Memminger Manifest

As we embark on this fresh start, we are excited to see what amazing achievements we will accomplish together this year. We look forward to embracing new challenges, celebrating successes, and continuing to foster a vibrant learning environment where every student can thrive in 2025.

We have already begun our schoolwide growths and improvements, specifically in 2nd grade, with preliminary notification that we are showing significant growth in the number of students meeting the criteria for gifted identification based on critical reasoning as measured by the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This growth far exceeded any other school in the district. Our students’ ability to excel has no limits and is a testament of the quality of teaching and specialized programming offered here at Memminger. We will continue to rebrand our schools’ identity to represent who we are as a school of excellence in Charleston County School District!

Our administrators, teachers and staff share a committed mission & vision to accelerate achievement through inquiry, social emotional development, and development of the IB learner profile attributes to become internationally minded learners.

In closing, thank you for your continued support and trust in Memminger IB World School. Let us collaboratively approach each day with a sense of wonder and determination, making the 2024-2025 school year a time of growth, learning, and cherished memories.

Respectfully,

Cindy Smalls & Cherie Wash

School Administrators

1/6: Students Return and Q3 Begins!

1/9: Q2 Report Cards Distributed (Paper)

1/10: Q2 Report Cards Distributed (Email)

1/20: No School, Martin Luther King., Jr. Day

1/30: Winter Performance & Family Fun Night 5:00-6:30 RSVP BELOW!

2/10: Q3 Progress Reports Distributed This Week

2/13: Class Picture Day

2/14: Half Day for Students, Dismissal at 11:30

Congratulations all who were nominated - Memminger is certainly not short of outstanding talent and we appreciate ALL of our educators!

We are proud to announce Memminger Elementary's 2025 Teacher of the Year, Donya Amer.

Ms. Amer is highly respected by her colleagues and regarded as an advocate for all, as noted in this nomination statement:

"Donya’s leadership is evident through her ability to inspire respect and admiration among students, parents, and co-workers alike. She is a trusted advocate for children and families, fostering an inclusive environment that encourages growth and collaboration. Her positive influence extends beyond the classroom, as she actively engages in initiatives that strengthen our school community and contribute to its success."

-Colleague

The evening of

Thursday, January 30, 2025

for our Winter Performance / Family Fun Night!

5:00p - 6:30p

Please note this was originally advertised as February 13th but has been changed.

There will NOT be an event on 2/13/25. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

Dear Parents and Students, We hope this message finds you well as we continue our commitment to fostering an engaging and productive learning environment for all Charleston County School District (CCSD) students. At the November 18, 2024, Board of Trustees meeting, a new policy, "Prohibition of Personal Electronic Devices During the School Day" (Policy JICJ), was adopted to create a phone-free school environment. This policy complies with the General Appropriations Bill, H. 5100 of 2024, Proviso 1.103, and applies to all kindergarteners through 12th graders.

This new policy is designed to remove distractions from personal devices during the school day so students can focus better, learn more, and build strong relationships with their classmates and teachers. Our policy also aligns with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, emphasizing essential college and career-ready skills, collaboration, and meaningful interpersonal interactions. Implementation will begin on January 6, 2025.

Key Definitions

● Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs): These include cell phones, smartwatches, tablets,

gaming devices, and accessories like earbuds and headphones.

● School Day: Defined as the time students are on school premises from arrival until dismissal,

including field trips unless otherwise directed by administration.

Overview of Policy Implementation

1. Devices must be powered off and securely stored (e.g., in backpacks, lockers, storage

containers) throughout the instructional day. Storage is specific by school location.

2. Usage is only allowed when explicitly authorized for instructional purposes or required under

an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), medical plan, or Section 504 accommodation plan.

3. The CCSD Progressive Discipline Plan, updated August 21, 2024, outlines school response

for any student cell phone violations and is found here: CCSD Student Code of Conduct (page

6).

