1. education
2. school

Vol u m e 3 , Is su e 4
Dr. J.R. Green, Superintendent
Fairfield County School District
The C nnector
Publication Date: 11/18/14
Fairfield County School District is excited to expand its Digital Learning Initiative (DLI). As part of the district's promise to ensure that
students have access to digital tools and resources for blended learning
opportunities and are college and career ready, students in grades
seven through twelve will be issued a Google Chromebook in
January 2015. With parental consent, secondary students will receive a
Chromebook, a power cord, and a protective computer sleeve.
Additionally, in February, elementary students in
grades three through six will have access to school and
classroom Chromebooks as a part of their learning experience. At the conclusion of the distribution in February,
all students in grades 3-12 will have access to a mobile
technology device.
To support the increased demand for wireless
internet access under DLI, the district will make
improvements to its network infrastructure to provide
faster and more reliable wireless connectivity. The
district is moving from a primarily wired learning
environment to a wireless digital learning environment.
Under the Digital Learning Initiative (DLI) teachers also will receive a Chromebook. Teachers
will participate in targeted professional development and training focused on the integration of a
variety of technology tools, including Google Apps for Education. Over the next couple of
months, teachers will become fully immersed in best practices to fully leveraging digital tools in
the classroom.
A parent meeting has been scheduled for December 2, 2014 at 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. in the
auditorium at Fairfield Central High School to discuss expectations, device usage, and responsibilities. All parents should attend.
November
26-29:
Fall Break (No School)
4:
4:
19:
22-31:
2-Hour Delayed Start for Students; PD for Teachers
Superintendent’s Breakfast for Business and Faith-Based Partners
Half Day for Students and Teachers
Winter Break (No School)
December
“Work Less, Live More…”
….are the words spoken by Board of Trustee, Robert “Bobby” Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham did
not seek reelection to the school board but has vowed to remain active in the
community. “We have come a long way since my first day on the school board.
The community’s confidence in our abilities have allowed me to be a part of the
team that brought us to where we are today. I am proud of the leadership, staff,
and teachers. We have integrated new technology, are building a new career
center, have improved test scores, celebrated academic achievements, granted a
Palmetto’s Finest School, and achieved so much more,” Cunningham said.
Mr. Cunningham is a retired postal carrier and has served as an assistant coroner, magistrate, and
volunteer firefighter. He is an avid deer hunter and loves the SC coast. Superintendent Dr. J.R.
Green recognized Cunningham as an amazing man who has had an immeasurable impact on the
district. “It’s been an honor to serve, but I going home now to my rocking chair and my Gamecock
fire pit,” Cunningham said.
"Kelly Miller Elementary School
named an Arts in the Basic
Curriculum site"
The Journalism and Communications Club
(JACC) at Fairfield Elementary School took
on an assignment to interview district
employees and summarize their interviews. Throughout the
newsletter, you will find their writings.
According to the Kelly Miller
Dr. J.R. Green
Elementary School faculty, the Fairfield County School District Superintendent
2014-2015 theme “It's ShowWho is Dr. Green when he is not at work?
time at KMES” is definitely put
into action this year. With the Dr. Green is a man who loves spending time
addition of many new during- with his wife and three daughters, watching
school and after-school arts
Gamecocks and Steelers football games, and
groups, a focus on artseating ox tails! He truly enjoys going to the
integrated learning, and
gym to exercise for his health and to relieve
student-centered hands-on
stress. If time permitted, he would go fishing
learning, KMES is taking students to new heights. At
more often. Dr. Green also enjoys playing
KMES, the arts play a major role in the school climate,
basketball. However, his recovery time from
student motivation, and student achievement.
a game is not what it used to be, so he does
The first major change with the arts program was the
not play often. If he could be any animal, he
addition of a band program during 2011-2012. The program would be a lion because of his “go getter” and
started out with 35
aggressive personality.
students in 5th and 6th grade
combined. Over the
course of the next few years, not only did numbers grow in band, but also new arts performance
groups were formed and new classes were created to involve more students. Kelly Miller
Elementary School currently offers a varied, cultured, and comprehensive arts program for the
entire student body through programs during the school day and after school. Classes include
visual art, general music, world music, percussion, band, and jazz
band. After school programs include art clubs, Tiger Tone Chorus, Cub Chorus, KMES Ivory Keys,
Drama Troupe, Dancing Cubs, Dancing Tigers, Dance Company, Tiger Beatz Band and Auxiliary.
