McCracken Middle School Celebrates 

Award Winning Band Teacher, Dr. Vern Weygandt

Dr. Vern Weygandt Selected For Local Award for Excellence

We're striking up the band for our own Dr. Vern Weygandt from McCracken Middle School. This beloved Band Director was recently selected for the the Golden Apple Award by Ingles and WYFF News 4 - an honor he richly deserves. Take a look at the video below and you can see why Weygandt was the top pick for this plum award! 

WYFF News Segment Celebrates D7 Teacher

Sharing the Warmth!

Gifts of New Coats For Students at the ELC

More than 140 of our youngest students at the Early Learning Center will be bundled up in bright new coats this winter ,thanks to the kindness of three local organizations. The  coats were funded through a partnership between the Epsilon Beta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Spartanburg Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, and Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church. 

Mary Deku, a longtime member of the local Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter, said the sorority's family strengthening program focuses on helping people with hunger, teaching financial literacy and providing items like winter coats. Deku said the coat drive was a particular pleasure for the women and from the looks of this little princess in the parka - our children loved it too!

And...We Have Lift Off, Or Something Close To It

Teaching out of a text book may be for the birds when you can actually put science to work and build your very own flying machine. Thanks to a hands-on-lesson on how to build a hovercraft, more than 100 Pine Street 5th graders got a look at the kind of ingenuity that got Wilbur and Orville Wright off the ground in Kittyhawk. 

With the help of a grant funded by the Pine Street School Foundation, the folks from The Hovercraft Project took over the Pine St. lunchroom on November 14 and spent a full day working with students and teachers on a collaborative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) experience. Based on the sounds of success, this day at the races epitomized learning at its best, with students actually hovering over the cafeteria's hardwood floor as they zoomed across the room. The Foundation is instrumental in augmenting educational opportunities at Pine St, giving parents, grandparents and friends a wonderful way to stay connected to the 89-year school. Which by the way, just celebrated joining the National Register of Historic Places. (be sure to see our picture from the event on the sidebar to the right!)

District 7 Board Member Julie Lonon was applauded this month before closing out 8 years of service to the school board. Lonon recalls running for the position in 2009 due to her passion for public education and a plea from former Congresswoman Liz Patterson.  During her last formal board meeting on November 14, Superintendent Russell Booker said, "Julie Lonon, alongside her colleagues, can take great pride in moving the District forward."

Lonon commented, "Some people say being on the school board is thankless, but I don't think that's true. I've been thanked many times over and the truth is the District has given me more than I've given it. So deciding not to run again was difficult, but this is the right decision for me and my family at this time in our lives." Lonon went on to commend fellow board members and Superintendent Russell Booker, for the District's innovative actions and accomplishments.  Booker said, "Julie has been a real champion for education and giving back to the community. Her leadership, passion and compassion are contagious. When she came to the Board she didn't just bring herself, she brought her husband Josh Lonon and their two sons. We want to thank Julie for the sacrifices she's made on behalf of the children, the staff and our District 7 family. She will be truly missed." 

Students in Cybersecurity Club 

Embark on National, International Competition

Cyber Vikings at their First Competition with Coach Dennis Roberts