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School Board Accepts Bid for New High School Home Page Only The Lexington-Richland Five Board of Trustees approved a bid from EDCON Construction in the amount of $32,595,000 to build a new high school off Broad River Road, in the Spring Hill area. Once the contract is finalized, construction on the high school will begin. The school is expected to open in August 2013 and will be a magnet high school, serving students from across the district. No... more info Applications for Magnet Programs Online NOW Leaphart Elementary Lexington-Richland Five is accepting applications for the Leaphart Engineering Arts Program (LEAP), housed at Leaphart Elementary, and the Escolares Academy for gifted and talented students, housed at Harbison West Elementary. Click link below for further information. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 2. Any elementary-aged child in the district may apply for the programs. A... more info The Battle on the Dam is March 3rd Leaphart Elementary The Battle on the Dam is coming! The walk starts on the Irmo side of the Lake Murray Dam and finishes on the Lexington Side at the Park where vendors will set up offering information about their goods and services. Closing ceremonies will take place there along with an opportunity to participate in Zumba! Trophies will be awarded to the schools (elementary, middle & high) with the greatest... more info 2012 Science Fair Winners Leaphart Elementary !st Place Winner The 5th Grade Science Fair took place at Leaphart Elementary School on Friday, January 27th. The judges were so impressed with the projects; they selected more winners than originally planned! These projects will now move on to compete in both the District Science Fair, scheduled to be held at Irmo High School in February and the Regional Science Fair, being held at USC in March. The following... more info 2011 Holiday Drives Irmo High School Irmo High Information regarding holiday philanthropic efforts and programs at Irmo High School... Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) "Hands That Help" Holiday Tree - We are asking for sponsors to purchase gifts or give a donation to purchase gifts for our less fortunate students at Irmo High School to bring a little joy into their lives during the holiday season. Trees are located in the... more info Alive at 25 program comes to Irmo High School Irmo High Alive at 25 is an early intervention program developed by the National Safety Council to prevent traffic violations, collisions, and fatalities. It is a 4 ½ hour defensive driving course that addresses the dangers of speeding, failure to use seat belts, using cell phones while driving, eating while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and more. It focuses on the behaviors... more info Ocean Science Team Wins Southern Stingray Bowl Dutch Fork High On Saturday, February 4th the DFHS ocean science A-team won first place in the Southern Stingray Bowl at Savannah State University and will compete in the national competition in Baltimore on April 19-22. The A-team members are: Shannon Roberson, Madeline Kowalski, Nicholas Kowalski,Ivana Chen and Seong-soo Lee. The DFHS B-team won third place in the region and for the first time ever took... more info Nike ReUSE-A-Shoe - Feb 1 - April 1 Oak Pointe Elementary OPES is teaming up with Nike ReUse-A-Shoe for a shoe drive. Bring your worn out athletic shoes and toss in the bins and not the trash. Nike can recycle shoes into new playgrounds, running tracks, football fields, basketball courts and more. (Athletic shoes ONLY (any brand), no damp or muddy shoes, no metal, cleats or dress shoes, no sandals or flip-flops.) Sponsored by OPES PTO. Seven DFHS Students named National Merit Scholarship Finalists Dutch Fork High Of the more than 160,000 students who currently enter the National Achievement® Program each year, over 4,700 are honored. A group of about 3,100 Outstanding Participants are referred to colleges for their potential for academic success. A smaller group of about 1,600 are named Semifinalists, the only students who have an opportunity to advance in the competition for National Achievement... more info We Need Milk Jugs! Lake Murray Elementary Please send any empty plastic gallon containers to school with your child to help with the completion of PTO's "igloo" for Winterfest. Thank you! CHS Wrestlers heading to state championship.... Chapin High After a hard fought victory last night the Eagle wrestling team heads to the State Championship this weekend. The Eagle team battled the St. James Sharks and came up on top with a final score of 33-32. The team will wrestle Belton-Honea Path at Dreher High