Mission, Vision, Beliefs
Board Approved 2012-2013 Academic Calendar
Strom Thurmond High School receives Bronze Medal from U.S. News & World Report
Among high schools that performed well on state exit exams, u.s. News & World Reports rated them gold, silver, and bronze medals based on their student's mastery of college level material. Congratulations to Strom Thurmond High School. Click here for a link to the website.
Strom Thurmond Licensed Cosmetologists
Four seniors traveled to Columbia, SC, on Monday, March 16, to take their Practical Exam for their Cosmetology License; they all passed. They had to return to Columbia on April 16, to take their Theory Exam and again they were successful. We are proud to announce the first class of Licensed Cosmetologists from Strom Thurmond Career Center.
From left to right, Stephanie Carroll, Brandi Jackson.
Back row Donnie Walker and Instructor Mrs. Kennion; not pictured Janette Upson
StromThurmond Cosmetology Class Competition Winners
The Cosmetology Class of Strom Thurmond Career Center competed against seven schools in Lower Charleston Exposure Hair and Nail competition on Monday, April 30, 2012.
Front left to right Alissa Gordon 3rd place in Bridal Hair style, Marie Williams 1st place in Fantasy Hair style, Sh’Quera Mckinney won 2nd place in realistic nails, and Montse Hernandez won 2nd place in fantasy nails. Back row left to right, Instructor Mrs. Kennion, model Akeiah Young, Courtney Serles, Angel Wertz and Jermeyer Brannon won 2nd place in the Glamour Team, while Nakela Anderson won 2nd place in Bridal Hair style.
Highest Bidders for STCC Welding Trailer Mounted Cooker
Pictured L to R: Cameron Thompson, Jimmy Foley, Charles Taylor, Nic Scoggins with Mr. and Mrs. Jones
The Welding II students of Strom Thurmond Career Center are proud to announce the highest bidders of their trailer mounted grill. Will and Joyce Jones from Saluda, S.C. purchased the grill that was built and designed by the 11th and 12th grade welding students with approximately 74 hours of fabrication and welding time.
The Grill featured a slide out rack for easy access, 2 extra racks for warming, thermometers, adjustable heat dampers, 4 rack smoker with chip tray to the rear of the grill with a removable heat door and thermometer and adjustable damper. It also had several special features like double sided propane burners with tank, 20"x 14" side grill, wormy maple cutting boards, mounted ice chest, storage box, rear jack stands for leveling, complete light kit, and heat treated paint.
Congratulations to the Jones and for more information on purchasing a custom built grill from the Welding Department at Strom Thurmond Career Center, please contact Mr. Bill Cheatham: 803.275.1767 ext. 520.
Mr. Greg Anderson chosen as new Superintendent
The School Board voted unanimously at their Tuesday night board meeting to appoint Mr. Greg Anderson as our new Superintendent. He will work with Dr. Tobin to ensure a smooth transition. We welcome Mr. Anderson and look forward to his leadership.
Strom Thurmond State Champions at Mock Trial Competition
The 2012 State High School Mock Trial Competition took place this past weekend at the Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse. Twelve teams out of 40 teams advanced from the regional competitions to the state competition held on March 9 and 10, representing all corners of the state. Most effective witnesses and most effective attorneys were recognized from every round at the state competition. The culmination of the closing assembly was the announcement of the top two teams to compete for the championship title, Strom Thurmond High School and Bob Jones Academy.
Congratulations to Strom Thurmond High School on winning their fourth state mock trial competition(1984, 1985, 1987, and 2012). Participating students included Ashley Bodiford, John Gillespie, Jacob Harding, Jamarr McCain, Melanie McKinney, Arturo Pineda, Kaitlyn Pugh, Megan Rudd, Erin Sweeney,
and Miller Thompson. The teacher coaches were Denise Jackson, Jeffrey Bryan, and Steven McKinney. The attorney coaches were Blair and Senator Shane Massey.
