This Week

Her service to Florence 1 Schools spans the gamut across all grade levels, and many of the high school seniors who are currently at South Florence, she has known since their entrance in high school.

An educator with almost 30 years of experience, Shand Josey served as assistant principal at Williams Middle from 2016 to 2019. She was principal at Southside from 2019 to 2020. Prior to serving on the secondary levels she worked at John W. Moore and at Royall Elementary.

At South Florence High, Principal Shand Josey addresses the high school students by their names as she converses with them ----even though their individual numbers are in the hundreds. Using a quote from Dale Carnegie, Shand Josey repeated, “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

Her interactions with students are up close and personal. She strives to interpret what they are saying to her so that the communication with them is clear.

During the morning hours, Ms. Josey is interacting with the students, and she is strict about the students having their school ID cards in view. As she approaches them, they are aware that she is checking for the ID cards, and they quickly locate the card so that it is visible. “Having an ID is a small responsibility that the students must embrace,” said Josey. “Many of their future employers will require ID cards, and students must simply be prepared to comply with workplace standards.”

Hoodies must be removed in the morning, and high schoolers are polite, agreeable and amenable to her requests. Read the rest of the story: A Day in the Life of Shand Josey, Part II

See snapshots of her day: Following Shand Josey

Get to know these educators at South Florence High School: Induction Introductions

According to recent data, 60 percent of the schools in Florence 1 Schools received either a Good or Excellent rating on the school report card from the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE).

Wallace Gregg Elementary earned a Good rating, the first in over twenty years. Carver Elementary School and Dewey L. Carter Elementary School each jumped two categories from an Average rating last school year to achieve an Excellent rating. (read more here) 2024 Report Card Ratings

Principal Alyssa Leibman and staff members of Wallace-Gregg Elementary will head out to bus stops on Saturday, October 26th to pass out treats to Wallace-Gregg students in celebration of the South Carolina Department of Education's Good report card rating.

View the bus schedule and distribution times: Wallace-Gregg Saturday Bus Stop Treats.

Other South Florence High School senior artists recognized at the 2024 South Carolina State Fair this year include Sydney Evans, who received second place three-dimensional, as well as Skye Nutt and Andrea Scott, who both received honorable mention. To view the additional winners click on the link: Award-Winning State Fair Artists.

Homecoming Festivities are on schedule this weekend as South Florence will host Lower Richland High School. West Florence is at Westwood High, and Wilson has a bye week.

The South Florence High School Bruins Alumni Schedule is as Follows:

October 25th - Campus Tailgate (Before the Homecoming Game)

October 26th - Bruins Alumni Tailgate, Florence Memorial Stadium

October 27th - Bruins Alumni Church Service

October 27th - All-White Karaoke Brunch

For more information call Janice King, President of the South Florence High School Alumni Association at 843-624-5500.

Congratulations to Wilson High School's Marching Band for placing 2nd (silver medal) in the South Carolina Band Directors Association 3A/4A State High Step Marching Band Championships held at Wilson Stadium for the first time in over a decade. View photos by Steve Camlin here: Wilson Band at the State High Step Marching Band Championship. If you like old school and an Earth Wind and Fire playlist, this performance is for you! See the Wilson High School Band's 12-minute performance in the video below.

Meanwhile, West Florence High School's Marching Knights and South Florence High School Marching Bruins competed in the Olde English Festival of Bands in Rock Hill, the last competition before state championships next weekend. West Florence emerged as the 3A division champion (1st place) and earned a S𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 evaluation. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰, 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀. In the 1A division, South Florence placed second and earned an “Excellent” rating.

Monday, November 4th is an early dismissal day for students. Elementary students will be dismissed at 12:10; middle and high schools will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m.

Parent teacher conferences will be held November 4th from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on November 4th. Parents should contact the school guidance department to schedule a conference with teacher(s).

You can help secure funding for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee by voting for Carlos Washington, a community volunteer and finalist for Nascar Foundation's Betty J. France Humanitarian Award.

Vote once a day, every day from October 22nd through November 18th. Text vote to 877. 748.2455 or sign-up at bgcpda.org to receive daily reminders to vote. View details here: https://bit.ly/3AdpwNq

Organizers of One Table Florence, a community event taking place on Thanksgiving Day, will need volunteers. Here are some facts about the event: One Table Florence. To learn more, visit the website listed below.

The Florence 1 Schools employee giving campaign begins October 28th and continues through November 8th. Payroll deductions to these organizations start December 15th through June 29th.

There are twelve partner agencies which will benefit from donations made by employees of Florence 1 Schools. Click on the link to view the entire list of agencies.https://bit.ly/4fgdOka

There are just a few more weeks for employees of F1S complete open enrollment puzzles! Open enrollment ends October 31, 2024. That period it the opportunity to add, drop or change insurance coverage OR MoneyPlus participation.

Visit peba.sc.gov/oe to learn more. Make your Open enrollment/MoneyPlus participation changes at www.mybenefits.sc.gov or call 844-533-2022 to schedule an appointment.