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Free Youth Event June 26th at Salem Gun And Archery Club

came2c — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:28:01 +0000

Learn to Shoot A Rifle

Carlisle-Foster’s Grove Elementary of the Spartanburg County School District 2 has won the 2010 Exemplary Reading Program Award for the State of South Carolina

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:42:22 +0000

Carlisle-Foster’s Grove Elementary of the Spartanburg County School District 2 has won the 2010 Exemplary Reading Program Award for the state of South Carolina, awarded by the International Reading Association and the South Carolina Reading Association. Only one school per state receives the prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs across the United States.

The school’s secret? Principal Nicha Jordan credits teacher training and a balanced literacy approach. “We believe the aspects of our reading workshops are non-negotiable and we include read-alouds, shared reading, guided reading, independent reading, and one-on-one conferencing and formative assessment,” explains Ms. Jordan. “Our emphasis on teacher training has strengthened and expanded our classroom instruction to reflect a diverse set of instructional groups, including small groups, literature circles, novel studies, whole group, readers’ theatre, and one-on-one interventions.”

As part of the balanced literacy program, the school uses American Reading Company’s 100 Book Challenge as the structured independent reading system for use at school and at home, requiring daily parent involvement to monitor reading practice. According to Dr. Quincie Moore, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Spartanburg County School District 2, “American Reading Company’s approach to professional development has helped lay the foundation for expert literacy instruction in all of our schools district-wide. We are committed to teacher training and making sure that every teacher has the skills and tools needed to ensure success for every student.”

According to Jane Hileman, Founder and CEO of American Reading Company, “Principal Jordan is a tremendously gifted principal. I am proud of her many successes and congratulate her on this prestigious award, along with the students, parents, teachers, and the Spartanburg 2 district leadership who have all contributed to this outstanding reading program.”

Carlisle-Foster’s Grove will be recognized nationally during the 55th Annual Convention of the International Reading Association in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday April 25th. Both Ms. Jordan and Mrs. Teresa Burnett, the school literacy coach, will travel to Chicago to attend the awards ceremony.

About American Reading Company

American Reading Company transforms school cultures to create sustainable reading achievement through training, management, and monitoring. The company was founded in 1998 and is now based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Today, more than a million students in 2,100 schools across 420 districts in 41 states participate in the company’s programs, which include Action 100, 100 Book Challenge, Research Labs, and Summer School Express. For more information, please visit www.americanreading.com.

Center Stage Youth Theatre to Hold a Theatre Day Camp for kids grades K-2, July 5-16, 2010

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:09:23 +0000

Center Stage Youth Theatre will hold a Theatre day Camp for kids grades K-2 on July 5-16 at the Tri-City Leisure Center, West Columbia, SC…

Center Stage Youth Theatre will hold a Theatre day Camp for kids grades K-2 on July 5-16, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. The camp will be located at the Tri-City Leisure center on Brooks Ave. in West Columbia, SC. The fee is $95.00.

Funny little Fruit Bat Stellaluna is separated from her mother and taken in by a mother bird and her nestlings. Much comedy ensues as Stellaluna tries hard to learn to be a good baby bird. Janelle Cannon’s beautiful book provides the script for our K-2 campers and we will spend the two weeks of mornings creating our own studio production of Stellaluna to be presented on the last day of camp to family and friends. Children should come dressed in comfortable play clothes, bring a snack, a water bottle, a paint shirt and be ready for action! We will cast, rehearse, design sets and costumes and learn about how much team work goes into the creation of a play.

Center Stage Youth Theatre is a theatre program dedicated to providing quality workshop, rehearsal and performance experiences for central South Carolina children and teenagers. We are a theatre training program for young actors and strive to instill in our students the qualities and work ethic of professional performers, we are also devoted to nurturing the positive impact that creative drama and theatre education can have on a young person’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. Center Stage Youth Theatre produces four major shows a year in various venues, offers year round workshops for all age groups, as well as summer day camps and special field trip opportunities.

The Director, Susan Scaccia, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre arts with a concentration in Acting and Directing from Castleton State College in Vermont, where she won the President’s Scholarship. She studied classical voice training for 10 years, and has now completed 28 graduate credits toward her Master’s Degree in Special Education. Before relocating to Columbia this past October to be near her favorite local resident, her mom, she co-founded and for seven years directed the Rutland Youth Theatre , a program for young performers ages 4 – 18, in conjunction with the Rutland, Vermont Parks and Recreation Department. While with the Rutland Youth Theatre, Susan discovered that attention to the learning style and strengths of each individual child in combination with providing training as pre-professionals in the theatre served her students well towards not only their collaborative goal of creating four lively, energetic full length productions each year, but also as tools they could carry with them in their everyday life as well-rounded, imaginative, self-confident individuals.

For more information, visit the Theatre’s web sites at http://columbiachildrenstheatre.net and http://centerstageyouththeatre.com.

SC education could get Federal life preserver in form of $300 million grant

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:08:58 +0000

The State of South Carolina is one of 16 finalists in President Barak Obama’s Race to the Top program and could potentially get $300 million in grants if selected. The announcement couldn’t come at a better time as South Carolina lawmakers are cutting the education budget at alarming rates in order to make ends meet. But the money could be a bit more bitter than sweet.

The money is designed to reshape education with new programs and incentives, not to fill a budget gap. Currently, South Carolina lawmakers are considering cuts that will reduce the number of books for students and even the number of tests they can take because of a lack of money.