Their next stop will be the national competition May 3 - 6, 2012 in Albuquerque, NM.
STCC Trailer Mounted Grill
For Sale
The welding II students of Strom Thurmond career center are offering for bid a trailer mounted grill. Built and designed by 11th and 12th grade students with approximately 74 hours of fabrication and welding time. Click HERE for more pictures.
Grill features - a slide out rack for easy access, 2 extra racks for warming, thermometers, adjustable heat dampers, 4 rack smoker with chip tray to the rear of the grill with a removable heat door and thermometer and adjustable damper.
Grill has several extras- double sided propane burners with tank, 20"x 14"
side grill, wormy maple cutting boards, mounted ice chest, storage box, rear jack stands for leveling, complete light kit, heat treated paint.
Students working on the grill are- Cody Smith, Nic Scoggins, Jimmy Foley, Charles Taylor, and Cameron Thompson
Having figured all material cost, the students will be starting the bidding at $1650.00. All bids are on or before April 15. The grill will be displayed at heritage hardware for two weeks and then back at the career center. If interested, please complete a bid sheet and return to heritage hardware or to STCC.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Bill Cheatham at 275-1767 ext. 520.
Strom Thurmond Mock Trial Team Advances to State Competition March 9-10
Front Row (Lt to Rt): Denise Jackson (Mock Trial Coach); Melanie McKinney (Plantiff's Witness: Chase Clarkson); Erin Sweeney (Plantiff's Attorney); Megan Rudd (Defense Attorney and Plantiff's Witness Pat Murphy); Kaitlyn Pugh (Plantiff's Attorney); Stephan Bowe(Journalist); Steve McKinney (Asst.
Mock Trial Coach)
Back row (Lt to Rt): Jamarr McCain (Defense's Witness: Drew Bridges); Ashley Bodiford (Plantiff's Witness: Tony Morganelli); Keyson White (journalist); John Gillespie (Baliff and Defense's Witness: Peyton Willis); Arturo Pineda (Defense Witness: Alex Ross); Jacob Harding (Defense Attorney); Miller Thompson (Defense and Plantiff Attorney); Jeff Bryan (Asst. Mock Trial Coach)
Strom Thurmond FBLA
Seventeen FBLA members traveled to Lexington Technology Center on Saturday, February 4th, to attend the District II FBLA Leadership Conference and Competitive Events. Over 300 students from the region participated in a variety of business related competitive events. Congratulations to the following students for placing in their competitive event, they will be traveling to Charleston to compete on the State Level on March 23-25, 2012.
1st Place Winner –
A’dreanna Truesdell – Public Speaking II
2nd Place Winner –
Hayley Jones – Intro to Business Communication
3rd Place Winners –
Amanda Biddlecome – Sports Management
4th Place Winners –
Trevor Morris – Business Law
Kaeli Wates – Public Speaking I
5th Place Winners -
Amanda Horton – Public Speaking I
Charlie Abney – Sports Management
6th Place Winners –
Miranda Bishop – Business Communication
Keith Dumais – Intro to Business Communication
Jeremy Pixley – Sports Management
Superintendent Search
UPDATED:Click here for information regarding the search
for our next superintendent.
Millennium Club
The newest members of the Strom Thurmond High School Millennium Club are pictured above. A combined score of at least 1000 on SAT or 21 on ACT is needed to qualify for this honor. 51 students are the newest members of this club.
Jordan Ball, Ronald Barnes, Ashley Bodiford, Shannon Bonczek, Lawrence Broom, Ethan Cameron, Thomas Calliham, Michael Cash, Cody Christie, Lavon Coleman, Reed Covar, Zach Green, Jamal Jackson, Nikki Jackson, Allie Jhant, Ebony Johnson, Ashley Lawrence, Rachel Litke, Brandie Lowery, Luke McClure, Melanie McKinney, Jeremy May, Trent Miller, Tykia Outzs, Alex Prescott, Kaitlyn Pugh, Kinsley Reeves, Megan Rudd, Rachel Rudd, Jayson Santiago, Nicholas Scoggins, Kari Sprouse, Sarah Szybura, McKenzie Talbert, Brooke Thomas, Shanice Thornburg, A’Dreanna Truesdell, Gracie Turner
These students are part of the 1200 club - they scored a 1200 or better on the SAT or a 27 or higher on the ACT.
