Georgetown County School District -

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

** REMINDER – WE WANT YOU BACK ** All families are encouraged to complete online registration as soon as possible to prevent delays with class schedules and bus transportation when school starts on August 1. Registration is required for all students – new and returning. It is a web-based process completed online through Parent Portal (https://gcsd.powerschool.com/public) and cannot be completed through the Parent Portal App. Need help registering your student for the 24-25 school year? Assistance is available on Mondays and Wednesday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call 843-436-7058 or send an email to scollins@gcsd.k12.sc.us. Ensure your student is ready for the 2024-2025 school year. Don't delay – complete online registration today!

Georgetown County School District's 2024 First Tee Champions Challenge was held May 28 at Wedgefield Plantation Golf Course. Congratulations to all of the students selected to participate in this year’s event! Red Division – Small Schools 1st Place: Coastal Montessori Charter School 2nd Place: Pleasant Hill Elementary STREAM Academy Blue Division – Large Schools 1st Place: Waccamaw Intermediate 2nd Place: Maryville Elementary Individual Winners – Red Division Girls 1st Sophia Krause, CMCS 2nd Zoey Huggins, PHES 3rd McKinlee Streett, SES Boys 1st DeAbre Frasier, PHES 2nd Mac Seaton, CMCS 3rd Colton Morris, SES Individual Winners – Blue Division Girls 1st Katheryn Williams, WIS 2nd Sawyer Cox, AES 3rd Rachel Stuckey, KES Boys 1st Mitchell Paxton, WIS 2nd Frank Cegledy, WIS 3rd Davis Johnson, KES #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

The May 21 GCSD Board of Trustees meeting included recognitions of students from Carvers Bay Early College & Career High, Georgetown High, and Georgetown Middle. ** Carvers Bay Early College & Career High ** Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students from CBECCHS, under the guidance of adviser Melissa Alston, were recognized for their achievements at the FBLA State Leadership Conference held in April. Akasha Haynes—3rd Place Help Desk Serenity Greene— 2nd Place Intro to Programming Zahira Warren— 1st Place Future Business Educator Asher Mezzatesta—1st Place Entrepreneurship Lillian Bryant—1st Place Client Service And, Alyssa Gamble was recognized for two years of service as an FBLA state officer. ** Georgetown High ** GHS junior Avidan Wright and his Business/Computer Science teacher Angelia Jackson attended the 35th Annual Economics and Financial Literacy Awards Luncheon held on May 17 at the Brookland Banquet and Conference Center in West Columbia. During the luncheon, Avidan was celebrated for being selected as South Carolina’s Fall High School InvestWrite state winner. ** Georgetown High ** In April, the Bulldog Navy JROTC unit was named the Most Outstanding Unit for Navy JROTC Area 7. They were selected as number 1 out of 33 Junior Navy programs across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia to receive this recognition. And, for the third year in a row, Bulldog Navy JROTC was designated as a Distinguished Unit, a title given to only the top 30% of JROTC units globally. In addition, this year, they also received the designation of Naval Honor School. Accepting the recognition on behalf of the unit were: The former Commanding Officer, Cadet Lieutenant Commander Briar Long and the new Commanding Officer, Cadet Lieutenant Commander Rivers Ramsing The former Executive Officer, Lieutenant Jonathan Espinoza and the new Executive Officer, Cadet Lieutenant Adriana Sanchez-Aca Retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Michael Blackstone USMC Retired Commander David Kaiser US Navy. ** Georgetown Middle ** The GMS band, under the direction of Jonathan Greene, was awarded the 2023-2024 South Carolina Band Director Association Outstanding Performance Award. This is the highest possible award given to a band program in the state of South Carolina. This recognition speaks to Georgetown Middle’s outstanding concert performances and individual student performances as well as the high-quality teaching taking place in the school’s band department. Accepting the recognition on behalf of the GMS band were: Band Director, Mr. Jonathan Greene Kelvin Funny Ja'keem Grant Malayah Green Julian Guillermo Islas Arthur Hemingway Shavadria Newton Yanielix Sanchez Cotto Jewel Thompson Congratulations to these students, programs, and schools! #hardworkpaysoff #GCSD

Georgetown High School senior, Ariel Baker Alston, represented her state at the 58th Annual NCDA Poetry and Art Contest. Out of the 16 winners in the Poetry category, Alston is among the 3 winners from South Carolina. With a prompt of “Art of the Mind: The Connection Between Wellness and Career Success,” she crafted her poem that went on to rank 3rd on the national level for the senior division. Congratulations, Ariel! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

