׉?ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://L0MqOJjbZPazVnQUlTWke1tjfOo4e6uXicGa3wGAU_Eh`׉ 7cassandra://j16VenIjRRB1d6V5FkqIj3j0fWU_JfKJ3N1Utq1QZ1gM`s׉ 7cassandra://2qSTRTJ_HmK6IXvWT4-Wwab0OXPnqlzqyLh2jC26QbwC`׉ 7cassandra://SVAcPGEl6-42DBY4pgjSOBUPVUwlfd8iBSphrI9iS8Ak͠]\V䰮UYט(u׈׈E\V䰮UI׉E׉ 7cassandra://2qSTRTJ_HmK6IXvWT4-Wwab0OXPnqlzqyLh2jC26QbwC`\V䰮UJ\V䰮UI(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://Wn7NwqoYC7boRYOvRtUZCMKi5niuP65xPXStp226cpM`׉ 7cassandra://4Ffsc6qXmiaDC8toFvrKVVh6JLxUhs5yMP7bqo5uWtg͟=`s׉ 7cassandra://w_K9eXtliMQv2sEODKNaBXgGzN8b6BM5xO2sifr2iDs/G`׉ 7cassandra://dsdttpKFtXxE8QVpHE95oBJKkYqtUmNkogOVa9YgmlI͠]\V䰮U\ט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://bOUb20b40tpS2YIJPIoh13hSglmWJTgU1gmClNJKBJQ7`׉ 7cassandra://uMOK5-_szTWoELMQfdvG3xNXe8Yyi9IDJBtD74uGnzM͞`s׉ 7cassandra://kzJAW4n7gDriMKXnqlKKYzaaKT3sZOCMCLr75ZO3EhM/5`׉ 7cassandra://dBLs6xpLikeiSfR3ocOOoVolJ8ySvNpoxCzqlJVXijk*͠]\V䰮U]׉E McLaurin Elementary School Gives Back to First Responders After the events that occurred on October 3, 2018 McLaurin came together as a school to honor law enforcement officers in different ways. This tragedy greatly affected the McLaurin family. Unfortunately a few students at our school were directly impacted by the shootings because of the loss of their aunt, Farrah Turner. Officer Turner was highly involved with students and staff at McLaurin Elementary School. Because of this, and the fact that many law enforcement families belong to our school, we felt the need to give back to the law enforcement community. One of the fundraisers that a few staff members took charge of was buying and selling over 800 bracelets that read “Not All Heroes Wear Capes”, “In Memory of Officer Turner”. McLaurin students and staff bought over 700 bracelets and raised over $1,000 for Farrah’s family. A first grade McLaurin student felt called to do more for Farrah’s family. This student knew Officer Turner personally and thought of her as a true hero. She drew and designed stickers honoring Farrah and other police officers in the Florence community. Along with stickers, she also designed a t-shirt with the logo “Live like Farrah.” The stickers and shirts were sold at school and all proceeds went to Officer Turner’s family. The last fundraiser that McLaurin did was called “Change for Change.” This fundraiser was designed to raise change for Florence City Police Department and Florence County Sheriff’s Department. Classrooms battled against one another to bring in the most change. The school was able to raise over $600 for the departments. To show our appreciation to all officers in Florence the teachers of McLaurin came together and decided to have a breakfast on December 17th honoring them. As the officers entered the building students lined the walkway and applauded them. The students held signs and gave officers high-fives as they passed through. When the officers signed in they were greeted with a display of pictures and inspirational quotes honoring first responders. The officers were then provided a breakfast donated by Krispy Kreme, Julia Belle’s, and the McCall family. While eating breakfast students from various classes recited poems and sang songs of encouragement for the officers. One of the most special songs students sang was “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. After students presented their program, the family of Farrah Turner was presented the monetary donations raised from the wristband fundraiser. To end the program Florence County Sheriff’s Department and Florence City Police Department were presented with over $300 each from the “Change for Change” drive. McLaurin is so thankful for the men and women that serve as first responders in our community every day. We were humbled to serve them and present them with a small token of our appreciation for risking their lives for us daily. ׉ 7cassandra://w_K9eXtliMQv2sEODKNaBXgGzN8b6BM5xO2sifr2iDs/G`\V䰮UK׉E Triple R Club at Carver teaches students to be environmentally responsible out things. Our club members are adopting a “Trash to Treasure” philosophy! This year, we have created watercolor paints from dried out markers, we have turned old broken crayons into new crayons, and we have started creating edging around some of the landscape beds with plastic bottle caps. We are also recycling milk cartons from the cafeteria to use as planters in our Carver Garden, and we are Carver’s Triple R Club (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) is a club that focuses on Environmental education and awareness for 3rd and 4th grade students at Carver Elementary. Our mission is to give students an “Environmental Conscience” and build a foundation for students to become environmentally responsible members of our community. Our projects focus primarily on reducing the amount of trash we create by repurposing items that would end up in the trash and finding a new use for old, worn creating classroom planters from empty plastic gallon jugs. In addition, we pick up trash around Carver’s campus several times a year. This is a STEM based club focused on the real world problem of protecting and maintaining our environment. Taking pride in your community is so important and it’s definitely a hands-on, learning experience. As they make and create things with repurposed items, we continually discuss ways to keep things out of the landfills and give new life to something that would otherwise be thrown away. The most rewarding experience in the club is our trash sweep of the Carver campus. In a very short amount of time, we usually manage to fill several bags of trash. This activity makes our students much more aware of how much littering can change the look of our landscape. They become much more responsible about disposing of trash and they are very eager to spread the word to other students after this activity. As the club sponsors, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Oliver are thrilled to be making a lasting impression on students with such a valuable lesson. The Carver Triple “R” club fosters a “growth mindset” among students while introducing them to the idea of being environmentally responsible.. Principal Josie Little is happy to have the Triple “R” club at Carver. “These club members are being exposed to an idea that will make a lasting impact on them all of their lives. It is our hope that these students will remember these experiences and become environmentally responsible citizens.” ׉ 7cassandra://kzJAW4n7gDriMKXnqlKKYzaaKT3sZOCMCLr75ZO3EhM/5`\V䰮UL\V䰮UK(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://2DA25Z7wPHWYDqUA3-_mXft9z6alHu60SDlAIzU2mqM`׉ 7cassandra://J2b635-XAdLPgOBpbvHtYJLbemd3olfUwd8Vmwhy_rA͑j`s׉ 7cassandra://T3VfN8zO1KAWZYF2tK4TsiSJREqQcqjYnAAL5g3_GL8+`׉ 7cassandra://xGX-6m5rI5A-fxkhgKHoXhoSRCKx-tFhZpw4oEuAl58`͠]\V䰮U`ט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://A1DaSFVu3tOCoW5Bnbe7aymLG9wL3WrXYhRi5rxphYI9`׉ 7cassandra://lFRcrdA9kyp_2lV1aNH4CYk1QCHW0rSDifwz8RoKXEQ͇|`s׉ 7cassandra://YrLgmSbtLcaTbfN1-qPVT4RVn5pOcLTOXnc_jDX2D2o)C`׉ 7cassandra://4Rjm3cqD63AwN05m6WDBpUrbnr9vntsl2VNfSG0NwKoT͠]\V䰮Ua׉EaLion’s Club at Moore Intermediate teaches students soft skills, gives insight into careers Moore Intermediate’s Lion’s Club meets monthly and serves about twenty fifth and sixth grade students. It is led by one of Moore’s teachers and assistant principals, Chris Shaul and Luke Matthews, as well as a local businessman Glen Godfrey, owner of Quality Air Tool. Academic and behavioral components consistently push students to give their best in the classroom while a broader focus directs students towards possible vocational careers and skillsets that will enable them to provide for and serve others. Many youth today have excellent teachers and schools they excel in academically. One of our goals is to deliver a better rounded individual with a broader awareness of the skills needed to succeed in life’s arena. Should one of our young men choose not to change the oil or brakes on his own vehicle, he will know whether or not he’s being taken advantage of at the local garage because he has performed the actual