Spartanburg District 7 -

D7 families! There will be no school on Monday, November 4, and Tuesday, November 5. Monday is our exchange day for staff, and Tuesday is Election Day. And just a reminder, don’t forget to “fall back” one hour this Sunday as Daylight Saving Time wraps up. We wholeheartedly encourage you to VOTE and to check out vote411.org for your personalized ballot. Every vote counts, and we can't wait to see our community at the polls! Need a fun plan for your kids on Monday? The City of Spartanburg Parks, Recreation & Special Events has you covered! They’re offering an Out of School Day Camp for kids ages 5-12 at C.C. Woodson Community Center from 9 AM to 1 PM, and an Out of School Youth Activity Day for teens ages 12-18 at T.K. Gregg Community Center from 12 PM to 5 PM. Best part? It’s absolutely FREE! Just be sure to register in advance by scanning the QR codes. We’re thankful for our partnership with the City of Spartanburg in providing enriching experiences for our young people. Enjoy the long weekend!

Flu Clinics – Sign Up by TODAY, October 24 As the temperatures drop and flu season approaches, now is the perfect time to protect your family! District 7 is pleased to partner with DHEC each year to offer FREE flu vaccines – with both shot and nasal spray options - right at school. Convenient and Cost-Free Your child can receive their flu shot during the school day, without any out-of-pocket cost. This is a hassle-free opportunity to keep your child protected while minimizing time away from school and activities. Flu Clinic Dates: • November 6, 2024 Cleveland Academy Mary H Wright Elementary Carver Middle School • November 7, 2024 Jesse Boyd Elementary Drayton Mills Elementary Spartanburg High School Whitlock Flexible Learning Center • November 12, 2024 E.P. Todd School Pine Street School McCracken Middle School How to Sign Up: Each District 7 school has provided families with instructions containing a unique code to register online or on paper for their school. The deadline to sign up online is October 24, and the deadline to turn in paper forms is October 25. Taking this proactive step not only protects your child but also helps ensure a healthier school environment for everyone. Thank you for your support in keeping our community healthy!

Today marked a heartfelt return to the classroom for our students after seven days away due to Hurricane Helene. While some continue to face power outages, unreliable internet, and even displacement, they were greeted with uplifting music, encouraging signs, and open arms. It was a warm and welcoming start that truly set the tone for their comeback. In times of turmoil, it's truly inspiring to see how far kindness, empathy, and understanding can reach. In D7, we are dedicated to nurturing connections, offering flexibility, and acknowledging the emotional challenges that come with events like this storm. Our teachers and staff are here to support every student on their path, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive when they're ready. Though this storm has undoubtedly changed us, our students' resilience and eagerness to learn remain unwavering. We loved seeing their smiles today and are excited to continue this journey to greatness together! #D7isgoingforgreat #Toinspireandequip

District 7 Helene Recovery Community Meal Distribution Wednesday, October 2 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Spartanburg High School and Pine Street Elementary To our Spartanburg Community, As a way to help during this difficult time, District 7 is partnering with Chartwells to provide free, boxed hot meals on Wednesday, October 2. Pickup will be open from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (or as long as supplies last) at Spartanburg High School and Pine Street Elementary, our only schools with both power and working traffic signals for safe access. PICKUP LOCATIONS & INSTRUCTIONS Spartanburg High – Enter via the student drive beside Lidl and follow the “Event” directional signage to the Fine Arts Center (located next to the home side of Viking Stadium). Park and walk to the pickup area near the Fine Arts Center. Pine Street Elementary – Enter via the front campus entrance along Pine Street for drive-thru pickup in front of the school. There is NO ENTRANCE from Boyd Street into the campus.

District 7 Families, As an update, all District 7 schools will remain closed through Friday, October 4 and there will be no eLearning during this time. There will be no athletics or other after-school activities until further notice, but conditions will be assessed daily to determine when these might resume. We will continue to share information as soon as it is available. You are constantly on our hearts and minds as our community works to recover from Helene. District 7 is fortunate to have avoided major damage at our schools, although there is much cleanup to be done and we still await power to be restored at the majority of our facilities. Our teams have done tremendous work assessing conditions and making plans to reopen once we are able to do so. Please continue to take great care as there are many hazards that remain across our community. We miss our students, teachers and staff as well as our broader District 7 Family!