on Saturday, Feb. 11th for The AAA State Title. Way to go Eagles. ...more info We Thank Mrs. Weaver During National School Counseling Week! Ballentine Elementary Mrs. Susan Weaver has done an outstanding job as Ballentine's School Counselor. We thank her and wish her all the BESt during National School Counseling Week! Kindergarten Registration River Springs Elementary Kindergarten Registration Begins January 30 School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties will begin enrolling five year-olds for kindergarten starting January 30, 2012. Registration will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. To register for kindergarten, your child must be five years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2012. Parents of children meeting this eligibility deadline should... more info Varsity Cheerleaders recognized..... Chapin High Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Varsity Cheerleaders will be recognized in the Senate and the House of Representatives for winning the 3A Competitive Cheer Championship. CrossRoads Student's App Introduced on iPhone/iPad and Android Markets Home Page Only Payton L., a sixth grader at CrossRoads Middle, is the first student from Dr. Chris Craft's Media Technology course to have her app available internationally in Apple's "App Store." Payton's app provides information about the Lexington dance studio,"Chosen Dance Academy." Those who download the app will have access to information about the company's programs and instant access to the studio... more info 4th Grade Students - WBEE and Yearbook staff information Irmo Elementary The search for 2012-2013 WBEE and Yearbook staff members has begun. 4th grade students have the opportunity to audition to work on the WBEE TV show. Yearbook staff interviews will be taking place also. Don't miss this opportunity! Information, required applications, and recommendation forms are available. ...more info 2nd 9wk Honor Roll - Posted in The State Newspaper Oak Pointe Elementary Oak Pointe 2nd 9 weeks Honor Roll will be posted in The State Newspaper the week of Febuary 13. ...more info PTO BINGO NIGHT H. E. Corley Elementary Friday, February 10th 6:30-8:30 Bring the whole family out for an evening of fun and prizes! HEC annual Bingo night is the place to be. You can win lots of cool prizes including a chance to win a new DELL computer and tickets to DISNEYWORLD! CHS Wrestlers to host St. James for Lower State Championship Chapin High We have great news! As many of you already know Chapin took care of business on Monday night and won the Quarterfinal match against Socastee 52-9. This means they have made it to the Lower State Championship! The Championship match will be against St. James, ranked number one in the State. Our wrestlers will need the support from the entire Chapin Community. The weigh ins for tonight are at 5:00... more info Congratulations!! Harbison West Elementary We are pleased to announce our Teacher of the Year for 2012-2013 is Mrs. Abby Dreher, Kindergarten and our Support Employee of the Year for 2012-2013 is Mrs. Fran Lowman, School Nurse. Congratulations to you both!! Free Health Screening by Lexington Medical Center Dutch Fork Elementary Lexington Medical Center will be at DFES on March 5th to check blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and a few other blood tests. THIS IS FREE! This is such a wonderful and convenient service that LMC provides. Please call the DFES Health Room at 476-3906 to make your appointment today. LMC will be here from 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on March 5 in the Conference Room. You will need to... more info Paper Tower of Love Irmo Middle Unity Task Force Council (UTF) UTF Council is a student group focused on helping all students work together in a peaceful environment. Students participate in leadership activities, team building and coordinate activities in the school to promote unity and enhance student knowledge related to diversity and inclusion. We have an exciting group of students this year committed to peace at IMS. We... more info ABC Columbia MVP - Victoria B. Chapin High Click on the link to read about this wonderful accomplishment by one of our own. ...more info CrossRoads Student's App Introduced on iPhone/iPad Market CrossRoads Middle CrossRoads Student's App Introduced on iPhone/iPad Market Payton L., a sixth grader at CrossRoads Middle School in Irmo, SC, is the first student from Dr. Chris Craft's Media Technology course to have her app available internationally in Apple's "App Store." Payton's app provides information about the Lexington dance studio,"Chosen Dance Academy." Those who download the app will have... more info 2nd Annual