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April/May 2018

ACROSS THE DISTRICT

AWESOME APs: We saluted Lexington Two ’s 22 APs during National Assistant Principals Week, April 9-13. We appreciate all they do for our stu-dents and schools! (Right, the group recently held its final AP cohort of the year)

FINANCIAL REPORTING AWARD: Lexington Two has been awarded a Certificate in Achieve-ment for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The award was announced by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Cana-da, as part of its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The Certificate in Achievement is the highest recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting.

SC JUNIOR SCHOLARS: Twenty-six eighth-graders have been named South Carolina Junior Scholars. The program, developed by the state Department of Education, identifies eighth-grade stu-dents with high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability through testing and other criteria, of-fering summer opportunities through South Carolina colleges and universities, according to the de-partment website. Honorees include: Busbee Creative Arts Academy, Rylee Burr; Fulmer Middle, Jackson Bouknight, Arthur Kaminski, Chase Keisler, Sally Skinner; Pine Ridge Middle, Tiffany Lin, Jillian Jacques. Jordan Jacques, Jennifer Hughes; Northside Middle, Ainsley Allen, Joshua Arega, Abigail Boone, Luke Carroll, Cassie Drew, Zachary Garrison, Cole Geyer, Macy Giles, Bruce Pow-ers, Chaz Pierce, Sydney Springs, Chloe Sturkie, Tara O’Toole, Kaia Vega, Jackson Ward, Katelyn Welch, Dylan Whitman.

SODEXO AWARD: Congratulations to Lexington Two’s Sodexo general manager Rion Skinner, who won a regional Sodexo Experience Award with her team for service to the district and community during the Amtrak train crash earlier this year. (Rion is shown center left, with fellow Lexington Two em-ployees working on the day of the train crash)

NATIONAL FUTURE CHEFS CHALLENGE: Congaree Elementary fourth-grader Sophia Barfield is a regional winner in Sodexo’s National Future Chefs Competition. She’s the only student among 40 regional winners from South Carolina. She will

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compete next in the semifinals with her recipe -- chicken teriyaki stir-fry pizza. Other Lexington Two school-level winners includ-ed Ethan LeVon and Ester Stella Peter, BC Grammar No. 1; Jada Jackson and Jaden Johns, Cayce; Cooper Smith, Con-garee; Madison Bumgarner and Zachary Head, Pineview; Ca-den Hunter and Connor Merchant, Saluda River; Ava Harmon and Amaya McCoy, Springdale; Sara Brentlinger and Naomi Hallman, Wood. (Right, Sophia Barfield)

DISTRICT ART SHOW: This year’s District Art Show drew more visitors than ever, from attendance at a drop-in reception (top) to just stopping by on weekdays. The exhibit featured pieces from some of the district’s best artists in grades K-12. Congratulations to this year’s featured students! JEANS FOR GENES: This year’s Jeans for Genes day raised $1,771 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The annual effort is led by Brookland-Cayce High teacher Maria Bjorn. Thanks to all who participated to support this worthy cause!

2018 YOUNG AND GIFTED AWARDS: Several Lexington Two high school students were re-cently recognized by the Columbia Urban League as 2018 Young and Gifted Award recipients. The annual program recognizes African-American high school seniors from Richland and Lexington counties, as well as Allendale, Clarendon, Fairfield, Florence, Kershaw, Lee, Marion and Newberry, who have excelled in academics, the arts, leadership, technology, and athletics. A Spotlight Award

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for special recognition also was given. Honorees from Lexington Two’s high schools include: AIRPORT

Academics: Yasmeen Sabree, Travis Campbell, Faizah Sabree, Daniel Parga, Christopher Staley, B’nita Crawley, Landers Morris, Alisha Smith, Abbriana Washington, Miyah Sim-mons, Breyonca Thompson, Jessie Chestnut, Kiersten Bennett, Essence Johnson, Joy White

Arts: Joy White, Angelle Burns, Michael Taylor, Jaelen Canzater Leadership: Christopher Staley, Larry Gaines, Jessie Chestnut, Breyonca Thompson

Career and Technology Education: David Heard, Adam Kenner, Cedric Walters, Rashaud Price

Athletics: Calvin Ford, Travis Campbell, Wesley Gilliard; Abbriana Washington, Emerald Johnson, Es-sence Johnson Spotlight Award: Larry Gaines

BROOKLAND-CAYCE HIGH

Academics: Miracle Bon-nett, Taejah Butts, Elexus Clark, Ari-anna Fuller, Jasmine Gantt, Calista Harris, Courtney Harris, Tianna Hurst, Brea Jackson, Alicia Johnson, Jordan Moore, Lakeya Richardson, Tasia Sanders, Ashanti Velox-Guinyard, Dantae Vereen

Arts: Jackara DeWalt, Niaja Hol-man, Benisha Hopkins, Malik Jeffer-son Leadership: Kenneth Ad-ams, Kelcey Balles, Kennedy Cald-well, Onye Cosom Career and Technology Education: Cedrick Belton, Dimitri Bradacs, Je-rome Middleton, Shania Staley

