Easterling Primary celebrates American education week
By Latoya Thompson
Correspondent
During the week of Nov. 12-20, Easterling Primary School staff members celebrated American Education Week.
Beginning that week, school officials organized a custodian appreciation lunch. Nina Barr, a 10-year school custodian worker, said she really enjoys working at the school and helping students out by keeping the school clean and refreshed for the next morning.
Tuesday-Friday, cafeteria staff prepared foods for parents and guardians who accompanied their child during lunch. Also faculty members from the Marion School District 1 office accompanied Angie Grice, school principal, and Heather Hasty, school assistant principal, for lunch in the cafeteria on Tuesday.
The school’s parent coordinator, Susie Powell, helped to organize for this occasion and other activities throughout the week, she said.
All week long, cafeteria staff prepared tea, ham, and biscuits, along with a different vegetable and special dish, which included either of the following: macaroni and cheese, potatoes salad, potatoes casserole, and rice. Grice said about 600 parents dined in the cafeteria with their children. She said the turnout was much more than it has been in the past, adding that she was just as excited as the students to see the parents.
Also during the week, over 48 businesses in Marion County contributed gifts to nearly 80 staff members. Each day some staff members’ names were drawn on the W-FOX news, the school’s live morning news.
School administrators allowed faculty members to leave school for lunch, as part of the celebration as well. Hasty helped monitor students in the cafeteria while teachers picked up their lunches.
Also, faculty members were given free sub sandwiches, drinks, and chips for their hard and dedicated work in educating the students.
Grice says she looks forward to next years’ teacher and custodian appreciation week.
MSD7 school report cards show some improvement
By JENNIFER BARTELL
Reporter
When it comes to the district’s report card, a correlation exists between the poverty rate and the district’s absolute rating, Marion School District 7 Assistant Superintendent Deborah Barnhill said.
The poverty rating for MSD7 this year was 97.08 percent, the highest in the state, she said, and the annual dropout rate for the school improved from 6.9 percent to 2.2 percent. Barnhill and other school administrators presented the 2007 school report card highlights to the board at its Dec. 4 meeting. Though the district’s absolute rating was below average it’s improvement rating was good, Barnhill said. In 2004, 28 schools in the state received an unsatisfactory rating, this year 156 districts were rated unsatisfactory. “Every year the state raises the bar,” Barnhill added.
Barnhill also gave the report for Britton’s Neck Elementary. The school has made progress, but still has an absolute rating of unsatisfactory, she said. Creek Bridge Middle School had a rating of unsatisfactory, along with 45 other middle schools in the state, Principal Burnie Bell, said, adding that no middle school in the state earned the highest rating, excellent.
Creek Bridge High School had an absolute rating of below average and an improvement rating of average, up from unsatisfactory the year before.
Rains-Centenary Elementary School has an absolute rating for unsatisfactory and an improvement rating of good, Melissa McCloud, who was the principal of the school for the 2006-07 school year, said. The school also met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), something that had never been done, she said.
In other news, the district will be attempting to improve educational results for all students with disabilities, Director of Special Services Victoria Belin said. The district has a strategic plan for students with disabilities.
Belin added that the district will try to be more proactive rather than reactive to decrease the suspension and expulsion rate of students with disabilities.
The board unanimously passed the following selection procedures for architects; board policy GCQE, which brings the district’s retirement policy in accordance with the SC School Board Association’s policy; changing the January board meeting date to Jan. 8
After a closed session, the board approved the following:
* Recommendations of employment for a math teacher and elementary school teacher for the remainder of the school year. Motion unanimously passed.
* Extending Superintendent Everette Dean’s contract until 2010.
The motion passed with Board member Michael Hemingway voting against it.
For a closer look at the district and school report cards, visit http://ed.sc.gov/
Marion School of Music offers classes for 2-year-olds
CONTRIBUTED
For the past nine years, Marion County School of Music has offered children a chance at learning music, the arts. The school added the core curriculum three years ago.
Starting in January, 2-year- old children will be able to come to classes all day. They will participate in a Kinder Musik course, where they learn all of the basic skills to be well prepared for K-3. “Children learn so much when they are young. We under-estimate their abilities way too much,” says Rose C. Massey, director.
