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Raptor Report

May 28, 2025

from AMHS Partners in Education (PIE)

Editor's Note: This is the final Raptor Report for 2024-25. If you have any suggestions for improvement or are interested in taking on this volunteer responsiblity for the next school year, please email raptorreporteditor@gmail.com.

Congratulations to the AMHS Class of 2025!

Commencement Program in English

Programa de graduación en español

Watch the 2025 Commencement Ceremony by clicking the video/image above, or this link. Check the AMHS Facebook page for more photos from the ceremony.

Additionally view photos from the recent Senior Class Trip at this link.

This year's class valedictorian is Lindsay Gunn; she will attend the University of South Carolina Honors College (Biological Sciences).

The class salutatorian, Meredith Finley, will attend the University of South Carolina Honors College (Neuroscience).

Service academy appointments were also announced during graduation, and AMHS tied for the lead with other CCSD high schools with three appointments. These include:

Merchant Marine Academy - Dean McCullough

U.S. Naval Academy - Matilynn Vermette and Lila Garrett

Congratulations to these scholars and thank you for your commitment to serve this country!

Special Awards Presented During Graduation

Three key awards were presented during the AMHS graduation ceremony:

Renaissance Award - Given annually to a senior who exhibits a passion for learning as well as interests in the arts and in athletics, and who excels across different disciplines. Awarded to Keveon Ford.

Raptor Award - Given annually to a senior who exemplifies the spirit of AMHS, promotes student unity, and enhances the overall learning environment through active involvement. Awarded to Donovan Hamilton.

Congratulations to Sophia Benich, winner of the 2025 McAlister Award.

This award is presented annually at graduation and recognizes athletic achievement, academic success, service, leadership, and strong personal character.

Nominations are made by coaches and voted on by all coaches, faculty, and staff. This year, 30 senior student-athletes were nominated for this honor. 

Student Athletes Honored at the All Sports Banquet

What a great night at the AMHS All Sports Banquet on Tuesday, May 27, where we celebrated so many of our Raptor athletic accomplishments from the 2024-2025 season!

Congratulations to all of the award winners, especially the following AMHS Booster Recognitions:

Heart of the Lion Award:

• Peyton Johnson ‘25
• Mattie Vermette '25

Williams Spirit Award: Adi Katan ‘25

Curtis Hoffman Award:

• Parker Hamilton ‘26
• Hayden Moody ‘26

A special thank you to AMHS Booster for their support, and to AMHS coaches and administration, especially AMHS Athletic Director Ray Knauer, for their continued commitment to Raptor athletics. Coach Knauer was recognized as the Region VI-AA Athletic Director of the Year! Awesome job, Coach Knauer!

In addition to Raptor & MVP awards for each team, the following accomplishments were also recognized: Multi-Sport Athletes (to be named an SCHSL Multi-Sport Athlete, a student must earn at least two varsity letters in the same school year), and SCHSL Scholar Athletes (to earn this, a student-athlete must be a graduating senior, maintain a seven-semester GPA of 3.50 or higher, and letter twice in one sport or once in two sports in the same year). Congratulations, Raptors!

Boys & Girls Soccer Teams Earn AA State Championships

Congratulations to our Boys' and Girls' Varsity Soccer Teams for their SCHSL AA State Championships last week! What a tremendous accomplishment for any one team at Magnet, let alone two, only hours apart! View the photos of the teams below, and check out the news stories at these links:

AMHS Boys Win Soccer Championship

AMHS Girls Win Soccer Championship

Newest Raptors invited to Sign Up for Summer Scholars!

The AMHS Class of 2028 is taking shape! Registration is now open for Summer Scholars for ALL new students from July 28-July 30! It's a fun few days that will provide an opportunity to meet other students and learn more about the year ahead! Click the image to sign up.

If you know a new Raptor family, share this email with them and encourage them to subscribe to the Raptor Report! They can also sign up at this link.

Parents of students in the Class of 2029 are encouraged to join the Facebook page at this link.

AMHS Welcomes New Faculty/Staff for 2025-2026 School Year

On May 27, AMHS announced five new faculty/staff members who will join the AMHS next year. We look forward to welcoming them all in the next school year!

