Spartanburg District 7 -

Our next Referendum Community Info Meeting is coming up on Monday, July 15 at Drayton Mills Elementary School! Join us as Superintendent Jeff Stevens and District 7 leaders share information about the projects included in the August 20 referendum. Please share our Facebook event to help spread the word in our community: https://www.facebook.com/share/pLKRd632Y6ZKTs6x/ More information about the upcoming referendum, including the full schedule of community info meetings, is available at http://spartanburg7.org/referendum2024

Summer Reading Camp in D7 is a BLAST! Our principals and district administrators had just as much fun being guest readers as our students did hearing them. We grow and learn TOGETHER in D7. This week, Summer Reading Camp students had an extra treat with a visit from our last guest, Alex Saunders, a children’s book author, illustrator, singer, songwriter. The kids LOVED him! Dream big, students…seeing others do what they love is one important way we inspire and equip! #ToInspireAndEquip #TEAM7

District 7 extends a warm invitation to families in Spartanburg to participate in our summer meal program for 2024. We're providing free individual meals served at various community sites and as part of summer school and other structured programs at our school sites. Please note that meals must be enjoyed on-site, per Federal program regulations. While our school sites are exclusively serving enrolled summer school students, some community sites are open to anyone aged 18 and under. This initiative is made possible thanks to the United States Department of Agriculture's Summer Meals Program. We anticipate serving over 6,500 free meals to students this summer, thanks to our wonderful partners. Find out more and check the schedule on our website:[https://www.spartanburg7.org/summermeals.

Substitute teachers make our world go ‘round! Today, we hosted a lunch celebration to honor these special members of our D7 family and commemorate the important work they do. Hosted by our Human Resources team, the annual event ensures our substitute teachers recognize how much they are appreciated and the important impact of their service. Superintendent Stevens expressed his appreciation to them and couldn’t resist the opportunity to grab a selfie with this fine group! Please join us in wishing them a happy summer and saying thank you for being part of TEAM7!

D7 is holding a series of community forums in June, July, and August to inform residents about our capital plan and the August 20th referendum, and to give everyone the opportunity to ask questions. We hope you attend one or more of these meetings! The schedule is below and also on our “Referendum 2024” webpage, which contains quite a bit of detail on the projects, costs, referendum vote, etc.: http://spartanburg7.org/referendum2024 Referendum 2024 Community Information Forums Monday, June 10 – City Council presentation, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20 – District 7 Fine Arts Center at Spartanburg High School, 6 p.m. Monday, July 15 – Drayton Mills Elementary School, 6 p.m. Tuesday July 30 – District 7 Fine Arts Center at Spartanburg High School, 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 13 – Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, noon and 6 p.m. (two sessions) Monday, August 19 – District 7 Fine Arts Center at Spartanburg High School, 6 p.m. We will share this information via our D7 social media outlets, local news media, and several other efforts to communicate with the community. Please help spread the word by sharing our posts and any other avenues of communication you have within the community!

We need your vote for our Viking Video Team! Voting is LIVE for the 4th annual Mascot Media Broadcast Awards! Look for SHS in Play of the Year (and Broadcast Team of the Year. CAST YOUR VOTE HERE: https://www.mascotmedia.net/broadcast-awards/2023-2024/ Our play of the year entry: In the cross-town rivalry of Spartanburg High School vs. Dorman, Justin Rice (Class of 2025) makes a catch for touchdown over the back of a Dorman defender. Spartanburg led this fight all night, which was also the night the field was dedicated to former Spartanburg High School head football coach Doc Davis. Our entry for Best Student-Run Broadcast Team: Spartanburg High School's Viking Video program was the first and is the only of its kind in Upstate South Carolina. Envisioned by district leadership during the construction of the new Spartanburg High School in 2019, Viking Video's state-of-the-art infrastructure continues to provide students with real-world experience producing an experience for in-house fans on our outdoor and indoor athletic video displays as well as an experience for our fans remotely via our NFHS Network livestreams. Viking Video student volunteers operate: 3 BlackMagic Design URSA cameras BlackMagic Design ATEM Television Switcher Remotely controlled PTZ cameras A VMix workstation for instant replay Daktronics' ShowControl for in-house graphics NeptuneGameTime DJ laptop Viking Video students use Spartanburg High School's flex period to learn and train new recruits and also run a summer camp to get ready for the fall season. They broadcast games for varsity football and basketball teams. On-air talent is provided by our local Fox Sports radio affiliate and embedded into the stream so that fans can enjoy a complete broadcast experience in 1080p 60fps at home via the NFHS Network https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/.../spartanburg-high-school... Don't miss your chance to support SHS and vote our team as the best of the best. The deadline to cast your vote is Friday, April 5th. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 12th .