This program will give moms a chance to have their children cared for, but also to be taught all of the basic skills necessary to advance quickly.
Children will arrive early in the mornings and be able to stay until 6 p.m. For information, please call (843) 423-8166.
Johnakin Middle School students have Beta Club induction
CONTRIBUTED
Johnakin Middle School had is Junior Beta Club induction ceremony on Nov. 5. Monica Loadholt is the group’s sponsor. Officers, introduced and recognized with a candlelight ceremony, are Joey McGrath, president; Morgan Honaker, vice president; Ashleigh Evans, secretary; and Michala Blue, treasurer.
The following students were inducted into the club: Xakarey Baylor, Drucilla Burch, Sarah Dellinger, Kenay Dixon, LaQuasha Eaddy, Nasiir Edwards, James Elliott, Myranda Elvis, Geoffrey Fravor, Stefani Gaffney, Adrienne Graves, Alysha Harrell, April Henderson, Haley Herring, Kristin Ingram, Kendrick Johnson, Jheryka Jordan, Nicari Legette, Abre’ya Lewis, Taylor Martin, Tamera McGill, Jessie McNabb, Tre Mitchell, Courtney Perkins, Matthew Pridgen, Lucas Reynolds, Kristen Rogers, Marcedes Smith, Adays Sturkey, Tamara White, Alasha Wiggins, Andrew Williams, and Chas Young.
Johnson, Davis win poster contest
CONTRIBUTED
Seventh grader Mercedes Johnson and sixth grader Arion Davis are the winners for the Attendance Awareness Week poster contest at Johnakin Middle School.
Each received a bookbag with a lanyard, water bottle, and a “Safe Schools” T-shirt. Their posters are displayed at the middle school. A list of students who achieved Perfect Attendance for the first nine weeks has been posted in the main office.
A tardy party was on Friday, Nov. 30 for students who were punctual all 45 days of the first nine weeks with no punches and turned in the tardy card. New tardy cards have been issued for the second grading period. Students are encouraged to keep tardy cards with IDs at all times to avoid a tardy referral.
Also, parents are encouraged to be aware of the truancy laws. Any student obtaining three consecutive or five cumulative unlawful days will be truant. A medical (or parent) note should be sent to school within five days of an absence anytime a student is out of school.
The day(s) or period(s) will remain marked as unexcused until the note is received in the office. As we approach the holidays, we stress that all vacations and events be planned around the school schedule to avoid truancy.
Call Amy Sanders, attendance clerk, at (843) 423-8360 for information.
Williams awarded DAR good citizen award
Bruce Williams, a senior at Creek Bridge High School, was chosen by the school faculty as the school’s DAR Good Citizen. He was chosen based on his qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Williams now enters the DAR Good Citizens’ Scholarship contest at the chapter and state levels. He is the son of Bruce and Pam Williams of the St. James community.
Honor Rolls
Green Sea Floyds
Grade 6: A-B Honor Rolls - Matthew Brown, Moniqua Brown, Gunner Chancey, Jillian Bethea, Joshua Elliott, Hayden Fairfax, Austin Faulk, Colby Floyd, Hunter Floyd, Joanne Gonzalez, Heather Haynes, Anastazia Herrington, Katelynn Jones, Chase Strickland, and Quentin Strickland
Grade 7: A Honor Rolls - Krysten Elliott, Savannah Hooks and Michaela Hufford
A-B Honor Rolls - Nikolette Addington, Kevin Boatwright, Joshua Collins, Austin Ford, Ashley Ham, Ty Holmes, Holly Hughes, Anna Naughton, Jacqueline Rabon, Tanner Sarvis, Amber Seals, Damon Tunnell and Rey Worley
Grade 8: A Honor Roll - Ashli Bell and Catalina Reyna
A-B Honor Roll - Gualberto Campos, Brent Carlucci, Haley Caulder, Christopher Enzor, Christian Fowler, Jonathan Fox, Lisa Gabriel, Meaghan Gore, Calleen Hammond, Corey Hardwick, Winferd Holt, Zhane Jenerette, Emily Johnson, Jannae Johnson, Robert McGougan, Lashaay Reaves, Christina Snyder, Daniel Strickland, Savanna Strickland, Nathan Wagner, Kevin Wallace and Larry Wideman
