The Tiger's Roar

Dear Orange Grove Families,

I am thrilled to share that we have officially wrapped up an incredible month filled with fun, school spirit, and fundraising success! Thanks to your unwavering support and enthusiasm, our recent fundraiser broke records, raising over $120,000 for our school—an outstanding achievement that will directly benefit our students and programs. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity and commitment to making The Grove a place where students truly thrive! Don't miss the highlight videos below.

This month was also full of laughter and creativity as we celebrated Halloween. From the excitement of dressing up to the fantastic energy at the Halloween dances, it was heartwarming to see students, staff, and families come together in such a fun and festive way. Events like these make our school community feel so special.

Additionally, our Red Ribbon Week activities at the middle school were a huge success, thanks to the active involvement of students and the incredible support from families and staff. The focus on making healthy, positive choices was not only impactful, but also a great reminder of the importance of supporting one another in creating a safe, healthy environment for our students.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the parents, staff, volunteers, and students who dedicated their time, energy, and resources to making these events so successful. Your involvement is what makes The Grove such a vibrant and caring community.

As we look ahead to the end of the calendar year, we are excited for even more opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate together. Thank you once again for your incredible support. It’s an honor to lead such a wonderful organization.

Sincerely,

John H. Clendaniel

CEO

• Upcoming Dates - OGCS calendar (Nov. to mid-Jan.), Updated 1st & 2nd grade testing schedule.
• Important Announcements & Reminders - Fall parenting workshop, Elementary Santa pics, and 8th grade yearbook ads due 11/30.
• Thank you, 24-25 OGCS Business Partners!
• Congratulations! - Sept. & Oct. Middle Students of the Month, Sept. & Oct Terrific Kids & Character Cub Winners @ Elementary, and more!
• OGCS PTO Information - Middle Halloween dance & photo booth pics, Duty Free Lunch volunteers, T-shirt Sponsors, and more!
• Library news you can use! - Harvest Storytelling, Storybook Character Ornament Contest, CCPL November newsletters, and more!
• Did You Know......Hurricane Helene Relief Style Day UPDATE!
• Orange Grove Tigers Sports Newsletter - Fall Cross Country & Volleyball recap, Winter Basketball season preview plus player highlights!
  

NOVEMBER

November 11: Veterans Day: Wear Red, White & Blue / 8th Grade Veterans Day Breakfast & Program

November 12: PTO General Meeting / 3rd Grade Performance / OG Merchandise Sale 6p @ Elementary

November 13: Wolfram Syndrome Special Style Day / Santa Pictures @ Elementary orders due NLT 12p

November 15: Fall Parenting Workshop 7:45a @ Elementary / Q2 Progress Reports home with students / PTO Duty Free Lunch @ Elementary (click to volunteer)

November 17: Chorus Practice 2p @ Elementary

November 18: Santa Pictures @ Elementary

November 19: PTO Board Meeting 1:50p @ Elementary

November 20: 5th Grade Spelling Bee 8a @ Elementary

November 21: PTO Duty Free Lunch @ Middle (click to volunteer) / Charter Board Meeting 6p @ Elementary

November 25 - 29: Thanksgiving Break / No School

November 30: Last day to purchase 8th Grade yearbook ad

DECEMBER

December 3: Middle MAP & K-5th iReady Testing

December 4: K & 3rd iReady Math Testing

December 5: Middle MAP & 3rd - 5th iReady Testing

December 6: 1st - 3rd iReady Testing

December 9 - 13: PTO Holiday Shop @ Elementary

December 10: K - 2nd iReady Testing / Middle Spelling Bee 8a / Winter Steel Drums Concert 6p @ Elementary

December 11: K - 2nd iReady Testing

December 12: 8th grade VPA presents Aladdin 6p @ Middle

December 16 -17: PTO Holiday Shop @ Middle

December 19: Charter Board Meeting 6p @ Elementary / Winter Chorus Concert 6:30p @ West Ashley High School

December 20: Elementary Holiday Sing-a-long 8a / End of 2nd Quarter

December 23 - January 3: Winter Break / No School

JANUARY

January 3: Teacher Workday / No School for students

January 6: Students return to school

January 10: Q2 Report Cards home / Elementary Bingo Night 5:30p

January 14: 25-26 CCSD School Choice application window opens / Middle Awards Ceremonies (8:30a - 8th /9:30a - 7th / 10:30 - 6th)

January 15: Elementary Awards Ceremonies (8a - 4th / 9a - 5th / 10a - 3rd)

View Orange Grove's 2024-2025 OGCS Calendar here!

