EDUCATION
THE SUMTER ITEM
Wilson Hall MR., MISS WILSON HALL NAMED Each fall the upper school faculty nominates students for the honor of Mr. and Miss Wilson Hall and the Mr. and Miss for grades nine-11. When nominating a student, the faculty considers the following factors: above average academics, participation in athletics and/or extracurricular activities, outstanding citizenship and excellent character. From the list of faculty nominated candidates, students in grades nine-11 vote for their own class, and all students in nine-12 vote for Mr. and Miss Wilson Hall. While voting, students consider the same criteria the faculty considers when choosing the most well-rounded representatives of their class and of Wilson Hall. The following students received this honor: Mr. and Miss Wilson Hall – Raines Waggett and Laura-Clare Thevenet; Mr. and Miss Junior – John Ballard and Kate Whaley; Mr. and Miss Sophomore – Drew Talley and Diamond Crawford; and Mr. and Miss Freshman – Bryce Lyles and Madison Reaves. — Sean Hoskins
Sumter Christian School ESTABLISHING FUND-RAISERS Sumter Christian School AAA Booster Club has been busy working to establish yearlong fund-raisers that will continue to aid school progress. Local businesses Sweet Frog and Chick-fil-A have agreed to host Spirit Nights by designating a percentage of sales for Sumter Christian School. School families have enjoyed fellowship with one another on these nights, and students get extra incentive to show up for the fun earning the privilege to wear jeans on Friday if they have 100 percent class participation.
SHORT BREAK Students enjoyed a short break from classes Sept. 24-26 while the faculty and staff attended the 2014 Southeast Christian School Convention in Myrtle Beach. With more than 2,000 Christian educators and more than 100 vendors from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia attending, the faculty and staff were able to acquire more valuable tools to enhance the educational quality in their classrooms. — Miriam Marritt
Sumter School District DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WALK SET The Sumter High School International Baccalaureate students will sponsor the annual Walk Against Domestic Violence event on Saturday at 9 a.m. The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness of domestic violence in South Carolina. No pledges or fund-raising is required to participate. The event will begin in the Sumter County Library parking lot, 111 N. Harvin St. The public is encouraged to walk with the students, and all participants are asked to wear purple or white. In addition to the walk to raise awareness, the students are collecting items for the YWCA shelter for abused women. Those who want to donate can bring their items on Saturday morning. Items needed include cleaning products, washing powder and bleach, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, soap, dishwashing liquid, deodorant, toilet paper, bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, paper plates and plastic cups, and combs and hair brushes.
LEACH HONORED High Hills Elementary School officially marked the beginning of the school year with its 18th annual Flag Raising Ceremony. Each year, the school honors and acknowledges an individual at the ceremony, and this year the honoree was Assistant Superintendent for School Services Cornelius Leach. The program was led by various fifth-grade students. Cambrie DeBerry welcomed Leach and said, “Each day the High Hills Panther flag flies in honor of someone who is associated with our school. Students, teachers, staff, and administrators can nominate anyone associated with our school to have the flag flown in their honor.
Today, we fly the flag in honor of our assistant superintendent, Dr. Cornelius Leach. As assistant superintendent, Dr. Leach is in charge of student services at our 26 schools, an alternative school, the Early Head Start program, and the Sumter Career and Technology Center. We are proud to have Dr. Leach serve as our assistant superintendent and thank him for his leadership.” Leach spoke to the students, faculty and parents assembled and challenged the students to do well academically, to behave well and to attend school every day. Other highlights of the ceremony included a history of the United States, South Carolina and High Hills flags. The High Hills Safety Patrol presented the flags, and the crowd joined in the pledges to the flags and sang the school spirit song. The event ended with a parade of class flags designed by each homeroom. The flags are now on display in the hallways of the school.
