15 minute read
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
There are a number of festivals to attend in Edgefield County throughout the year. The Peach Blossom Festival, in Johnston, is the first Saturday in May and the Ridge Peach Festival, in Trenton, is the third weekend in June. The Ridge Peach Festival is the longest celebrated festival in the county, with the year 2020 marking its 50th Anniversary.
The Heritage Trail Pottery Tour, a county-wide event featuring local potters, is held the first weekend in May and theSouthern Studies Showcase, a two-day genealogy and history workshop, is usually the third weekend in September. The Cruise-In, a fabulous car show on the Edgefield Courthouse Square, is held in July and local farmers markets are held in the towns of Johnston and Edgefield.
Edgefield County is also one of the sponsors for Peachtree 23, a twoday, 44-mile yard sale, where you are bound to find many treasures. Peachtree 23 runs along South Carolina Highway 23 from BatesburgLeesville to Modoc, South Carolina (through 7 towns along the route). The first Friday / Saturday in June are the dates of this event.
VISIT THE NWTF for Education and Shooting Recreation NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
WINCHESTER WILD TURKEY MUSEUM The only museum dedicated solely to the wild turkey
PALMETTO SHOOTING COMPLEX Sporting Clay, Trap, Skeet and 3D Archery
NWTF.org (800) THE-NWTF
The Edgefield County School District engages, empowers, and enriches students’ lives in Edgefield County. The district’s approximate 500 teachers and support staff serve over 3,000 students from kindergarten to adult education. The district’s purpose is to develop the Profile of the Edgefield Graduatein every student. The Profile of the Edgefield Graduate centers on ensuring that students grow their personal, thinking, and relational skills and that they are able to transfer those skills throughout their lives.
The district is comprised of four elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, a Career and Technology Center, and an Adult Education program. The schools combine to offer students a rigorous curriculum and outstanding extra-curricular activities to prepare them for the workplace or continuing their educations.
Edgefield County School District (ECSD) is accredited through AdvancED and the South Carolina Department of Education. The district maintains a strong sense of community and a family atmosphere while simultaneously seeking innovation with its instructional practices and curriculum offerings. ECSD is focused on the individual child and places emphasis on personalized learning.
E N G A G I N G E M P O W E R I N G
E N R I C H I N G
Education opportunities for elementary students are designed for mastering the traditional basics of language arts/reading, mathematics, social studies, and science. Along with the core courses of study, students explore art, music, engineering, and physical education. Each elementary school offers initiatives beyond the curriculum that provide students opportunities to excel in areas of their passions and interests.
The district’s middle school curriculum provides students sound foundational courses in math, ELA, science, and social studies along with expanded opportunities to pursue interests and passions in other areas. Access to engineering classes, band, chorus, art, and athletic teams provide students the opportunity to be involved in their schools and communities and to continue the development of their thinking, personal, and relational skills. The district’s middle schools continue with a strong curriculum which includes the opportunity for qualified students to earn high school credits in Algebra I and English I.
Strom Thurmond High School offers over 130 courses which include Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses. Students have the opportunity to earn close to two years of college credits during their Junior and Senior years. These courses range from English 101 to Biology to Western Civilization. Through the Dual Credit and Advanced Placement systems, students receive high school and college credit from Piedmont Technical College for successfully completed courses. STHS’s strong commitment to academics results in graduates averaging almost 5 million dollars a year in scholarships.
Strom Thurmond High School’s (STHS) Athletic and Fine Arts programs boast multiple state championships in band, football, baseball, golf, track, and basketball. STHS’s Mock Trial team has won numerous state competitions and is highly competitive on the national level. STHS’s Drama Department produces two shows annually with sellout crowds as a measure of its strong community support and superb performances.
Strom Thurmond Career and Technology Center (STCTC) provides eleven career paths in Agriculture Education, Automotive Technology, Building Construction, Business Management, Marketing and Finance, Cosmetology, Digital Media, Engineering, Health Science, Sports Medicine, and Welding Technology. Students in STCTC programs earn national and state credentials including ASE (Automotive Service Excellence), PCT (Patient Care Technician), Cosmetology State Boards, Adobe Certified Associates, EKG, Plebotomy, Briggs and Straton Small Engine Repair, Pesticide Application along with South Carolina Department of Education certifications in Welding, PLTW (Engineering), Building Construction, and MicroSoft Office.
STCTC has strong student organizations that have developed multiple national competition winners. More importantly, Cosmetology Club, DECA, FBLA, FFA, HOSA, National Technical Honor Society, and the National Welding Society provide students numerous opportunities to engage their community and develop citizenship skills though service activities.
For more information, visit edgefield.k12.sc.us or call (803) 275-4601.
