1. education
2. school

Vol u m e 3 , Is su e 6
Dr. J.R. Green, Superintendent
Fairfield County School District
The C nnector
A Successful Launch!
Fairfield Central High School and Fairfield Middle
School staff are actively preparing to rollout more
than 800 Chromebooks to students over the next
few weeks. Curriculum and Instruction, Library/
Media, and Technology staff are leading the charge
to set up the computers and deploy them to students. Teachers are working to implement these
new learning tools into classroom instruction and
teach students the appropriate, safe use of the
Chromebooks. With every student receiving a Chromebook, the district will become fully
1:1 in grades 3-12 by the end of February 2015. Giving students
access to technology is being
The Lenovo 11e Chromebooks
viewed as increasingly imSimilar to a netbook, Chromebooks are
portant as we continue to prodesigned to give users access to the Internet
vide learning opportunities
using Chrome OS. Unlike windows based
that reach beyond the boundacomputers, Chromebooks boot up in seconds
ries of the classroom. The
and have virus protection built in, as well as,
Digital Learning Initiative
automatic updates from Google. Though
compact in size, it has a full sized keyboard,
(DLI) will enable students to
clickable track pad, large display and an
have a device for his/her edu8-hour battery life. The device gives stucational use. The initiative has
dents access to thousands of apps and uses
also increased opportunities
cloud based storage, eliminating the
for the district to partner with local businesses and the
need for an internal hard drive. Primarily
faith-based community to enhance wireless technology
designed to be used with internet access, the
to students during afterschool programs.
device can also be used off-line due to the
growing number of offline chrome apps,
including Gmail and Google Drive.
Educate, Engage, Excite (E3) . . .
Empowering Leaders Every Child Every Chance, Every Day!
Fairfield Elementary School (FES) has adopted a quote by Sydney J. Harris which states,
“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” FES Stingrays are
educated through the use of direct instructional practices, daily embedded intervention,
small groups, math centers, active read-alouds, and field trip experiences. Other examples
include integrating the curriculum through art, music, and physical education as well as
technology integration. Our educational process is ‘engaging and exciting,” Principal
Dr. Tammy Martin said.
Fairfield Elementary School engages students through the use of the STM2 Lab where
science, technology, math, and manipulatives are used in a lab setting to solve real-life
problems and performance tasks. Students in grades 4-6 attend the lab once a week for two
hours. Through the use of student clubs, students engage in community service and handson learning experiences
FES |Page 2
Publication Date: 1/20/2015
FES from Page 1
that help reinforce life
skills and lifelong
guidelines: such clubs
include the Journalism
and Communications
Club (JACC), Jr. Beta
Club, Stingray
Chorus, Girls in
PEARLS (Prepared,
Educated, and Respectful Lady Stingrays), and Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students). JACC is
responsible for preparing the monthly newsletter and updating the
PowerPoint in the front lobby. The Jr. Beta Club has completed
a paper drive for local charities and prepared toiletries baskets for
the Council on Aging. Girls in PEARLS have participated in guest
speaker sessions with Janet Parker from WACH –TV and Kimberlea Suber (FCSD), who spoke about etiquette and community
service. Additionally, students also participate in Town Hall
Meetings with their classes daily to discuss topics that help govern
their actions as they go throughout the day.
Teaching and learning is exciting through the use of engaging
activities. For example, sixth grade science students used solar
energy, along with a magnifying glass to melt chocolate and create
smores. Mrs. Tolbert’s students read Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory. Along with several reading objectives, students were able
to integrate science and math using this novel study. They decided
which variables to use in order to compare the different rates at
which different chocolates melted. Students analyzed their data
by drawing graphs of the results and deciding which chocolate bar
melted at the fastest rate. Students also created their own
chocolate candy bar and presented an advertisement jingle for
their creation. Many of the students collected chocolate recipes.
Other examples of exciting lessons
include using the text, The True Story
of the Three Little Pigs, where students
created pig houses from foam, Popsicle
sticks, and paper plates. The goal of the
project was to have students use a blow
dryer to determine which house was the
strongest and provide a justification for
their answers. Using four current event
articles, another class worked to present
an argument for both the pros and cons
of an issue based on evidence from the
text. Students assumed the role of
attorney to verbally defend their issue. Finally, an on-site
reenactment of colonial times in South Carolina took place.
Students were able to learn more about Colonial South Carolina
through taxation games, role play in Colonial clothing, what
school was like during Colonial time, and games children played.
Students were also able to purchase Colonial items at the on-site
store.
2014-15 State Beta Club Convention Winners
Geiger Elementary
London Boulware won third place in
the South Carolina Junior Beta Club
Spelling Contest Division 1.
Geiger
Elementary
Tresean
McDuffie
was runnerup in the South Carolina Junior Beta
Club Math Contest Division 1.
Team Spirit
Gordon Odyssey Academy (GOA) has experienced a
successful first semester of the 2014-2015 school year.
The enthusiastic faculty and staff of GOA began the school
year winning the prestigious Fairfield County School
District Spirit Award. This enthusiasm was used to create
a learning environment which addresses the needs of the
whole student.
Teachers have and continue to implement various classroom and experiential learning activities. Mrs. Deepthi,
GOA Math Teacher, has integrated computer based
learning programs to help students enhance their
mathematical skills. Students have demonstrated mastery
of skills with the completion of over 10,000 IXL math
problems. Ms. Jones, ELA Teacher, has implemented an
oratorical component to the ELA curriculum. Students
have memorized and recited numerous poems including:
“Attitude”, “Excuses”, “Don’t Quit”, “The Man Who
Thinks He Can”, and “Fire and Ice”. Students have
displayed excitement and commitment in learning these
poems. They have overcome fears of public speaking and
have acquired a new appreciation for literature. Students
are presently learning an excerpt from “The Letter from
Birmingham Jail” written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
GOA has also implemented service learning projects to
assist students in developing character and strengthening
positive mental attitudes. Students created banners which
were used in the National Kidney Walk in Charleston SC.
