Jesse Boyd Elementary -

We shared an amazing time with the Berea College Country Dancers the past two days! A huge thanks to them for their time with us! #boydtothefuture

Updates on our NEW Jesse Boyd Elementary Exciting progress is underway on the projects approved in our capital plan and in the 2024 Referendum! Just this week, you may notice activity on the former McCracken Middle School site as we begin demolition to make way for our NEW Jesse Boyd Elementary. A webpage for project updates has been created here: https://www.spartanburg7.org/New_JBE Check it out to see the design concepts, preliminary site plan, project timeline, project partners and more. We will continue to make updates on this page throughout the project. At this point, residents may notice increased activity around the site, including construction vehicles, heavy equipment, and noise. We recognize this may impact nearby businesses and neighborhoods so we are proactively reaching out to make them aware. Communications will also be sent to our D7 families who live in the area, with a particular suggestion to talk with any student drivers in their household who may travel Webber Road on the way to school or otherwise. District 7 is dedicated to being a good neighbor, to keeping disruption to a minimum, and to helping our community stay informed every step of the way. Similar webpages are coming soon with updates about the Mary H. Wright addition, which will host our new need-based 3K class and the district’s new employee childcare program; and the new District Transportation Office addition (not part of the referendum), which will provide training space to support the professional expertise of our transportation team. Stay tuned to travel this journey with D7 as we are GOING FOR GREAT! See project updates here: http://spartanburg7.org/New_JBE

NOW OPEN: Applications for School Choice & Out-of-District Tuition March 1-31, 2025: Apply for rising 1st - 12th Grades July 15-31, 2025: Apply for rising 5K Families interested in School Choice (for those residing in District 7 who wish to request a school other than their zoned school) or Out-of-District Tuition (for those living outside District 7 who want to enroll their child in a District 7 school) can apply from March 1-31, 2025 for students entering 1st-12th grades for the 2025-2026 school year. For families with rising 5K students, the application window opens July 15, 2025. 🔹 Already enrolled through School Choice or Out-of-District Tuition? No need to reapply! Your child will remain at their current school. If transitioning to middle school, they will be enrolled in the middle school linked to their current elementary school. 📍 For full details and information, visit spartanburg7.org/schoolchoice.

What an amazing celebration we shared together in honor of Black History Month! Much appreciation to our planning committee, our students, and our staff for making it such a special time! #boydtothefuture

A limo to Krispy Kreme? Don't mind if we do! What a fun way to celebrate our Booster class leaders. Thanks to our PTSO! #boydtothefuture

Good morning, JBE!

🌟 2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration Now Open! 🌟 As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to ensure all current and future D7 families are well-informed about key enrollment dates and processes. Here’s everything you need to know to help guide families through this exciting time: 🎒 New 3K, 4K, and 5K Student Enrollment (2025-2026) Now Open! This enrollment period is specifically for new 3K, 4K, and 5K students, as well as current D7 3K students. Current D7 4K students will register for 5K during the returning student registration period after Spring Break. For full details, please visit our Kindergarten Enrollment Page (https://www.spartanburg7.org/kindergarten) 📚 3K Program Details • Need-based 3K classes are offered at Cleveland Academy of Leadership (located at The Franklin School) and Mary H. Wright Elementary. • Supported by a Full-Service Community Schools grant in partnership with Spartanburg Academic Movement and D7. • Acceptance Criteria: Priority given to students with financial and/or developmental needs, and those living in the school’s attendance zones. 🌟 4K Program Details • Available at all D7 elementary schools, offering need-based 4K programs. • Similar to 3K, acceptance is based on financial and developmental need through a formal application and assessment. 📅 Important Note for Current 3K & 4K Students: • Families of students currently in the 3K program should apply for 4K now. • Families of 4K students will register for 5K after Spring Break—no new student registration required. 🍎 5K Program Details • Children who turn five years old on or before September 1 of this year must enroll in a public or private 5K program, unless the parent or legal guardian signs a waiver. • If a waiver is signed, state law requires the child to enroll in 1st grade at age 6 the following year. • Free 5K programs are available at all D7 schools! 📅 Enrollment Timeline & Process D7 elementary schools are currently accepting: • 3K Applications • 4K Applications • NEW 5K Student Enrollment Forms What Families Need: Parents can find the required forms and information online at our Kindergarten Enrollment Page (https://www.spartanburg7.org/kindergarten). After filling out the forms, parents will need to bring them to their zoned elementary school along with the necessary documentation to complete the enrollment process. Additional Resources: • Find Your School & Attendance Zone (https://www.spartanburg7.org/attendancezone) • 3K, 4K, and 5K Enrollment Info & Forms (https://www.spartanburg7.org/kindergarten) 📢 5K–12th Grade Returning Student Enrollment (2025-2026): Opening After Spring Break Returning student enrollment for grades 5K–12 will begin after Spring Break. Parents/guardians will receive an email prompting them to complete the online enrollment process through their FinalForms account. We’d love your help in spreading the word! We are excited to welcome new families and students to D7! We are so excited for the 2025-2026 school year and can't wait to welcome all of our new students and families to D7! Let’s make this an unforgettable year! 🎉