task and knows all it entails. We want students to know that college is but one of many options in life, alongside trade schools and the military. For this reason we visit businesses like Pee Dee Tank to see production of large welded fuel tanks, the Florence One Career Center, Francis Marion University as well as have visits from military veterans and the West Florence JROTC. We want to expose students to the elements of life not taught in the classroom and thus have real conversations with our young men. How does one treat a lady? How does one relate to an elderly resident in the nursing home or next door? What is his role in being a contributing member of a family around the house and, in the future, to his community and country? As time and funds allow, our desire is to see our students go out as responsible young men with a servant’s heart. ׉ 7cassandra://T3VfN8zO1KAWZYF2tK4TsiSJREqQcqjYnAAL5g3_GL8+`\V䰮UM׉ELucy T. Davis is proud to announce the addition of the Makerspace Lab! The Makerspace Lab provides hands-on, creative ways of encouraging students to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). Students visit this lab on a rotation schedule. In the lab, students participate in activities such as 3-Dimensional printing, coding, robotics, animation, engineering and much more. These activities require students to use collaboration and creative thinking to solve problems while learning and having fun. We believe these collaborative activities will improve student achievement, while increasing confidence and inclusivity. Engaging students in STEAM based learning is one of our core beliefs. The Profile of a South Carolina Graduate states our students should be developing skills of creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, communication, information media and technology, and knowing how to learn. Inquiry, collaboration, and an emphasis on process-based learning are the core essentials of our lab. During the Maker Space Lab, student groups have tasks that inspire curiosity and compel them to ask questions and seek solutions. If you are curious about how you can promote STEAM at home? Here are a few tips:  Read with your child. Books can open a door to new diverse places, ideas, and careers that students may never experience. A quick web search will bring up tons of STEAM themed children’s books.  Cooking as a family can teach fractions, temperature, geometry and creativity.  Promote coding as part of your child’s tech time at home. Allow them to teach you how to code.  Give your child building challenges using household materials.  Encourage wonder by going on nature walks, stargazing, and visiting zoos and museums. We are excited about our Makerspace Lab here at Lucy T. Davis as we work to provide our students with life skills and knowledge to be successful! ׉ 7cassandra://YrLgmSbtLcaTbfN1-qPVT4RVn5pOcLTOXnc_jDX2D2o)C`\V䰮UN\V䰮UM(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://cfObkPy1Q8lpcmJkiCqZot6eTF3RnI2vCC33HAuHcNA`׉ 7cassandra://sqEXhrHwL_BqkRveajBZ7y1Q5cjO1oG_BrunSWhaGHw͌`s׉ 7cassandra://OJyIZK9UrrUNrY--oXYaPG67JM3FRv0hQaymkkzjUSw*`׉ 7cassandra://1FJNezvduzKnRCnJ1t1r9MY8nyA-KhMpf9dtRbpTG3Y%͠]\V䰮Udט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://epUnEWLAktLTIq-Fs5Pmc3HfHl3zj4PxXHraq7EF1v0%`׉ 7cassandra://g0TwBXpTIXrBdiij-IRlDsSwGEFqXFpcHV9T5v1qBTA͉o`s׉ 7cassandra://pREzCnwcZkH8eaiM9LlN-mOf_COyonNrKvpg9ppmm9Q-H`׉ 7cassandra://MccE7m1cJKfpAmPCP9yaYv0ekkGZNY9Zwf5oYcBsgDIP͠]\V䰮Ue׉E3Briggs Elementary School has a long standing tradition of excellence in Florence, SC. This excellence is a result of the partnership between families, community members and organizations, and our school. Our parents and community support and engage with our school. This is the key to our success. Ongoing research shows that family engagement in schools improves student achievement and restores parents’ confidence in their children’s education. We engage with our parents through weekly reflective newsletters, studentled conferences, and family events. Parents are involved and committed to their