Grade 9: A Honor Roll - Rebbecca Buffkin, Derrick Elliott, Chloe Gore and Adam Worley
A-B Honor Roll - Rebekah Brown, Taylor Buffkin, William Buffkin, Wesley Causey, Morgan Gore, Mequaia Haywood, Brandon Kirsch, Brittany McCracken, Michael Messetler, Lorenzo Rice, Michaela Sellers, Malcolm Shackerford, Jordan Small, Dreyshawn Smith, Paige Strickland and Louis Strickland
Grade 10: A Honor Roll - Katrina Archer, Leah Buffkin, Kathy Fowler, Tori Jordan, Jesse Nugent, Scott Strickland and Matthew Tyler
A-B Honor Roll - Marlo Bumbray, Shakura Campbell, James Davis, Louis Fowler, Leandra Hickerson, Emily Hickman, Brittany Hinson, Karen Johnson, Courtney Lewis, Ryan Moody, Taylor Norris, Latifa Perry, Caleb Sarvis, Caitlin Tiller, Brayli Wagner, Kasie Williamson and Kimberly Wilson
Grade 11: A Honor Roll - Kaitlin Boatwright, Sommer Causey, Elizabeth Elliott and Shonna Wallace
A-B Honor Roll - Stephanie Callahan, Brent Causey, Trevon Cheatham, Brandi Coates, Marcus Curry, Meagan Elliott, Zachary Fairfax, Kevin Farewell, Aleandria Floyd, Nicole Floyd, Channing Foley, Julianna Foley, Jonathan Grainger, Christopher Harrison, Shae Holmes, Jonathan Jaimes, Joshua Jones, Michelle Rice, Marissa Smith, Maranda Suggs, Edward Teal and Brittany Witherspoon
Grade 12: A Honor Roll - John Mark Elliott, Andrea Smith and Kim Snyder
A-B Honor Roll - Miranda Coatney, Brian Dew, Julious Goff, Joshua Hardee, Shaun Harris, Jose Jaimes, Kayla Lane, Melissa Lewis, Lauren Livesay-Hooks, Russ Ottaway, Sarah Stevens, Carie Strickland and Jenna Strickland
North Mullins Primary celebrates Book Week, National Education Week
Submitted by Shirley Lewis
North Mullins Primary celebrated “books” in many ways during the 2007 Children’s Book Week. The theme of this year’s celebration was “Rise Up Reading!” The school’s Media Specialist-Librarian, entertained guest speakers on the Morning TV Show which goes into each classroom.
Nathaniel Miller, superintendent of Marion School District 2 and Coleman Barbour, Principal of Palmetto Middle School, were two speakers who spoke on the importance of reading. Students were involved in various activities, such as Guess How Many Books are in the Library and a Create a Book Jacket Contest in collaboration with Mrs. Sharon Jernigan, art teacher.
The culminating activity was a Storybook Character Dress-up Parade with students and staff, escorted by Mullins Police Department and Mike Sutton, principal.
Winners of the Book Jacket Contest were 2nd Grade: Precious Akins; Austin Bass; 1st Grade: Camorra Davis; Jordan Brantley; Winners of the Guess How Many Books are in the Library Contest: 2nd Grade: Savannah Rogers; Jonathan Buffkin; 1st Grade: Nia Timmons; Dylan Hotaling.
Students deliver food
The Marion County Health Occupation Students of America collected and delivered food to the Council on Aging in Marion County.
McCormick Elementary winners
Contributed
McCormick Elementary School in Mullins and Marion Intermediate School recently held poster contests in honor of National Bullying Awareness Week, Nov. 19 - 23.
There were several participants in both schools. The winners for Marion Intermediate School were: 1st Place, Ronnicia Jenkins, 2nd Place, Rationna Charles and Honorable Mention, Lonesha Bethea.
For McCormick Elementary School, the winners were: 1st Place, Claudia Gonzalez, 2nd Place, Daja Hickson, and Honorable Mentions were awarded to Ja'Nautica Watts and Jasyri Brown. The poster contest was sponsored by Paula Grant, Director of Safe Schools Healthy Students with District 2 and Deborah Rogers, Prevention Specialist for Trinity Behavioral Care in Marion.
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