
COLLEGES
HONORS
MARK WILLIAMS, a junior biology major at Coker College, presented his organic chemistry research, “Rapid and Efficient Synthesis of Bola-amphiphilic Diazridines” at the Southeast/Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans. Williams is from Irmo.
BENJAMIN NATHANIAL GOODING of Chapin graduated magna cum laude at North Greenville University’s December 2010 commencement. Gooding earned a bachelor’s degree in English.
RAYNIER G. ROMERO, a junior at Hampden-Sydney College, has been recognized as an outstanding leader in the 2011 edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.” A computer science and Spanish major, he is the son of Reynerio Romero and Arlenis Aranza of Columbia and a graduate of Blythewood High School.
FURMAN UNIVERSITY has announced students initiated into Kappa Delta Phi, international honor society on education. Inductees include Columbians Beth Day, Sarah Tiller and Ellen Traylor.
JULIA HITCHENS of Lexington graduated summa cum laude at North Greenville University’s December 2010 commencement. Hitchens earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
KAITLIN SHEALY of Lexington has been named a Hokie Ambassador for Virginia Tech. Students are chosen to represent the school because of their interest in the community and their love of their school and campus. Shealy is a sophomore majoring in landscape architecture.
SPARTANBURG METHODIST COLLEGE has announced students named to the president’s list for the fall semester of the 2010-11 academic year. Students who maintained a grade-point average of 3.8 or higher include David Burns, Daniel Harper and Katherine Newman.
PHILLIP SHARIAN HILDERBRAND of West Columbia graduated cum laude at North Greenville University’s December 2010 commencement. Hilderbrand earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management.
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE has announced students named to “Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges for 2010-11. Local students chosen on the basis of academic standing, participation in extracurricular activities and community service include Beth Michelle Dallas, Erica Louise Deahl, Kirsten Ann Hallman, Layton Davis Powers, Megan Elizabeth Ulmer and Terri Kristen Wilson.
SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY has announced its dean’s list for the fall semester of the 2010-11 academic year. Students earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher with no grade for any single course below 3.0 include Lesley Gadson, John Greco, Allie Johns, Ross McCoon, Carissa McNab, Mary Kathryn Rash and Moriah Sears.
SCHOLARSHIPS
JOHN WILLIAM LEONARD of Columbia has been awarded a Kansas State University Honors Scholarship for the 2010-11 academic year.
ASHLEY CAROLINE PADGETT of Lexington has been awarded a Kansas State University Timothy R. Donoghue Graduate Scholarship.