Athletics: Taylor Anderson, Taylor Brazell, Jamir Robinson; Mya Benn, Taylor Gaston, Diamond Moore Spotlight Award: Arianna Fuller

MUSICIAN HONORS: Musicians with Airport and Brookland-Cayce high schools recently earned top performance assessment hon-ors. Airport's Varsity Orchestra (top) was awarded the highest Superior rating during the SCMEA Concert Performance Assessment. Brookland-Cayce's Honors Choir (second top) also brought home Superior ratings in performance and sight reading during a SCMEA High School Choral Per-formance Assessment. The performance assessments, which draw high school musicians from around the state, allow students and directors an opportunity to perform for state and nationally known adjudicators for comments and ratings on prepared pieces.

GIFT TO CAYCE: Several senior level Lexington Two welding students were recognized recently by Cayce City Council for creating a freestanding sign that will be used for events -- like the Soiree on State -- and for other activities in the city. The students’ reward? Having lunch prepared by firefighters at Cayce’s 12th Street station! Congrats to Chance Harrelson, Bryson Hutto, Jonathan Jones, Brandon Rucker, William Shumpert, all of Airport; and Zack Timmons and Gabe Yanik of Brookland-Cayce. Their instructor is Laird Thompson.

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AIRPORT HIGH

The annual Camp Kemo fundraiser brought in more than $56,000 (and much media atten-tion) through creative activities -- like petting puppies, throwing pies at teachers and playing bubble soccer. Another creative way funds were raised: repurposing these wooden desk chairs (below), which were pulled from the trash, then auctioning them off to the highest bidders. Congratulations to student government members and all organizers for another suc-cessful year.

Speaking of student government, Airport’s council (top) brought home several honors from the recent state con-vention of the SC Association of Student Councils. Jun-ior Trace Wingard was elected District Three chairman. With this title, Trace and Airport’s student council will host the District Three Rally at the school this fall. Trace also was inducted into the Terry McCoy Hall of Fame for his leadership work at Airport High in student govern-ment. Council also received gold recognition for its work in all areas of leadership. It’s the highest recognition at the state level. It’s Airport’s second year at gold status. Two council projects also received honorable mentions in the 4A category: Reading Buddies and Senior Walk. Bridgett Wolfe (right), a teacher in the CATE program, is one of five winners of a $1,500 Dr. Elizabeth Gressette Professional Development Scholarship, given by the Palmetto State Teachers Association's Foundation for Professional Develop-ment. The annual award supports members in their pursuit of advance degrees. Wolfe is pursuing a doctorate in education at the University of South Carolina in cur-riculum and instruction.

BC GRAMMAR NO. 1

The media center was turned into a white tablecloth restaurant recently, as the Guys with Ties and

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Girls with Pearls groups (top) were treated to a three-course lunch prepared by Sodexo -- with best manners on display. Teachers and district office members joined in for food, fellowship and fun.

BROOKLAND-CAYCE HIGH

Congratulations to the 2018-19 HOSA officers inducted recently: President, Sarah Burr; vice presi-dent, Jackson Marcum; secretary Courtney Braswell; treasurer, Brandi Brown; historian, Cruz Diaz.

Two art students had work submitted to the Art of Healing juried show presented by Lexington Medi-cal Center and the Columbia Museum of Art. McKenzie Peacock won an Honorable Mention, which included a cash prize of $300. Kyaw Klu did not win an award, but attended the awards recep-tion. Their art is hanging in the museum for a month, and then it will be moved to Lexington Medical Center for a month before returning to the stu-dents. Michelle Giovannone is their instructor.

Members of the school’s Army JROTC team (right) presented the colors at a recent State Board of Education meeting.

USC swim commit Nathan Walton was recent-ly named the WLTX News 19 Player of the Week.

Brookland-Cayce’s first Mini-Dance Marathon raised more than $5,200 to support Palmetto Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network.

The Bearcat Band received Overall Excellent, Stage Performance Excellent and Sight Per-formance Superior at the recent concert festival in Myrtle Beach.

CAYCE ELEMENTARY

Cayce Elementary held a combo Field Day and Nutrition Fair, with activities like tug-of-wars, food

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talks, relays (right), and more. Thanks to commu-nity partners including Senn Brothers, DHEC and the Dairy Alliance for participating.

CONGAREE ELEMENTARY

Second-graders have been studying community helpers. To connect their learning to real world experiences, teachers invited three community helpers to share how they use reading, science, math, and social studies to perform their jobs. Tim Wojcik spoke to the students about his job as an emergency management coordinator with the SC State Fire Marshal’s Office; Ryan Harris, a fire-fighter with the Columbia Fire Department, spoke about how he helps keep the community safe; and Efren Avante, a meteorologist with News 19 WLTX-TV, talked about how he uses reading, math, and science to predict the weather.

