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This Week
May 23, 2024
Congratulations to the Classes of 2024: Earning $26,508,462 in Scholarships
1,077 Graduates
365 Hope Scholarship Recipients
270 Life Scholarship Recipients
Picuted above: front Row (left to right): Ryley Cooper, Sanaia Generette-Smith, Ava Ardis, Trinity Dang, Diamond Owens, Taylor Ferguson. Back Row (left to right): Elijah Bean, Justin Joe, Thomas Edwards, Jordan Cooper, James McElveen
42 Palmetto Fellows
200 Board of Trustees Scholars
139 Double Cord Graduates
Pictured above: Kyra Bradley, Franklin Emerson, Kinsey Carraway, Nykobe Davis, Brendan Solomon, Luke LeMaster, Olivia Wideman, Timothy Rawls
319 Single Cord Graduates
27 Military Cord Graduates
15 SC Achievement Scholars
28 IB Graduates
9 STEM Graduates
Individual high school graduate data: South Florence, West Florence and Wilson.
Meet the 2024 Salutatorians
Grayson Fountain
South Florence High School
Madeylynn Page
West Florence High School
Simon Felix
Wilson High School
Grayson Andrew Fountain is the son of Joni and Josh Fountain, Grayson will be attending the University of South Carolina in the fall majoring in Finance.
Madelynn Paige Barnes is the daughter of Mandy and David Barnes. Madelynn will be attending Liberty University majoring in Music and Worship.
Simon Felix is the son of Ariel and Manette Felix. He plans to attend University of South Carolina Honors College and major in Mechanical Engineering.
Commencement Exercises Streaming Live
Florence 1 Schools announces that commencement exercises for all three high schools will be held at the Florence Center. The West Florence High School Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 23rd at 10:00 a.m., and here is the link for streaming the event:
https://youtube.com/live/_R2F6f5946k?feature=share.
The Wilson High School Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 23rd at 4:00 p.m.
Use this link to stream the Wilson High ceremony: https://youtube.com/live/_R2F6f5946k?feature=share.
The South Florence High School Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 24th at 10:00 a.m. Here is the link for streaming the South Florence ceremony.
Meet the 2024 Valedictorians
Thomas Edwards
South Florence High School
Luke William LeMaster
West Florence High School
Celine Cotran
Wilson High School
Thomas John Edwards is the son of Beth and John Edwards. Thomas will be attending Clemson University in the fall majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Luke William LeMaster is the son of Julie and Robert LeMaster. Luke will be attending Duke University majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
Celine Cotran is the daughter of Nabil and Noha Cotran. She plans to attend Columbia University in New York and major in Biology as prerequisite for medical school.
Students Complete Transition to Work Program
The Project Search Transition-to-Work Program is a unique, business-led, one-year employment, student-preparation program that takes place entirely in the workplace. Pictured are students Jalen Williams, Shya Roary, Delosh Pickens, and Jada McGee flanked by Brian Denny, F1S Assistant Superintendent, Special Education, at left and Matthew Peake, Health Careers Program Coordinator, at right.
During this school year, Florence 1 Schools partnered with McLeod Regional Medical Center (Florence), Pee Dee AHEC, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs as well as Raldex Hospitality to implement the Project Search.
Through this collaboration, the award-winning Project Search Program held its fourth graduation ceremony, celebrating the preparation of work-ready students at both McLeod and at Raldex Hospitality.
Pictured at left are students Jaylen Bailey, Joshua Miranda, Jayveon Mack, Aaron Scott flanked by Chad Patterson, Vice-President of Raldex Hospitality at left and Brian Denny at right.
Adult Education Graduation Set for June 20th
Graduation ceremony for students in the Florence County Adult Education program will be held on Thursday, June 20th at the Florence Center at 6:00 p.m.
Fond Farewells Extended to 2024 Retiring Employees
2023-2024 First-time retirees (list includes returning and separating).
Yusuf English is New Head Basketball Coach at Wilson High School
In a formal announcement this week, the Wilson High School Athletic Department introduced Yusuf English as the new head coach of the Wilson Tiger Basketball Team. Learn more about the coach here. See Coach English's plans, goals and aspirations for the team here. Photo above: Athletic Director Derrick McQueen (right) welcomes new head basketball coach Yusuf English.