Communication Alternatives

Parents and guardians may reach their children during the school day for urgent or emergent issues by contacting the school’s front office. Please understand that students will not be pulled from class for general messages. We suggest using a student's CCSD email as an alternative way to communicate with your child if needed (high school only). In cases of student illness or emergency, students should visit their school’s Health Clinic to make necessary phone calls.

For the full text of CCSD’s policy and further details, please visit Policy JICJ: Prohibition of Personal Electronic Devices During the School Day.

We know this change may take some time to adjust, but it is an important step to help students stay focused and make the most of their time at school. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a focused, distraction-free school experience. For more details, visit the district’s website and look out for additional updates from your principal.

Sincerely,

CCSD’s Office of Communications

Let's make 2025 the best year yet! We are aiming for 98% attendance rates. Please prioritize getting your child to school on time EVERY day.

Every minute of learning during the school day is important. Students who miss more than 10% of the school year for any reason are considered chronically absent. Students who attend school everyday and on time are more likely to read at grade level, achieve good grades, and score highly on standardized tests.

Arrival:

Students may arrive starting at 7:50am.

Instruction begins at 8:15am.

Students arriving after 8:15am are tardy and must be signed in at the front office.

Dismissal:

Students will begin dismissing at 3:15pm.

The cutoff time to pick up your child early is 2:30pm.

Absences:

We understand absences are necessary for illnesses and emergency situations. Upon returning to school, please send an excuse detailing the reason for your child's absence to your child's teacher. You can also send excuses to Ms. Chris Bocharski at christine_bocharski@charleston.k12.sc.us.

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CD has been exploring characteristics of winter through our winter study and IB unit, “How we Organize Ourselves.” We have had a big month of family engagement and exploring our community around the school, including a trip to The Charleston Place, gingerbread house building, and a Winter Wonderland day. We are so excited to come back in the new year to continue our IB unit and start the new clothing study!

During the third quarter, Kindergarten will begin our IB Unit “Where We Are in Place and Time” by learning about Native Americans. We will be reading stories about different tribes across the United States and the different geographical areas where they lived. Students will look at the similarities and differences between themselves and the first people who lived in the United States. They will also explore how different communities can influence the world around them!

First grade is in their third IB unit, “How we Organize Ourselves”. These first graders are learning how systems need to be in place to maintain organization in their communities. They will look at similarities and differences between one’s community and other South Carolina communities over time. We welcome guest speakers to come and share their knowledge of our state. Email rebecca_bridwell@charleston.k12.sc.us if you are interested! In reading, first graders will read informational texts. In math, we will continue hopping along the number line and learning those math facts!

In January, second grade will begin our new IB unit, Where We Are in Place and Time. Students will discover how explorations can lead to opportunities and new understandings. We are excited to study the motivations and impacts of Westward Expansion during the 1800s. Students will read texts about significant innovations in transportation and communication during that period, as well as examine the human impact on natural resources. In math, we are wrapping up our unit on measurement and will soon dive into place value up to one thousand. We are so excited for all the learning that will take place in the new year!

Third grade has just wrapped up our unit on Norse Mythology. We are beginning a new reading unit on Astronomy discovering our solar system and what lies beyond. We are excited to dive into force and motion in science and work on measurements and fractions in math. We will be connecting this to our IB unit on Sharing the Planet. On January 30th, we will be taking a walking field trip to the Dock Street Theater and see a performance of one of our favorite books: Last Stop on Market Street.

In January, 4th grade will dive into an exciting range of topics across subjects. In ELA, students will explore geology, learning how the Earth’s structure and processes shape our world. Social studies will take them back in time to examine westward expansion and its impact on America’s growth. In science, they’ll investigate energy, waves, and collisions, exploring how energy transfers and interacts in the physical world. Math will focus on concepts including distance, measurement, conversions, time, and data interpretation through graphs, covering median, mode, and range. Our new IB unit, Where We Are in Place & Time, will connect it all, examining how history creates opportunities and challenges that shape individuals, communities, and the environment. It’s a month full of discovery and meaningful connections!

