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  Your Source For District News                                    September, 2016
Celebrating 10 Years of 7Reads in the District
Honoring the Founders of 7Reads at Spartanburg High Schoo

It's amazing what can happen in a decade! In 2006, a small committee of District 7 parents and local leaders suggested the idea of a summer reading program for students at Spartanburg High School. But that's just the beginning of the story. The idea took flight and, in the ten years since 7Reads was born, students throughout the District have been introduced to more than 33 visiting authors and at least 100 literary selections. This year, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 7Reads, the District applauded the group that founded the program and noted the remarkable growth of a literacy effort that now touches the lives of thousands of children.
 
Today, 7Reads is a District-wide commitment to advance literacy throughout the community. In partnership with a number of organizations 7Reads has expanded to include: Rotary Reader, Great Books for Great Kids, Book Buddy, Imagination Library, Read to Succeed and District 7's Summer Reading Camp. And coming soon, 7Reads will make its way to local barbershops through a non-profit initiative called Books with Barbers. "We're excited about Books with Barbers," said Superintendent Dr. Russell Booker. "This is a project aimed at young African American boys between the ages of 4-11. In the coming months District 7 will provide participating barbers with a small library of books that are gender responsive and age appropriate and our local barbers helping with the effort will be encouraging their young customers to get in the habit of reading for fun."
D7 Leaders Explain Books with Barbers at Phase II Barbershop
District 7 Participates in National Art Project
Take a Closer Look at One of the Nine Art Installations

When the sun sets on Tuesday, October 4th, be sure to look for the light! As part of a $1 million dollar public art project funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Spartanburg is one of 4 cities in the nation that will unveil a number of temporary public art installations. The featured works of art - all located in District 7 - were designed by digital media artist Erwin Redl - and will showcase our city at night, in a creative new light.
 
Invited to support one of the nine projects that will illuminate Spartanburg for the next few months, District 7 is lending a hand with the technology for the Video Village, which celebrates the history of Spartanburg's Highland neighborhood. Through a series of interviews with current residents of the Highland area, a 20-minute video will be projected onto 52 windows in the old Cammie Claggett apartments. Scheduled to take place in concert with National Night Out, members of the public are invited to step out for an exciting evening of community, fellowship and art. Read more about Seeing Spartanburg in a New Light. 
United Way Campaign Set to Launch Soon

Every year at this time, District 7 rallies together on behalf of the United Way of the Piedmont. This year, the District will focus its fundraising efforts around a United Way program that touches the 
lives of thousands of our very own children. Imagination Library is a reading program that was founded by singer songwriter, Dolly Parton in 1995 and for 15 years has been affiliated with Spartanburg's United Way of the Piedmont. Targeted at children ages birth through five, the mission of Imagination Library is to ensure that all children grow up with access to books and a love for reading. District 7 will kick-off its United Way effort on behalf of Imagination Library on Monday, October 10.  

Spartanburg High School Students Reading at Pine Street School
It's Time to Break Out the Shovels and Hard Hats
Rendering of D7 Elementary School To Be Built on Skylyn Dr.

On Friday, October 28 at 11:00 a.m., District 7 will officially turn the dirt to celebrate the groundbreaking for District 7's new elementary school on 1500 Skylyn Drive.  The new state-of-the-art school will replace Houston and Chapman Elementary Schools and is scheduled to open in the Drayton community in the fall of 2018. Following months of meetings with architects, engineers, elementary school staff, as well as parents and students, the rendering above reflects an exciting blueprint that paves the way for state of the art learning environments for 800 students.
 
While D7 administrators have yet to announce the name of the new school, the facility will be the centerpiece of the Drayton community now being developed by Pacolet Milliken Enterprises and Montgomery Development. 
Congratulations, 2016-2017 Teachers of the Year
District 7 2016-2017 Teachers of the Year

Typhani Littlejohn from The Cleveland Academy of Leadership says there's no greater pleasure than that of being a servant leader. "Teaching is beyond a career for me. Teaching is a major part of my purpose and my life's work." With only 8 years in the classroom and the distinction this year of being voted Cleveland's Teacher of the Year and District 7's Teacher of the Year, Typhani has proven herself a well respected, effective educator who goes above and beyond to meet the needs of her students. Twelve other teachers in the District have been recognized this year as the Teacher of the Year from their respective schools. During the course of the year, this group of leaders will represent their schools as members of the District's, Teacher Forum. Members of the Teacher Forum meet on a monthly basis and play an active role in sharing District-wide communications with their colleagues. Congratulations to our 2016-2017 Teachers of the Year.  
 