DISTRICT WELCOMES APEX Employees from Apex Tools in Springdale, Arkansas, and Dallas, Texas, visited Sumter last weekend, and Sumter School District was one of the groups who welcomed them to our community. Apex is closing their plants in Dallas and in Arkansas, and the company is hoping the affected employees will transfer to the Sumter plant, which has announced its plans to expand its operations here. On Friday, groups toured Alice Drive Elementary, Alice Drive Middle and Sumter High schools. The employees, their spouses and children were interested in a representative sample of each grade level. Principals and other members of the faculty greeted the visitors and talked to them about their schools and the district’s educational opportunities. On Friday evening, Superintendent J. Frank Baker participated with other community leaders in a presentation at a dinner held at the Heath Pavilion at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. Each participant spoke for several minutes about their area of expertise and stayed for the question-and-answer segment. For three hours on Saturday afternoon, the district also participated in an event held at USC Sumter representing the various schools and higher education opportunities in the Sumter area. Two groups rotated through the facility, asking questions and gathering information about their potential new home. Representing Sumter School District were Baker, Lakewood High School Director of Guidance Brenda Richardson, the District Teacher of the Year Suzanne Koty, Willow Drive Elementary Principal Liz Compton, Principal of the Career and Technology Center Shirree Miller, along with Assistant Principal Jill Winter and Mechatronics instructor Wendy Jacobs and Public Information Coordinator Mary Sheridan. The Sumter Economic Development Board coordinated with the school district to arrange the district’s involvement. Another tour is planned for October.— Mary B. Sheridan
University of South Carolina Sumter IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR FALL II At USC Sumter, we understand that sometimes life gets in the way of our goals and dreams. Our Fall II courses start Thursday, Oct. 16, in an eight-week format. We have more than 20 course options available in subjects ranging from Anthropology to Spanish. Online courses are an option as well. If you want to just “try” college out and see if it fits for you, Fall II is the perfect time to get your feet wet. Contact the Admissions Office at (803) 938-3717 for any questions you may have regarding Fall II courses or enrollment at the University. — Misty Hatfield
Lee School District PARENT CAMP HELD Lee County School District Title I Parent Camp was held on Sept. 13 and 20 at the District Office. The theme was “Building a Strong Foundation for Parent Involvement.” Top-
ics discussed were: How to Communicate, Parent Portal, Phone Blast, Emergency Contact Information, How to Help Your Child Be Successful and Parent-Teacher Conferences. The panel included: Gwendolyn Frederick, Title I Parent Liaison; Kelvin Williams, social worker; Deanna Dimick, school psychologist; Sandra Holmes, parent/volunteer; Willie Mae Muldrow, DJJ Job Coach; Mamie Bostic, Strengthening Families Program; Gracie Dizzley, and Gloria Burris, Early Childhood Coordinator For Early Steps.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
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Thomas Sumter Academy
10TH-GRADERS RECOGNIZED Carmen Leverette, GEAR UP Teacher at Lee Central High School, would like to recognize 10th-graders who received GEAR UP full tuition scholarships to participate in GoSciTech Science and Technology Summer Camp 2014. The students were Ronyee Jones ($750 scholarship for Carolina 101), Christopher Ponder ($725 scholarship for Developmental Biology), Katrina Love ($725 scholarship for Search for Life Out There: Astrobiology & Planetary Exploration) and Stefan Costa ($725 scholarship for Developmental Biology). Leverette also recognized 10th-grader Tyreek Jenkins. Tyreek, described as “academically brilliant” by one of the company advisers at S.C. Chamber of Commerce Business Week, was chosen as a finalist. Tyreek was the only GEAR UP student in S.C. to make it to the finals and he ranked in the Top 8. Tyreek is on the golf team and concert choir and is a member of the Beta Club.