Dam Walk 2012 Irmo Middle Please plan to join us in the District Five Health Initiative - the 2nd Annual Dam Walk on March 3. Danny and Jane Koon are the IMS contact parents for this wonderful event - you may reach Jane at 476-3600. ...more info IMS Valentine Dance - February 10th Irmo Middle Friday, Feb. 10th 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. There will be a DJ and Door Prizes. Tickets are $5 at the door. During this week, make sure you drop your pennies for the penny war and at the dance the Valentine’s King, Queen, Prince and Princess will be announced!!! Pizza and soft drinks will be available for purchase at the dance. ...more info February is Job Shadowing Month Irmo Middle Job Shadowing is a great time for your student to explore the world of work. October 28, 2011 – April 27, 2012 - Each year, Irmo Middle School students have the opportunity to participate in Job Shadowing. ...more info Course Fair Registration Night Irmo Middle IMS COURSE FAIR NIGHT Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Irmo Middle School Cafeteria 6:00 pm-7:15 pm ...more info BETA Club New Membership Drive Irmo Middle BETA CLUB NEW MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – Any student with a 3.3 GPA is eligible to join the Beta Club. Please see your team sponsor (with your report card) to pick up a membership packet. The team sponsor will verify the GPA. Dues for new members are $20, which includes the fee sent to the national organization. Membership dues and packet information are due February 10th. The induction ceremony for... more info Ms. Cynthia O'Reilly - IMS Webpage Teacher of the Month Irmo Middle Cynthia O'Reilly Congratulations to Cynthia O'Reilly, our IMS wonderful art teacher! Ms. O'Reilly has been chosen by our SIC for the Technology Award this month for her extensive web page! This award is sponsored by Ms. Patti Bridges! Spring Pictures Chapin Middle Mark your calendars, comb your hair, dress your best and let the photographer do the rest! Irmo High Student Signing Day Irmo High National Athletic Signings: Boys Soccer Connor Dunbaker – Air Force Academy Andrew Ford – USC Upstate Matt Freeman – Clemson University Josh Jenkins – USC Upstate Lewis Teeple – Belmont Abbey (NC) Rob Wullner – USC Upstate Girls Soccer Gina Cox – Charleston Southern Abby Frick – Winthrop University Claire Kennedy – USC Beaufort Aubrey Jordan – USC Beaufort Football John Christy... more info Winter Inservice Conference - STEAM: Empowering the Future! Home Page Only Lexington-Richland Five will hold a Winter Inservice Conference for certified staff on Monday, February 20 entitled STEAM: Empowering the Future! The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Irmo High School. Futurist Jim Brazell will begin a keynote speech at 8:30 a.m. Four rounds of concurrent inservice sessions will be held from 9:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sponsors include: Pitsco Education,... more info Registration deadline fast approaching for participants in The Battle on the Dam..... Chapin High The deadline to register to participate in The Battle on the Dam is Wednesday, February 15th. Print out a registration form linked below or stop by Ms. Brinkley's room and pick one up. Completed forms should be returned to the front office. Everyone is invited to participate. ...more info Dutch Fork athletes sign college letters of intent Dutch Fork High Click the link to see our athletes sign their letters of intent. http://www.schsl.tv/dutchfork/events/29284 ...more info IES receives Exemplary Writing Award! Irmo Elementary Celebrate with us! IES received our 4th Exemplary Writing Award. Mrs. McAlister accepted our Exemplary Writing Award at the SC Council of Teachers of English Conference at Kiawah Island on Saturday, January 28th. "WRITE ON" IES!! Battle on the Dam, March 3rd Lake Murray Elementary Mark your calendar for Saturday March 3, 2012 Students were given a green form to sign up to participate in the FREE Battle of the Dam event. Every Lexington/Richland 5 student that signs up and returns their form by Feb. 15th will receive a FREE “Battle of the Dam” t-shirt. Every student participating must have a walking buddy-marked on their form for the event. If walking buddies would... more info Kindergarten Registration Dutch Fork Elementary Kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013 school year is now underway. To enroll for 5 year kindergarten your child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2012. Please bring the following documents with you when you come to register your child: Birth Certificate Certificate of Immunization 3 Proofs of Residence (2 current utility bills and 1 mortgage/tax statement) You