TRANSFER GOALS
Personal Skills
• Take initiative for your own learning by setting goals and reflecting on outcomes. • Exemplify high ethical standards by consistently displaying honesty, integrity and responsibility.
Thinking Skills • Identify problems, analyze them, and preserve in solving them. • Read analytically to comprehend a range of increasingly complex literary and informational texts from a variety of sources. • Generate questions for further investigation for further investigation by embracing curiosity and risk-taking.
Relational Skills • Identify problems, analyze them, and persevere in solving them. • Read analytically to comprehend a range of increasingly complex literary and informational texts from a variety of sources. • Generate questions for further investigation for further investigation by embracing curiosity and risk-taking.
Wardlaw Academy’s motto is “Excellence in Education”. The school’s mission is to prepare students for a lifetime of challenge. This is done by offering a rigorous college prep curriculum, while encouraging students to participate in a variety of athletic and extra curricular activities.
Wardlaw Academy earns its accreditation by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA), and the diploma requirements for graduation at Wardlaw exceed those set by SCISA. Graduating classes continue to receive admission into higher institutions of learning, and qualify for academic and athletic scholarships.
Located midway between Johnston, Edgefield and Trenton, the school was founded in 1970. It draws students not only from Edgefield County but also from surrounding counties. It offers a full school program, from four-year-old kindergarten through 12th grade.
The Academy’s board of directors sets the school’s policies. One of those is small class size, which is a standard now being recognized as one of the most important in providing a quality education. Its teachers are degreed and qualified in their teaching fields and are genuinely concerned with the success of each child. Along with small class size is the availability of after-school help sessions for students needing some one-on-one assistance, a modern computer lab, computers in the classrooms with filtered internet access in the Media Center. Less tangible but just as important is Wardlaw’s emphasis on values and character.
Also of note, the Academy has won more than its share of athletic championships – basketball, softball, baseball, golf and volleyball!
The Academy welcomes visitors to its campus. For enrollment information contact the school at (803) 275-4794. Visit the school’s website at www.wardlawacademy.com.
FRANCIS HUGH WARDLAW ACADEMY Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
1296 Columbia Road Johnston, SC 29832
803-275-4794
Fox Creek High School is a public charter school located three miles north of I-20 at Exit 5. Fox Creek has been serving high school students in Edgefield County since 2004. The high school offers a number of courses in a variety of disciplines. The school emphasizes graduating students prepared for the college and career opportunities that await them. Fox Creek hosts 42 hours of dual enrollment on their campus. The dual enrollment courses offered cover science, math, English, history and Teacher Cadet. There are also course offerings through the AP program in the areas of English and science. Fox Creek has proudly expanded their fine arts program to include a drama department, marching band, and jazz band. If you would like to discover more about Fox Creek High School, please visit the website at www. foxcreekhighschool.org or call (803) 613-9435. Fox Creek – school, community, family! Fox Creek High School
Bettis Preparatory LeadershipAcademy
A Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focused school for students in kindergarten through grade five, adding a grade each year to maximize with grade eight. The mission is to inspire students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as their area of focus and to help them become academically successful, students of integrity who will positively impact our society and world. Located at 69 Nicholson Road, Trenton, SC; (803) 663-7266 www.bettisprep.org bettisprep@gmail.com.
SCHOOL. COMMUNITY. FAMILY. SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT 42 HOURS OF DUAL ENROLLMENT, 14 VARSITY SPORTS REGISTRATION PACKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE. 165 Shortcut Road North Augusta, SC (803) 613-9435
FOXCREEKHIGHSCHOOL.ORG
PINE RIDGE CLUB “The CSRA’s Best Kept Secret”
AMENITIES INCLUDE: • 18-hole Championship Golf • Olympic size Swimming Pool • Exceptional Bar & Grill • Full Filled Social Calendar • Event Catering Available
425 Pine Ridge Road Edgefield, SC (803) 637-3570 ext. 1
Golf & Social Memberships Available
PineRidgeClub.com
GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission, Inc.
237 North Hospital St Greenwood, SC 29648 Phone: (864) 223-8434 Fax: (864) 223-9456 The mission of GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission Incorporated, a community based organization, is to deliver quality services, assistance, and opportunity to eligible customers with emphasis placed on education, employment, and developing self-sufficiency. www.gleamnshrc.org
GLEAMNS Early Head Start Trenton 141 Samuel E. Diggs Rd Trenton, SC 29847 Phone: 1-803-275-4060 Fax: 1-803-275-3015
A program to serve infants and toddlers under the age of 3, and pregnant women. Early Head Start provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families, and pregnant women and their families
GLEAMNS Head Start - Edgefield 141 Samuel E. Diggs Rd Trenton, SC 29847 Phone: 1-803-275-4060 Fax: 1-803-275-3015
Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. Children receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting. Our goal is to bring about a greater degree of social competence in children and families. Social competence takes into account the inter-relatedness of cognitive and intellectual development, physical and mental health, nutritional needs, and other factors that enable a positive developmental approach to helping children and families succeed.