The Cleveland Academy of Leadership has proudly secured the coveted title of a “South Carolina Beating The Odds School,” an accolade bestowed by the SC Education Oversight Committee (EOC). This prestigious designation illuminates Cleveland’s unwavering commitment to excellence and their innovative approach to overcoming the barriers to learning faced by Title 1 schools. Guided by the visionary leadership of Dr. Marquice Clark, Cleveland Academy employs an arsenal of best-practice teaching methodologies, personalized learning strategies, and robust community collaborations that ensure every student, regardless of circumstance, has the support needed to achieve their best. This honor reflects Cleveland’s relentless pursuit of educational equity and unwavering dedication to nurturing a culture of resilience and empowerment. Big congratulations to our Cleveland Academy Tigers for earning this prestigious accolade! It is a true testament to years of hard work. We are thankful for the synergy among students, educators, families, and community stakeholders that has forged an educational sanctuary where dreams take flight and possibilities are limitless. You can read more about Cleveland Academy’s journey here: https://www.spartanburg7.org/ACommunitySuccessStory

Congratulations to 33 8th graders from Carver and McCracken Middle Schools who were named South Carolina Junior Scholars based on their PSAT scores. These students represent the highest achievers in the state and are among 231 Spartanburg County students who qualified out of nearly 3,900 8th graders across our seven school districts! The SC Department of Education set the qualifying score of 550 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion of the test or score a 530 on the Mathematics portion. Our SC Junior Scholars have taken their first step towards competing in the National Merit Scholarship competition, which is based on their 11th grade PSAT score. Students can be recognized as a National Merit commended student, semifinalist, finalist, or a scholarship recipient. Commended students represent the top 3% of Seniors in the United States, while becoming a semifinalist represents the top 1% of all Seniors. District 7 has a rich tradition of producing national merit award winners and we look forward to these 8th graders continuing this legacy of academic excellence. During the ceremony, Superintendent Jeff Stevens commented, "It is truly a family commitment to earn such an academic distinction, and we are thankful for the partnership of our parents along with our teachers and staff as we propel our students to the highest levels of achievement." In addition to recognizing each D7 qualifier, we celebrated two students who earned the highest scores in the district - Pierce Dickerson for math and Joseph Brown for reading/writing and overall highest score. Please help us congratulate all of our Junior Scholars on their tremendous accomplishment: Anna House, Ahmed Janah, Ayden Blalock, Averi Jefferson, Bennett Salley, Cannon Mitchell, Charlotte Franke, Caison Jaynes, Dianalisa Baller, Dixon Barre, Dishaanth Shanmugam, Everett Stone, Evangeline Crosland, Graysen Voeller, Ian Miller, Jane Colbath, Jillian Seay, Joseph Brown, Kaese Boucher, Liza Baisygnavong, Ma'Shya Ferguson, Mackie Clayton, Meredith Barnhill, Micah Woodall, Nala Vongsay, Noah Kastner, Pierce Dickerson, Rayonna Hibbard, Rob Metts, Samuel Strickland, Summer Cash, Wallace Lynch, Zoe O'Brien

Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Today, we are excited to celebrate the amazing men and women who help our children get to school safely every day. We thank you for your tireless dedication and commitment to our students and families, and we have produced a special video to express our appreciation for all that you do. From double-checking safety measures to assisting students with special needs, you make our mornings brighter and our afternoons smoother. We are so grateful for the important contributions you make to our community. Here's to all the school bus drivers out there that keep our students safe and positioned for success! ❤️🚌 Watch here: https://fb.watch/qn8_17PaNb/ #SchoolBusDriverAppreciationDay #ThankYouBusDrivers #GratefulParents #TEAM7

Happy National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day! Today, D7 extends our heartfelt thanks to the remarkable men and women who serve as the backbone of safety in our schools and foster a supportive learning environment for our students. Your unwavering commitment to to ensuring the well-being of students, faculty, and staff does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for your compassion and dedication every single day. Here's to celebrating you and all you do! #Team7 #SchoolResourceOfficerAppreciationDay #ThankYouOfficers

