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!
Free Parent Lunch and Learn Workshop: Technology
Drayton Mills Elementary School
Thursday, September 19, 2024
On Thursday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., there will be a free workshop for parents on how to use PowerSchool and iReady parent portals to access student progress, grades, and attendance. Lunch will be provided.
Please register for the event using this link - https://forms.office.com/r/NKpKm4DRdN
The DMES Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a school-based organization that is dedicated to making DMES the best possible place for our students, parents, and teachers. Volunteering parents work in conjunction with DMES faculty to host special events and to raise funds to support our school activities. The organization meets on a monthly basis as indicated by our school calendar.
If you would like to volunteer for Drayton Mills Elementary PTO, please email our PTO board officers at DMES PTO or join us on Facebook at Dalmatian PTO ! We would love to hear from you!
PTO meeting dates for the year
September 10
October 1
November 12
January 7
February 4
March 4
April 15
May 6
For more information, Visit us at https://www.spartanburg7.org/o/draytonmills/page/pto.
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!
This Friday, August 30, 2024 is College Colors Day! DMES students and faculty are encouraged to wear the colors of their favorite college or university.
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
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AT DMES ON DAY ONE!
We are SO grateful to have your child at Drayton Mills Elementary School (DMES)! Visit our website https://www.spartanburg7.org/o/draytonmills for a quick summary of what you need to know as we start the year on Monday, August 12!
Good Afternoon Dalmatian Nation!
Due to unforeseen circumstances with the weather, we need to cancel today's Meet the Teacher event. The event has been rescheduled for tomorrow from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Thank you for understanding.
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
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!
DMES Meet the Teacher is August 8, 2024, from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Students return to school on Monday, August 12, 2024. Each day, our doors open at 7:00 am. Students enter classrooms at 7:35 for breakfast, and learning begins by 7:45.
Please visit our school website for our student supply list at https://www.spartanburg7.org/o/draytonmills.
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!
