Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Media Tips

Media Tip Sheet
Electronic Transmission #18

News Releases:

• State Winners in SCPTA Cultural Arts/Reflections Competition
• Explore the Arts
• Greenville County Wins at Regional MathCounts Competition
• Cathy Parrish Honored by Mauldin Rotary Club
• Space Day at Roper Mountain Science Center
• Teachers Honored by SC Council for Exceptional Children
• School Social Workers Honored
• Student/Staff Awards

School Story Ideas!

• “Don’t Count on the Roll of a Pair-O-Dice” – Bethel Elementary’s Guidance Services will host this program on March 23 featuring Lynn Hooper, parenting specialist with Greenville Family Partnership. The workshop will focus on positive discipline skills. Call the school at 355-4100 for more information.

Upcoming Events

March 5 – 11
School Social Work Week
(See Media Release)

Monday – Wednesday, March 6-8
Fifth Grade Trip to Barrier Islands – Augusta Circle Elementary

Tuesday, March 7
Spring Fling Information Thing – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Wade Hampton High
Parents of eighth graders interested in attending Wade Hampton High are encouraged to attend. Call 355-0100 for more information.

Wednesday, March 8
“I’m Thumbody” Program – 8:30 a.m. – Grove Elementary
First grade students will learn that everyone is special and unique. For more information call 355-5900.

Saturday, March 11
Scholastic Scoreboard - 9:00 a.m. - Eastside High School
Super Saturday features Greenville County High School Academic Teams in a competition called Scholastic Scoreboard. This year, thirteen Greenville County high schools and Greenville Tech Charter High School will compete for the county’s academic title. That competition begins at 9:00, and the semi-finals start at 2:00. Each team plays six preliminary rounds during the day. The public is invited to come and support our high school teams during this event.

Space Day – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Roper Mountain Science Center
(See Media Release)

March 13 – 21
International Week – Beck Academy
As an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program school, Beck Academy will celebrate with activities including art displays with an international theme, cultural costume dress-up day, a show of international fashion, music and dance, and a night of international food tasting on March 21. All Beck Academy families are invited to attend. For more information call 241-3268.

March 14 – 20
Spirit Week – Travelers Rest High
During the week, TRHS and Berea High students will compete to raise money for Pendleton Place. TRHS students will host a flea market on March 18 from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the school. Donations may be brought to the school office. Call the school at 355-0800 for more information.

Monday, March 13
Get Smart Program – 8:30 a.m. – Grove Elementary
Inmates will speak to fourth and fifth grade students about peer pressure and making good decisions. Call the school at 355-5900 for information.

“Build a Better World” Concert – 7:00 p.m. – Skyland Elementary
The Skyland Elementary Chorus will present a concert to the PTA. They are also sponsoring a canned food drive to benefit Greer Community Ministries. Call the school at 355-7200 for information.

Through the Looking Glass – Hispanic Perspectives of Life – 7:00 p.m. – Armstrong Elementary
Guest speaker Paula Heusinkveld Medina will present this thoughtful and entertaining comparison of American and Hispanic cultures. Ms. Medina, a professor of Spanish at Clemson University and author of Inside Mexico, is part of a bicultural marriage and has lived and traveled extensively throughout Mexico. Call the school 355-1100 for information.

Tuesday, March 14
Regional Science and Engineering Fair – Palmetto Expo Center
The competition is open to all middle and high school students in Greenville, Laurens, Greenwood, and Abbeville counties. Prizes and scholarships will be awarded from local and national businesses, professional organizations, and governmental agencies. Three senior high winners will represent the fair at the International Science and Engineering Fair in May, and middle school winners will compete in the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge., Roper Mountain Science Center, Rotary Club of Greenville, and the SC Academy of Science sponsor this fair. Call 355-8905 for more information.

School Board Committee of the Whole – 9:00 a.m. – J. Floyd Hall Administrative Center

Registration Information Night – 6:30 p.m. – Eastside High
The meeting is intended for parents of rising freshmen. Call the school at 292-7715 for information.
Academic Letter Night – 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Wade Hampton High
Eligible students will receive invitations to attend.

Wednesday, March 15
SCSBA Day at the Capitol (Columbia, SC ) – 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, March 16
McAlister Road School Site Ad Hoc Committee – 9:00 a.m. – J. Floyd Hall Administrative Center

Thursday, March 23
“Don’t Count on the Roll of a Pair-O-Dice” – 12:00 p.m. - Bethel Elementary
Bethel’s Guidance Services will host this program featuring Lynn Hooper, parenting specialist with Greenville Family Partnership. The workshop will focus on positive discipline skills. Call the school at 355-4100 for more information.