If selected South Carolina could get $300 million to pay for a variety of programs which includes drop out prevention, outfitting Montessori Schools, rechnological advances, teacher incentives to get them into more challenged and rural schools, and even building houses for teachers among other things.

“These states are an example for the country of what is possible when adults come together to do the right thing for children,” Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education, said.

The “Phase 1″ winners, who will share the $2 billion grant, will be announced next month. While it has been reported that South Carolina could get up to $300 million, the Department of Education program that is handing out the grants originally put South Carolina in category where $175 million was the maximum.

South Carolina education, teachers and students sacrificed in state budget furlough amendment

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:00:48 +0000

The South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee is considering a proposed budget that would force State employees to lose five days of paid leave in order to address a half-billion gap in the budget. Employees would be furloughed those days on state holidays which they would have normally had off.
Unfortunately, it seems that the education of our State’s children are going to be the sacrificial lambs if the bill passes in its current state.
Proposals would impact teacher salaries, supplies and even lowers educational standards in the name of the budget. A $7500 bonus for National Board Certified Teachers would be cut out, killing the incentive for our educators to be highly qualified. A strict limit on the purchase of school supplies is included and teachers may or may not be reimbursed for supplies they buy depending on the availability of money. Perhaps most notably for the state’s youth and their parents, the budget actually allows schools to suspend some testing, text book purchases and printed report cards. In other words, in a State where education is already hampered when compared to the rest of the country, the State’s representatives suggest buying fewer books and testing students less.
The furloughing of teachers would save the state an estimated $100 million. The South Carolina House rejected an amendment that would have laid off contract workers, working retirees and/or those participating in the Teachers and Employees Incentive (TERI) program. The TERI program is designed to retain state employees with benefits but has been criticized for its great expense and keeping employees too long beyond their retirement resulting in the inability for younger employees to get promotions.

South Carolina lawmakers argue issue of homosexuality in public schools

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:00:32 +0000

A bill approved by a Senate subcommittee will require schools to adopt policies to deal with dating violence as well as consequences for violating those policies for grades 6-12. According to statistics, South Carolina ranks among the worst in domestic violence rates.

The bill sponsor, Republican Joan Brady, points out the importance in awareness and says the measure will save lives.

However, the bill purposely excludes homosexual couples from mention. The bill passed in the House only after it was specified that it applies solely to heterosexual couples for fear that it might encourage same-sex relationships. An attempt to remove the exclusivity from the bill failed.

I suppose the message is that domestic violence is unacceptable…for heterosexuals.

The Citadel ’s “Pound Puppies” Cheer Clinic Slated For Friday Evening

Julie McFin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:48:47 +0000

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel Cheerleading squad has set a “Pound Puppies Cheer Clinic” on Friday, Feb. 19, from 6-10 p.m. Participants ranging from ages 5-to-18 are encouraged to participate.

Courtesy: The Citadel www.citadelsports.com To register you place in the Cheer Clinic call 843-953-CHRS (2477)

The clinic will take place at Mark Clark Hall, located above the Gift Shop, on The Citadel’s campus. A $35 fee for all participants will include a t-shirt and snack.

All entries at the “Pound Puppies Cheer Clinic” will perform at The Citadel basketball game against UNC Greensboro on Saturday afternoon. Game time is set for 1 p.m. for a regionally televised contest on SportSouth (Comcast Cable 28).

To register your place in the Cheer Clinic call 843-953-CHRS (2477).

Fans can check out all the news about The Citadel Athletics at www.citadelsports.com.

Dr. Seuss, a FREE Greenville discussion

Greenville Chautauqua — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:41:04 +0000

Tue May 18 @ 7 pm Greenville – Over 60 of America’s favorite books – but no more 225 little words in all – Dr. Seuss showed us that Reading is the Art of Imagination. George Frein, who performs as Dr. Seuss in the June Chautauqua Festival, will get us sharing our experiences with the books that released our Imaginations. Join an audience of avid history and literature fans who love talking back to History. “If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.” — Dr. Seuss – Chautauqua: History that just won’t stay in a book!” Tuesday May 18 @ 7:00-8:30 pm, Hughes Main Library, Downtown Greenville. FREE (864) 244-1499

Ben Franklin & Tom Edison, a FREE Greenville discussion

Greenville Chautauqua — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:36:49 +0000

Tue Feb 23 @ 7 pm Greenville – Joe Stukes, who always lets us learn through laughter, tells tales of Ben Franklin – the man who figured out that electricity was just organized lightening and Thomas Edison – not just an inventor an invention industry. Join an audience of avid history and literature fans who love talking back to History. Led by Scholars, it’s the personal experiences of the audience that make them so much fun. Chautauqua: History that just won’t stay in a book!” Tuesday Feb 23 @ 7:00-8:30 pm Hughes Main Library Downtown Greenville. FREE (864) 244-1499

Langston Hughes & Unifyed Sol Poets FREE discussion & performance in SC

Greenville Chautauqua — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:35:11 +0000

Tue Apr 20 @ 7:00 pm Greenville – Learn about Langston Hughes, the African American voice that championed the power of dreams … dreams denied, dreams achieved, dreams deferred but never dreams denied. And hear that voice reflected currently in the performance poetry of the Unifyed Sol Poets, Moody Black and Kimbi, the Goddess. Join an audience of avid history and literature fans who love talking back to History. Led by Scholars, it’s the personal experiences of the audience that make them so much fun. Chautauqua: History that just won’t stay in a book!” Tuesday Apr 20 @ 7:00-8:30 pm, Hughes Main Library, Downtown Greenville. FREE (864) 244-1499