child’s academic journey at Briggs. Our Mentors Matter Program provides our students with support in reading and math. This partnership with our local churches and high schools has been one of our biggest blessings. Over the last five years our Association of Parents and Teachers, School Improvement Council, and community members have worked to fund capital improvements in our school. Every classroom has new tile flooring. The walls are colorful and many have beautiful murals. Bathrooms are pressured washed and painted. Water fountains have been replaced with bottle filling stations with filters. Smith Park has tables with umbrellas for our students to enjoy. An outdoor learning area is being built by a former Bulldog, near our garden and chicken coop. Eagle Scouts have funded and built informational kiosks on our school grounds. Community members built a composting station and donations allowed for a chicken coop. Local businesses have donated time and money to ensure our students have opportunities to learn and grow at Briggs. Our family-schoolcommunity partnerships are what allows Briggs Elementary School’s faculty and staff members to educate, prepare, and inspire our students. Thank you for supporting Briggs! ׉ 7cassandra://OJyIZK9UrrUNrY--oXYaPG67JM3FRv0hQaymkkzjUSw*`\V䰮UO׉EuRead for a Bead encourages love of reading, student interaction with community businesses Read for a Bead is a reading endeavor which allows students in grades K-4 to connect with Delmae Element ary School’s business partners and encourages reading at the same time. Students have the entire month of March to fill out their “Read for a Bead” reading log and collect colored beads. After reading a book, the student records the title and a sentence about the book on their reading log. They then have to visit a business partner where they share a little about the book, such as why they liked the book. Each business partner location has a representative available to sign the reading log and presents the student with their bead. Students need to collect five beads, one of each color. This is the third year that Delmae students participated in Read for a Bead. Delmae is excited to have gained five new business partners this year, bringing their total to 33 business partners who are supporting literacy through Read for a Bead! Business partners range from fast food restaurants and banks to gas stations and the Drs. Bruce and Lee Library. After collecting all five beads students wear their ‘Read for a Bead’ necklace to school and their name is added to the ‘Bead Board’ display. A completed necklace qualifies students to play in the spring ‘Bead Ball Game” at Delmae. ׉ 7cassandra://pREzCnwcZkH8eaiM9LlN-mOf_COyonNrKvpg9ppmm9Q-H`\V䰮UP\V䰮UO(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://c3fyDVmyfsiZWiWuTErbr_4BB9_XqlIhWnW9kv528BQ`׉ 7cassandra://Pal7LfOgcgE_IJ8X-GitQutnPJVhnYYJNVbjGkPFv74}}`s׉ 7cassandra://FZu4kB_ydnzNXt8WCytjuzr3nWDVz7wt6waHrJx6cDw+`׉ 7cassandra://SQUngyGalAZHAkLC_nYilqqdHY53HSWR9D9QuO7X37I@͠]\V䰮Ugט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://e4xf0T_cb6r2V85vtoTFO9TPKxCWE0GokEXfZNtwzEIDd`׉ 7cassandra://_83d6fBVv_VlIbxzg-nsfYHoH38X3uYx95FiYRchi4c͉`s׉ 7cassandra://vY7LVxw-YwTtAvzJ-1QYd_TVUH5yy8ZV6FaiIRnl4K8+H`׉ 7cassandra://G8p9-vK0ufdtd_vJ2ODb37I2-4-EFgFFuxrf_iJ5sQ4\͠]\V䰮Uh׉EqPoetry Alive was a week long residency program for all of our 5th grade students and teachers in which two Poetry Alive actors worked with the students on various literacy components that included Cloze reading of poetry to gain a deeper understanding of the poem, various performance elements such as blocking, scripting, and performing the poem for an audience. Every 5th grade student worked in collaborative teams of 3-5 all week with the teachers and performers to select, plan, rehearse, and perform a poem during their own Poetry Alive! Student Showcase for their grade level peers and parents at the end of the week. ׉ 7cassandra://FZu4kB_ydnzNXt8WCytjuzr3nWDVz7wt6waHrJx6cDw+`\V䰮UQ׉E[Imagine leaving your home and traveling all the way to another