UPDATE ON SCHOOL CLOSURES FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY: Due to the impact and damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene, District 7 will be CLOSED on Monday and Tuesday. There will be NO after-school or evening activities on Monday and we will make a future announcement about whether after-school and evening activities can be held on Tuesday. During this time, our teams will be working to assess and repair any damages to our schools. We will continue to provide updates as necessary and notify you of any further changes as the week progresses. We understand this is a challenging time for our community, as many are without power and mobile device service. There will be no e-Learning expectations for Monday or Tuesday. As always, our priority is the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and their families. Our hearts and best wishes are with everyone who is impacted by the storm, and we are committed to working together to restore our community. Please stay safe!

Everyone loves a parade! Today may be dreary, but the sun is right around the corner and our Vikings are preparing to celebrate Homecoming Week from September 30 - October 4! Spartanburg High School invites our entire District 7 family and the Spartanburg community to enjoy the Homecoming Parade next Wednesday, October 2 at 7 PM. Arrive early to stake out your spot and enjoy snacks and drinks sold by student council for $1 each! Let's cheer on our Vikings as they prepare to take on Wade Hampton High for the Homecoming game in Viking Stadium on Friday, October 4. See the parade map for parking areas and the route. Go Vikings!

After-School Activities Canceled and eLearning Day Announced for Friday In light of the potential impact from Hurricane Helene, we are taking proactive measures to prioritize the safety of our students, staff and families. District 7 will hold a regular school day on Thursday but has canceled all after-school and evening activities for Thursday. We will also hold an eLearning Day on Friday, September 27. Cherokee County will continue to monitor the storm's timing and impact in hopes that our Viking football team will still travel to compete in Gaffney Friday night. All other after-school programs and activities for District 7 are canceled for both Thursday and Friday. Teachers will communicate with students on Thursday regarding any eLearning assignments for Friday. More information on District 7’s eLearning procedures is available at spartanburg7.org/elearning. The National Weather Service is forecasting strong winds, flooding, and severe weather conditions as this storm moves through our area. As a reminder, SC Bus Safety Regulations restrict the operation of school buses if sustained winds reach 30 mph or gusts of 40 mph. We will continue to monitor this storm and communicate any updates. Thank you for your understanding, as safety is always our top priority!

In celebration of National IT Professionals Day, we are excited to spotlight two outstanding D7 family members: David Beyer, Director of Technology (top far left), and Wanda Greenfield, Director of Instructional and Assistive Technology (top right). Together, they have dedicated over 35 years to enhancing our district's technology landscape. David Beyer is the backbone of our technological infrastructure, ensuring our systems run flawlessly, safeguarding our servers, and crafting solutions that keep our district operating smoothly. Wanda Greenfield expertly integrates technology with teaching, creating dynamic and engaging learning environments, all while advancing our mission to inspire and equip students for impactful lives as global citizens. Today, we extend our deepest gratitude not only to David and Wanda but to every IT professional in our schools. Your expertise, dedication, and tireless efforts often go unseen, yet they are crucial to our success. We also want to recognize the Spartanburg High School Viking Video team (some members pictured bottom left) for their essential support at sporting events, convocations, and beyond. Happy IT Professionals Day! Your unwavering commitment to innovation, support, and problem-solving keeps our district connected and thriving, and for that, we are profoundly thankful.

D7 Celebrates National Arts in Education! This week marks National Arts in Education Week, a time to celebrate and recognize the incredible talent of our students and teachers. But our admiration for their creativity, passion, and inspiration extends well beyond this week—it's a year-round appreciation! Whether through visual arts or performing arts, your dedication enriches our community and makes D7 a dynamic and vibrant place for learning and growth. Keep shining brightly! #D7isgoingforgreat #toinspireandequip

Today, D7 students and staff showcased their school spirit in style, rocking colors from every corner of the collegiate world! Whether they were representing the SoCon, Ivy League, SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, or any other league, the vibrant display of school spirit truly made our schools shine! ✨ From classic crimson and orange to bold navy and gold, our halls were alive with a rainbow of collegiate pride. It was a joyous reminder of the diverse paths our students can take and the shared love of learning that unites us all. Now it's your turn to join the celebration! Share your favorite college team in the comments or post a pic from your College Colors Day! 📸👇 We’d love to see how you showed your spirit! And for those craving some thrilling football action, don’t miss out on tonight’s SHS game as they face off against Dutch Fork under the lights at Viking Stadium, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. 🏈🔥 https://www.spartanburgvikings.org/ We’ll see everyone back at school on Tuesday, September 6. Until then, have a fantastic and safe Labor Day weekend! #d7isgoingforgreat #ToInspireAndEquip #CollegeColorsDay