Pelham Road Elementary Dedication – 6:30 p.m.
The school is located at 100 All Star Way, Greenville.

Friday, March 24
Augusta Circle Elementary Science Fair

NEPTA Council Superintendent’s Breakfast – 8:30 a.m. – Riverside Middle

Saturday, March 25
Third Annual Oyster Roast – Sara Collins Elementary

Emile Pandolfi Concert – 7:00 p.m. – Wade Hampton High
Cost is $25 for adults and $10 for students. Call the school at 355-0100 for information.

Tuesday, March 28
March School Board Meeting – 7:00 p.m. – J. Floyd Hall Administrative Center

Reading and Marching into Spring – 6:00 p.m. – Grove Elementary
Students and their families are invited to participate in some great reading activities. Staff members will dress as book characters and refreshments will be served. Call the school at 355-5900.

Windrum Trio of Greenville Symphony Orchestra – Augusta Circle Elementary

Friday, March 31
Walk-A-Thon – Ellen Woodside Elementary
Students, faculty and staff members will enjoy participating in this walk for diabetes. Call the school at 355-4900 for more information.

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News

2005-2006 SCPTA Reflections Greenville Winners - “I Wonder Why”

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It’s Registration Time for “Explore the Arts” Summer Programs

Greenville, SC – Registration is underway for the “Explore the Arts” summer program for elementary and middle school students.

One- or two-week sessions will be offered in storytelling, drama, dance, painting, drawing and printmaking, sculpture, and beginner strings for students in elementary school. Creative writing, drama, dance, drawing and painting, clay, sculpture, film and video, creative art and design, photography, drums, guitar and strings will be offered for middle school students.

“Explore the Arts” programs will be offered from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the weeks of June 19 – 22 and June 26-29. The cost is $200 for a two-week session or $125 for one week.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will attend the “Explore the Arts” program at Blythe Academy. The middle school program is offered to students in grades six through eight and will be held at the Fine Arts Center.

Scholarships are available for those in need of financial assistance.

For further information and to download an application, go to www.fineartscenter.net and click the link for “Explore the Arts” or contact Nancy Boyd (Elementary ETA ) at 232-1953 or email her at nboyd@greenville.k12.sc.us or contact Donna Shank (Middle School ETA) at 201-2450 or email her at dshank@greenville.k12.sc.us.

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Greenville County Earns Honors at Regional MathCounts Competition

Greenville, SC – Riverside Middle’s MathCounts team won first place in the Piedmont Chapter MathCounts Competition in February. Mauldin Middle placed third in the competition. Both teams will compete in the state MathCounts competition on Saturday, March 11 in Columbia.

Ming Lin from Riverside Middle and Colin Stafford from Hughes Academy also placed as individual competitors in the event.

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Mauldin Rotary Club Names Bethel Elementary Teacher 2005 Educator of the Year

Greenville, SC – The Mauldin Rotary Club has named Bethel Elementary Teacher Cathy Parrish the 2005 Educator of the Year.

Mrs. Parrish began her teaching career in 1967 as a band teacher in Raleigh, North Carolina. She and her husband moved to Greenville in 1987, where she joined the staff at Bethel Elementary as a music teacher. Today, the Bethel Cardinal Chorus sings for local organizations such as Rotary, the School Board, Greenville Women’s Club, Greenville Hospital System, and Mauldin Fest.

Students from Bethel Elementary’s chorus have been recognized by the South Carolina Elementary Honors Choir since 1999.

Mrs. Parrish graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned a Master of Arts in teaching at Winthrop University, and a Master’s plus thirty from Furman University. She is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Choir and hand bell choir. She enjoys playing the flute for community events.

Among her many accomplishments, Mrs. Parrish was selected 1996-97 Teacher of the Year for Bethel Elementary and was named the Greenville County Arts Teacher of the Year in 1999.

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SPACE DAY 2006… Living and Working on the Moon

Greenville, SC - Space Day 2006… Living and Working on the Moon celebration will take place from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 11th at Roper Mountain Science Center. Featured guest speaker will be former NASA astronaut Richard J. Hieb. The event is co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin, a Space Day partner and founder, and The Greenville News.

A veteran of three space flights, Mr. Hieb flew on STS-39 in 1991, STS-49 in 1992, and STS-65 in 1994. He has logged over 750 hours in space, including over 17 hours of EVA (space walk). Selected as a NASA astronaut in June 1985, Mr. Hieb held a variety of technical assignments including launch support activities at Kennedy Space Center, and served in both the Mission Development Branch and in the Operations Development Branch of the Astronaut Office. He has an extensive background in space operations, particularly in rendezvous and proximity operations. Mr. Hieb’s presentations in the center’s Hipp Auditorium will begin at 9:30AM, 10:45AM and 12:00N.

