This Week

Innovation. Creativity. Collaboration. In STEM classes in Florence 1 Schools, you will find all those things and more. Starting in elementary school, students in Florence 1 begin building their critical thinking skills through STEM classes. They shape those skills as they move to middle and high school, applying what they learn to real-world problems and future careers. In the words of a West Florence STEM Magnet student: "The challenge is worth it."

Is your high school student interested in STEM? West Florence High School will start accepting applications in January for its STEM program for 2025-2026. Find out more at https://westflorence.f1s.org/STEM

Advantage Academy held its 13th National Technical Honor Society (NTHC) induction ceremony this week with the largest number ever, (71 inductees), from South Florence High, West Florence High and Wilson High, current students at Advantage Academy.

The criteria for membership are: completion of a career and technical program, earned GPA of at least 3.0, demonstration of good character, and endorsement from a teacher.

Career and technical programs include: Agri-Plant Science, Auto Collision and Technology, Aviation, Building Construction, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Digital Arts and Design, Early Childhood Education, Electricity, EMS, Engineering, Health Sciences CNA and Pharmacology, Horticulture, Hospitality, HVAC, Mechatronics, Networking, and Welding.

Dr. Wendy McClain and Bryan Dubose are NTHC co-advisers. Sarah Carpenter is Advantage Academy Director.

Students in Florence 1 Schools are presenting holiday concerts over the next two weeks prior to the winter break. To see the upcoming concert schedule and to support our student performers, click on this link: Florence 1 Schools Festival of Holiday Concerts.

The Tigers returned from Thanksgiving Break to a renovated media center and brand new signage around Williams Middle School. The media center has new seating areas, perfect for curling up with a good book, and collaborative learning spaces. New bookshelves pop with their gold accent color and everything is tied together with the iconic logo. View photos at this link: Media Center Upgrades at Williams Middle School.

It is beginning to look like a Winter Wonderland at Briggs Elementary, complete with beautiful, shiny floors that could rival any ice skating rink. Floors at the school were refinished over Thanksgiving Break, just in time for the Bulldogs to return to class ready to learn. View the photos at this link: Shiny New Pathways Inside Briggs Elementary .

It is not baseball and softball season just yet, but new fields are starting to give some a bit of spring fever. The Florence 1 Schools fans are excited to see the players take the field for opening day at West Florence High School and Wilson High School softball and South Florence High School baseball. View the fields at this link: Let's Play Ball.

The End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) is a statewide high school assessment program for English 2, Algebra 1, Biology 1, and United States History and counts for 20% of the student's course grade.

Students currently enrolled in these courses for the first semester will begin testing on December 10, 2024. A student and parent brochure can be found here (Spanish translation). A student and parent web page is also available to assist parents who are individuals with a disability as defined by the ADA (https://ed.sc.gov/tests/assessment-information/student-and-parent-resources/).

Please note that during testing, students may not be in possession of any electronic devices that can be used for communicating, timing, creating images, or storing images, per the South Carolina Department of Education.

The Wilson High School Mathematics Team emerged as the Division 1 Winner of the FMU George E. Schnibben Jr. Mathematics Tournament. The FMU George E. Schnibben Jr. Mathematics Tournament consists of an individual math test followed by a Math Jeopardy between the three schools competing in Division 1.

This year, Division 1 consists of the following schools: Hartsville High, South Florence High and Wilson High. The Wilson Mathematics team had several high scorers in the individual competition with the highest scorer being Xulong (Evan) Guo with a 15 out of 16. Listed here are the: Mathematics Team Members.

High school bracketology listings are closing in as the South Florence High School Bruins are in the AAAA semi-finals after having defeated Hartsville last Friday, November 29th. Listen to Coach Andrew Marlowe explaining to the Bruins that while the win over Hartsville was a sweet victory, the ultimate prize is yet to come! This is Not the Destination.

On Friday, December 6th Bruins will travel to North Augusta High School for the lower-state championship game. Purchase tickets: https://gofan.co/app/school/SC1657.

Winner of the Bruins/North Augusta game will play for the state championship taking on the winner of the upper-state championship game between Westside or Southpoint.

Credit: This is Not the Destination (scnow.com).

Amare Adams and Jayden Sellers of South Florence both signed a letter of intent to play college football this week. Sellers will play for the South Carolina Gamecocks while Adams will play at Clemson University.

Cross-country athlete Kaleb Burroughs of West Florence signed a letter of intent join the runners at the University of South Carolina. See his interview with Scott Chancey of scnow: Kaleb Burroughs.

West Florence's Ryan Coscetti will play baseball for the Francis Marion University Patriots.

West Florence's Cross Country athlete will join the Citadel next year.

Wilson High School's Morgan Krawiec has been named at 2024 AAAA All-State Swim Team Member.

IB - The application period for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB/MYP) for Williams Middle School (grades 6 - 8) and Wilson High School (grades 9 - 10) is now open. This application is for the 2025-2026 school year. Apply at f1s.org/IB. For more information call Brian Howell: bhowell@fsd1.org.

STEM - The West Florence 2025 - 2026 STEM Magnet Application will open on Friday, January 10, 2025, and it will close on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 4 pm. STEM Magnet info night will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 6:30 pm in the West Florence Auditorium during Knight of STEM. For more information visit westflorence.f1s.org/STEM or contact Rahsaan Perry: rperry@fsd1.org.

Southside Middle Fine Arts Academy - At the Fine Arts Academy at Southside Middle School, students can specialize in band, chorus, dance, digital/media arts, orchestra, piano, theater and visual art. Applications will open on Sunday, November 17, 2024, and close January 10, 2025. Visit the Southside website for more details: https://southside.f1s.org.

The Florence One Center for the Arts (F1CA), an integrated arts magnet program at South Florence High School, offers an integrated experience for students who have a passion for the arts and a desire to express themselves. The Florence One Center for the Arts (F1CA) highlights opportunities for students to excel in Visual Arts, Instrumental and Vocal Music, Studio Production and Film Design, Dance, and Theater. The application deadline is January 16, 2025. Find out more or apply at southflorence.f1s.org/fine-arts.

This week our induction teachers are from Wilson High School. Get to know more about these educators better at this link: Wilson High School Induction Teachers.

Members of the Florence County Council (pictured) approved a $35 million bond to fund a new school (Savannah Grove Elementary) and athletic complex in Effingham. Read more here.

Credit: scnnow.com