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May/June 2018

ACROSS THE DISTRICT

Dance and theatre groups in Lex-ington 2 recently presented a showcase of their work this year at Airport High School. Students from Saluda River Academy for the Arts, Airport High, Brookland-Cayce High and district theatre programs had the opportunity to get real experience in the arts and meet new people while participat-ing in a live performance. Family, friends, and community members got to see how truly magical our theatre and dance programs are here in Lexington Two! School counselors gathered to say farewell to retirees (below, from left, Nan Kasparek, Debbie Manos, JoAnn Gadson, Deanna Brewton, Julie Claytor) and spend time together as the academic year draws to a close.

Sodexo rolled out its new innovative Taste4 con-cept at Airport High’s cafeteria. Airport is the first school in the Southeast region with the program and has drawn visitors from other area districts as well as from out of state to sample the five food stations, which focus on a build-your-own concept. Local “Live PD” celeb and new ABC Columbia morning host Curtis Wilson (below, at left) recently did a live show there from 5-7 a.m. Taste4 rolls out at Brookland-Cayce High next year. Congratulations

to Lexington School District Two Chief Instructional Officer Dr. Mar-cella Heyward and Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Angela

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AROUND THE DISTRICT

Cooper, who graduated from the Midlands Educator Leader-ship Experience program, sponsored by Colonial Life and Midlands Education and Busi-ness Alliance (below).

Airport and Brookland-Cayce High senior-level welding students (top) recently created a sign for the city of Cayce to use at community events and other activities. Students got a special thank you, too, with a homemade lunch of burgers and hot dogs at the Cayce fire station. Meanwhile, students in Kenny Shumpert’s classes are continuing to work on the Habitat for Humanity build, recently creating a shed (above right) that will be used for storage at one of the homes on Tree Street.

Congratulations to our many athletes and teams who competed in tournament play -- including boys and girls soccer teams, golf, tennis, track, baseball and others. Many individual athletes also have been selected for all-region and other select teams. Way to represent!

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From the looks of social media, our schools had a great time celebrating teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-11! From a popcorn bar at Busbee (right) to tempting treats and meals served daily at BC Gram-mar No. 1, our schools went all out to salute our educa-tors. We appreciate everything our teachers do for our students!

AIRPORT HIGH Congratulations to the Diamond Eagles (top), who won the Upper State Championship title and played for the 4A State Championship against Chapin High. Several of the Diamond Eagles have won individual honors as well, among the most recent the naming of Citadel com-mit Tyler Corbitt and Newberry College commit Justin Allen to the SCBCA 4A All-State Team, and Corbitt representing Airport in the 2018 SCBCA South Carolina Select Game. The Golden Talon Army JROTC drill team finished sec-ond IN THE NATION at the National High School Drill Team Championship. The team competed against the nation’s best JROTC teams from the Army, Navy, Ma-rines, Air Force and Coast Guard military branches May 3-6 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Airport’s finish -- as run-ner-up national champions -- is the Lexington Two school's best finish at the annual All Armed Forc-es championship. Airport’s latest honor comes on the heels of a third in the nation finish in April at the 2018 U.S. Army JROTC National Drill Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. Golden Talon team

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team members (right) include An-gel Ander-son, Ah’Tyrie An-derson, Noah An-derson, India Can-delerio, Hayden Compton, Victoria Dunbar, Autumn Farris, Brooke Far-ris, Marcus Gads-den, Makayla Glov-er, Kristina Hart-ley, Monaizha Isaac, James Jacques, Nathan Jeffcoat, Brandon Jones, Adam Ma-son, Ja’Shon Mul-ler, Charles Rob-ertson, Spencer Schwenker, Kan-sas Shaw, Jacob Skews, Rozella Waters, Joy White and James Whitehead. CSM Harry Ferguson is the coach and adviser.

Twenty Airport High juniors and seniors earned a General College Studies Certificate, part of a partnership launched last year through Airport and the Midlands Tech-nical College Early College Program. All of the students earned at least 18 college credits -- most more -- which is the equivalent of roughly six college courses! They par-ticipated in the Mid-lands Tech gradua-tion ceremony in May. They are:

Juniors: Angel Anderson, Kayla Bouknight, Zachery Brewster, Weston Campbell, Makaylen (Seanna) Cook-Compton, Maddyson Frierson, Genesis Griffin, Cayleen Hall, Autumn Jackson, Leslianel Nieto Hernandez, Anna Marie Myers, Destiny Payne, Saibriyya Pou, Shada’ Single-ton

Seniors: Travis Campbell, Hallie McGee, Amy Nguyen, Samuel Shannon, Matthew (Paxton)

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MORE FROM AIRPORT HIGH

Brooks (graduated earlier this year and is now attending University of Tennessee)

Airport High School’s Stu-dent Coun-cil (right) has been recog-nized as a 2018 Nation-al Gold Council of Excellence by the Na-tional Stu-dent Council for the sec-ond consec-utive year. Among re-quirements of a National Council of Excellence Award, a council must have demonstrated successful sponsorship and participation in activities such as leadership development and service to the school and community. Councils like Airport’s, which are awarded at the gold level, have successfully demonstrated the highest levels of leadership. The council recently wrapped up its annual Camp Kemo fundraiser, netting more than $56,000.