Tiffany Bishop, Brandy Bonczek, Kelly Brady, Cody Clester, Jonathan Drew, Will Hoffmann, Lillie Jackson, Sam Jebens, Tucker Johnson, TJ Parkman, Christian Speight, Alec Terry, and Marina Wettstone
Strom Thurmond Band Students Earn State Honors
Senior Strom Thurmond band student Will Hoffmann has been named to the South Carolina Senior All-State Band. Will earned his placement in the top 16 high school trumpet players in South Carolina placing 12th chair at the final All-State Auditions Jan 21 at Lexington High School. Students that participate go through an intense audition process consisting of all major scales, a prepared solo, sightreading and musical terms. Approximately 8000 students statewide at all levels start the audition process that is done over a two week period.
Other Strom Thurmond students receiving top honors in the region were:
Nic Hoffmann - SCBDA Senior Region 9th Chair Trombone
Cale Hoffmann - SCBDA Clinic Region 1st Chair Trombone
Courtnie Coon - SCBDA Clinic Region 10th Chair Flute
McKenzie Wilson - SCBDA Clinic Region 15th Chair Clarinet
Madison South - SCBDA Clinic Region 23rd Chair Clarinet
Miguel Ortega - Senior Region 2nd Alternate
Stephan Bowe - Senior Region 4th Alternate
Amanda Biddlecome - Clinic Region 4th Alternate
“These students that go through this audition process take ownership of themselves, our school community and this band program. They are leaders at Strom Thurmond High School that set a fine example of what is good in education today.” Director of Bands, Van J. Clark
SCBDA Region Band Front Row L to R: Courtnie Coon, McKenzie Wilson, Amanda Bibblecome
Back Row L to R: Miguel Ortega, Madison South, Nic Hoffmann, Cale Hoffmann
Genetic Mobile Lab visits STCC
On January 11, 2012 two classes at the Strom Thurmond Career Center and Strom Thurmond High School had the privilege of participating in lab classes on the Greenwood Genetic Center mobile lab. Through funding from grants, this mobile “Gene Machine” travels all over the state visiting schools. This past fall they have visited forty-four schools and this spring they expect to visit sixty-five schools. Eighteen students from the Health Science Technology 2 honors class were able to learn about genetic traits and disorders and were taught several lab techniques. They participated in a teaching module called “The Mystery of the Crooked Cell” which allowed them to practice the lab skills they were taught. In this lab they checked hemoglobin samples looking for abnormal sickle cell hemoglobin. Twenty students from Coach Barnhart’s Biology class worked with gel electrophoresis with dyes. This experience allowed our students access to state of the art lab equipment.
MEETING CANCELED
The meeting scheduled for tonight, January 24, 2012 at 6 p.m., to be held at Merriwether Elementary School to discuss the relationship between the Edgefield County School District and Fox Creek Charter High School has been canceled. The representative from the South Carolina State Department of Education, Mr. Mark Bounds, Deputy Superintendent for School Effectiveness, called today at 11 a.m. to inform the Edgefield County School District office that he was unable to attend the meeting due to circumstances beyond his control.
District Spelling Bee Winner
Meg Hoffmann from MMS
Meg Hoffmann was the winner of her school spelling bee and then went on to win the district level contest held on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Meg will represent the district at the local qualifying bee for the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at the Morris Auditorium in The Augusta Chronicle News Building. Best of luck Meg!
These were the participants in the District Spelling Bee from left to right: Carter Kingery from MES, Bryston Butler from JET, Jasmine Elam from DES, Natiana Axen from WEP, Stephen Barwick from JES, and Meg Hoffmann from MMS.