Tom Rogers will be speaking on the physics of Science Fiction movies, during the Space DaySM comparing what is shown in the science fiction movies to the reality of what is scientifically possible. Model rockets will also be launched periodically throughout the day.

Other Space Day activities will include live solar viewing in the Daniel Observatory (weather permitting), and planetarium shows in the Hooper Planetarium. Skilled amateur astronomers will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss telescopes. There will be free Space Day giveaways and other activities for children.

Thirteen Upstate students have been named local finalists in the annual national Space Day
T-Shirt Art Contest. Artwork from finalists across the country have been judged at the national level, with the national winner’s design appearing on the official 2006 Space Day t-shirt. Upstate students submitted nearly 300 pieces of artwork for the contest. The finalists were chosen and submitted to the national competition where they were judged along with entries from other states. The contest was open to fourth- through sixth-graders and reflected the theme “Living and Working on the Moon.” Every Upstate entry, along with the local finalists, will be displayed during Space Day events at Roper Mountain.

Now in its tenth year, Space Day is an award-winning educational initiative that seeks to advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and to inspire young people to realize the vision of our space pioneers. In honor of the recent presidential commitment to resume human exploration of the moon, this year’s Space Day theme is “Living and Working on the Moon,” to inspire 21st century explorers, scientists and inventors.

Space Day partner and founder Lockheed Martin is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, and employs about 135,000 people worldwide. They are principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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Educators Honored by SC Council for Exceptional Children

Greenville, SC – The South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children has honored two Mauldin High educators.

Elizabeth Leonard, assistant principal, was honored as Advocate of the Year, and Pat Hensley, special education teacher and department chairperson, was named Member of the Year.

Mrs. Hensley was recognized for her outstanding service to exceptional children and significant contributions to SCCEC. The award was based on several criteria including her impact on education and general welfare of exceptional children. In 2000, Mrs. Hensley was named Special Educator of the Year for the State of South Carolina. In 2003, she became Nationally Board Certified as an Exceptional Needs Specialist, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors for Council for Exceptional Children on the national level.

Mrs. Leonard was honored as an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of special education children and youth. The award is based on demonstrating advocacy in the areas of service to children and public awareness and acceptance of exceptional children.

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School Social Workers Mark Centennial of Service

Greenville, SC – School social workers across Greenville County and the nation will mark the 100th anniversary of the profession during School Social Work Week, March 5 – 11, 2006. Greenville County Schools employs 19 school social workers. In addition to direct services to students, they also provide consultation to teachers and administrators in classroom management, address the needs of students with disabilities, and work to provide a safe, nurturing learning environment.

School social workers are specialists who link families, schools, and community services to help students meet academic standards and get along with their classmates.

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Honors:

Students

Congratulations to Bell’s Crossing Elementary students Kristen Cronin, Meredith Elem, Collin Rodwell, Crandy Lawson, Lori North, McKenzie Jackson, Ann Jacobs, and Grace Chassion. These students will be displaying artwork in the SC Art Educators Western Region Youth Art Month Celebration. Their work will be exhibited at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities from March 6th - March 25th.

Mauldin High Senior Will Boone, son of Victoria and William Boone of Simpsonville has been selected by the faculty and staff as the school’s 2006 recipient of the Governor's Citizenship Award.

The Wade Hampton High Mock Trial team competed in the Upstate Regionals at the Greenville County Courthouse. The team advanced to the state championships. Congratulations to the following students who competed in the competition: George Gutierrez, Lindsey Winchester, Emily Champion, Kara Park, Anna Straub, Weber Jacques, Haley Harteg, Joey Redding, Charlee Coggins, Christina Horn, Reefe Moore, and Jared Wilcox.

Tamara Walker, a second year student in the Golden Strip Career Center’s cosmetology program, took second place at the SC State Skills USA Nail Competition in Beaufort. The competition included sculptured and acrylic nails, five nail tips with a fiberglass or silk wrap, and nails art, designed and painted by Miss Walker. Sixteen students from across the state competed. Tamara is the daughter of Samantha Barksdale.

Congratulations to Hillcrest High’s Rebecca Hughes for placing 1st in the Pen and Pencil Drawing and Christie Van Kanegan for 1st place in the Scrapbook competition at the State Beta Club Convention. Lauren Broderick gave the keynote address with the inspiration given by Brad Terry.

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