GLEAMNS Head Start Program supports children’s growth and development in a positive learning environment through a variety of services, which include: Early Learning, Health and Family well-being.
Edgefield SC Works - Workforce Development (WIOA) 21 Star Road. Edgefield, SC 29824 Phone: 803-637-4029 Hours: Monday, Thursday (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM) Tuesday, Wednesday (8:30 AM- 4:30 PM)
Edgefield County First Steps to School Readines
Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) -NFP helps transform the lives of first time, low-income mothers and their babies. Through ongoing home visits from registered nurses, these mothers receive the care and support they need to have a healthy pregnancy, provide responsible and competent care for their children, and become more economically selfsufficient. From pregnancy until the child turns two years old, the NFP nurse home visitors form a must-needed trusting relationship with the first-time moms instilling confidence and empowering them to achieve a better life for their children and themselves. Family Strengthening - Our Family Literacy program works with families utilizing a four-component model. Adult education, early childhood education, parent education, and interactive parent-child activities are integrated to form the comprehensive service. Our Triple P - Positive Parenting Program- is an evidenced-based program that gives parents simple and practical strategies to help them build strong healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behavior, and prevent problems developing. Quality Child Care - The quality of care received by young children is crucial to their healthy development and school success. Our child care quality enhancement and training programs are intended to produce measurable improvements in the quality of care provided to young children. Participating centers receive technical visits at least twice monthly, mini-grants for equipment and materials, assessments of their classrooms, and free high-quality professional development and training. Child Care Scholarships -Access to quality child care is essential for children while they are away from their primary caregivers. Too many families in Edgefield County cannot afford quality child care for their children. Families with risk factors such as low income, teenage parent, exposure to domestic violence or substance abuse, single parent households, can apply for funding to assist with cost of quality child care. Countdown to Kindergarten (CTK)- CTK is a summer homevisitation model connecting rising kindergarteners and their families with their future teachers. The program is designed to form strong and lasting home-school relationships and to increase parent involvement in the early grades. The program strives to acquaint children and families with the state and classroom expectations , to increase the likelihood of school success. Teachers make 6 visits over the summer to the homes of participating students who are introduced to actual materials used in kindergarten and are given a Kindergarten Transition Toolkit to keep.
P.O. Box 295 Edgefield, SC 29824 803-275-0800
University of South Carolina - Aiken
USC Aiken is a public university and functions as part of the University of South Carolina system. Founded in 1961 when the local community expressed the need for a higher education institution in the area, USC Aiken began with 139 students. Today, the university is comprised of more than 3,700 students and approximately 400 faculty and staff. USC Aiken awards baccalaureate degrees in 47 major areas of study and master’s degrees in four areas. The institution offers a varied program of non-credit continuing education courses for the surrounding community as well as senior programs and summer camps. U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” issue has again ranked USC Aiken #1 Regional Comprehensive Public College in the South. This 2019 distinction marks USC Aiken’s 21st consecutive ranking among the top three in this category and fourteenth time in first place. Faculty and staff pride themselves on upholding USC Aiken’s promise of quality education. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1 creating opportunities for individualized learning. Through small classes, one-on-one advising, and personal attention, students are treated as individuals. Faculty, staff, and students hold one another responsible for demonstrating the University’s core values: quality learning, collegiality, citizenship, and character. Several community outreach programs are housed at USC Aiken, including the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and DuPont Planetarium, the Small Business Development Center, and the Economic Development Partnership. The USC Aiken Convocation Center is the largest gathering place in Aiken County, accommodating concerts, family shows, community meetings, and conferences. It is also the home of the USC Aiken Pacers, who compete in NCAA Division II athletics. For more information, contact us at www.usca.edu or (803) 648-6851.
Piedmont Technical College The Answer Inside
With more than 50 programs of study—including our new competitive programs in cybersecurity and applied gaming—our graduates land unique opportunities with major employers throughout the region and across the country.
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS WITH EVERYPURCHASE YOU MAKE!
Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood County was established in 1966 to serve Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Saluda and surrounding counties. Piedmont Tech is a public, comprehensive, two-year post-secondary institution that contributes to the economic growth and development of the largest and most diverse region of the technical college system.
PTC also operates county centers in six of the seven counties, bringing educational opportunities closer to residents in those supporting counties. The Edgefield County Center, 506 Main Street, Edgefield, offers the same top-quality instruction and services offered at the Greenwood campus, as well as a variety if credit and non-credit courses.
Courses are offered on convenient day and evening schedules. Most services are provided at the centers, including financial aid, placement testing, career counseling and registration. Students can also pay fees and buy books at the centers.