Merriwether Middle School
PASS Scholars
The following students are recognized as MMS Pass Scholars. They scored Exemplary on all parts taken on the 2010-2011 Pass test!
6th Grade PASS Scholars: Left to Right Front Row: Marquez Langford, Cassidy Pfennig, Adam Weeks, Thomas McCain, David Bombard
Back Row: Elijah Knight, Tyra Thomas, Meg Hoffmann, Njasi Oji, Zachary Russ
7th Grade PASS Scholars: Left to Right Front Row: Misty Henderson, Wil Holmes, Andy Hoffmann
Back Row: Maria Bautista, Caroline Ball, Ethan Lowe, Gage Logan, Jacob Hodges
8th Grade PASS Scholars: Left to Right Front Row: Elizabeth Adams, Olivia Paradis, Pressley Wilson, Chloe Syms
Back Row: Dylan Grose, Clayton Bowen, Henry Cartrett, Austin Harper, Tannor Byrd, DeAndre' Ryan, Aaron Mathis (not pictured Morgan Swearingen)
Architect/Engineering Services for Construction and Maintenance of Stadium Bleachers/
Athletic Fieldhouse
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
The School District of Edgefield County is Seeking Statements of Qualifications from professional engineering and architectural firms to provide engineering and design services for various projects related to construction & maintenance of stadium bleachers and athletic fieldhouse during fiscal years 2012 -2013. The engineering and architectural services shall include, but not limited to, project assessment, design preparation of plans & specifications, contract administration and other services as may be required.
Delivery Point:
The School District of Edgefield County
Deadline for Submitals:
February 3, 2012 3:00 pm.
Purchasing Agent:
The School District of Edgefield County
Office of The Superintendent
P.O. Box 608
3 Par Drive, Edgefield SC 29824
A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held Tuesday January 31, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room of the Office of the Superintendent, 3 Par Drive, Edgefield SC.
Direct Inquiries To:
James Courtney, Director of Facilities & Operations
P.O. Box 608
Edgefield SC 29824
(803)-275- 1767
E-mail: jcourtney@edgefield.k12.sc.us
Strom Thurmond High School Project Angel Tree
Strom Thurmond High School Rowdy Rebels, Student Council, FCA and Mock Trial team sponsored Project Angel Tree and it was a success. Angel Tree is a way for incarcerated parents to send gifts to their children. Some of these gifts will be all that they get. According to Jeffrey Bryan "With your generosity may God bless each and everyone of you for giving and helping with this community project for Strom Thurmond High School."
Friday, November 11, 2011 was a very special day at W.E. Parker Elementary School. The chorus presented a very moving and patriotic program in honor of Veteran's Day. There were many veterans in attendance and each one introduced themselves to rounds of gratefui applause from the audience. All of the students welcomed these special guests by wearing red, white, and blue. Pictured on the stage are many of the honored guests along with the W.E. Parker Elementary School Chorus.
District's Distinguished
Teachers of Reading
Edgefield Reading Council hosted a reception honoring the district's Distinguished Teacher of Reading on Tuesday, November 15.
Honored were from left to right: Kippy Kelly, Administrator of Reading, Julie Jackson and Nancy Cowart, Distinguished Teachers of Reading for the entire district, Gloria Jackson, Angela Fallaw and Elaine Taylor, Distinguished Teachers of Reading representing their school. Not pictured are Melissa Melick and Mandy Lowe.
Julie Jackson and Nancy Cowart will go on to the state level SCIRA conference in Feburary and represent the Edgefield Reading Council.