Arts groups at Kelly Miller Elementary School have performed for the public at the Rock Around the
Clock festival, the USC Honor Choir Clinic, and the Carowinds Festival of Music. Students have had
artwork displayed and received awards at the South Carolina State
Fair. Students use the arts to make connections in the classroom and
vice versa. According to the arts faculty, teachers are no longer the
only ones who see what the arts can do for students; the students are
seeing it for themselves.
Kelly Miller Elementary School has been proudly named an Arts in
the Basic Curriculum school starting in the 2014-2015 school year and
will receive support funds from ABC project and the South Carolina Arts Commission for the
next three years. These funds will support arts programs, classroom teachers for arts integrated
professional development, and will help to create performance opportunities for students and
increase community involvement. The Arts in the Basic Curriculum (ABC) Project is a statewide
collaboration begun in 1987, whose goal is to ensure that every child in South Carolina, from
pre-school through college levels, has access to a quality, comprehensive education in the arts.
The ABC Project is cooperatively directed by the South Carolina Arts Commission, the South
Carolina Department of Education and the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Winthrop University. Fairfield County School
District has been an ABC site since September 2011. Kelly Miller Elementary School is the first school in the district to become an
ABC site.
According to the Strategic Planning Committee for the Arts at KMES, “The arts program at KMES would not be where it is
without the dedicated support of Fairfield County School Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green, Fairfield District Arts Coordinator
Julianne Neal, the arts and classroom teachers at KMES, the community, and our Principal, Kathy Woodard, who believes in our
vision of “Excellence in the Academics and the Arts.” Everyone has dedicated themselves to providing a world of opportunities to
our children academically and artistically and the results are incredible.”
Fairfield Elementary (FES)
Journalism and Communications
Club (JACC) began in 2013 and
consists of eight students in 5th
and 6th grades (4th graders will
be eligible during the second
semester). A JACC journalist
approached Dr. Tammy
Martin in the hall at FES and
asked “What do you like best about
your job?”
“I like working with students each
day and witnessing their growth and academic gains.”
Principal Martin has worked in Fairfield County School
District for 19 years.
Hall of Fame
Fairfield County School District (FCSD) is accepting
nominations for its 2015 Hall of Fame induction class.
Eligibility criteria and nomination forms may be
downloaded from the district’s website at
(www.fairfield.k12.sc.us) or available from the
District Office. Nominations must be submitted to the
FCSD Office of Public Information, 1226 U.S. Highway
321 South, Winnsboro, SC 29180, by Noon, January
15th.
Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers
School Based Health Center
A healthy start for the students and staff of McCrorey-Liston
School has been the focus this year. In
August 2014, McCrorey-Liston and Eau
Claire Cooperative Health Center
partnered to institute a fully-operational
health center on the school’s campus.
The health center opened its doors to
serve the students and staff under the
supervision of Dr. Janet L. Douglas.
This health center provides preventive, wellness, and primary health care
services. This partnership enables the
school to assist students in being successful by working to care for and
prevent illness, promote healthy
lifestyles, and maintain a high school
attendance. The hours for the Eau Claire Cooperative Health
Center are Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The eagles
are now soaring their way to better health.
FCHS host Newberry High
Class AA - Division I Upper State
Championship Game
Friday, November 21st, 7:30 P.M.
Winner advances to the State Championship Game
Welcome to Gobble Gobble Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner
(FCSD - 2nd Grade Students)
MLST
Kelsea: You are suppose pick it up already cooked from the store and make sure you add some good old flavor to it so no one will
know that you didn’t cook it yourself.
GES
Jordyn: Get a turkey at Wal-Mart. Before you cook it you need to buy it at Wal-Mart. Cook the turkey at 500 degrees for 3
minutes. The turkey is done when it’s brown. You can eat chicken, Thanksgiving food, green beans and the food I like with the
turkey. For dessert you can eat cake.
FES
Shaniya: Before you cook it you have to get it from the store and season it. Then you put it in the stove. Put it on 70 degrees and
let it sit for one or two hours. Then take it out of the stove and sit on the counter. When you eat it, it will be very juicy.
KMES
Ariel: First you go to the store to get a turkey to eat today. Next you go home and wash the turkey. Then you put the turkey in
the oven to cook. Last you eat the turkey.