country, being away from family and friends for months. That is exactly what the new West Florence International students are doing, adding new flavor and experiences to the 2018-2019 school year. They are studying here for one year, living the American life. The International students take mostly senior level courses and electives of their choice. For most they are excited to take Journalism classes as well as courses such as art, chorus, PE, and theatre arts. Each year the International students bring some of their home countries to our students during International Education Week. They display posters, artifacts, play music, wear their native clothing and, if you are lucky, you will get to taste some of their food from home! The students do classroom presentations throughout the week as teachers will request that International students to come to their rooms. Both the students and teachers enjoy this week so very much! Being away from home takes a great deal of maturity and independence. Our International students continue to grow in many facets. They will take their experiences from West Florence back to their home country and tell all of their family and friends what a great experience this has been. Miles and miles will separate us but our bond with each other will forever remain. ׉ 7cassandra://vY7LVxw-YwTtAvzJ-1QYd_TVUH5yy8ZV6FaiIRnl4K8+H`\V䰮UR\V䰮UQ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://-42bwiZ7Fe_CsFFEUpU0CjThM27CubW8KS9rDa7x7Wk `׉ 7cassandra://itAbKe3obII0hsFAgReOggQ4Ef9dkzZCFX1fN5-WTm0͔#`s׉ 7cassandra://7kp1mvmArux7p14FOFo9p3v0OdJ4Ewg5xISGaEd8Nd8/`׉ 7cassandra://i-gM-mknuah60SHgKJxQ0vlKhTXNh6FN-Aw2rBeZgm09͠]\V䰮Ujט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://Ez86wI0jkDmII5WifVJvLW7E40EjB9-Wy254ZlYVff4O`׉ 7cassandra://EVuoYDQnpWt3WiVb8vXx4MzLELHKgZd9V3ZQ91m1rYc͘`s׉ 7cassandra://nqsEfHdgV6uysRxBY87N71QYtXp7AZRauBiUD9H9k1A/`׉ 7cassandra://eJLCcRozWzlWR4RWZzwpgG0Yo4dTAKGauNKBuWIvsWI T@͠]\V䰮Ukנ\V䰮Uo-9ׁHhttp://n.orgׁ ׁ Јנ\V䰮Unj9ׁHhttp://www.ecׁ ׁ Ј׉EOn Tuesday, March 19, Lester Elementary featured a Reading “Camp-in” Adventure Family Literacy Night. The Camp-In Adventure was a collaborative effort between Lester Elementary School and the Presbyterian Church Boy Scout Troop #477. Parents and students participated in Campfire Bingo, reading with Boy Scouts, Making Kindness Rocks, Adaptive Literacy Activities, STEM activities with Quest Zone representatives, Camp Fire Food (Hot dogs, chili, cookies & chips) and door prizes. During STEM activities students and parents explored bubble composition. Are all bubbles circular or do bubbles take on the shape of the blower used to create it? Students experimented with triangular, square and rectangular shape blowers to answer that question. Saturday, March 30, 2019, Lester’s 5-6th grade autism students and parents camped out on school grounds and continued the adventure with outside activities. ׉ 7cassandra://7kp1mvmArux7p14FOFo9p3v0OdJ4Ewg5xISGaEd8Nd8/`\V䰮US׉EvE-Colors in Education is about emotional intelligence and having effective communication with others. Michele Hayes, Southside health teacher, received certification to become a trainer in facilitating Ecolors. With the support of Principal Washington, Mrs. Hayes has administered and presented the concept to students, and staff to support continuous improvement in our school community. Additionally, to expand the concept of E-Colors, Southside Middle School hosted an "E-Color Night", Tuesday, January 29, 2019 to get parents and the community members involved in understanding their emotional intelligence. Through EColors, we hope to help our school in areas such as:  Developing staff & students into leaders who are intentional with communication  Building a strong team compass guided by the organization's mission, vision, values and strategies  Enhancing team cohesion and discipline in the areas of safety, reliability, efficiency and productivity. Southside hopes to continue to use E-colors to learn more about our staff, students and school community. We plan to improve relationships and build a