Marion County Education

Students can compete for cash in video contest

Contributed

South Carolina’s First Lady Jenny Sanford, along with the State Education Department, has launched a Healthy S.C. School Video Contest for students. The contest, in full swing, challenges students to create 30-60 second videos about the importance of being healthy and chronic disease prevention.

The contest runs through Jan. 31 and students can submit videos to qualify for cash prizes. Each month a winning video will receive $3,500 and the runner up will receive $1,500. Schools of the winning videos will also win prizes. Additionally, an e-mailed press release issued by Sanford reports, anyone can vote to pick the winning videos.

To see the current contest videos and to vote on a favorite, visit http://www.ourstage.com/video/channel/58-healthy-challenge. The contest is also viewable online through www.healthysc.gov, where anyone can access the contest rules and fill out an application to enter the contest. After logging onto www.healthysc.gov, click “vote on videos” in the upper left corner.

Johnakin Middle school students remember, participate in Red Ribbon Week

Contributed

Students were given a brief history of Red Ribbon week and why we celebrate each year. Good character and positive choices are necessary to take a visible stand against drugs and to live a drug-free life.

Activities included Red Ribbon Day Positive Thoughts by students during the morning announcements. Those participating were LaQueshia Kinney, Michala Blue, Nache Mullins, Morgan Honaker, Lakeena Reed, Devon Williams, Aliyah Floyd, Kenny Moore and Joshua Davis. These students received a Red Ribbon bracelet, book marker, and pencil.  The Art Department sponsored an anti-drug poster competition. First place went to Bria Barr, second place went to Brittany Elliott, and third place went to Kalvin Wilkerson. Honorable mentions went to Sara Davis, Shawanda Davis, Shania Lane, Caitlyn Rogers, Joshua Swanson, and Phillip White. Prices were provided by Burger King and the JMS Guidance Department. Other activities included red food in the cafeteria, treats with drug-free messages, team up for school spirit and against drugs, and individual classroom activities.

JMS students receives training

Seventh and eighth grade PE classes received First Aid and CPR training during health classes in October. Students scoring 80 percent or higher on written and practical tests will receive certification through the American Red Cross. Of the 157 students who took the tests, 83 were certified in first aid and 27 received Adult, Child and Infant CPT certifications. Congratulations to all who were certified!

Rains Centenary and Creek Bridge High meet AYP

Contributed By Denise Miles

South Carolina schools received their annual No Child Left Behind report recently, and Marion 7 is pleased to announce that two of the district schools met Adequate Yearly Progress. Rains Centenary Elementary and Creek Bridge High School both met AYP this past year.

NCLB requires that schools and districts separate performance data into a number of student “subcategories” that include ethnicity, special education, poverty and limited English ability. The more demographic categories a school has, the more goals it must meet. Both Rains Centenary and Creek Bridge each met 13 out of 13 goals. Britton’s Neck Elementary met 10 out of 13 goals. As a district, Marion 7 met 11 out of 19 goals. No district in the state met AYP. If even one subcategory of students doesn’t meet its goal for that year, or if more than five percent of those students weren’t tested, the school does not meet AYP for that year. Elementary and middle schools must also have an overall attendance rate above 94 percent in order to meet AYP. In addition, high schools will not meet AYP if graduation rates decline from the previous year.

NCLB relies on Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) scores to determine performance ratings for elementary and middle schools. High school performance data comes from student performance on the High School Assessment Program (HSAP).

Tech certifies students for ServSafe

Marion County Technical Education Center’s first-year Culinary Arts students recently took the examination for ServSafe certification and now 13 of the students are nationally certified by ServSafe standards.

Primary gets $500 ExxonMobil grant

North Mullins Primary has received a $500 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program. Bushner and Richard Little, Operations Manager of Mullins Tiger Mart worked with school officials to secure the grant which is one of 4,000 available to schools across the country. The grants were made possible by funding from the Exxon Mobil Corporation. North Mullins thanks Tiger Mart #20 for this grant. 

MSD7 administrators share accomplishments, goals

By JoANNE HICKEY

Reporter

Most of the three-hour Marion School District 7 board meeting on Nov. 6 entailed presentation of test data by principals and school administrators; and quarterly updates for each school’s strategic/accountability plan, school renewal plan and focus plan.

Melissa McCloud, former Rains Center Elementary principals, and former Britton’s Neck Elementary Principal Angela Slagle discussed Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test results for grades three to eight. They noted that PACT data is one of the factors examined by NCLB to make AYP determinations. The presentation showed the percentage of students testing below basic, basic, proficient and advanced for each grade level, from 2005 to 2007, in content areas tested — math, English language arts, science and social studies.