FMSMS
Marionna: Buy a fat turkey from Wal-Mart and bring it home. Take the plastic off and throw it away before you add the lemon
season. Cook it in the oven for 1 hour, and then cut it up with a knife. Say grace and shout, “Dinner’s ready!”
Alumni Spotlight
Mr.
Joaquin
Brown,
Solomon Young was always an active
Fairfield
Elementary
Assistant
Principal
student in the visual and performing arts. As
What do you like most about being
an elementary student at McCrorey Liston
Elementary School, Solomon was an actor, an administrator?
“I like the opportunity to visit all the classes and see what
dancer, and singer. He auditioned and was
selected to participate in Artworks during his is going on in our school.” Mr. Brown has worked in
third grade year and could have joined any of FCSD for 8 years.
the three arts areas of choral music, dance,
Mr. Preston Mack,
or theatre because of his talent and abilFairfield Elementary Custodian
ity. He selected the dance group and continued in the program long
Do you remember your favorite
after his initial experience. Solomon even continued in later years as a
teacher? “My favorite teacher was
counselor in the program for gifted artistic students. He continued to
Mrs. Gladney. She was my first grade
perform throughout middle and high school, and was a leading member
teacher.” Mr. Mack has worked in the
of the theatre performance troupe during his junior and senior years at
district for 5 years.
Fairfield Central. His role of the Tin Man in the school’s production of
Ms. Marilyn Hopkins, Fairfield EleThe Wiz was one of his first leading roles.
mentary Teaching Assistant & Bus Driver
Young was officially crowned Mr. Claflin 2010-2011 and was active
(FCSD employee for 19 years)
in the community, as well as on campus. He performed with the UniWhat is your favorite day of the week
versity Theatre Ensemble and participated in a number of fashion shows
and why? “Friday, because it is the last
as a member of the En Veux Modeling Company. Young served as Mr.
day of the week and I will have the
Gamma Chi of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Mr. SIFE (Student in
weekend to spend more time with my
Free Enterprise), and worked as a radio
family.”
host with the University's radio station,
WCUR. In addition, the Blair native was
Meet Ms. Sonya Kennedy. She enjoys
a member of the University Gospel Choir
teaching health at Fairfield Elementary.
and the Claflin Men 100. During his years
She has always been into physical health
at Claflin, he worked as a partner with the
and believes it is very important for
Ronald McDonald House Charities of
students to learn about how to live a
Columbia to educate students about the
long life. She has worked for the
dangers of various diseases and to raise
district for 8 years.
money for financially struggling families
Thanks to the JACC!
with hospitalized children.
Laila Ashford, Amya Branham, Bretton Brown, Ericka Kelly,
During one of the theatre productions at the university, Solomon
Lavelle Ramsey, Aniya Ruff, Kelly Veintimilla, Paul
portrayed the role of Reverend Moses Ambrose in A Lesson Before
Veintimilla, and Mrs. Ratchford
Dying. The production was part of a series of events for the Big Read, a
national initiative sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts with the aim of encouraging more people to read. Mrs.
Annette Grevious, associate professor of speech and drama at Claflin, portrayed Miss Emma in the play. When asked about Young,
she adds, “Solomon is extremely uplifting, full of energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. He was a model student performer, well
disciplined, self-motivated, and an infectious positive attitude. He was someone that I knew would do well in his future endeavors
without worry.”
Solomon graduated from Claflin University as a mass communications major with a dual concentration in radio and television
broadcasting and minor in theatre. Upon arrival in Atlanta, he landed a job as an extra on the set of The Haves and Have Nots, a
prime-time soap opera written and directed by Tyler Perry. “As I matriculated through the performing arts my most memorable
moment was working on the set with Tyler Perry himself and the characters of The Haves and Have Nots. It was an experience of a
life time. I was able to get a couple of pointers from him and will be able to list him as a personal contact when it's comes to working on his next big project. My work is not done just yet with The Perry Studio!” Young’s plans for the future include
pursuing a career in acting, broadcast and radio. According to Solomon, his experience in theatre has helped him to pursue his
current path. While he currently manages a clothing store, he will start soon as a flight attendant with Delta Airlines. “I look at life
as an act in a play,” says Young. “You’ve got an audience all the time. It’s up to you to show your best side.” Young is currently
living in Atlanta, Georgia.
Board Meeting Calendar and District Calendar are located on the Web! www.fairfield.k12.sc.us
P.O. Box 622, Winnsboro, South Carolina - (803) 635-4607
Fax: (803) 635-6578