The 2024-2025 GCSD Assistant Principal and Principal of the Year were announced during a luncheon held today at the J B Beck Administration & Education Building. Denetria Middleton was named Assistant Principal of the Year and Travis Klatka was named Principal of the Year. Both are administrators at Waccamaw Intermediate. Congratulations Ms. Middleton and Mr. Klatka! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

Nancy Crawford, school nurse at Kensington Elementary, was named the 2024-2025 GCSD Support Staff of the Year during a luncheon held today at the J B Beck Administration & Education Center. Congratulations, Ms. Crawford! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

Congratulations to the 2024 GCSD Bus Driver of the Year Barbara Snyder! Ms. Snyder is a driver for the Waccamaw Area. #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bradshaw from Waccamaw Middle on being named the 2023-2024 GCSD Rookie Teacher of the Year! Other finalists for Rookie Teacher of the Year were: Paul Carotti ~ Maryville Elementary Kirsten Williams ~ McDonald Elementary Equanda Wearing ~ Rosemary Middle Angelica Hanna ~ Carvers Bay Early College and Career High. #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

High school seniors who will be entering the military or attending a military service academy were invited to attend a statewide recognition ceremony on Tuesday, May 14 at the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia. Fifteen GCSD seniors were recognized at the event: • Jennings Avant ~ CBECCHS • Orlando Camacho – GHS • Matthew Capps ~ CBECCHS • Diamond Franklin ~ GHS • Zachary Jones ~ GHS • Jayden Lewis ~ AHS • Angel Medina Olguin ~ GHS • Jalice Morris ~ AHS • Paul Parker ~ GHS • James Rice ~ CBECCHS • Evelyn Sanchez-De La Cruz ~ GHS • Kristafer Sheets ~ GHS • Jaiden Smith ~ GHS • Ny’Asia Washington ~ AHS • Kimon Winns ~ CBECCHS The guest speaker at this year’s ceremony was U.S. Army Lieutenant General Milford Beagle and musical selections were provided by the 282nd Army Band of Fort Jackson. Each student was presented with a red, white, and blue honor cord to be worn during their school’s graduation ceremony. Congratulations, students! Thank you for your willingness to serve our country. #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff

Waccamaw High seniors Wheeler Marlow and Kenneth Wessely were selected from thousands of applicants across the state to be recognized at the 2024 STEM Signing Day held on May 8 at the USC Alumni Center. STEM Signing Day offers a chance for students to be celebrated for their achievements and future aspirations. Students had the opportunity to network with members of the General Assembly, business executives, and SC Superintendent of Education, Ellen Weaver. This year’s event was sponsored by The Boeing Company, and in partnership with BWM Manufacturing Co., Michelin North America, Nucor Berkeley, SC Future Makers, and SC Manufactures Alliance. Congratulations, Wheeler and Kenneth! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff #STEMSigningDay (Not pictured - Kenneth Wessely)

Michelle Marshall, a fourth grade teacher at Andrews Elementary, was named the 2024-2025 Georgetown County School District Teacher of the Year on Thursday, May 2 during the annual Teacher of the Year banquet held at Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort. Other finalists were: James Rowell ~ Andrews High Cassidy Altman ~ Brown’s Ferry Elementary for the Creative and Performing Arts Julie Paynter ~ Carvers Bay Early College and Career High Kiley Wilson ~ Sampit Elementary. Other school level Teacher of the Year winners are: Edrick Alston ~ Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy Katie Wilson Morris ~ Coastal Montessori Charter Dr. Edward Thomas ~ Georgetown High Jennifer Roberto ~ Georgetown Middle Brandy Caroway ~ Howard Adult Center Justin Winns ~ Kensington Elementary Janice Dozier ~ Maryville Elementary Chelsea Gruber ~ McDonald Elementary Velma Langley ~ Plantersville Digital Immersion Krista Poston ~ Pleasant Hill Elementary STREAM Academy Brian Gary ~ Rosemary Middle Elizabeth Bullard ~ Waccamaw Elementary Lawrie Ann Brone ~ Waccamaw High Michael Loser ~ Waccamaw Intermediate Laura Gabriel ~ Waccamaw Middle. Congratulations to all of our outstanding teachers! #GCSD #hardworkpaysoff #teacheroftheyear