Pictured Above, front row: Marjo Chappell, McCarthy Teszler; LaTyphani Littlejohn, Cleveland Academy of Leadership; Jessica Biershenk, E.P. Todd; Karen Copley, McCracken Middle School.
Second row: Michelle Gray, Freshman Academy; Elnora Anderson, Mary H. Wright; Kimberly Savage, Whitlock Flexible Learning Center; Callie Sandifer, Jesse Boyd; Mary Brito, Spartanburg High School. Back row: Patrick Donnelly, Carver Middle School; William Neely, Chapman Elementary; Sherrie Jeffries, Houston Elementary.  Not pictured: Angi Powell, Pine Street School.


SHS Leads Area in Merit Scholarship Competition

Luke Martin, Margaret Tebbe, Emma Kendrick & Bradly Sanders 

Olivia Reichwald, Ellen Rieth, Adam Moore, and Perry Sykes 

Four academically talented seniors from Spartanburg High School have been named 2017 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Emma Kendrick, Luke Martin, Bradly Sanders and Margaret Tebbe were among 207 students selected among their peers from public, private, and homeschools across South Carolina. Spartanburg High School was distinguished for having more National Merit Semifinalists than any other school, public or private, in the county.

In the spring of 2017, these winning scholars will have an opportunity to advance in the competition for $33 million in National Merit Scholarships. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Approximately 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
Students distinguished in the semifinalist category are ranked in the top one percent of the nation's high school seniors. 

Seniors Olivia Reichwald, Ellen Rieth, Adam Moore, and Perry Sykes received National Merit Commendation for showing outstanding potential for academic success among the top 5% of the nation's seniors.
Local Businesses Invited to Minority Vendor Fair 

On Thursday, October 20, District 7 will hold its 3rd annual Minority Vendor Fair to promote sales and service opportunities with minority and women owned businesses in the region. The fair runs from 8:30 am until noon at the downtown Spartanburg Community Campus. Expanding on the success of the last 2 years, this year the initiative will include representatives from all 7 school districts. This event is now attracting well over 20 vendors who come to showcase their products and services and meet with District personnel responsible for procurement.   Registration for the fair is required but can be completed online.
In This Issue
Viking Football Schedule
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Recent News Articles


Important Dates

Tue Oct 4
6pm Board Meeting
National Night Out 
 
Wed Oct 5
Walk to School Day
 
Mon Oct 17
Homecoming Week

Wed Oct 19
Cleveland Half Day/PD
 
Fri Oct 21
No School for Students 
 
Mon Oct 24
Report Cards 
Red Ribbon Week
 
Mon Oct 31
Halloween

Seen Around Seven
Teachers of the Year Honored
SHS Baseball Team Volunteers with Miracle League
Carver Alum from NASA Visits With Students
College Colors Day at Pine St.
Annual Jesse Boyd Color Run
JROTC Induction at SHS
First Tee Participants From Cleveland Academy
7Reads Assembly at SHS

You're Invited!

2016 -2017 Calendar
District 7 Honored  
September 15, 2016
District 7 was recently recognized by the Minority Economic Development Institute (MED) as the 2016 Organization of the Year for Diversity and Inclusion. The award was presented during the organization's 10th anniversary ceremony at the TD Convention Center in Greenville in mid- September.
Impressed with the Board's emphasis on involving minority business in its capital improvement projects, Mr. S. T. Peden, Chairman and CEO of the MED Institute said, "It takes an intentional top-down focus to be sure minority owned businesses are solicited and involved in large projects such as the one underway in Spartanburg District 7. Thanks to the leadership of the School Board, minority and women owned businesses in Spartanburg and Greenville will be actively recruited to support the construction of the District's new schools."
Spartanburg School District Seven | 610 Dupre Drive  | Spartanburg SC  | 29307  | 864-594-4400