In McCloud’s presentation, she praised the sixth grade, where a significant percentage of students tested proficient in writing and showed gain in math.  She noted that fifth and sixth grade teachers attended professional development training and it appears to have been effective. McCloud directed trustees to a story in their folders, about RCE being featured in “Promising Partnership Practices” in a John’s Hopkins publication.

Bell and CBMHS Curriculum Interventionist Melonie Gordon delivered middle and high school test results to trustees. Gordon said she’s pleased with the increase in percentage of students achieving proficient and advanced in PACT scores for grades seven to 12.

Assistant Superintendent Deborah Barnhill used slideshow format to chart high school Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, noting that results fell slightly in verbal and math. She said only senior class scores are relevant at the national level.

Barnhill presented PACT data for the district. She said that District 7 met 11 out of 19 NCLB objectives for 2007, and added, “No district in the state made AYP this year.”

Her presentation spotlighted one particular class that tested low every year ... as fifth, then sixth and then seventh graders. Any number of factors could have led to this class falling behind, Barnhill said, but the data identifies them as a target for aggressive intervention, to try to turn things around.

She added, “We’re making gains —  we’re moving,” and observed that teachers and students need to become aware of AYP goals, to understand what they need to achieve. Principals and administrators next delivered strategy and focus reports for their respective schools.

Slagle, now overseeing Rains-Centenary Early Childhood Center, reported strategic plans as follows: to increase language and vocabulary; to increase social skills; to increase family literacy; to provide a safe, nurturing environment; to improved communication between the school, the home and the community; and to get parents involved at home.

Barnhill listed tools the district is providing — resource materials, new science textbooks, membership in the Center for Excellence for Teaching Children of Poverty (Francis Marion University), integration of technology into classrooms (iAm laptop computers), and tutors.

Bell highlighted strategies at CBMHS, such as integrating SAT type problems into the curriculum, a credit recovery program, tutors for ninth graders, the career and “World of Work” program, newsletters to staff and parents, “good news” stories on the school Web site, and character education.

McCloud, principal of BNE, said the focus there is to improve science and social studies instruction. Plans are to have teachers attend conferences; and to identify schools that are having success, go out and look, and bring back ideas. BNE will also utilize technology in lessons.

Marion High asks permission to take senior trip

By Naeem Mcfadden

Reporter

Marion School District 1 gave out commendations to two Marion High School students at this past week’s meeting. Matt Scuggs was recognized for receiving the All-Star Cast award by the South Carolina Theatre Association and honor student, Ben DeMarco was commended for his high PSAT score.

Brenda Jackson presented the Board of Trustees with the audit report of the 2006-07 fiscal year. Jackson informed that them that the net assets of the district total $20.4 million dollars. The general fund balance of $2.5 million dollars equates to 60 days of working capital for the school district. The board approved the audit report.

Marion High School senior class sponsor Brandi Cook spoke on behalf of the students requesting approval for a school-sponsored senior class trip. Cook asked that the students be allowed to travel to Universal Studios and Walt Disney World for the theme park’s “Grad Night” celebration. The price quote for the trip is $185 per person, including rented security from the travel agency, but not including the cost of transportation, she said.

There would be at least one chaperon for every 10 students, Cook said. For students making the trip, the school’s code of conduct will be enforced and before the date of the trip, seniors signing up must have a record of good behavior during the school year. Departure is tentatively set for April 25, 2008.

Vice-Chair Lynn McElveen says a school-sponsored senior trip has yet to be approved, adding that liability concerns are the main reason. “I just don’t think we have enough insurance or coverage or liability,” she said. MHS Principal Alfred McFadden said an attorney was consulted and gave the green light.

“Many of these students wouldn’t have another opportunity like this...,” Superintendent Michael Lupo said. Until the liability concerns are alleviated, and there is discussion with the district’s attorney, the motion was tabled.

Director of Business Operations Al Blake told the board about a request to lease the district former office building to the Marion County Combined Drug Unit. Board members approved a motion to lease the building for the remainder of the fiscal year for $327.25.

The board approved the installation of a new roof at Johnakin Middle School, awarding Sun Belt roofing the $284,500 contract.

Marion High School have raised funds for an LED sign and trustees approved a motion to match the $10,200 raised by the school to purchase the sign.

Karen Scruggs made a presentation on behalf of Marion Intermediate School, regarding a program to promote healthy eating habits.

Scruggs a school nurse, has received a mini-grant titled “Action for Healthy Kids.” The school will be teaching third grade students about proper nutrition and exercise, beginning this month. To keep track of their physical activity while at school, the students received pedometer to record each step.

Technology coach Anne Hood and Kevin Owens provided information regarding the E2T2 grant. Enhancing education through technology, a $200,000 grant award, focusing on middle school students, provides each with laptop computers. Johnakin  has been equipped with 37 smart boards and 75 laptop computers. A parent outreach partnership with the Door of Hope Christian Church, provides training to parents.