Georgetown County School District -

Kickoff for #GCSDReads! Reading opens the door to endless adventures, and Tuesday marked the first of many moments our District administration will be reading with students across our schools. Through each story, young minds discover new worlds and possibilities. Stay tuned as we share more about how reading fuels imagination and growth in our learners. #GCSDReads #WESDolphins

You are invited to a Community Meet & Greet with GCSD's superintendent search finalists. Monday, September 16, 2024 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Boardroom of the JB Beck Administration & Education Center

Let’s celebrate! Eleven GCSD schools are included on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s annual list of America’s Healthiest Schools for the 2023-2024 school year! Included on the list were: Andrews Elementary, Rosemary Middle, Sampit Elementary, Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy, Pleasant Hill Elementary STREAM Academy, Georgetown Middle, Kensington Elementary, Maryville Elementary, McDonald Elementary, Waccamaw High, and Waccamaw Intermediate. Schools were recognized for earning this title during the September 3 GCSD Board of Trustees Meeting. A total of 879 schools across 30 states have been recognized by Alliance for a Healthier Generation for their achievements in advancing the physical, mental, and social-emotional health of students, staff, and families. Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a leading children's health organization that advances equitable whole child health. Driven by a passion to ensure that every mind, every body, and every young person is healthy and ready to succeed, their work has reached over 31 million young people across the country. #TeamGCSD #HealthiestSchools

Representatives from HTC visited GCSD’s high schools on Wednesday to present $1000 to each school’s golf program. The donation comes directly from HTC employees and their fund-raising efforts during their annual HTC Co-Op Cup golf tournament, not directly from HTC. Thank you, HTC employees, for your donation and for supporting GCSD’s athletic programs! #TeamGCSD #ThankYouHTC

Carvers Bay Early College & Career High School’s FFA chapter was recognized during the August 20, 2024, GCSD Board of Trustees Meeting for their accomplishments during the 2023-2024 school year. The chapter is led by advisor Garret Howard. • During the State FFA Leadership Camp, Carvers Bay received the Chapter of the Week award and Jennings Avant was recognized as one of the Top 5 Campers. • While at the State FFA Convention, Carvers Bay was recognized in the Top 10 for its Greenhand Knowledge Team which included Crystal West, Bryant Garman, Carson Lewis, Leah Benton; Marissa Jones was recognized in the top 10 in the Ag Ed Contest, and Jenna Kay Avant was recognized in the Top 5 in the Employment Skills Contest. • The Agriscience Fair State Winners and National Qualifiers were Hailey Barnhill and Marissa Jones. • Jennings Avant was elected to a State FFA Office, Jenna Kay Avant was elected as the Commissioner of Agriculture at Palmetto Girls State, Halle Baxley was selected to participate in the South Carolina Governor's School For Agriculture Camp, and Marissa Jones was selected to the South Carolina Commissioners School for Agriculture where she was recognized in the top 6 for public speaking. Additionally, and very important to note, the Carvers Bay FFA chapter moved its rating up from Superior Chapter to a National Bronze Emblem Chapter during the 2023-2024 school year. Congratulations!

**Mark Your Calendar** Kidz in Lids Day for all GCSD schools August 29 Donate $1 and wear a hat all day. All funds will support local children battling cancer. #TeamGCSD @childrenscancerpartners

As previously announced, GCSD schools will be open today. We recognized that Georgetown County has received an unexpected amount of rainfall overnight which has resulted in flooding and a loss of power in some areas. Buses will operate today but may be late arriving at some bus stops. Additionally, there are a few isolated areas that our buses may not be able to access. GCSD does not want anyone to put themselves in danger in order to travel to school. Please do not travel unless it is safe for you to do so. Any weather related tardies or absences will be excused.

All GCSD schools and offices will resume normal operations, including after-school activities, on Friday, August 9, 2024.

Due to expected inclement weather as a result of Hurricane Debby, and in consultation with Georgetown County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, Tuesday, August 6, Wednesday, August 7, and Thursday, August 8 will be eLearning Days for Georgetown County School District. All schools will be closed. All after-school activities, programs and athletics are canceled for Tuesday, August 6, Wednesday, August 7, and Thursday, August 8. Information about student learning on designated eLearning days is available on the GCSD Technology Resource Page (https://sites.google.com/gcsd.k12.sc.us/gcsd-elearning/elearning). GCSD district administration will continue to monitor conditions across our county, and a follow-up notification will be sent on Thursday, August 8. Please check local media, the district website, and the GCSD Facebook page for the latest information on school closings or delays.