These banners were made to honor the family members of
faculty and staff who experienced kidney related medical
conditions.
GOA| Page 4
Fairfield County School District
2015-2016
Magnet, District Choice and STEM Early College Academy
Applications
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Teacher
February 4 -Applications will be available at schools, the district office and online
-Intent letters due from students currently enrolled at FMSMS
-CD and Kindergarten Fliers and Packets available online and at each
elementary school
Recruitment Fair
Fairfield Central High School
February 7 – 9:00 am
www.fairfield.k12.sc.us
February 25 -Deadline for applications to be submitted to the district office (by 4:00 PM)
March 20
-Parents notified of acceptance by mail: FMSMS, MLST, and STEM
Academy
March 25
-Deadline to accept or decline slot for FMSMS, MLST, and STEM
Academy
KMES Royal GEMS
Kelly Miller Elementary School is proud to announce
the establishment of Royal GEMS. Royal GEMS
(Girls Excelling in Meaningful Sisterhood) is a girl’s
empowerment group that promotes academic, social
and personal growth, while giving students the
opportunity to create sisterly bonds. The purpose
of Royal GEMS is to promote the principles of
leadership, sisterhood, scholarship and character to
the girls of Kelly Miller Elementary School, to
ensure that they function intellectually, responsibly
and socially in today’s society. Royal GEMS is open to girls in grades 3-6. The young ladies were selected based on an application
and parent interview process, and are required to have at least a “C” average in order to apply .
In December, twenty-seven young ladies were inducted into Royal GEMS in an intimate ceremony. A gem necklace was placed
around each young ladies’ neck by their mother or close female relative. The young ladies also participated in a candlelight
ceremony. A private reception was given for the Royal GEMS by their sponsors/mentors, who are all first year faculty members
of Kelly Miller Elementary School. The Royal GEMS hosted a school wide presentation “Coming out Show” to share the vision and
mission of the group.
Royal GEMS hosts empowerment sessions the third Tuesday of the month. During these sessions the sponsors, Mrs. Robin
Shirley, Mrs. LaTisha Lowery-Sims, Mrs. Lori Knott, and Ms. Stephanie Smith mentor the students on life skills, academic
achievement, etiquette, and sisterhood. The Royal GEMS will participate in morning mentoring, community service, and much
more. Students are expected to maintain high academic achievement, model leadership, and positive behavior.
Buckle Up!
Mr. Danny Miller, FCSD Transportation
Director, recently announced the district has
received a new bus. The bus has been assigned
to Mrs. Tena Anderson. Mrs. Anderson has
over 27 years of bus driving experience and has
a perfect attendance record for this school year.
Fairfield Central
JROTC prepare
for the MLK Unity
Walk in Ridgeway.
FCHS Junior Scholars
Fairfield Central High
School Junior Scholars
recently travelled to
Winthrop University
for their final Junior
Scholars’ Day. The
Junior Scholars experienced a four year journey learning about
Pictured: Justin Johnson, Aisha Kennedy, Andrew Garner. college and collaboratNot Pictured: Jarrett Houston
ing with Scholars from
different schools regarding their academics, career and social
perspectives. These experiences will benefit the students when
they attend college and purse their post-secondary options.
The Junior Scholars attended college classes where they learned
from actual professors. Some of the topics discussed in classes were
related to transitioning into college. These activities included academic success strategies and the college experience presented by a
student panel. Winthrop’s student ambassadors also shared their
college experience with Junior Scholars and the expectations of
being a college student.
The Wal-Mart Foundation recently selected
Fairfield Middle School Band to receive a
grant through the Local Facility Giving Program in the amount of
$1,000.00. Chris Gillespie is the band director.
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Students participated in the
GOA Care Basket
Community Service Project
and the Elite Ladies’ Harvest
Hope Food Bank Drive.
GOA students have participated in several field learning experiences. Students have
completed college tours of Lander University, Allen University,
and Benedict College. Staff and students attended the Cool School
Anti-Bullying Rally & NBA Game in Charlotte NC. GOA
students were also able to tour Boeing South Carolina and
observe the assembly of the Boeing 787. Students completed a
group activity which increased their understanding of the cost and
process of building a commercial airplane. Students were informed of the employment opportunities provided by Boeing and
encouraged to consider Boeing as a part of their future endeavors.
Fairfield County Adult Education (FCAE) has been awarded the Adult Education and Family Literacy Engagement Collaborative (AEFLEC) Grant in the amount of
$11,500. The purpose of the grant is to create a Family
Literacy component to the current Adult Education program. In addition to helping parents with adult literacy
enhancement (obtaining a High School Diploma, High
School Equivalent Diploma, and/or a Career Readiness
Certificate), offering family literacy classes would assist in
recruiting and retaining parents of children zero to eight
(0-8) who are considered at risk of failing school. The
ultimate goal of the Adult Education and Family Literacy
Engagement Collaborative is to provide both transportation and effective child care for FCAE students and their
children.
TOWNHALLMEETING
January 29th
with
Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green
Where: Dutchman Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Time: 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM
2014-15 State Beta Club Convention Winners
Eric Amponsah,
2nd place, Spelling
Bee Competition
Janiece Jackson,
1st place Language
Arts Competition
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