5th grade cannot believe that we are already halfway done with this year!! We have just wrapped up learning standard algorithm for multiplication and how to solve word problems in different ways in math. Our amazing students also just finished their persuasive essays after reading Don Quixote and did such a great job. When we come back in January we will begin our new IB Unit How We Express Ourselves and will learn about how the Renaissance and World War I led to self expression. We are so excited for the beginning of a new year!

We have been spending more time finishing up IB Units and launching new IB Units. Some grade levels revisit an IB Unit and are able to add to concepts they have already covered. Within every IB Unit of Inquiry, there is a central idea which frames the transdisciplinary unit of inquiry and supports students’ conceptual understandings of the transdisciplinary theme under which it is situated. Below are the IB Units that will be studied during the month of January along with the central idea, which was created and planned by the teachers. Ask your child what connections they have to the central idea within the IB Unit they will be studying in January! Have them write it down and bring it to school to share and earn a prize. They can give it to Ms. McClary.

Kindergarten- Where We Are In Place & Time- Understanding similarities and differences strengthen our community and the world.

1st Grade- How the World Works- The patterns of the sun and the moon affect earth.

2nd Grade- Where We Are in Place and Time- Explorations lead to discoveries, opportunities, and new understandings.

3rd Grade- Sharing the Planet- Decisions and events can impact the physical and social world.

4th Grade- Where We Are in Place and Time- History leads to opportunities and challenges which affect individuals, communities, and the environment.

5th Grade- How We Express Ourselves- Humans have a responsibility to create positive change.

Congratulations to the Blue Team for winning last month’s Attributes in Action Challenge! The blue team had the most students recognized for being risk-takers (trying new experiences) and principled (being honest and truthful). Each blue team classroom gets to keep a Challenge Trophy in their classroom and earned a badge for their door and our Team Challenge bulletin board.

Students have been using a variety of Kagan Cooperative Learning structures during their ELA lessons. To share their thinking while listening to or reading texts from our ELA curriculum they have used the structures Timed Pair Share, RoundRobin, and RallyRobin. They have also used Quiz-Quiz-Trade and StandUp-HandUp-PairUp to practice and review skills and information they have learned.

In the library this month, our primary learners got to meet the library Yeti stuffed animal who comes every December around the holiday season to remind everyone to “Shine Bright” by highlighting the importance of mindfulness, play, and connections.

Students have also been practicing locating books on the shelves in the everybody picture book, chapter book, and nonfiction sections of our library. Our learners are reading call numbers on the shelf and looking for picture clues that help solve fun holiday riddles. It has been a great review of a necessary skill in an engaging way.

Printmaking club has recently learned how to make their own relief stamps using ink and styrofoam plates. Students first drew their designs onto the styrofoam and then carved out the picture. Through trial and error, Our printmakers continue to impress with newly learned techniques in their designing and problem-solving skills.

Students can purchase snacks in the cafeteria during their lunchtime on Fridays.

Thank you to our AMAZING cafeteria staff for making this happen!

CASH ONLY!

We ask that all Memminger families ensure their information in Power School is correct and updated. We need working email addresses AND phone numbers for all our students. If you have not done so already, the family and emergency contact information should be updated. We appreciate your assistance with this matter.

If you have any questions, please call or email Chris Bocharski.

843-724-7778

christine_bocharski@charleston.k12.sc.us

If you need to pick up your child early, you will need to arrive no later than 2:30pm and have your ID ready. This will allow us time to prepare our normal dismissal. We appreciate your understanding and thank you in advance.

Click Here to Order The 24-25 Yearbook!

When used in maritime, the term 'manifest' refers to the document where a ship's cargo, passengers, and crew are listed. This detailed list is used for customs clearance and port operations.

Since Memminger's mascot is the Mariners, we wanted to stay true to the maritime theme. Think of Memminger as our ship and this 'Manifest' as the detailed list of all that is happening in our school. We hope our families find it both informative and reliable resource for all things Memminger!