This Week
Friday, September 22, 2023
Principal of the Year & Assistant Principal of the Year Celebrated
In surprise visits to schools this week, Dr. Richard O'Malley presented the 2023-2024 Principal of the Year award to John W. Moore Principal April Leroy (left) and the Assistant Principal of the Year award to Royall Elementary Assistant Principal Marci Gatewood (right).
View the Gatewood video clip here. View the Leroy video clip here.
West Florence Is a National Banner Unified Champion School
West Florence High School Receives National Recognition
West Florence High School has been named a National Banner Unified Champion School in just its first year of existence. Only eight schools in South Carolina achieved this honor and 166 schools nationwide.
According to the Special Olympics National Recognition Program, a Special Olympics Unified Champion School has an inclusive school climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all members of the student body and staff. A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting ten national standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community. View the list of schools around the nation that achieved the honor here.
Warren Coker of West Florence High School is the Coordinator of the Unified School Program at West Florence. In the photo below, a student lights the torch to begin the Special Olympic games at West as Coach Coker and others look on.
F1S Closer to Naming 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year
West Florence High
Greenwood Elementary
Alfred Rush Academy
John W. Moore Middle
Florence 1 Schools is closer to selecting its 2022-20223 Teacher of the Year. Each school's teacher of the year competing for the title of Florence 1 Schools Teacher of the Year recently completed an application packet containing information relevant to the teaching profession.
An outside panel of three selection committee members (pictured below) reviewed the packets and rated each one using specific selection criteria. The teachers whose packets received the highest ratings have been named Honor Roll Teachers. Honor Roll Teachers are finalists in the quest to name a Teacher of the Year for Florence 1 Schools. They are (pictured above) : West Florence High School's Warren Coker; Greenwood Elementary’s Ansley Newell; Alfred Rush Academy’s Patricia Nunnally; and John W. Moore Middle’s Dr. Haley Taylor. To learn more about each of these teachers, click on their highlighted names which provide a link to more information.
The Teacher of the Year Selection Committee held interviews sessions separately with the honor roll teachers this week. Scores from the interview and application packet have been calculated, and Florence 1's Teacher of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, September 26th at the 23rd Annual School Foundation Gala.
The Florence 1 Teacher of the Year's name will be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Education and the teacher will then vie for the title of South Carolina Teacher of the Year.
2023-2024 Teacher of the Year Selection Panel Members
SC Department of Education Transformation Coach
Director of Teacher Education
Morris College
Director of Public Relations
SC Governor's Schools for Science and Mathematics
Friday Night Football
On the gridiron Friday night (September 23, 2023), the Bruins of South Florence have a bye week; the Knights of West Florence will be at Byrnes; and the Tigers of Wilson have a bye week.
Fantastic Custom Creations Invites Thursday Fall Shoppers
The School Based Enterprise at Advantage Academy invites you to visit the Fall Pop-Up Shop Thursday, September 28th. "We have a host of fall items that shoppers will absolutely love and at much better prices than you'd find in retail stores," said Alician Timmons-Perdue. "It is a wonderful opportunity to support our students and to find great fall products!
The shop is open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Advantage Academy Greenhouse and features home decor, health and beauty acessories and lunch. "Check out the listing below and pay us a visit!" exclaimed Timmons-Perdue. For more information call 843-664-8165.
Extended Day Academy to Offer Science & Exploration Camp During Intersession
Extended Day Academy Offers Science & Exploration Camp During Intersession
Florence 1 Schools Extended Day Academy will offer a Science and Exploration Intersession Camp, October 2-6, 2023. The Camp will run Monday through Friday during Intersession from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The cost is $60 per child for the week. Breakfast and lunch are included.
The locations for the Science and Exploration Intersession Camp are: Dewey L. Carter, Theodore Lester, Lucy T. Davis, and Woods Road Child Development Center. (The Lucy T. Davis location has been filled.) For more information visit f1s.org or call 843-758-6426.
Countdown to the Intersession
The Florence 1 Schools fall intersession begins October 2nd and will continue through October 6th.
Induction Introductions
Each issue of This Week introduces new and induction teaching staff at each school. Florence 1 Schools acknowledges with pride these new staff members, and are glad that they have chosen to make our local schools the place of their professional employment. This week’s induction teachers are from John W. Moore: LaRhonda Paige (standing left) and Claudia Ortize (standing right).
Photos of the Week
Top photo: "Hip-hip, horray!" voiced the sentiments of students at Royall Elementary as they learned that Assistant Principal Marci Gatewood had been recognized as the F1S Assistant Principal of the Year.
Bottom photo: The Moore Lion posed with Dr. O'Malley after the ceremony where Principal April Leroy was recognized as the F1S Principal of the Year.
Scenes from Delmae Dads Friday Morning Breakfast
Credits: Steve Camlin, photography; David Taylor, videography. David Yeazell, Delmae Dads Breakfast.