Clarendon District 1 ST. PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The students of St. Paul Elementary School are doing great this school year. Their behavior and grades are so impressive that Principal Rosa Dingle has decided to ask teachers to submit a student’s name every week for recognition. The students must be hardworking, respectful, organized, prepared, determined and demonstrate self-control. The students selected for the month of August are: Evonta Simmons, Jy’Marion Taylor, Louis Ladson, Jimmy Weeks, Devona Miller, Shantele Lawson, Kierra Jones, Shaniyah Junious, Matthew Livingston, Teandrea Gibson, Carisha Session, Madison Oliver, K’heiouna Bannister, Shanell Brooks and Angela Felder
SCOTT’S BRANCH MIDDLE/ HIGH Scott’s Branch Middle/ High School held its annual Muffins for Mom on Sept. 19 in the high school’s commons area. More than 60 moms, grandmothers and/or aunts came to fellowship with students and greet Principal Gwendolyn Harris
PHOTO PROVIDED
Thomas Sumter Academy kindergarten students Wini Eades and Boone Hitch were selected to be this year’s homecoming flower bearer and crown bearer. Wini and Boone participated in recent homecoming festivities. Each year a boy and girl from kindergarten are randomly selected to be honorary members of homecoming court. and Assistant Principal Shelia Barringer. A variety of muffins and juices were offered to attendees. Music was provided by the high school music class. Muffins for Moms is a way of saying “thank you” to the parents for their support of the staff and administration, school activities and their children. Hosting the event were staff members, D. Brown, S. Mallette and K. Ferrari. — Beverly Spry
Clarendon Hall CAREER DAY PLANNED Clarendon Hall will host Career Day on Monday, Oct. 6, at 8:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium. Students will have the opportunity to speak with skilled professionals from many vocations including nursing, radiography, business, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, pharmacy, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, dental hygiene, physical therapy, welding and more. Representatives from Central Carolina Technical College will also be on hand. For more information on Clarendon Hall, contact the school office at (803) 485-3550 or visit the website at www.clarendonhall.net. Travis McIntosh
Morris College 2 ADMITTED TO PROGRAM The Morris College Division of Education announced that Danzel Capers and Betty Geddings have been admitted into its Teacher Education Program. Capers, of Salters, is a junior elementary education major. He is a member of the Morris College chapter of the Student-South Carolina Education Association and Call Me MISTER. Geddings, of Paxville, is a
senior early childhood education major who serves as president of the college’s SSCEA chapter. Candidates are formally admitted to the Morris College Teacher Education Program after a successful interview with the teacher education review committee. In order to qualify for formal admission, a teacher candidate must have passed the state required PRAXIS core exams, submit an application portfolio, complete 61 credit hours and have a grade point average of 2.6 or higher. Formal admission is required before a teacher candidate is allowed to take professional education courses which include the student teaching internship. There are currently six candidates admitted to the program.
NAACP MORRIS CHAPTER TO HOST ASSEMBLY OCT. 2 The Morris College Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will host this week’s assembly program planned for 10 a.m. on Thursday. The speaker for the program will be Rep. Leon Howard. As chairman of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committee, Howard represents District 76 in Richland County. Patricia Jefferson, Sumter County registration and elections director, will render the voter registration appeal during the program. This event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on campus in the NealJones Auditorium.
MID-TERMS APPROACHING Mid-semester examinations will be administered Oct. 6-9. — NiCole W. Lynch
‘Do Fathers Matter?’ says something new KEVIN BEGOS The Associated Press “Do Fathers Matter?: What Science Is Telling Us About the Parent We’ve Overlooked” (Scientific American/ FSG), by Paul Raeburn From the tiniest microbe or fragment of DNA to the origins of the universe, it sometimes feels as if every subject generates a vast tide of scientific studies and that virtually nothing escapes detailed scrutiny. But veteran science writer Paul Raeburn noticed an oversight: the role of fathers in parenting. In “Do Fathers Matter?” Raeburn tells how until fairly recently, scholars, parenting experts and pop culture have overlooked the importance of fathers. In the 1970s, some experts even suggested that fathers were “an almost irrelevant entity” in an infant’s world — but did so without really studying father/child interactions. A 2013 Clorox ad proclaimed that “Like dogs or other house pets, new dads are filled with good in-
tentions but lacking in judgment and fine motor skills.” (The ad was later withdrawn.) Raeburn, a father himself, discovered that good scientific studies told a different story: “When we bother to look for the father’s impact, we find it — always,” noted one researcher. Passages like that make “Do Fathers Matter?” a valuable, compelling book for fathers, mothers, grandparents and parents-tobe — and perhaps even for their children. “Do Fathers Matter?” uncovers a trove of good research about fathers and parenting. In the Aka tribe of Africa, fathers spend 47 percent of their days holding their infant children or keeping them within arm’s reach. The Aka fathers sing to their children, play with them and do the equivalent of diaper duty. And while psychologists had known that a mother’s depression during pregnancy can increase depression in children, it turns out that a depressed father can have
the same negative impact, from genetic input or from his moods affecting the mother. Studies had also shown that the experience of motherhood actually changes mothers’ brains in the first few months after giving birth, and Raeburn found that when researchers looked at fathers, they also found significant brain changes — but not exactly the same as those in mothers. Raeburn doesn’t knock single parents or same-sex couples, noting that they can raise healthy, successful children, too. But he firmly points out that there is still far too much anti-father bias in society. Raeburn concludes by noting that other companies are producing ads that portray fathers in a positive light. Raeburn also notes that reading all the research on fatherhood helped open his eyes to better ways to be a parent, and that’s a priceless lesson that makes “Do Fathers Matter?” an important addition to parenting literature.