This week report cards went home, so hopefully everyone got one. If not, just let us know. Also, on Wednesday the Christ Church School Reading Buddies were here to read to our students, and classes studied a variety of topics. In some classes there was a discussion of the Columbian Exchange, the bald eagle, conflicts in history and National Popcorn Day. Others studied personal hygiene issues, Earth and space and traditions in our country. Students went out to eat and bowling and next week we have groups going to see a performance at the Children’s Little Theater and some others visiting the Upcountry History Museum. Here on campus PTA will meet Thursday at 1. 

This week I have enjoyed getting out to visit with some of our homebound students and their families. All of them have been very gracious. Also, Thursday Syble Hendricks and Barbara Bingham attended the annual United Way luncheon where Washington Center was recognized with an Excellence Award.

We received very big news on Wednesday, in that we were notified that we will receive $37,000 from the Margaret Linder Southern Endowment Fund --- money that we will use to upgrade our classroom technology. Many thanks to all who helped with the grant and the presentation. It was definitely a team effort. Also, I think you all might like to hear a little of Ms. Southern’s story, so I try to summarize, however, you can find out more by clicking on the link on our website.

Ms. Margaret Linder Southern was born in the Sans Souci area of Greenville, graduated from Parker High School and Greenville Women’s College, taught briefly in Taylors, and married Charles Southern, who was also a Greenville resident. The couple, moved to Des Moines, IA, where Mrs. Southern worked as a special education teacher and where they lived until Ms. Southern returned to Greenville following her husband’s death in the 1980’s. For a time, Mrs. Southern, who had no children, cared for her brother who was ill, pursued investing, and adopted her first of two dogs whom she dearly loved?   

She was said to have lived simply with her only indulgence being that she liked to take friends out to eat. However, when it came to her own death, she instructed that there was to be no funeral or memorial or even a mention of her death in the paper. She wanted to be cremated and buried with her brother, Boyce, and parents at Woodlawn Memorial Park, with no one present. At the time of her death in October 2012, she had amassed a multimillion-dollar fortune and left $8.4 million of it to the Community Foundation of Greenville to benefit children and animals.

Each year The Community Foundation carries out her wishes by making distributions to the Greenville Humane Society and to organizations that benefit or provide services for early childhood education and special education for children and youth. This year Washington Center has been chosen to be one of the fortunate recipients and the money we are receiving will be used to upgrade the technology in our classrooms. Many thanks to Ms. Southern, a remarkable lady indeed. To each of you, have a great weekend.