will not... more info Second Annual Walk Across the Lake Murray Dam Home Page Only 2012 T-shirt design by Tommy Turner, Irmo High, 11th grade The District 5 Foundation for Educational Excellence, School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties, the Community Roundtable and Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission have partnered to offer the second annual Battle on the Dam. The event will be held on Saturday, March 3 beginning at the Irmo side of the Lake Murray Dam. The focus of the event is to encourage active lifestyles fo students... more info Bi-Lo Math Night is February 23rd! Dutch Fork Elementary Bi-Lo Math Night promises to be a fun and exciting evening on February 23 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Why participate in Math Night? Here are a few good reasons: ~ To work with your child to complete fun math activities ~ To get a goodie bag ~ To receive a silver PAW for completed and returned math activities See you there! Please see related files below ...more info The Battle of the Dam is March 3rd! Dutch Fork Elementary The Battle on the Dam is March 3rd The Battle on the Dam is coming! The walk starts on the Irmo side of the Lake Murray Dam and finishes on the Lexington Side at the Park where vendors will set up offering information about their goods and services. Closing ceremonies will take place there along with an opportunity to participate in Zumba! Trophies will be awarded to the schools (elementary,... more info Welcome Teachers and Student Teachers Chapin Middle Welcome Teachers and Student Teachers Please join us in welcoming teachers and student teachers to CMS. In 6th grade, Mrs. Sandra Vann is taking Mrs. Alia Buckner's language arts classes for a few weeks. Mrs. Buckner is a proud mama of a handsome, baby boy. Mrs. Sandra Lally is teaching Mrs. Sarah Gams's classes. In addition, we have six student teachers from Newberry College, Columbia... more info WALK ACROSS THE DAM H. E. Corley Elementary Saturday, March 3 9am HEC families, faculty and staff are envited and encouraged to participate in the second annual walk across Lake Murray Dam. Information was sent home in student VIP folders. Please join us in promoting active and healthy lifestyles for our students. The link will take you to more information including the registration form. There is no cost for registering and there's free... more info THE BOOK FAIR IS COMING! H. E. Corley Elementary Thursday, Feb.9 - Friday, Feb.17 Schedules and flyers have come home! The kids are excited! The fair will be packed with lots of great books! Please come to the fair and shop with your child or come to the fair and shop for yourself! We will be open afterschool Friday (2/10) until 6:30 and Thursday (2/16) until 6pm for your convenience. We appreciate your support! ...more info Jump Rope for Heart Day Dutch Fork Elementary Jump Rope for Heart Day will be celebrated at DFES on Friday, February 10. Students will be competing with rope jumping and raising money for the American Heart Association through pledges and donations. DFHS Student Chosen for 2012 Washington Youth Summit Dutch Fork High Bridgette Wellslager, a student at Dutch Fork High School has been selected to represent South Carolina as a National Youth Delegate to the 2012 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment at George Mason University. Bridgette joins a select group of only 250 students from all over the country honored with the opportunity for an intensive study of leadership in environmental science and... more info Hearts for Humanity Dance Chapin Elementary The CES PTO is sponsoring the Hearts for Humanity Dance on Friday, February 10th from 5:30 - 8:30 pm. The cost is $20 per child; this includes pizza and drink. All proceeds will go to the Christgate Transition Home in Chapin. See the file below for more details. ...more info Harbison West is Helping Fight Hunger Harbison West Elementary Hunger is an issue that many families face here in District Five. Students at Harbison West are helping put an end to hunger with a monthly food drive. For the month of January, students are donating toothpaste, rice, and tuna to help feed families here in District Five. The collected items are given to ACTS Metro which is connected with East Lake Community Church. They serve several families in... more info National Engineers Week-Open House at USC Chapin Middle Open House for K-12 at the USC College of Engineering and Computing - Sat. Feb. 25th, 2012 Please click on the file below for more information. ...more info So You Want to be a Zoo Keeper Chapin Middle This interactive program introduces middle and high school students to the zoo keeping profession by way of