D7 Celebrates School Board Appreciation Month
From left to right: Ernest White, Andy Ayes, Meg Clayton, Sanders Lee, Sharon Porter, Clay Mahaffey, Vernon Beatty, Rick Gray and Jeff Mason

Every year, communities across the country pay tribute to their local school boards. Spartanburg District 7 joined the January salute by recognizing the nine men and women in our community who work to advance our schools. Superintendent Dr. Russell Booker commended Mr. Vernon Beatty, Miss Meg Clayton, Mr. Rick Gray, Mr. Andy Hayes, Mr. Sanders Lee, Mr. Clay Mahaffey, Mr. Jeff Mason, Ms. Sharon Porter, and Dr. Ernest White, and noted that the group has collectively contributed more than 100 years of service to District 7. As part of School Board Appreciation Month, the Trustees signed a document affirming their pledge to uphold effective governance principles and to improve public education. New to the Board this year is Mr. Jeff Mason, who graduated from Spartanburg High School in 2007.
For more information about our elected members, be sure to read our  Superhero Spotlights created for School Board Appreciation Month.
D7 Students Banking on Success
Student Leaders Will Serve as Bank "Tellers" and "Managers"

Students at The Cleveland Academy of Leadership are about to figure out that compound interest makes good cents! On Thursday, January 25, the children at Cleveland Academy officially cut the ribbon (and a large vanilla cake!) to the newest branch of the Carolina Foothills Credit Union (CFFCU). While the good old-fashioned piggy bank still works for saving pennies, Assistant Principal Marquice Clark says the team at Cleveland wants students to better understand the basics of banking and responsible money management. "If we can show our children how quickly their dollars add up and help them become more intentional about their financial goals for higher education, they'll be well ahead of the game." 

A similar program called Dollars for Diplomas was established at Meeting Street Academy in April 2016. To date, 174 students at MSA are banking on a regular basis and have collectively saved $27,771. Executives at CFFCU say their work with children in the District is especially meaningful, and they look forward to meeting with students on a weekly basis. Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union, a financial cooperative and certified community development financial institution, extends membership to more than 125 organizations and companies throughout the Upstate of South Carolina.
This Little Piggy ... Has A Brand New Home!
The Making of a Mascot for Drayton Mills Elementary
Students Show Off Their Mascot Prototypes

The opening of Drayton Mills Elementary School is getting closer by the day and with it comes dozens of details and big decisions. To think it all through, administrators in the District have turned to those particularly invested in the outcome. Principal Thomas Webster says the children who will attend Drayton Mills are wholly engaged in the process of creating an identity for the school, including the naming of a mascot and the selection of school colors. "Our curriculum at Drayton Mills will be rooted in Project Based Learning," Webster said, "so from the very outset, we want our children to take part in the real-world projects that will impact their learning environment. In partnership with the professionals who will help us execute our decisions, the students have gone to great lengths to conduct research, to gather data from their peers and to pass along their assessments." In the days before the Christmas break, Webster says a representative group of students from Houston and Chapman shared their findings with District leaders and vendors involved in the development of the new school. 

Asst. Superintendent Dr. Terry Pruitt 
Talks with Students.
"From first- to fifth-graders, our children have jumped into this exercise with great excitement. They now have an amazing grasp of the level of detail required to develop signage for the school, to create a brand image for Drayton Mills and to effectively roll out a new facility," he said. "To say the least, this has been a great introduction to Project Based Learning."
C-SPAN Bus Stops at Spartanburg High School
C-Span Bus On 50-State Tour, Stopping at Spartanburg High School

Spartanburg High School students say they get most of their news from social-media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. But that may change for a number of students who recently had a chance to get a closer look at news that comes from C-SPAN. Spartanburg High School social studies teacher Gary Purinton spent five weeks with C-SPAN a few years ago as part of a teacher fellowship program coordinated by the non-profit news organization. Educators like Purinton help develop the vast collection of instructional content C-SPAN offers, at no cost, to teachers and students nationwide. When Purinton learned his friends at C-SPAN would make a 50-state tour to promote the learning tools on the bus, he invited the crew to roll on by. 
 

Unity and Service are Themes for City's MLK Events
District 7 Students at the Walk as One Event
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent a lifetime encouraging service to others. Each year, the holiday that bears his name is a reminder we all have something to give in the name of unity. This year, dozens of D7 students, staff and Board members participated in the City of Spartanburg's Unity Week and Day of Service. The Spartanburg High School basketball team rolled up their sleeves on behalf of Habitat for Humanity. "On a regular basis, we go to churches in the District, we support a number of non-profit agencies, and we read to students in our local schools," Coach Fred Ford said, "so the Habitat project was just another opportunity to give back." 