Register for 25-26 4K and 5K today! #boydtothefuture

What a wonderful trip to the movies with our third graders this evening! #boydtothefuture #jbeconcertseries2425

We are so proud of our students who represented JBE and District 7 do well in our SC State Elementary Honor Choir! #boydtothefuture

💛🚍 February is Love the Bus Month! 🚍💛 Every morning and afternoon, Spartanburg School District 7's incredible school bus drivers ensure that more than 7,200 students arrive safely to and from school. They are the first smiling faces students see at the start of the day and the last to wish them well on the way home. Their dedication, kindness, and commitment to safety do not go unnoticed! 💛👏 This week, let's take a moment to show our gratitude to the amazing men and women behind the wheel. A simple "Thank You" can mean the world to those who work tirelessly to keep our students safe—especially as schools face ongoing bus driver shortages. 🚌✨ 💛 Interested in making a difference? D7 is hiring bus drivers! If you're looking for a rewarding career where you can have a positive impact on students and families, visit D7 Drive a Bus (https://www.spartanburg7.org/driveabus) to learn more. 🚍 To all our bus drivers — THANK YOU! You are essential, and we appreciate all that you do! 👏💛 #D7isGoingForGreat #ToInspireAndEquip

🌟🎉 Happy School Resource Officer Day! 🎉🌟 Today, we celebrate our amazing School Resource Officers across Spartanburg School District 7! 🚔💙 These dedicated men and women are so much more than just safety personnel; they are invaluable members of our school family. From the moment they walk through our doors, our SROs engage with students and staff, building lasting relationships that foster trust and support within our school community. They are always present, in the hallways, at events, and on the playground, making sure everyone feels safe and valued. Their commitment to ensuring a safe learning environment allows our students to thrive, and their positive influence inspires our youth to be their best selves every day. 🌟 Here’s to our SROs – thank you for your service, your guidance, and for being an essential part of our school life! We appreciate all that you do to keep us safe and help shape our future leaders! 💪🛡️ #SRODay #D7isGoingForGreat #ToInspireAndEquip

As a Reminder! Tomorrow, Friday, February 14 is an eLearning days for students, serving as a make-up day for some of the six school days missed last fall during Hurricane Helene. Legislators are still discussing whether to grant school boards flexibility to waive additional days. Students will have two school days after each make-up day to complete and submit their eLearning assignments. If you need childcare, the City of Spartanburg is offering two day camps for students – one for ages 5-12 at CC Woodson Community Center from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and one for ages 13-17 at the Dr. TK Gregg Center from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Snacks will be served and there is NO COST to participate, but advance registration is required. We are thankful for the City’s partnership in supporting our students!

Hot off the press! The February issue of 7Headlines is here! This edition is packed with celebrations—Jesse Boyd’s 60th anniversary, a kindergarten enrollment overview, all the fun Scene in 7 moments, and details on how to secure free tickets to see the U.S. Navy Concert Band live at Spartanburg High on March 13. This special performance honors 100 years of service by the U.S. Navy Band—don’t miss it! Check out all the highlights in this festive issue: https://tinyurl.com/7HeadlinesFeb2025 We’re feeling the love as we Go for Great in D7!

Photos, Video, and Media Coverage of Jesse Boyd's 60th Anniversary Current and former students, staff and families as well as Spartanburg community members "came home to JBE" to celebrate the school's 60th anniversary on Friday, January 31, 2025. This last major milestone in the current school building was special time to reflect on past accomplishments, celebrate the school’s history and the people who helped build it along the way, and enjoy some good ole' Bulldog fun! A school-wide assembly included several special guest speakers from decades past, a time for anyone in attendance to share memories or share messages with current students and staff, and a dance performance by students highlighting each of the last six decades. Video greetings from alumni Trey Gowdy, former United States Representative for South Carolina and current host of the national television show “Sunday Night in America” on FOX News, and and The entire school participated in a parade of the decades following the assembly, and guests enjoyed a reception hosted by PTO. It was truly a great day at JBE! We invite you to enjoy the brief highlight video and peruse the photo gallery and news coverage from the Spartanburg Herald-Journal below. See the Spartanburg Herald-Journal photos: https://www.goupstate.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2025/01/31/a-celebration-of-the-60-years-of-history-at-jesse-boyd-elementary/78090773007/ Read the Spartanburg Herald-Journal story: https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/education/2025/02/04/jesse-boyd-celebrates-60th-anniversary-looks-forward-to-new-school/78184670007/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawIXR2lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdo0C8w-NuismYkAo8SwCVCdxuq3LRftQOIy1zDcVBZDJc0toGoakHaorg_aem_0XRap2bHZBGzT9xFabxgbA From the article: Lawrence Anderson takes a piece of Jesse Boyd Elementary School wherever he goes. Anderson has served 24 years in the Air Force and has completed six deployments worldwide. Friday, Anderson sat next to his fifth-grade teacher, Virginia Adams, before he spoke to the group that gathered for the daylong celebration of Jesse Boyd Elementary School's 60th anniversary. "It's always special when you sit down next to your fifth-grade teacher," he said.