To read the press release associated with each new member, please click on the links below:

• Dr. Norval Bard (French Teacher)
• Coach Danny Kay Johnson (Head Men's Basketball Coach)
• Mr. Johnny Orr (Student Concern Specialist)
• Ms. Leslie Pridgen (School Counselor)
• Mr. Patrick Rappa (Math Teacher)

Check out the 24-25 School Improvement Council Report

Mandated by the state, a School Improvement Council (SIC) serves as a vehicle for teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community representatives to collaborate and help schools across South Carolina reach the goals identified in their five-year school improvement plans (SIPs). The SIC Report for 2024-2025 is now available and has been posted on the AMHS website. Read it at this link.

No Students in the Library After School When Not a Full School Day

Raptors, a friendly reminder that your Bonds Wilson Library closes at the time of dismissal on early release and half days. That means the library will be closed at 1:30 pm on Wednesday (5/28) and at 11:30 am on Thursday (5/29). 

Travel For Spring 2026 While Earning Service Hours and Conducting Research

Raptors, check it out!! Get more information at this link.

Travel with Mrs. Phillips to Baja to study marine science in 2026.

Email Karla_Phillips@charleston.k12.sc.us with any questions.

Limited Spots Available to go to Greece in 2027

It's official! Grecian Odyssey 2027 is happening! There was a lot of interest, so we opened up some more spots and have 10 left. Visit this link to learn more and enroll: http://www.eftours.com/2853355JW.

Final Report Cards will be released on May 29.

AMHS Office Hours for the summer will be 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Thursday.

The 2025-26 School Year will begin on Tuesday, August 12, and end on May 28, 2026. Find a link to 2025-26 CCSD calendars in English and Spanish at the link above.

Residency Verification is Now Due for All AMHS Students

Please note that CCSD requires residency verification each school year for both returning and new students. Residency verification paperwork is due to our Data Clerk, Ms. Fisher by the end of the '24-'25 school year. You can review the Residency Verification Checklist on the AMHS website at this link.

For more information on CCSD's Residency Requirements, see these links:

• CCSD's Residency Requirements (English)
• CCSD's Residency Requirements (Spanish) 
• Residency Verification Affidavit (English)
• Residency Verification Affidavit (English & Spanish)

Click here for

College Planning Guidance

• Click here for past free college planning workshops. Example: Affording College: Accessing free money, scholarships, and paying for higher education 

Click here for Resume Tips!

Click here for Interview Tips!

Class of 2026

Prep list for Summer before Senior Year

Sample College Essay Prompt Worksheet and Essay FAQs

Parents and Guardians! Hopefully by now you have heard of how Naviance can help with college selection and with the college process in general. A reference guide is here and you can learn more about Naviance here.

Your student has an account already and can start searching, building a resume and planning at any point while at AMHS.

Questions? Reach out to your school counselor!

Essay prompts for 2025-26 can be found here.

Learn more about the Common App here and here.

Application Guide for First Time Applicants/Rising Seniors.

It opens August 1 every year, but students don't have to wait until then to get started on the Common App. 

They can create an account at any time and transfer their information into the new app when it opens.

Class of 2027

Class of 2028

Class of 2029

AMHS enjoys the support of three parent-led, community supported groups and an active SIC group. You can read about each group's mission and get updates below or find out more under the Parent Tab on the School Website.

Learn more about the AMHS School Improvement Council (SIC) here. 

The SIC Report for 2024-2025 is now available and has been posted on the AMHS website.

Read it at this link.

Help spread the good news! Got scoop on a current or former Raptor making their mark in the world? Share it with the Raptor Report here. This week, many of our Raptors of Distinction were recognized at the top of the newsletter!

Contact information for all of our head varsity coaches is available here. Follow the Raptor Athletics Instagram and Facebook page for updates and/or changes. View the Raptor Athletics Website at this link.

Athletic Director: Raymond Knauer or 843.746.6376

Assistant Athletic Director: Stevie Jones

Coach contact information is here.

Apply to AI and Software Development Camp

The Inspirit AI summer program empowers young students to collaborate on AI projects with Ivy League mentors to tackle pressing real-world challenges from disease diagnosis, to exoplanet research, and supporting disaster-management. Please apply here for summer 2025!

Community Service hours were due on May 1! Stay tuned to this area next year for more opportunities to volunteer in the community. Feel free to share any opportunities that are open to students!

2024, No. 7

2023, No. 8

2020-22, No. 2

2019, No. 1