NTA Sponsorship of Rewards & Recognition to F1S Exceeds $5,000
Photo above: McLaurin Elementary School Principal Deborah Cribb (center) congratulates staff members who received awards from National Teacher Associates this year, teacher of the year Kristin Alexander (at left) and support employee of the year Ebony German (at right) .
Mendel Grayson Worksite Benefits Director National Teacher Associates (pictured right) serves schools all over South Carolina, but is especially partial to Florence 1 Schools. "Florence holds a special place in my heart. I am originally from Charleston, but I’m a graduate of Francis Marion University. I lived in Florence for over five years, and that’s where I got married and started my family and career," said Grayson. This year National Teacher Associates donated over $5,000 in support of Florence 1 Schools.
Over the past three years, Grayson and his company National Teacher Associates, have recognized each school's Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year with checks for $100 and $50 respectively. This past year Grayson and his staff members have driven from Columbia to personally deliver checks to honor these employees.
Each district teacher of the year has also received $200. Special events like the F1S Health Fair ($200) the F1S Teachers Appreciation Week Raffle and other local schools have supported by NTA.
In addition to sponsoring a teacheer and employee recognition programs and donating to Special Events, NTA has also sponsored various Donor’s Choose Projects across the district.
Pictured are Carrie Connor secretary of John W. Moore and support employee of the year and Mendel Grayson making a presentation during this school year. Click here to see photographs of Mendel Grayson honoring teachers of the year and support employees of the year during the 2023-2024 school year.
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School Wellness Efforts Celebrated
The MUSC Boeing Center for Children's Wellness (BCCW) in partnership with Florence 1 Schools recently celebrated all the district’s schools and their wellness efforts in the 2023-2024 school year. As part of the celebration, two schools won a grand prize while a third school was named a Rising Star in the MUSC BCCW’s School-based Wellness Initiative.
Participating schools that meet the minimum requirements receive a wellness award that can be used to help grow and sustain their wellness initiatives. In total, $28,000 was awarded to Florence 1 this school year. There was a tie for the grand prize between Lester Elementary School and Woods Road Child Development Center with both being awarded $2,000. Additionally, Savannah Grove Elementary won the Rising Star award receiving $1,500. Click to read more about this initiative and how it is impacting our schools. #StudentsFirst #SchoolWellness #HealthyLifestyle #CommunityPartners
Helping Florence Flourish
Helping Florence Flourish welcomes WinShape Camp back to First Presbyterian Church July 1st – 5th. Campers who have completed grades K5-5th from diverse backgrounds come together for a week of life-changing, memory-making, adventure-taking experiences ranging from sports to creative play to worship. Some scholarships are available. Learn more about this camp by clicking above on the Summer Camps for Students of All Ages button.
Summer Camp for Future Bruins
South Florence High announces a Baby Bears Wrestling Camp for youth ages five through twelve years old from June 10th through June 12th at the South Florence High School Freshman Academy Gymnasium with the hours of 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon. For more information contact Coach Marcus Montgomery (mmontgomery@fsd1.org). Learn more about this camp by clicking above on the Summer Camps for Students of All Ages button.
Special Assignment for the Florence 1 Schools Faculty, Staff and Students
Educators and Art: A Summer Health Care Series
From the Florence County Museum's Education Department
June 6 to July 18 - Educators & Art: A Summer Self-Care Series.
This summer the Florence County Museum’s Education Department invites educators of all content areas to recharge, create, reflect, and explore through an art class designed just for them. Explore printmaking, watercolor, observational drawing, illustrated reflective journaling and arts-based mindfulness practices. No arts experience is required. Each week will feature a different theme using current exhibitions and outdoor spaces as points of inspiration. This program is open to all K-12 educators, support staff and school administration professionals. Please visit https://www.flocomuseum.org/educators-art/ for more information.
Featured art by Amy Carmichael of Southside Middle School. Media: Acrylic Paint. Title: Dreamscape.