FULMER MIDDLE

Principal Megan Carrero presented at the recent National Association of Professional Devel-opment Schools Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Melissa Baker, middle grades education professor and Fulmer Middle’s University of South Carolina liaison, and Dr. Cindy Van Buren, an as-sociate dean at USC, had the opportunity to represent Fulmer in two presentations -- how we utilize our liaison's research interests to benefit the school improvement plan, as well as how to begin and foster a partnership with the university.

NORTHSIDE MIDDLE

Eighth-grader Cassie Drew won second place in the SC State Library's Young Minds Dreaming Con-test. She will be recognized at an awards ceremony.

PINE RIDGE MIDDLE

Pine Ridge Middle’s Student Government won four awards at the recent SC Association of Student Councils convention. Council members won first place awards in the recognition category (for Teacher Appreciation Week 2017), recreational activity (for Neon Dance Party), and for their scrap-book. Members also won second place for their fall 2017 canned food drive community service pro-ject. Students are led by social studies teacher Kari Rikard.

SALUDA RIVER ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS

Members of the chorus recently performed for the Classics Luncheon at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington. This chorus of 4th and 5th grade students is directed by Gale McLeod and ac-companied by Cathy McGill.

SPRINGDALE ELEMENTARY

The school held its annual Celebration of the Arts, featur-ing a Parade of Countries, guest artists and performers, and more. WIS-TV was on hand for all the fun!

WOOD ELEMENTARY

Watch DOGS -- Dads of Great Students (some at right ,with Principal Leonard Frierson) -- are a regular school presence. From monthly birthday lunches to events like the recent Dance Your Paws Off, the DOGS make kids feel special. We appreciate the their time and dedication to our kids!

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Cayce Elementary: It was a time to cel-ebrate recently, as Cayce Elementary, Lexington Two’s newest school, was for-mally dedicated. Educators, students, families, and business and community leaders turned out for an open house, re-ception and guided tours of the two-story,153,000-square foot school. Several area leaders attended the event, among them U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, State Sen. Nikki Setzler, Cayce Mayor Elise Partin, several current and former Lexington Two Board of Trustees members, and district Superintendent Dr. William James.

Right, Cayce Elementary’s library with a view.

District honors: Retired Lexington Two school counselor Diane Boulware was inducted into the Heroes and Heroines Society, one of Lexington Two’s most prestigious honors. Boulware worked as a counselor for 32 years, 26 of them in Lexington Two, retiring from Pineview Elementary. “This is the greatest honor I could possibly imagine,” Boulware said. “God has blessed me so much, with wonderful people to work with, and educators who are so dedicated and child focused.”

Right, Diane Boulware, center, with Superintendent Dr. William James and Board of Trustees Chairwoman Linda Alford-Wooten at the induction.

Northside Middle: Congratulations to the Brookland-Cayce C-Team! This year’s team finished the regular season 7-0 for the first time in school history. With a run-heavy offense and a hard-hitting defense, the kids were able to make it into the PAC Cham-pionship vs. Batesburg-Leesville. Congrats to all of the Northside boys who were a part of the team. Also from Northside: --Congratulations to our Northside October Students of the Month: sixth grade, Tess Allison; seventh grade, Madison Farmer; eighth grade, Terrance Wilder-Gannaway. Airport, Brookland Cayce High: Nearly 40 Lexington Two high school students earned scores high enough on spring 2017 AP exams to be named AP Scholars. High school students take Advanced Placement (AP) classes and can receive college credit if their standardized end-of-course exams are high enough. AP Scholars are those students who take at least three AP exams and have an average score of a 3 or better. According to College Board officials, students who score a 3 or above on an AP exam demonstrate college-level mastery of the subject and will typically earn college credit at most colleges and universities. Nathan Walton of Brookland-Cayce High was named an AP Scholar with Distinction, given to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken or a score of 3 or higher on five or more AP exams. Two other Brookland-Cayce students, Skyler Addy and Micah Aebischer, were named AP Scholars with Honor, given to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken or a score of 3 or higher on four or more exams. Thirty-four other Lexington Two students from Brookland-Cayce and Airport high schools were named AP Scholars: Carli Baker, Justiss Blair, Sophie Buchmaier, Kimberly Cao, Zachary Cardwell, Mckenna Cassella, Nino Chambers, Logan Corley, Lindsey Dupuy, Lyndsey Ebener, Madison Edwards, Alejandra Estrada, Emily Friedrichs, Daniel Giles, Lawson Giles, Lauren Hiers, Rachel Hunnicutt, Rachel Keisler, Madison Mccarty, Grace Mukendi, Jimmy Odell, Emilee Osmer, Lindsay Parker, Ronak Patel, Madison Pelfrey, Caycey Pound, Jacob Reed, William Ritter, Lucas Teal and Vi Truong, all of Brookland-Cayce; Haley Davis, Yasmeen Sabree, Amanda Shumpert and Caylee Taylor, all of Airport.

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SALUTING OUR VETERANS

Lexington Two schools showed their patriotic spirit this month, with salutes to South Carolina veter-ans in recognition of Veterans Day. From parades to bands to special programming with the History Channel, district schools shared their gratitude with area veterans. Here, scenes from our events.