Arbor Day celebrated at MSC

In honor of Arbor Day, the children and staff of The Montessori School of Camden (MSC) celebrated, in a small ceremony, by planting a tree and enjoying a poem recited by the Lower Elementary children (ages 9-12) entitled "Trees" by Alfred Joyce Kilmer.

Mummy, dearest

Sixth-grade students at Camden Middle School recently enjoyed Mummy Day, the culmination of an Ancient Egyptian unit. Students spent the day engaged in Egyptian activities across the curriculum. They mummified chicken drummettes, made life-sized sarcophagi, created pyramids, virtually mummified a pharaoh and played Ancient Egyptian games. Here, students Avery Barnes and Zoe Smothers use a triple beam balance to mass their chicken drummette before the mummification process.

Half-day schedule will kick off school break

The Kershaw County School District will have a half day for students on Dec. 17, the last day of student attendance before the holiday break. Staff will work a regular schedule. Students in developmentally delayed and 4-year-old kindergarten classes will not attend. SEAGUL classes will not be held.

Lugoff-Elgin High names honor roll students

Lugoff-Elgin High School has announced its honor rolls for the first nine-week period.

The voices of youth

The Doby's Mill Elementary School Choraliers -- a part of the Kershaw County Elementary Honors Choir, directed by Dr Susan Wyatt -- recently took part in an event jointly sponsored by the University of South Carolina and Colla Voce, a vocal chamber ensemble of professional musicians in the Columbia area. Elementary and middle schools from around the state were hosted at the event, where students sang in English and Latin.

Novel approach

Fifth-grade students at Pine Tree Hill School recently created pumpkins to represent the main characters of fiction novels. Students displaying their creations are (first row, from left) Abigail Tucker with Amber Billows from "Early Sunday Morning"; Chandler Price with Will from "Shades of Gray"; Cody Brewer with Stuart from "Stuart Little"; (second row) Jarquis Dinkins with Ralph from "Ralph S. Mouse"; Garrett Lawson with Gandolf the White from "Lord of the Rings"; and Kyle Alecia with Odysseus from "Odysseus."

TSA salutes local students during 'Recognition Rally'

Thomas Sumter Academy's Lower School recently held its first Recognition Rally for the 2010-2011 school year.

Queen of reading

Jackson celebrates Arbor Day

In an effort to educate youth on the importance of planting and caring for trees, Jackson School held several events last week in honor of Arbor Day.

KCSD audit gets 'unqualified opinion'

An external independent CPA firm has given the Kershaw County School District an "unqualified opinion" during its annual financial audit.

Morgan's contract extended through 2014

Kershaw County School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Morgan's contract has been extended for an additional year, and is now scheduled to run through June 30, 2014.

NCHS wins ‘Champions’ grant

North Central High School (NCHS) students are setting out to create a more sustainable environment -- and it looks like the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has taken notice.

A love of writing horses

Upper elementary and lower elementary students at Doby's Mill Elementary School partner up each month to share reading and writing experiences. Fourth-grader Abigail Tate recently shared her love of horses with second-grader Carrie Gartman as they read a book about the famous racehorse, Barbaro.

A thirst for literature

After reading the story, "Lemonade for Sale," second-graders at Lugoff Elementary School made and sold lemonade at the school. The funds generated -- $151.83 – were donated to Relay For Life. Here, second-graders Aneesa Williams and Christopher Parmely serve Samara Mok, Alexia Hopkins and Brayton Boone.

Jackson to serve as interim prinicpal at Midway

Retired school administrator Theodore Jackson was appointed by the Kershaw County Board of School Trustees Tuesday to serve as the interim principal for Midway Elementary School effective Jan. 3.

Camden native is new KCSD professional development director

The Kershaw County Board of School Trustees voted recently to hire Camden native Steve Abbott as the district's new professional development director. Abbott replaces John Gardner, who recently retired.

Karen Bullard named KCSD Principal of the Year

Lugoff-Elgin Middle School (L-EMS) Principal Karen Bullard is the Kershaw County School District's (KCSD) Principal of the Year. A panel of school and district administrators voted to select her for the honor. Bullard began serving as L-EMS' principal in 2010 after serving as Camden High School's assistant principal. She and her husband are originally from Whiteville, N.C., and have two college-age daughters.

School board, KCC discuss economic development campus

Members of Kershaw County Council attended the Kershaw County Board of School Trustees meeting Tuesday evening to hear a presentation on a possible joint economic development campus here. Others attending the meeting included representatives from Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC), the city of Camden, the towns of Bethune and Elgin, Kershaw County Committee of 100, Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce, KershawHealth, Santee Lynches Council of Governments, the Kershaw County Vocational Education Foundation and Santee-Wateree Rural Transit Authority.

Read Across America declared a success, no more, no less

The 17th annual Read Across America event took place Feb. 28 with volunteers converging on all Kershaw County elementary schools to read the works of Dr. Seuss to students in honor of his birthday. Seuss, whose real name was Theodore Seuss Geisel, was born March 2, 1904, but since that date fell on Sunday this year, the event was moved to Feb. 28, a Friday. A creation of the National Education Association, the event is held nationwide.

Blaney Elementary participates in Jump Rope for the Heart

Last Friday, Blaney Elementary School (BES) students learned about heart health and physical activity at Jump Rope for the Heart. Students rotated through 11 stations where they exercised, played games and learned about eating healthy. BES school nurse Kim Allen wanted to show students that exercise can be fun. Jump Rope for the Heart is a community service project that teaches students the importance of exercising and eating healthy. Through Jump Rope for the Heart, BES students exceeded their goal of $1000 in raising money for the American Heart Association.

Friday to be regular KCSD school day

Due to recent inclement weather, Friday will be a regular school day for Kershaw County School District (KCSD) students. The 2013-14 KCSD calendar approved in December of 2012 originally indicated that Friday would be a professional development day for teachers unless needed as an inclement weather make up day.