Spartanburg High School Coach Mark Hodge: Guiding Stars to Shine Brighter! From Carver Middle to Chapman High School coached under our very own Mark Hodge to the University of South Carolina to the San Francisco 49ers – wide receiver Deebo Samuel will be looking for his first Super Bowl ring on Sunday in Las Vegas in Super Bowl LVIII. This will be Deebo’s second Super Bowl. With the help of TCL, Deebo sent a special delivery to Coach Hodge to show his appreciation: “From the sidelines to the Super Bowl spotlight, I’m grateful for how Coach Hodge has inspired greatness in me. Thank you for everything, Coach - can’t wait for you to watch me this weekend on your new @tcl_usa 98” TV!” Beyond the wins and losses, coaches serve as mentors, role models, and champions of potential, leaving indelible marks on the hearts and minds of their players and students, shaping them into the leaders of tomorrow. We are so proud of Deebo and Coach Hodge – all of us in D7 are bursting with pride, not just as your individual accomplishments but as a reflection of the community support, encouragement and belief in our hometown heroes! A moment like this unites everyone in celebration and serves as inspiration for generations to come! https://www.facebook.com/100091847952108/videos/644301281095326 #SBLVIII #team7 #onespartanburg

Spartanburg School District Seven Names Carla Cato as Principal of Drayton Mills Elementary School We are pleased to announce the appointment of Carla Cato as principal of Drayton Mills Elementary School effective July 1, 2024. Mrs. Cato will succeed Thomas Webster, who has been principal since 2017 and will retire at the end of this school year after serving District Seven for seven years. A two-time Teacher of the Year for Spartanburg School District 7 and Rock Hill School District 3, Mrs. Cato has been an assistant principal at Drayton Mills Elementary for the last five years. She was instrumental in helping to open Drayton Mills as a new school, developing and maintaining a positive school culture and climate, and fostering community building between two schools as they merged into one. She played a pivotal role in creating a school culture of support for students and families through curriculum initiatives, through focused work from the counseling department, and through collaboration among support staff to assist with student and staff well-being as well as social and emotional learning. Her leadership was also instrumental in helping Drayton Mills make significant academic gains on its SC School Report Card, advancing three levels to “Good” this past year. Mrs. Cato also led District 7’s elementary level summer school program for the last three years, in which she coordinated curriculum planning and teacher training, and monitored academic growth data for all students across the district’s four summer school sites. Prior to becoming an administrator, Mrs. Cato was a school counselor for sixteen years, serving at Chapman Elementary and Whitlock Junior High in District 7 as well as at Sunset Park Elementary in Rock Hill District 3 and Hunter Street Elementary in York School District 1. She began her education career as a fourth grade teacher at Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary in York District 1. She holds National Board Certification in School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood and has Gifted and Talented endorsement from Converse College. Active in numerous professional and community organizations, she is particularly proud to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and to have served as vice president of the Spartanburg chapter of the SC State University Alumni Association. “Carla Cato is the ideal candidate to lead Drayton Mills Elementary School as its next principal,” said Superintendent Jeff Stevens. “She has been instrumental in guiding our ‘Dalmatian Nation’ to achieve tremendous success over the last five years and is respected, trusted and well-loved by the Drayton Mills community of students, parents, and staff. I am confident Mrs. Cato will carry those relationships forward to provide a seamless transition and build on the momentum she helped establish under the leadership of Principal Thomas Webster.” “It is with excitement and gratitude that I begin this role as principal of Drayton Mills Elementary School,” said Mrs. Cato. “My mission is to set the foundation for effectuating all student’s full potential to become successful, productive, and global citizens. I am unwavering in my commitment to strive for excellence by continuing to provide positive leadership and encourage professional growth while connecting with our families and community. I place great value on communication and collaboration with our school staff and community stakeholders. Most of all, I love being an advocate for children. The profound relationship-building culture within our school has had a powerful impact on our students and families. I look forward to continuing our momentum toward success!” Carla Cato holds an undergraduate degree in education from South Carolina State University, a Master of Education in Counseling and Development from Winthrop University, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from South Carolina State University. She is married to Desmond and they have three boys, Justin (25), Jonathan (19), and Joshua (15 - a freshman at Spartanburg High School).

January is National School Board Appreciation Month and we invite our D7 Family to join us in honoring our Trustees! We celebrate the contributions they make to further our district-wide commitment to excellence and to help ensure every student has the resources, opportunities, and support they need to reach their full potential. Thank you to our District 7 Board of Trustees (pictured from left): Clay Mahaffey (Board Vice Chair), James Jones, Jeff Mason, Hallie Hurst, Sharon Porter (Board Chair), Griffin Lynch, Meg Clayton, Rick Gray, and Vernon Beatty (Board Secretary)