College Colors Day - Friday, August 30 This Friday, District 7 will join other school districts across the country in celebrating National College Colors Day. We hope you will participate by wearing your favorite college t-shirt, team jersey, or colors. As D7 focuses on our mission to inspire and equip, and grows a culture of college readiness, we embrace this annual celebration by encouraging students, parents, employees, and community partners to participate. Whether our students choose to attend college or travel a different pathway to success, we all love cheering for our favorite team and we are ALL Going for Great! We can’t wait to see College Colors Day in action on Friday!

WE DID IT, SPARTANBURG! NEW Jesse Boyd Elementary School and NEW Mary H. Wright Elementary early-childhood wing anticipated Fall 2027! The unofficial result of the referendum vote is 73% YES – Thank you, Spartanburg! “Today, residents of District 7 chose to create a brighter future for students, teachers, staff, and families. They chose to invest in a thriving community by ensuring District 7’s long-standing commitment to providing excellence in education continues. And for that, we are deeply grateful,” said Superintendent Jeff Stevens. “It has been incredibly rewarding to meet with District 7 residents about these projects through our community info meetings over the summer. Our conversations reflected the shared commitment to the future of our children and schools that has long been a hallmark of this community. Investing in these developments will not only enhance our educational facilities and our students’ learning experience, it will also help fill a critical need for lower-cost childcare to ensure education remains a viable and rewarding career for teachers and staff. This is about securing a brighter future for our students and creating an environment where our educators can thrive both professionally and personally. Spartanburg answered the call to make it all possible – thank you and let’s GO!”

The District 7 Referendum vote is TODAY, Tuesday, August 20 from 7 AM - 7 PM at your regular polling location! Get all the details on the projects on your ballot here: spartanburg7.org/referendum2024

🍎 We're beyond excited to welcome our students back tomorrow, D7! Monday marks the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, and we can't wait to see all your smiling faces as we kick things off together. 📸 Help us capture the excitement by tagging us in your first day photos with #d7isgoingforgreat on Facebook or Instagram. Let's celebrate the start of an amazing year! #D7isGoingforGreat #ToInspireAndEquip #OurD7story

District 7's schools and offices will open at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7th so our employees can gather for our annual Opening Convocation. This special kick-off for the new school year is a celebration of the important role each member of our D7 faculty and staff plays in the lives of our students and families. Please note that all District 7 facilities will be closed until 11 a.m. Wednesday and thank you for your understanding.

Tax Free Weekend is here! Through Sunday, you can save when you buy school supplies, computers, clothes, bedding, and more, in-store and online as eligible purchases will be tax free! Items include clothes, bedding, and school supplies, plus big-ticket purchases like computers and band instruments. Here’s some last-minute tips for making the most of this weekend https://dor.sc.gov/taxfreeweekend

Our next Referendum Community Info Meeting is coming up next Tuesday at 6 pm at the District 7 Fine Arts Center on the Spartanburg High School campus. Please join us! As a reminder, we will also have meetings at noon and 6 pm on August 13 at Mount Moriah Baptist Church and at 6 pm on August 19 at the District 7 Fine Arts Center at SHS. The complete meeting schedule is below along with the information about our July 30th meeting. You can watch the presentation Superintendent Jeff Stevens is giving at our community meetings on our spartanburg7.org/referendum2024 webpage as well as read through many other details about the need for these projects and their cost.

The Spartanburg County Health Department will host an immunization blitz clinic ahead of the new school year. The event will be held on August 5 at the Spartanburg County Health Department located at 120 Dillon Drive from 9 a.m. to 3;30 p.m. Traditional appointments are encouraged. You can make an appointment by calling 1-855-472-3432. Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. You can visit SC/DHEC for this school year’s vaccine requirements: https://scdhec.gov/health/vaccinations/childcare-school-vaccine-requirements

District 7 schools and offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day on July 4th. As we celebrate and enjoy time spent with loved ones, we honor the values that unite us as a community and nation. Together, let's continue to strive for a future where knowledge, understanding, and compassion prevail. Wishing everyone a safe and joyous Independence Day!