Congratulations to teachers Daniel Bailey (left) and Mallory Deaver (at right, with district social worker Diane Reid), honored this month with awards for their

service. Both won the Community Builder award, given by WIS-TV and Mungo Homes. Bailey also won the Charles Dickerson Com-munity Service Award, given an-nually to recognize a District Teacher of the Year who exem-plifies a true spirit of community service. The award was an-nounced at the SC Teacher of the Year reception in Columbia. Deaver also won the Friend of

Social Work award from the School Social Workers Association of South Carolina.

Five people with ties to Airport High School were honored at the 2018 Educator Hall of Fame & Dis-tinguished Alumni Gala. Honorees included two retired from Airport, Debra Miller (2002-12, School Resource Officer) and Cheryl Outlaw (1985-2005, history teacher); and three alumni, Earl Bass (posthumously awarded,1971 graduate), Karen Roof (1983 graduate) and Gary Taylor (1971 graduate).

BROOKLAND-CAYCE HIGH Several Brookland-Cayce High School students have been accepted into the South Carolina Gover-nor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), one of the top STEM high schools in the United

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MORE FROM BROOKLAND-CAYCE HIGH

States. The students are Elijah Jordan, Asher Kay Wolfgang Buchmaier, Daniel Coble and Khai Truong (alternate).

The Chamber Ensemble recently earned a Bronze Award, and students were selected for the Spirit of Charlotte Award. The group that earned this had the most positive attitude, best interaction with staff and other students, and “was the best representative of their community at the festival.” Concert Master Meredith Bailey accepted the award on behalf of the group.

Jacob Krissinger (right) performed on cello with the Columbia College Symphony Orches-tra. Pictured with him is the director, Maestro Aaron Hardwick. Busbee band director and for-mer BCHS band member Hunter Reese per-formed on saxophone with the Symphony.

BUSBEE CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY

(Below) Members of the Junior Beta Club, along with teachers, community volunteers and structural engineer Jesse Burke of Burke Engineering LLC,

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worked in partnership with We Read SC on a University of South Carolina Cocky’s Reading Express float. The float joined in West Columbia’s first-ever Kinetic Derby Day parade.

NORTHSIDE MIDDLE

Lindsey Bailey, eighth-grade social studies teacher, has completed her Education Doctorate in curriculum and instruction and is graduating in May from the University of South Carolina.

PINEVIEW ELEMENTARY

Pineview Elementary celebrated its 50th anni-versary with a community celebration that drew hundreds of former teachers, students and oth-ers connected with the school and community. Two TV stations stopped in to cover the event.

(Top) Girls on the Run raised $700 for the local chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation during its annual service project. Girls on the Run members held a schoolwide “Hats on to Help Day,” in which all students and faculty members who donated a dollar or more could wear a hat at school all day, with proceeds benefiting Make a Wish. Twenty-seven students participated on this year’s team, with coaches Melanie Yoder, Jamie Allen, and Codee Worthy.

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MORE FROM PINEVIEW ELEMENTARY

The school’s Gently Used Book Drive this year collected 4,188 books! After books were sorted, the school ended up with 3,961 to distribute to students. Among stand-out classes: Yoder 503, Mixon 447, Bailey 258, Munn 258 and Arian 256. PINE RIDGE MIDDLE

Congratulations to eighth-grader and Airport High School track team member Jayla Jamison (right). She went four for four in 4A at the South Carolina High School League Track and Field championships this past weekend. She won the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. She earlier had won the Region 4 Class AAAA Most Valuable Player in track and field. She was also the region champion in long jump, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash and 400 meter dash.

Pine Ridge Middle School held a car show on a re-cent Saturday. PRMS stu-dent Waylon Kitchens and his grandfather, and Briar Gates and his father were among the prize winners in the popular show.

WOOD/CWECC

Congratulations to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Education Day winners from Wood Elementary and CWECC. Math Bee, Kai Turner, Katoni Bryant (district), Will Barrs (district) and Caden Morse; Spelling Bee, David Sharpe, Chloe Green (district), Isodora Osborne (district/overall winner) and Jayleigh Guil-lebeau.

Student-led conferences were a success at the school. Partici-pants put together electronic portfolios in the POWER Hour Char-acter Lab, which were later shared with parents, grandparents, guardians and others.

Nearly 600 gently used books are going to new homes! Students recently enjoyed CWECC’s After-School Adventures Book Party, part of the 21st Century Grant program. Students were excited to add to their home libraries and, in some cases, start new ones.