a panel discussion with keepers and a behind-the-scenes look at their work. Participants should come with questions and a real desire to learn about this exciting career. Saturday, February 18, or Saturday, March 3, 2012, 10:30am – 12:30pm Please click on the file below for more... more info Irmo High School Eleventh grader, Janay Chisolm, to appear in the State Finals Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest Irmo High Irmo High School Eleventh grader, Janay Chisolm has won a spot in the State Finals Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. The competition will take place on March 3, at the Columbia Museum of Art. The winner of the state contest will advance to the Nationals this summer in Washington, DC and compete for $20,000 in scholarships. In December, Ms. Chisolm won the High School level of the... more info CMS Students Design Clocks for Charity Chapin Middle Tick tock, tick tock; merrily sings the clock. It's time for work; it's time for play. This is more than the beginning of a nursery rhyme. Students in Lori Powers and Krysten Douglas’ math classes at Chapin Middle made clocks as a second quarter project. The students calculated measurements and angles for their clocks and created designs. Completing the clocks was a collaborative effort.... more info CMS Drama Presents - Renaissance Night Chapin Middle Please join us for a performance of Romeo and Juliet. Thursday, Feb. 16th at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Tickets are $4.00. Kindergarten Registration Begins January 30 Home Page Only School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties will begin enrolling five year-olds for kindergarten starting January 30, 2012. Registration will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. To register for kindergarten, your child must be five years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2012. Parents of children meeting this eligibility deadline should bring the following to their zoned... more info Information from PTO Lake Murray Elementary Dear LMES Parents, Last week, all students received a yellow form with a description of the Silent Auction basket that each class is responsible for. Please send all donations for the basket; i.e.:gift cards, money, etc., in an envelope addressed to the homeroom mom. This will assure that your contribution makes it to the right person. We look forward to a wonderful Winter Fun Festival. ... more info Career Day Chapin Middle Career Day: Wednesday, March 7th. Please contact Katie Yeoman @ 575-5717 if you have questions or are interested in volunteering. PowerSchool Parent Portal NEW Single Login Seven Oaks Elementary There is a New Single Sign-On Instructional Brochure available for Parent Portal. Click on the link below to access the brochure or go to the "For Parents" Tab on the Oak Pointe School Webpage. ...more info Father - Daughter Dance River Springs Elementary It’s time again for the annual Father – Daughter Dance Friday, February 10, 2012 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served. A professional photographer will be available to take portraits (for an additional fee) Please join us for one of the year’s most popular events! Chapin Middle Students Design Clocks for Charity Home Page Only Tick tock, tick tock; merrily sings the clock. It's time for work; it's time for play. This is more than the beginning of a nursery rhyme. Students in Lori Powers and Krysten Douglas’ math classes at Chapin Middle made clocks as a second quarter project. The students calculated measurements and angles for their clocks and created designs. Completing the clocks was a collaborative effort. ... more info Princess Ball - February 10 Dutch Fork Elementary Mark your calendars to attend the annual DFES Princess Ball to be held on Friday, February 10 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the DFES cafeteria. Money due by February 8. Hear ye, Hear ye, all the Damsels we call, To the Dutch Fork Elementary Princess Ball. Please purchase your tickets for $12 a pari, For your Princess and her Father (or Adult Chaperone) to enjoy this affair. We will have... more info Greenwood Genetic Center visits DFHS Dutch Fork High The Greenwood Genetic Center visited Dutch Fork High School January 20th. The ninth grade STEM students learned about DNA gel electrophoresis and DNA profiling techniques. The center brought a Mobile lab to accommodate the students and apply the latest genetic technology. The Division of Education at the Greenwood Genetic Center strives to provide educational... more info Rising 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Parent Meetings Chapin Middle Tuesday, April 10th, Parent Meeting for rising 