Anderson School District One - A Tradition of Excellence

At last week's 96th SCFFA State Convention, the Palmetto FFA won the state Parliamentary Procedure contest! They demonstrated a deep knowledge of parliamentary law and superb ability to think and speech in front of judges and spectators on their feet! This year was a large year for state teams in Parli Pro, and our students were competing in this for the very first time! They will represent SCFFA and Palmetto FFA this Fall at National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, Nov 1-4. Team Members: Marissa Griffin (Chair) Porter Hand Justin Austin Madison Chapman Chloe Sanders Taylor Thrasher Ryan Henderson (Alternate) Elijah Sams (Alternate) A huge shout out to Mr. Tate Haraway who helped to step in and train this FFA team when a certain agricultural educator found his knowledge of Parliamentary law lacking compared to his knowledge of plant science! Without his expertise, our team could not have won! Thank you for all your support! 2023-2024 SCFFA State Officer Team President: Matthew McSwain (Rock Hill ATC FFA) Secretary: Abbygail VanDyck (WTC KERSHAW FFA) Vice President: Addie Grace Foster (West Oak FFA) Vice President, serving as Treasurer: Caroline Adams (York FFA) Vice President, serving as Reporter: Lauren Turpin (Pickens Co CTC FFA) Vice President, serving as Sentinel: Harley Failor (Palmetto FFA)

Austin Anderson, Powdersville High School Teacher, was named the WYFF 4 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year! Congratulations to Coach Anderson and Powdersville High School! https://www.wyff4.com/article/golden-apple-special-wyff-2023/44118253

Now hiring...

CONCRETE PRIMARY SCHOOL RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY AT WORK® **On June 1, 2023, Concrete Primary School was designated as a “Model PLC at Work” school by Solution Tree.** **Concrete Primary School became the first primary school and the third overall school in the district to receive this designation.** Powdersville, SC 6/1/23 — Concrete Primary School in Anderson School District One was recently recognized by Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. The school’s successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work® process was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students. PLCs are schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to: 1. Focus on learning. 2. Build a collaborative culture. 3. Create a results orientation. Responding to news of the recognition, Principal Sherry Padgett said, “We are incredibly proud to be named a Model PLC school! This recognition is a testament to the hard work and continued efforts of our entire faculty and staff. The journey to becoming a Professional Learning Community requires everyone to collaborate in order to improve student learning. We are very excited for our students as they are our reason for this work.” Anderson One Superintendent Robbie Binnicker added, “On behalf of our Board of Trustees and District Administration, we are very proud of Concrete Primary for this achievement. Teachers working in collaborative teams is a powerful tool to ensure that students learn at high levels. This approach encourages teachers to help each other and their students to reach their full potential.” Schools are recognized based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee. According to the Champions of PLC at Work®, educators in the schools and districts selected for this recognition have shown “a sustained commitment to helping all of their students achieve at high levels. They have been willing to alter the structure and culture of the organization to reflect their commitment. We applaud them and congratulate them for achieving this very significant milestone on the never-ending PLC journey.” Recognized model PLC schools are listed on allthingsplc.info, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Tools for team collaboration, articles and research about PLCs, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site. The site was developed and is maintained by Solution Tree, a leading provider of educational strategies and tools that improve staff and student performance. For more than twenty years, Solution Tree resources have helped K–12 teachers and administrators create schools where all children succeed. For more information, please contact: Name: Dr. Jeff Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Administration & Instruction Email:wilsonj@apps.anderson1.org

Don't forget free summer meals start on Monday, June 5th.' Please see attached photos for locations and menus.

Have a wonderful, safe, and relaxing summer! Students return to school on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

Wishing our ASD1 family a safe Memorial Day holiday!

Congratulations to our 2023 Palmetto High School Graduates!

We are excited for all our 2023 Anderson School District One graduates and wish them all the best!

IMPORTANT for Graduation Attendees: Please come early as parking will be an issue as the main lot next to Littlejohn is closed. Transportation will be provided from the far parking lots. Also, if you plan to attend any of ASD1 graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 26 at Littlejohn Coliseum, please be aware Littlejohn and Clemson University Athletics still have clear bag policies for sporting venues. Here is the link telling you about what is acceptable for a bag in size. https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-clear-bag-policy-at.../ Also, everyone will enter through metal detectors. 9:00 a.m. - Wren High School Graduation 12:00 p.m. - Powdersville High School Graduation 3:00 p.m. - Palmetto High School Graduation

Anderson One would like to announce that once again we will be offering our Summer Meal Program. FREE summer meals are no hassle! Parents don't need to apply to get a free summer meal for their kids and teens. They can simply bring their children (ages 18 and under) to one of our summer meal sites (Palmetto Elementary, Wren Elementary, or Williamston Mineral Spring Park) and your kids can get a free meal! Please see attached photos for dates, times, and menus.

