The safety of our students, staff, and visitors is our top priority. I’m writing to share some good news about OPENGATE®, a new weapon detection system Spartanburg School District One has invested in to increase safety and security.
At the November Board of Trustees meeting, the Board approved the purchase of weapons detection units called OPENGATE®. These units at MMS will enhance the security and functionality of our campus. These units will be installed over the next couple of weeks. Beginning on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, units will be active for visitors and students entering the building throughout the school day.
This non-invasive system is designed to detect weapons either on a person or inside their bag or backpack without slowing the normal flow of traffic into our buildings. It will be in place inside the entrances used by students each morning. It will also be used throughout the day in the main office entrance.
We recognize this will be a new experience for our students, and we are committed to ensuring a seamless transition. To help them prepare, students will receive a demonstration in December to familiarize themselves with this new safety measure. Staff members will be on hand to guide and support students as they adjust to the updated entry process.
We appreciate the combined efforts of the Board, district safety and security staff, school administrators, and our MMS team in making this improvement possible. These changes reflect our dedication to keeping Mabry Middle School a safe and welcoming place for learning and growth.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to enhance the safety and security of Mabry Middle School.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at the school at 864-472-8402 or contact me via email at dj.brown@spart1.org.
Count On Me,
DJ
👩🏻⚖️South Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law👨🏻⚖️
“South Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law requires that a parent or guardian shall require his child to attend regularly a public or private school or kindergarten of this State which has been approved by the State Board of Education, a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools and Association, a member school of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools, or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school, or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education f rom the school year in which the child is f ive years of age before September f irst until the child attains his seventeenth birthday or graduates from high school.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Students who fail to attend school could be truant. Truant A child age 6 to 17 years meets the
definition of a truant when the child has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences.
Habitual Truant
A “habitual” truant is a child age 12 to 17 years who fails to comply with the intervention plan developed by the school, the child, and the parent(s) or guardian(s) and who accumulates two or more additional unlawful absences. This child may need court intervention and an initial truancy petition may be filed.
Chronic Truant
A “chronic” truant is a child age 12 to 17 years who has been through the school intervention process, has reached the level of a “habitual” truant, has been referred to Family Court and placed on an order to attend school, and continues to accumulate unlawful absences. Should other community alternatives and referrals fail to remedy the attendance problem, the “chronic” truant may be referred to the Family Court for violation of a previous court order.
Lawful Absences
• Absences caused by a student’s own illness and whose attendance in school would endanger his or her health or the health of others,
• Absences due to an illness or death in the student’s immediate family,
• Absences due to a recognized religious holiday of the student’s faith, and
• Absences due to activities that are approved in advance by the principal.
Unlawful Absences
• Absences of a student without the knowledge of his or her parents, and
• Absences of a student without acceptable cause with the knowledge of his or her parents.
Are you interested in joining the Mabry MS PTO?! We look forward to working in collaboration with our parents to organize various events for our students and recognize our teachers! Our PTO requires no fees or dues, just your partnership to support our teachers and students! If you would like to join our PTO, please contact the following individuals:
Ashley Hauck: aawill83@gmail.com
Heather May: ladymay.hm@gmail.com
Ashley Speight: aspeight@swaimbrown.com
The SC School Improvement Council was first established in South Carolina law over four decades ago to provide the member training, technical assistance, statutory accountability, and other resources vital to the continued success of community-based School Improvement Councils in each of the state’s 1,100-plus K-12 public schools.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher or student elected to your local SIC, a community or business representative appointed to your Council, a school or district administrator, or a member of the public committed to quality public education in South Carolina, you can find information on this website through downloadable files and direct links to other sites that will help you get the facts you need to understand the vital roles you play in the life of our schools and the futures of our children.
The vision of the SC School Improvement Council is:
"To promote and support civic engagement for quality public education in South Carolina.”
The mission of the SC School Improvement Council is:
"To facilitate meaningful parent and community involvement in our state’s public schools by providing resources, tools and strategies to local School Improvement Councils and other stakeholder groups."