Before scheduling any appointments or planned absences, please make sure to check the 2024-2025 OGCS testing dates.

**1st & 2nd Grade Families** - The December testing dates for your student(s) have changed. Please make sure to review the schedule, as it has been updated since it was first shared with families.

We are excited to announce our Fall Parenting Workshop: Parents and Students Managing Stress Together on Friday, November 15 at 7:45a at the Elementary. In this workshop, we will examine the before school meltdown and the afterschool collapse. We will explore how to strengthen parent child relationships so that effective stress management can take place. We will provide ideas to help you communicate creatively, connect innovatively, and successfully manage anger, anxiety, and other emotional outbursts.

Special guests include elementary school counselors Mrs. Kira Shipley and Mrs. Christina Bottomley. We are elated to have our mental health professional Mrs. Amy Bosman share with us as well. As always, we want you to bring your questions with you as we look to create an interactive community and learning environment.

Please RSVP here to let us know you will be joining us.

Please consider supporting these local businesses by clicking on the logos below.

Interested in becoming an Orange Grove Business Partner? Click HERE.

Congratulations to our Terrific Kids for September and October! Check out the videos below and join us in celebrating these students.

Each month, Middle School teachers choose three students per grade level that most exemplify the character trait of the month. These students are then honored on the morning news show, featured on the front hallway bulletin board, and celebrated here in The Tiger's Roar newsletter.

Please join us in congratulating the Middle School Students of the Month for September and October! Click on the videos below to learn more about these awesome students and how they modeled their month's character trait.

Left to Right: Alex F., Harper Z., Matthew D., Carson P., Kennedy H., Grace F., Caroline K., Kennedy R., Frankie M., Mayah B., Lydia S., Leena B., Judd B., Ivy L., Jericho B., Harper P., Nicholas S., Finley C., and Emmanuel W.

Front Row: Emilia S., Ari T., Wesley L., Jolene D., Emersyn K., Adi Grace M., Olivia M.

Middle Row: Georgia B., Izzy G., Chase B., Luke D., Addy L., Elliot G.

Back Row: Evelyn Rose F., Gwen B., Alek S., Finn L., Jack F., Harper J.

We had a spook-tacular time at the Orange Grove Middle School Halloween Dance. A DJ was spinning the hits and our students - and faculty - were showing off their moves on the dance floor! We captured memories to take home at the Halloween-themed photo booth and enjoyed pizza from Paisano's along with plenty of CANDY. It was a frightfully good time!

Check out the amazing photo booth pictures here: 6th Grade / 7th Grade / 8th Grade

Thanks to your generous support, this fun-filled event for our 6th-8th graders was completely funded by the Orange Grove PTO. Thank you, Orange Grove families!

Thanks to your generous support, the PTO is proud to sponsor a Duty Free Thanksgiving Feast for Orange Grove teachers and staff. We are catering a delicious meal for them, but we need volunteers at both campuses to help monitor the students while they enjoy a quiet, duty free lunch that day. If you are able to help, please click on the links below to sign up. Thank you in advance for your support!

Elementary Duty Free Thanksgiving Feast on Friday, November 15

Middle School Duty Free Thanksgiving Feast on Thursday, November 21

Thank you to the sponsors, featured below, who helped provide the new Best in the West T-shirts that were used for our Booster Elementary Fun Run and Middle Extreme Recess and will be used throughout the year for field trips and other events!

Our next Board Meeting is on Tuesday, November 19 at 1:50 pm at the Elementary campus. Join us and learn about the many ways you can get involved. If you are unable to attend in person, a Zoom link will be available. Please email ogcsptopresident@gmail.com for details.

Join us for our next General Meeting & 3rd Grade Performance on Tuesday, November 12 @ 6p at the Elementary campus. OG merchandise will also be available for purchase at this event. Cash only, please.

PTO OGCS Holiday Shop

December 9th - 13th at the Elementary
December 16th - 17th at the Middle School

The PTO is happy to announce that the Holiday Shop is returning for another season at The Grove. Students at both campuses will be able to shop for loved ones during the school day. Look for an email later this month with more details and important information.

A head-to-head match up between storybook characters Bad Kitty and Pig the Pug took place earlier this week at the Elementary. Students were invited to the Media Center on Monday to cast their ballot and now the verdict is in: Pig the Pug is the clear winner!