Congratulations to our Salutatorians of the Class of 2023! 🎓 Palmetto High School - Erik Howard Powdersville High School - Benjamin Freeman Wren High School - Dakota Sutton

Congratulations to our Valedictorians of the Class of 2023! 🎓 Palmetto High School - Emma Kate Austin Powdersville High School - Avi Patel Wren High School - Luke Palassis

Anderson School District One’s 44th Annual Retirement Lunch was held on May 17, 2023, at the Anderson School District 1 & 2 Career and Technology Conference Center. Retirees were honored and recognized for their years of dedicated service in Anderson One. Robbie Binnicker, Superintendent, presented each person with a plaque listing their total number of years. 37 retirees have devoted over 749 years of service to the students of Anderson School District One. Mr. Binnicker said, “It is a privilege and honor to recognize our long-serving employees that have provided academic and support services in Anderson One. We wish them the very best in their retirement.” LEEANN ALEWINE, WEST PELZER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAROL ALSUP, CONCRETE PRIMARY SCHOOL DEBORAH ARROWOOD, PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JANE AYERS, SPEARMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUE BAAB, WREN HIGH SCHOOL MASTER CHIEF CLIFF BAILEY, WREN HIGH SCHOOL KIM SHUEY BARKER, PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOL RENEE BROCK, CONCRETE PRIMARY SCHOOL TONI CARSON, POWDERSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL NATALYA CHERAPANOVA, SPEARMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MISSY COOPER, WREN MIDDLE SCHOOL TERRI CORTEZ, PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOL DENISE COTHRAN, WREN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAMELA COUCH, PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MICKEY CROCKER, PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOL SHARI CURTI, PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SALLIE FAUST, WREN HIGH SCHOOL KRISTIE FINLEY, CEDAR GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GERALYN JELINEK, WREN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BETH KYLE, CEDAR GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JACKIE LINDLEY, HUNT MEADOWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DANA LIVINGSTON, SPEARMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JILL MCDONALD, PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOL BILLY MEEKS, PALMETTO MIDDLE SCHOOL DARLENE MEEKS, PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MICHAEL NELSON, POWDERSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL YVONNE NICHOLS, WEST PELZER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JOEY OWENS, WREN MIDDLE SCHOOL JULIE ROBINSON, WREN HIGH SCHOOL BILLY SMITH, MAINTENANCE SANDRA SMITH, WEST PELZER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KAREN SWEAT, PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JEFF TATE, WREN HIGH SCHOOL LARA TATE, WREN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TAMELA WARD, WREN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LISA WARDLAW, PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOL SHERRY WATERS, WREN HIGH SCHOOL Pictured Left to Right: Front Row - Karen Sweat, Missy Cooper, Tamela Ward, Denise Cothran, Dana Livingston, Sandra Smith, Carol Alsup, Terri Cortez Back Row - Kristie Finley, Yvonne Nichols, Pamela Couch, Shari Curti, Jill McDonald, Natalya Cherapanova, Jane Ayers, Geralyn Jelinek, Sue Baab, Toni Carson, Renee Brock, Beth Kyle

May 18th has been designated as National Speech Language Pathologist Day. Anderson School District One is blessed to have a wonderful team that works with our schools to meet the language needs of our ASD1 students. Thank you to these individuals for the work they do every day. The speech language pathology field began growth in the 1920’s as speech pathologists focused on treating soldiers returning from war. Today, throughout America, over 119,000 speech language pathologists work in a variety of fields. You’ll find speech language pathologists in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, schools, early intervention settings, universities and private practices. In 2010, the United States dedicated May 18th as ‘National Speech Pathologist’ day, a day to recognize these incredible individuals.

Memorial Day Holiday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ANDERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST MODEL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY AT WORK® IN SOUTH CAROLINA Anderson One is one of 34 districts in the United States to receive this honor and the first in South Carolina. (Williamston, SC) —Anderson One was recently recognized by Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. Anderson One’s successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work® process was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students. PLCs are schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to: 1. Focus on learning. 2. Build a collaborative culture. 3. Create a results orientation. Responding to news of the recognition, Superintendent Robbie Binnicker said, “We believe that teachers working collaboratively, which is one of the main focuses of Professional Learning Communities, is the key to helping Anderson One reach the very top of performance in the State.” Districts are recognized based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the district must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee. Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Instruction Dr. Jeff Wilson said, “What a great accomplishment for Anderson School District One! Being one of only 34 nationwide Model PLC Districts is quite an honor. Our teachers and staff are committed to improving their instructional practice leading to increased student learning. We all believe PLCs are the path to continuous improvement. “ According to the Champions of PLC at Work®, educators in the schools and districts selected for this recognition have shown “a sustained commitment to helping all of their students achieve at high levels. They have been willing to alter the structure and culture of the organization to reflect their commitment. We applaud them and congratulate them for achieving this very significant milestone on the never-ending PLC journey.” Director of Elementary Education Brad Moore said “Being honored as the first Model PLC District in the state of South Carolina is evidence of the commitment our district has made to high levels of learning for all students. I am so proud of our teachers and their dedication to the right work." Director of Secondary Education, Dr. Chris Ferguson added, “We are committed to continuous improvement for our schools and our students. This award is reassurance that we are heading in the right direction.” Recognized model PLC schools and districts are listed on allthingsplc.info, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Tools for team collaboration, articles and research about PLCs, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site. The site was developed and is maintained by Solution Tree, a leading provider of educational strategies and tools that improve staff and student performance. For more than 20 years, Solution Tree resources have helped K–12 teachers and administrators create schools where all children succeed.

Come be a p"art" of our team!

Thank you school nurses again for the care you provide to our ASD1 family.

We are so very proud of this amazing accomplishment!