School News - May 24, 2018
DI RESIDENT RECEIVES NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP
Daniel Island resident Alexander Puckhaber, a senior at Academic Magnet High School, is one of four students in the Charleston region to be awarded a National Merit Scholarship from South Carolina Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center (SCSM). The other recipients are Jenny Yao (Academic Magnet), Findley McCormick Emge (Charleston County School of the Arts) and Annabelle Leone (Wando High School). Each student is an inaugural beneficiary and will be granted a 4-year scholarship exclusively available for Lowcountry students who qualify.
“When we learned that more than half of the students who meet the requirements to be recognized as a National Merit Scholar don’t reach the final designation simply because the scholarships go unfunded by corporate sponsors, we felt we could do something about that,” said Dr. Todd Lansford, Partner and Spine Surgeon. “Without the opportunities afforded to us throughout our education, none of the physicians in every sub-specialty of orthopaedics in our practice could have ever reached our educational goals and ultimately be able to serve those in our community. We just want to do the same for students here in the Lowcountry.”
Dawson Cherry, practice manager of SCSM, proudly announced this new alliance.
“These students have demonstrated a long term commitment to their studies and discipline to reach this accomplishment. We are honored to be able to recognize them at this pivotal point in their education.”
PSES AND BOEING TEAM UP FOR TREBUCHET LAUNCH
Students at Philip Simmons Elementary School could hardly contain their excitement last week as they watched a team from Boeing launch large balls and watermelons from a trebuchet set up on the front lawn at the school. In addition to the demonstration, the visit also included classroom presentations by Boeing staffers for both third and fourth graders.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY BOXES INSTALLED AT BCSD TITLE 1 SCHOOLS
There’s no questioning the role of literacy in education. For quite some time, those in the Office of Federal Programs at Berkeley County School District have been looking for ways to expand upon literacy offerings.
The vision was a “little library box,” much like a mailbox, at BCSD schools, according to a district press release. The box would run on an honor system and provide books to those needing access after school hours. It would be convenient to students, parents and other community members.
That vision became a reality this month after the department was awarded a one-time mini-grant from the State Department of Education’s Title I Office.
The little book boxes, somewhat resembling little homes for bound occupants dressed in pictures, bright colors and words, quickly took shape outside all 21 of BCSD’s Title I schools, including Cainhoy Elementary School. There was also a box built and stocked outside the central office in Moncks Corner.
“The ultimate goal of this project is to provide books to students so that they may enjoy reading and improve their reading fluency,” said BCSD Coordinator of Title I Compliance Dr. Jane Harrelson. “By having free lending libraries at the 21 Title I schools this is one more way to eliminate the obstacle some students have of not having reading materials in the home. For some students the only place they can get a book is at the school. If the school is closed for a weekend, holiday, or the summer then the student is not reading.”
The library boxes were provided by LittleFreeLibrary.org.