Artwork by, Sarah Mellon
D7 students also participated 
in the city's MLK poster contest. Open to every elementary and middle school in the county, se ven of the nine winning entries were submitted by students at Jesse Boyd, Mary H. Wright and EP Todd. Our own  Sarah Mellon, an 8th grader at EP Todd was the grand prize winner. Other winners included; Ana Cardenas-Robinson, Candace Evans, Alicia Gentry, Jada Landrum, Olivia Palmer, Miracle Twitty and Dai'Shon Watkins-Hymes. 
Meet Upstate Parent's Educators Who Make a Difference!
The January edition of Upstate Parent recognizes outstanding educators who are making a difference in their schools. District 7 is proud to honor three of the 10 Outstanding Educators - McCracken Middle School's John Courtney, the Early Learning Center's Angela Truett and Houston Elementary's Shanita Wallace. Read their stories here -  https://goo.gl/iaF5kD 

And be sure to check out the video of Sherrie Jeffries, (to the right) of Houston Elementary, who was recognized by WYFF as the newest recipient of the Golden Apple Award. 

McCracken Middle School's John Courtney 
The Early Learning Center's Angela Truett 
Houston Elementary School's Shanita Wallace
A New Whirl of Learning -Fitdesks at Spartanburg High
Della Martin on a Roll at Spartanburg HIgh 

When Spartanburg High School senior Della Martin gets ready to study, it's time to put the pedal to the metal. Thanks to the introduction of new exercise bikes with sliding desk platforms, called Fitdesks, Della and her peers are finding that the added movement on the bike is increasing their ability to focus. Since the Fitdesks were delivered this month, they have been an immediate hit, said Media Specialist Ashley
Math Teacher Kevin Miller 
Layne. The idea for the desks came to Ms. Layne when she saw them in action at Furman University. She also read research  out of Clemson University, connecting physical activity and Fitdesks to d esired learning outcomes.  The data suggests the increased blood flow helps students learn and retain more information. Layne partnered with PE teacher Deloris Culbertson to submit a grant to the Jr. League of Spartanburg. Their winning funds have afforded the school with four Fitdesks.
Recent Snow Adds New Make-Up Day For Students

The fluffy white stuff that blanketed the Upstate this month was fun while it lasted, but the inclement weather now adds another make-up day to the calendar.
Monday, February 19
Friday, March 30 
Monday, June 4.
An Early Look at the 2018-2019  Academic Calendar
                               Please Note this is a Draft
January, 2018
WYFF Golden Apple Award Recipient
Congratulations to our own Sherrie Jeffries at Houston Elementary School. Sherrie is this week's WYFF Golden Apple Award Recipient and a true champion for children!
#D7SNOWDAY  
WE GOT SNOW!!
Snowballs, snow angels, and selfies - oh, my! Thanks everyone for sharing your winter weather fun with us. Enjoy the video below with the photos you posted using #D7snowday.

Snow Day Memories 
Snow Day Memories
We Promise This Will 
Make You Smile!

The Boss Man and the Snow Man!
Dr. Booker says Thanks
to The Creative Crew Who Left
This Cool Kid Outside His Office.
SEEN AROUND SEVEN
Members of the Boys SHS Varsity Basketball Team Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity 

Members of the Strive Together Accelerator Team Partner in Vision to Help All Students Achieve

Carver Students and Staff
"Travel" the Silk Road

Superintendent Dr. Booker Back
in the Classroom at Converse College as a Guest Speaker
Students Present Research
for New Drayton Mills Elementary 
Amazing Artwork By  EP Todd's Candace Evans, 3rd Place Winner in the City's MLK Poster Contest
McCracken's Riley O'Brien Earns
1st Place at the SC Beta Convention
Another Dreambox Award Goes to Celcyia Robinson and her
 Class at Mary H. Wright

Looks LIke Fun at Jesse Bo yd's Family Game Night

Viking Early College Students Attend USC Upstate Basketball Game; See VEC Alum Andrew Tate on the Court
Congratulations to Kamaya Free-Foster, 4th grader at Pine Street
for winning the D7 Spelling Bee
VIKINGS RISE TO THE TOP! 

Maggie Cubitt
Elle Johnson
Connor Shugart
As we begin the New Year, we look back on the 2017 fall sports season and give a shout out to three notable Spartanburg High School stand outs. It's a tremendous honor to be named a Spartanburg Herald-Journal/ GoUpstate Athlete of the Year, and now, three student-athletes at SHS can add this feather to their already decorated caps. With an uncommon tenacity, Junior Maggie Cubitt scored another phenomenal season, winning her third straight state singles title and leading the Vikings to the 5A Upper State championship. Maggie's performance earned her Herald-Journal/GoUpstate Tennis Player of the Year honor for the fourth straight season. Junior Elle Johnson turned in huge performances in her biggest matches this past fall. She won the 5A State Individual championship and the Region III-5A title, earning her Herald-Journal/GoUpstate Golfer of the Year honors. Both girls were also named SCCAWS Class 5A players of the year in their respective sports. At the heart of the Vikings' defense this past season, Connor Shugart was singled out for the second time as the Herald-Journal/GoUpstate Defensive Player of the Year. Connor finished the year with 96 total tackles, two sacks, two quarterback pressures and 11 tackles for loss. He was also a finalist for the South Carolina Mr. Football award.
Maggie has committed to Louisiana State University and Elle to Florida State University, where they'll both be playing in just two years. 
2017-2018 CALENDAR
Mark Your Calendars
February 7
Early Release Day
February 9
Progress Reports
February 19
Make-up Day
Spartanburg School District Seven I  610 Dupre Drive I  Spartanburg, SC 29307 I 864.594.4400