You Are Invited
What: Important meeting ~ Charter School Information
When: January 24, 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Merriwether Elementary School
Purpose: As many of you know, Charter schools are relatively new in our public education system. Many people have genuine basic questions about these schools and how they operate. The Edgefield County School Board has arranged to have professionals from the state to answer these and other questions that may be of interest to you. So that we can maximize our time at this meeting, we are asking everyone to submit their questions in advance to the following email address:
charterschoolquestions@yahoo.com
Alternatively, you may provide questions in written form to the District Office:
Attn: Questions for the January meeting
P.O. Box 608
Edgefield, SC 29824
All questions must be submitted by November 29, 2011 at noon. No questions will be allowed from the audience at the meeting.
It is our intention to get clarification on many of the day to day questions people have. We hope that you will use this opportunity to get your questions answered.
United Way Contest Winner
Left to Right: Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Speight, Mr. Campbell, Dr. Lenderman
Mr. Dean Campbell, Chairman for the Edgefield County United Way Campaign presents a $500.00 check to Mrs. Holmes, principal of W.E. Parker Elementary School along with Mrs. Speight. W.E. Parker Elementary raised the most funds from all the schools in support of the United Way campaign this year.
1st Nine Weeks Honor Roll List
My Favorite Teacher Contest
The Foundation For Public Schools in Edgefield County announces a “My Favorite Teacher” contest to raise money for a scholarship to be awarded to a graduate pursuing a degree in education. This scholarship will be established in honor of Sandra Friar. Voting will take place during the month of November to coincide with American Education Week, November 13-19.
Votes will cost $1.00 each and you may vote as many times as you like. The winning teacher, if living, will win a $250 gift card, donated by Edgefield Fuel. If the winning teacher is deceased, the gift card will go to the living teacher with the next highest vote. Results will be announced December 12, 2011.
You may vote in the following ways:
- www.fpsec.org
- Mail a ballot from the newspaper to:
My Favorite Teacher
PO Box 38
Edgefield, SC 29824 - Or drop a ballot off at any Edgefield Fuel and Convenience store in Edgefield County
Community Breakfast
The annual Community Breakfast was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at Strom Thurmond High School and sponsored by the Piedmont Education and Business Alliance and the Upper Savannah Region Educational Center. Over 72 participants from the business and education community were in attendance. This breakfast highlighted the positive relationships that businesses and schools have especially in Edgefield County.
AmeriCorps Students
Superintendent's Brief
Dedicated to Sandra Friar
School Board Visits Schools
On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, the Edgefield County School Board of Education visited all schools across the district. The tour began at Johnston Elementary School and concluded at Fox Creek High School.
AmeriCorps Students Take Oath
AmeriCorps students from Strom Thurmond High School take their Oath from State Senator Shane Massey and State Representative William Clyburn on September 13, 2011, at the regularly scheduled board meeting. These students will be responsible for completing over 19,000 hours of community service this year. We are proud of our AmeriCorps members.
Mrs. Sandra Friar
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Mrs. Sandra Friar, Public Information Officer and AmeriCorps Director, after a brief battle with cancer. For 28 years Mrs. Friar was a passionate advocate for the students, teachers, and staff of the Edgefield County School District. She will be truly missed. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. The viewing will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Edgefield Mercantile on Monday, September 12, 2011, and the graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at Sunset Gardens Memorial Park. At the request of the family, donations may be made to the Edgefield County Relay for Life Chapter. Make checks payable to the American Cancer Society and mail to Sharen Fay, 113 Hill Drive, Johnston, SC 29832. The Foundation for Public Schools in Edgefield County is sponsoring the Sandra Reece Friar Scholarship Fund. The foundation is accepting donations at this time. Please send your contributions to Joel Jolly at P.O. Box 28 Edgefield, SC 29824 - please put the Sandra Reece Friar Scholarship Fund in the for line on your check or contribution.
CONGRATULATIONS
Left to right: Debbie Durham, Anna Timmerman, Mary Bouknight
2011 Edgefield County Teacher of the Year:
Mrs. Debbie Durham - JET Middle School
2011 Edgefield County Citizen of the Year
Mrs. Anna Timmerman
2011 Edgefield County Support Staff of the Year:
Mrs. Mary Bouknight - Johnston Elementary School