Welcome Back to School 2024! GCSD's Board of Trustees are thrilled to see our hallways filled once again with the energy and enthusiasm of our students and staff. Together, we can make this year exceptional! #TeamGCSD #BacktoSchool2024 #SCSBA

Tomorrow is the day! One more day until we cross the finish line and begin the new year! We cannot wait to see you! Visit https://tinyurl.com/yc8pxbj2 to learn more about GCSD’s Personal Electronic Communication Devices Guidelines and Procedures. #RaceBackToGCSD2024 #TeamGCSD

GCSD is excited to support Melissa Jefferson on her Journey for Gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Melissa, a 2019 graduate of Carvers Bay High, will be competing in the Women’s 100 M (Aug. 2 and Aug. 3) and the Women’s 4x100 Relay (Aug. 8 and Aug. 9). GCSD will be wearing Red, White, and Blue on Friday, August 2 and Wednesday, August 7 to show our support. We hope all families and the Georgetown Community will join us in wearing Red, White, and Blue to show Melissa that her community is cheering for her! #TeamGCSD #JourneyforGold2024

Two days left! Stay up to date on the change in bus procedures for PK - 2nd grade students with the link below! See you soon! https://5il.co/2s4ej

Parents and Students, the race back to school is on! Make sure to check out our district and school websites for updates! We are so excited to see you on Thursday! #RaceBackToGCSD2024 #TeamGCSD

Magnet Application Window Now Open! It's not too late to sign up for GCSD's Magnet Program for the 2024-2025 school year. For anyone interested in applying, Magnet Application Window 3 will open for a limited time - Thursday, July 25 (noon) - Monday, July 29 (noon). For more information, visit GCSD Magnet Programs on YouTube. To apply for the GCSD Magnet Program for the 2024-2025 school year, visit https://georgetownmagnets.novuschoice.com between July 25 and July 29.

**Reminder to Middle and High School Students** Don't forget to complete your summer reading assignment. Check with your school to find out when your summer reading assignment is due.

Mark Your Calendars! The start of school is quickly approaching, and it is almost time to meet your teacher, attend orientation, get your class schedule, and begin the 2024-2025 school year. Visit https://tinyurl.com/BacktoSchoo2425 to find the date and time for your school's back-to-school event.

GCSD invites you to attend our FREE Summer BEACH Program finales: Summer Music Presentation - June 26 at 10 a.m. in the GHS Auditorium "Junie B. Jones, Jr., The Musical" - June 26 at 5 p.m. in the GHS Auditorium "Junie B. Jones, Jr., The Musical" - June 27 at 10 a.m. in the GHS Auditorium Summer Art Program Gallery Walk - June 27 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in the GHS Auditorium Lobby We hope you will join us as our students showcase all that they have learned! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS: Junior Shark Tank 2024 D.S.E. Sports Lab was the winner of GCSD’s 2024 Junior Shark Tank! Celebrating its twentieth successful year with the Georgetown County School District, Junior Shark Tank showcases the talents and creativity of our budding Futurepreneurs. This program challenges students to think critically and creatively, encouraging them to become innovative entrepreneurs through problem-based learning. Fifteen 8th through 10th grade students participated in the four-day Junior Shark Tank program held June 10 - 13 at Georgetown Middle School. The students were divided into four teams based on the results of a skills and personality test administered on the first day: **Group 1: The Innovators** Ella Pegg, Ainsley Coffey, and Zayden Sturkin **Group 2: D.S.E. Sports Lab** Joshua Wright, Brooke Carter, Ahr’quez Jenkins, and Chloe Sheppard **Group 3: Clean Coastal Café** Abigail Dukes, Aiden Boyette, Lorelei Brooks, Tayshaun Verner, and Abigail Vereen **Group 4: Phone Lockdown** Benjamin Rowell, Kaleb Porter, and Jordyn Wright Each student was assigned a specific role within their group, with the understanding that meeting all their responsibilities was crucial for the project's success. This experience not only fostered positive competition in a professional setting but also ignited a passion in students for creating and taking ownership of their projects. The program culminated in a judging event on June 13 in the GMS auditorium. Mirroring the format of the TV show "Shark Tank," students presented their business plans to a panel of business experts (the sharks). They faced challenging questions about finance, production, and marketing. All four groups presented well-thought out projects challenging the judges in declaring only one winner. Ultimately, “the sharks” chose D.S.E. Sports Lab as the winner of the 2024 GCSD Junior Shark Tank. Congratulations to all of the participants for another outstanding season of Junior Shark Tank! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

Want to help your rising 4K or 5K student feel more confident and prepared for school on August 1st? GCSD is hosting "Shoot for the Stars" on Saturday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the J B Beck Administration & Education Center. The event is open to all rising 4K and 5K students and will include learning and activity stations, school basics, a school bus visit, and much more. Space is limited and registration is required. Email fcohens@gcsd.k12.sc.us to sign up to attend - include your name, your child's name, and the number of attendees in the email. We can't wait to "Shoot for the Stars" with you on July 20! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff #GetReadyToLearn #readyforkindergarten #readyforprek