stronger school community. We believe positive relationships matter and are essential to a school’s success. To find out your ecolor, use the link below. https:// www.ecolorsineducatio n.org E-colors is a way to understand yourself better and others. Find out YOUR e-colors. ׉ 7cassandra://nqsEfHdgV6uysRxBY87N71QYtXp7AZRauBiUD9H9k1A/`\V䰮UT\V䰮US(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://24eEGmK_Znq7j8BZScxAhF8bl7ylPn5FXyN5gMprEu8y`׉ 7cassandra://Tx9V5z37HrEJB8QwspuX6sAQnc8yT71ltYkWyNsN_co͛9`s׉ 7cassandra://EWs7OvIGikESjPZjLm6Ifnq1ZHKFT8PCZeOkqjzN4u8+`׉ 7cassandra://2ebN7ouGoZw6PpgGxo_Zvg8I-lrsFGLmczyw8CIfSPk ͠]\V䰮Upט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://FcSuFUBnWu95MkpUtNyx8T_3JTLrvBIKITbV41CSfBQ#`׉ 7cassandra://7bzO9vyXebPR3O02sDQcFkH50O2oSUb3YQsgCjZw3VM͈`s׉ 7cassandra://7peBj1ywDp9Lq8B_mn7zilQa3wNuNRA11JJsJEwLP7g,`׉ 7cassandra://5EmiW8zNLv7md4kVmZElq6HRzsOcf6MAI56ahV6oBuIZ͠]\V䰮Uq׉ESneed’s Colors are Green and Gold (With an Emphasis On Green) Sneed Middle School, the only Green Steps certified school in Florence County, is helping its students become environmentally responsible individuals through a host of varied projects. To become a Green Steps school, students must outline a vision for at least four projects (Sneed currently has 11), and those projects must be sustained for a year. Students are required to show evidence of “learning, doing, and teaching” each of the projects. Sneed’s projects include campus-wide recycling, pollinator gardens, a raised bed vegetable and herb garden, Adopt-a-Street litter pickup, composting, plant-inevery-classroom, Breathe Better Air Quality Program, hydroponics, and bottle cap murals. Sneed also boasts a new greenhouse, two on-site beehives, and a milkweed project that aims to help our struggling monarch population. Sneed’s clubs are active in public outreach to help spread the message of sustainability throughout the region. Our 4-H Club speaks on the importance of pollinators at both area agricultural fairs and at Kalmia Gardens’ Earth Fair celebration. The Recycling and Environmental Action Clubs partner with Keep Florence Beautiful and Clemson Extension to educate the public about microplastics during Florence after Five events, and participate in the River Sweep and Great American Cleanup. 4-H member William Howard’s bee project won both the Florence County and PeeDee Regional 4-H Pollinator Project contests. Environmental Education projects are also incorporated into Sneed’s Seventh Grade Science curriculum. All 7th Grade Science students visited Kalmia Gardens of Coker College this fall to study microplastics, composting, the amazing Black Creek watershed, and the importance of protecting our natural world. By fostering students’ appreciation for the natural world through hands-on projects and activities, Sneed is helping students to feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the world we live in, and is working to improve our community. ׉ 7cassandra://EWs7OvIGikESjPZjLm6Ifnq1ZHKFT8PCZeOkqjzN4u8+`\V䰮UU׉E7Dewey L. Carter held a Positive Behavior Block Party to celebrate students making positive behavior choices for the third 9-weeks of school. Students with no office or bus referrals for the entire quarter were rewarded with a snack, drink, games and music outside. Additionally, students were able to go shopping at the Dewey Dollar store using Dewey Dollars earned by following school expectations. Students have the opportunity to spend their Dewey Dollars at the end of each quarter as an extra incentive to be safe, responsible, and respectful. It was a fun day! ׉ 7cassandra://7peBj1ywDp9Lq8B_mn7zilQa3wNuNRA11JJsJEwLP7g,`\V䰮UV\V䰮UU(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://wniLahYJ_7sGY851IjA64QmcGtNhHVpKW2o8hhVf8CA&`׉ 7cassandra://JPLASfZUozuiVL6XjbL6u2dtfQvA4-ZWsJujdkJOcCY?`s׉ 7cassandra://sryA_opeTwfRIRjDy6UkieMSRLTL4RRl9-j-r5T2KlA`׉ 7cassandra://8sS4t4MmsgvI2Qr8XG4Y4GcoFh4H_LrmpKbzmdoWLfw ̨͠]\V䰮Us׉E׉ 7cassandra://sryA_opeTwfRIRjDy6UkieMSRLTL4RRl9-j-r5T2KlA`\V䰮UW׈E\V䰮UX\V䰮UW(,$Students First Newsletter March 2019\Viڛ3