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season and have fun reading and creating with your student(s)! Follow the steps below to get started on your handmade ornament for the Storybook Character Ornament Contest. All completed ornaments must be turned in by December 5 and will be proudly displayed in the Media Center for all to see.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our Orange Grove families, we were able to donate over $8,000 to three organizations that are actively providing relief to families impacted by Hurricane Helene: Convoy of Hope, Mercy Chefs and Water Missions. Each organization has not only expressed their great thanks for Orange Grove's generous support but have also shared updates on the lifesaving work taking place in these devastated areas. Learn more by clicking on each organization's logo below.

As we wrap up the fall sports season, let’s take a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements and hard work displayed by our Tiger athletes. Here’s a look at the highlights:

The Orange Grove Tigers Cross Country Team capped off a stellar season with a 1st place finish in the IOP Beach Run, where our girls’ team earned the top spot! Special recognition goes to Lyda L. (pictured), a 6th grader, who led the charge with an outstanding performance, helping to propel the team to victory. It’s a thrilling accomplishment and a great foundation for next year’s team.

Our 3 volleyball teams showed incredible determination and teamwork all season. Our 5th/6th grade team and our 8th graders both qualified for the playoffs. While the championship was just out of reach this season, the experience gained by players and coaches alike will be invaluable. We’re excited to build on this strong foundation in the upcoming fall 2025 season!

Now, it’s time to look forward to the 2024-2025 Basketball Season! Tryouts have just concluded, and we are thrilled to announce that Orange Grove Tigers Basketball will field 6 teams this winter, covering both elementary and middle school divisions.

Our basketball teams are ready to compete hard and represent the Tiger pride, and here’s a look at our Middle School Lineups:

These Tigers will look to develop their skills and chemistry on the court. With a focus on teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, they’re ready to make an impact! Led by 8th grader Thaver H. (pictured), they will look to his leadership on and off the court.

The girls are primed for an exciting season. With a mix of experience and fresh talent, they’ll be looking to prove themselves against tough competition. Eva R. (pictured) and Lyla H. are a dynamic duo looking for revenge from last seasons championship loss.

This group of 5th and 6th graders look to surprise the league with their ability to run the court. Look for them to play a fast pace offense, led by Noah E. (pictured).

First year coach Jared Luckhart is excited to challenge his team on and off the court. This group of girls will be ready to face any challenge they see all season. 6th grader Cullen A. (pictured) looks to take charge as a leader on this otherwise young team!

Be on the lookout for game schedules, and be sure to mark your calendars because we want YOU to be there cheering on our Tigers! Whether you’re a first-time spectator or a seasoned Tiger fan, the winter basketball season promises to deliver plenty of excitement and thrilling moments.

We’re looking forward to seeing our Tiger community come together, supporting our athletes, and showing our school spirit every step of the way. For more updates and schedules, follow us on social media and visit our website. If you have any questions or please contact our Athletic Director at alex_matos@orangegrovecharter.com.

We want to thank our athletes, coaches, and families for their dedication and hard work throughout the fall season. As we move into winter sports, we’re excited for the new challenges and opportunities ahead. Let’s make this basketball season one to remember!

Go Tigers!

Our second graders did an amazing job this year hosting the Orange Grove National Park. Students were able to show off their creativity and knowledge about the national park and region of the United States that they studied for this project. It’s a day we look forward to every year -well done second grade students and teachers! Check out the video below for highlights of this annual, fan-favorite project!

Inside the walls of Mrs. Vella’s classroom in 6th grade, you will find a passion for science and a drive to help students discover and digest the world around them. Who knew that a chewy candy could help us all remember the rock cycle? See 6th grade in action during a recent rock experiment here.

Keep your used clothing and shoes out of landfills while helping earn money for Orange Grove. Look for the green recycling bin, located in the Middle School front parking lot, and drop off any unwanted items on the list below. For every pound recycled, Orange Grove receives money back - it's that easy!

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 15% of clothing waste is recycled annually. The remaining 85% ends up in landfills—equaling up to 17 billion pounds of unnecessary clothing waste each year.

What We Accept in the Green Recycling Bin:

Clothes: Pants, jeans, skirts, dresses, suits, shorts, shirts, tees

Outwear: Coats, jackets, gloves, hats

Footwear: Shoes, boots, heels, sneakers, sandals

Accessories: Hats, belts, ties, scarves

Handbags: Wallets, purses, totes, backpacks, briefcases

1225 Orange Branch Road, Charleston, SC 29407

(843) 763 - 1520

Middle Campus

505-B Arlington Drive, Charleston, SC 29414

(843) 852 - 7929

Email: tigers_roar@orangegrovecharter.com
Website: www.orangegrovecharter.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/orangegrovecharterschool/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OrangeGroveCharterSchool/