Honoring Our Incredible PTO Presidents! At this month’s School Board meeting, we had the privilege of celebrating the dedicated parents who lead our schools’ Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs). Two years ago, we began a tradition of recognizing these outstanding leaders, and what better time than February — the month of love — to show our appreciation for their hard work and heart? Our PTO presidents are the backbone of parent involvement in our schools. They are organizers, planners, decision-makers, fundraisers, and community builders. But most of all, they are champions for our students, families, and staff. Their tireless dedication strengthens the bridge between home and school, creating a culture of collaboration that benefits everyone. To officially welcome them as “insiders” in our D7 family, we presented them with a special gift — the exclusive District 7 golf umbrella. This coveted item is typically reserved for faculty, staff, and board members, making it a fitting symbol of the invaluable role these leaders play in our district. Join us in celebrating our 2023-2024 PTO presidents: 🎉 Cleveland Academy – Shaqual McMillian 🎉 Drayton Mills – Brandy Simpson 🎉 EP Todd – Christel Schweizer 🎉 Jesse Boyd – Kinsey Blackwell 🎉 Mary H. Wright – Rashida Davidson 🎉 Pine Street – Jessica Virgadamo 🎉 Carver – Regina Kershaw (not pictured) 🎉 McCracken – Erica McCarthy 🎉 Spartanburg High – Sarah Zemp These leaders embody the true spirit of service, and we are beyond grateful for their passion, energy, and commitment. Thank you for everything you do to make our schools stronger!

🌟 Happy National School Counseling Week! 🌟 Our exceptional counseling teams in Spartanburg School District 7 are in the spotlight this week! Their dedication to nurturing the minds and hearts of our students makes a world of difference. 💖 From the compassion they show in helping our youngest elementary learners navigate social skills and develop resilience, to the guidance they provide middle schoolers during crucial transitional years both academically and personally, to the mentorship they offer in helping high school students explore college and career paths—their roles are vital in shaping all students’ futures. 🎓 Thank you to these heroes for being our students’ champions, believing in their potential, offering a safe space to talk, providing essential resources, and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. We appreciate the countless ways they inspire and equip students to reach their full potential! Lisa Kerns - Career Specialist for all middle schools; Jesse Boyd - Patricia (Tricia) Pressley; Cleveland Academy - Karen Meadow-Rogers; Drayton Mills - Bettina Johnson, Courtney Huffman; Mary H. Wright - Kenneth Smith, Le'Jeta Proctor; Pine Street - Natalie Mullen, Jodi Stepp; EP Todd - Brandon Jones, Dr. Shani Fischer; Carver - Ebony Smith-Salters, Andrea Little, Erica Smith; McCracken - Daniel O'Brien, Naila Ray, Anthony Brothers; Spartanburg High - Erin Lyerly, Terri Roberson, Shara Jones, O'Shay Davenport, Denise Foster, Dr. Matt Love, Lauren Hicklin, Piper Holmes, Addie Jones; Daniel Morgan Technology - Teleisha Fields, Delilah Goode; Whitlock Flexible Learning - Alison Wight, Fred Ford; MCarthy-Teszler - Carmelita Byrd

🌟 Happy National School Counseling Week! 🌟 Our exceptional counseling teams in Spartanburg School District 7 are in the spotlight this week! Their dedication to nurturing the minds and hearts of our students makes a world of difference. 💖 From the compassion they show in helping our youngest elementary learners navigate social skills and develop resilience, to the guidance they provide middle schoolers during crucial transitional years both academically and personally, to the mentorship they offer in helping high school students explore college and career paths—their roles are vital in shaping all students’ futures. 🎓 Thank you to these heroes for being our students’ champions, believing in their potential, offering a safe space to talk, providing essential resources, and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. We appreciate the countless ways they inspire and equip students to reach their full potential! #D7isGoingForGreat #ToInspireAndEquip #NSCW25

Across District 7, our schools are celebrating Black History Month throughout February. Studying important historical and modern-day Black figures and their contributions inspires a wide variety of learning opportunities, such as hosting a wax museum, hearing from guest speakers, creating new inventions, making artwork, school-wide assemblies and spirit days, creating book-inspired quilts, decorating classroom doors, and much more. Check out our schools’ social media pages for individual lists of events and photos of our students in action throughout the month!

Our Book Fair officially begins tomorrow! All students have received a letter regarding the date of their visits. We also have our Family Book Fair on Tuesday, February 11 from 4-7pm. We hope to see you there!