By Sarah Ostergaard
For so many reasons, December is a time of reflection and celebration. As 2024 comes to a close, let’s pause and thank school faculty, staff, and administration who love and grow our community’s young people. Our schools are community hubs, collaborating with families in support of student success in and out of their classrooms. Thank you so much to the educators who make such a difference in so many of our lives. They are appreciated.
Because of teachers:
Harbison West Elementary School is participating in the Lake Murray Polar Plunge fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics South Carolina, with 50 percent of the proceeds remaining at the school for books for Exceptional Students’ Week and other inclusive activities. To add some festive cheer, students and staff will participate in themed dress-up days before Winter Break.
4K through 2nd grade students at Irmo Elementary School learned about traffic safety and careers through SC Career Kids / Safety Town activity, and the IES chorus sang beautifully at the Irmo Tree Lighting. Students and staff will also enjoy dressing up for a spirit week leading up to Winter Break.
Fourth grade students at Leaphart Elementary School are studying about the American Revolution in Social Studies and had the opportunity to visit a historical site in Charleston. The school hosted a literacy night earlier in November. The school is excited to celebrate the season with special dress-up days leading up to Winter Break.
Nursery Road Elementary School’s 4th and 5th grade tap dancers and music students performed beautifully at the Irmo Tree Lighting. Also, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade finalists in the school’s Spelling Bee will compete this week for a coveted spot to represent the school at the regional competition. A fun dress-up week is planned to celebrate the countdown to Winter Break.
At Seven Oaks Elementary School, kindergartners wrote adventure stories about the gingerbread man running away, then decorated gingerbread cookies. Teachers are visiting each other’s classrooms to learn collaboratively from each other. Everyone is getting ready for some creative dress-up days planned in the days before Winter Break.
Crossroads Intermediate School students earned 1st Place and Honorable Mentions in the Swampfest Congaree Art Contest. Students also placed in the school’s NCDA Poetry Contest. The Beta Club sponsored a food drive to help provide for our community. The Winter Concert was beautifully done, with performances by ensembles, strings, and chorus.
Students at Irmo Middle School are designing mini golf courses in PE classes and conducting hands-on activities to learn about heat transfer in science classes. The Quiz Bowl team is selling chocolate bars as a fundraiser for their future competitions. The IMS greenhouse and pollinator garden continue to promote successful monarch butterfly migration and teach eco-friendly gardening. School staff and PTO are planning a rewarding Winter Fest for students right before Winter Break.
Students with The Center Advanced Technical Studies FFA Chapter won 1st Place in the SC Veterinary Science Career Development Event and will go on to compete at the national level. Students across four different programs continued the tradition of creating an amazing display for the annual Holiday Lights on the River event at Saluda Shoals Park. And everyone is invited to The Center’s Holiday Tree Festival on December 12 from 5-7pm. Each program will showcase a decorated tree during this fundraiser, with crafts, cookies, and the Grinch.
The annual Goodwill Brunch at Irmo High School takes place this week. The event is a collaboration between IHS and the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, bringing together students in JROTC, Student Council, and the Arts with our local senior citizens to enjoy breakfast and student performances. In November, the IHS Student Council hosted the Student Council Coalition’s 2024 Annual Meeting, bringing together students and advisors from across the state to discuss leadership ideas, strategies, and plans for the year.
All the information above was found on schools’ social media sites. Please follow our local schools and learn more about their impact in our community. Our schools’ staff and faculty work hard every day for our students. Thank you to all.
