Marion County Schools had the chance to celebrate Veterans Day in meaningful ways. The celebrations served as an important reminder for all of us to never take the sacrifices made by our veterans for granted. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

We are incredibly excited to announce Project Launch! MCSD is launching a scholarship program to help fund up to 160 dual enrollment scholarships for its students to take classes at Florence-Darlington Technical College through a partnership with SOPAKCO, Inc. The scholarships will be provided through the Unaka Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of SOPAKCO. These scholarships will open up exciting educational opportunities for our MCSD students.

MCSD is pleased to announce that Ta’Mera Brown has been elected as the 2023-2024 JAG State President, and Amari Howard as the 2023-2024 JAG State Secretary. In addition, Ms. Caresa Dozier, JAG Specialist, has received the 6 of 6 High-Performance Club Awards.

Recently, Amari Howard and Ta'Mera Brown attended the JAG National Student Leadership Academy Conference in Washington, D.C. They had the opportunity to learn from the conference and connect with student leaders from various states. They also had the chance to speak with Mrs. Phylicia Rashad about the importance of education and with Mr. Ken Smith and the NCA officers about the impacts of JAG. Furthermore, they visited the Capitol Building, African American Museum, and various monuments. We are incredibly proud of the Mullins High School JAG Program!

Marion County School District's Proud Award is awarded to an educator or someone working within the school district who has made an impact.

Ms. Kayla Wint was awarded the #MCSDProud award for the month of November. Coworkers shared, "she is a servant leader and demonstrates a passion for teaching. She is always willing to lend a hand to ensure that all students have the best learning experience." Ms. Wint is a teacher at McCormick Elementary School.

Ms. Nancy Waldron was awarded the #MCSDProud award for the month of December. Coworkers shared, "Ms. Waldron goes above and beyond in building relationships with the students and staff. She supports the Mustang Scholars to make sure they SHINE academically." Ms. Waldron is a custodian at McCormick Elementary School.

Many Marion County Schools organized successful career fairs to celebrate National Career Development Month! We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the local agencies that participated in the fair and provided our students with an opportunity to explore various career paths and gain valuable insights. Thank you for supporting and dedicating yourselves to the success of our students.

The Operations Department has been occupied with various projects over the past few months. The latest furniture delivery has been successfully made to both the elementary and middle schools. Furthermore, substantial renovations have been carried out at the Academy of Early Learning, which includes the repavement of the parking lot and drop-off loop for the convenience of parents and teachers. On top of that, the Academy of Early Learning and Easterling Primary School have been outfitted with brand new playground equipment.

Meeting with parents is essential to build a strong home-school relationship. Recently, Dr. Bethea met with parents at The Groundout Coffee Bar. They had great conversations, received valuable feedback, and generated innovative ideas!

Dr. Kandace Bethea enjoys meeting with student groups around the district. Recently, she met and had lunch with Marion High School’s student council members. They enjoyed tacos and had engaging conversations about academics, accountability, and athletics.

Mrs. Dianne Hughes has devoted 50 years of her career to Marion County School District. With five decades of experience, she has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and many stories to share. During her tenure, she worked alongside seven superintendents and served in various areas. Dianne's unwavering commitment to the organization over the past 50 years is a true testament to her dedication and work ethic. Congratulations, Ms. Dianne, for your incredible accomplishment! We are forever grateful for your contributions here in Marion County.

Marion County School District proudly announces our new partnership with the Marion County Healthcare Foundation. This collaboration will allow our schools and teachers to apply for mini-grants to support innovation in our classrooms and schools.

We are incredibly grateful to the Marion County Healthcare Foundation for their generous support and pivotal role in enhancing educational opportunities for our students. With their help, we can foster a more innovative and dynamic learning environment for the young minds of Marion County.

Thank you, Marion County Healthcare Foundation, for believing in our students and teachers and supporting our mission of academic excellence.

The Back Pack Buddy Program is a community initiative that aims to provide food supplements to more than 130 children from food 'insecure' homes in Marion County. The program is currently implemented through public schools and has been sustained by the generosity and kindness of the community. Recently, on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, the program received a $10,000 donation from Anderson Brothers Bank to continue its good work. ABB's President & CEO, Mr. David Anderson, and Chief Technology Officer, Mrs. Stephanie Byrd, along with other members of ABB were thanked for their contribution to the program. The Back Pack Buddy Coordinator, Mr. Sam Midgette, and representatives from Marion High School were also present. The program continues to depend on the kindness of the community and all contributions are appreciated. (Pictured from left to right: Sam Midgette-Back Pack Buddy Coordinator, Stephanie Byrd-Chief Technology Officer, ABB, Rita Lewis-Smith- Principal, Marion High School, and Scott Collins-Teacher, Marion High School)

The Auctioneer Football Program has received a Boost Grant Award from the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation. A big thank you to Dr. Al Gilpin and his wife, Lane Gilpin, for presenting Coach Lowery, Principal Edwards, and Coach Donald Brown with two checks for $2,000 each.

The Marion County FIRST Robotics TEAM 1051 received a $5,000 check from Duke Energy Foundation for the 2024 season. The team consists of Marion County high school students and mentors and has been successfully competing in the FIRST arena since 2003. TEAM 1051 will participate in the Anderson and Charleston District events in March 2024. To join TEAM 1051, contact the Academy at (843) 423-1941.

The Marion County School Board attended the Legislative Advocacy Assembly of the South Carolina School Boards Association. The event provided an opportunity for collaboration, advocacy, and training.

Mrs. Renee Atkinson, South Carolina's Teacher of the Year, recently shared her knowledge and expertise with teacher cadets at Marion County School District. It was an honor to welcome back a former student of Mullins High School who inspired our students. Thank you, Mrs. Atkinson, for your dedication to teaching.

The Robotics Teams of MCSD recently participated in the First Lego League Challenge competition held at Dreher High School in Columbia, SC. The Fascinating Foxes and Warrior Robotics Team faced some challenges, but they persevered through teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking, and managed to finish strong. We are proud of our coaches and Robotics Team, and we are confident that they will continue to grow and develop. Congratulations to Mrs. Kim Edwards for winning the Coach/Mentor Award.

MCSD students in grades K-8 have completed winter i-Ready testing. i-Ready is a diagnostic program, that helps determine your child's needs to assist in personalizing learning and monitoring their progress throughout the year. Teachers and school administrators are looking for student growth in math and reading and are offering incentives for students meeting their growth targets and stretch goals. Dr. Bethea and Dr. Holcombe celebrated with each school last week via Zoom.