7th/8th grade. Wednesday, April 11th, Parent Meeting for rising 6th grade. CMS Gym @ 6:30 pm. VERY IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION Dutch Fork Middle It is our pleasure to extend an invitation to all students, parents, and guardians to attend a special meeting regarding the 2012-2013 course registration process. Again this year, we will have separate meetings for rising 9th graders and rising 10th - 12th graders. These very important meetings will be held Thursday January 19, 2012 beginning @ 6:00pm (for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade... more info IHS senior selected for 2012 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band Irmo High Elliott Stewart, senior at Irmo High School has been selected to be a member of the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. The band is composed of an elite group of musicians who will perform during halftime at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. A trumpet player with the Irmo High School Marching Band, Stewart will join 125 other high school senior... more info 2011 'Teen Read Week' at IHS Irmo High The Irmo High School library staff helped to make national “Teen Read Week”, November 14-18, very successful. Did you know that access to reading materials and dedicated time to read are two key factors in turning a non-reader into a reader? “We served lots of students and teachers last week, and we all had a lot of fun”, says Judith Head, lead Media Assistant. The numbers were astonishing when... more info Moms Make A Difference Harbison West Elementary Moms Make A Difference is a HWES program dedicated to mothers or female guardians of our HW students. The program provides an opportunity for students to have a little special time with their moms while everyone enjoys a light breakfast and moms learn about a topic of interest. Because of the number of moms and students, we divided the sessions by grade levels so everyone has the opportunity to... more info Cafeteria Fees Online- Nursery Road Elementary All Lexington 5 parents are now able to make on-line payments to their student's cafeteria accounts. link: https://paypams.com/HomePage.aspx Note to Parents and Teachers (Disclaimer): This page contains links to other sites. It is impossible to check every link to each site. Guided assistance with a responsible adult is always recommended when students are using the Internet. According to... more info We have an APP for that! CrossRoads Middle Did you know CrossRoads has a free app for Android and iPhones? That's right, if you have a Droid of any nature, or and iPhone, you can download the FREE CrossRoads app from the Android and iTunes Market. Just search for CrossRoads and look for the cougar face. Download the app (which was developed by students!) for quick and easy information about our school. Make sure to rate it too! Job Shadowing Program Chapin Middle Chapin Middle School's Job Shadowing program will begin on Monday, October 3rd and continue through Friday, April 27, 2012. All CMS students are eligible to participate in this career exploration activity. Job shadowing is a great way to learn more about a job you may be interested in pursuing in the future. It is very important that you follow the instructions and complete all of the forms... more info HWES Online Suggestion Box Harbison West Elementary Harbison West's new online suggestion box is available for you to leave comments, suggestions, or questions about our school. You may remain anonymous or leave your contact information. Either way, we appreciate the time you took to complete the form. Congratulations to Teacher and Support Staff for 2011-2012 Leaphart Elementary Jill Downs, 1st grade teacher was selected to represent Leaphart Elementary School along with Debra Caldwell, Support Staff for Employees of the 2011-2012 school year. Kindergarten Registration Begins 1/30/2012 Leaphart Elementary Kindergarten registration begins January 30th. If your child will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2012, they will be welcomed at Leaphart Elementary School. Upon registration, you will need to provide important documentation. Please look under the "About Our School" to see what information you will need. ...more info ICA Cheerleading Classes/Team Leaphart Elementary ICA Viking Cheerleading is a non-profit organization. Training is available for participation in performances and a future in cheerleading in school or college. Students can also join the ICA team. Many character traits are taught while having fun learning. This event is held on Sundays between 5pm and 7pm. Please see attached flyer for more information. ...more info LES and Safe Route to School Partnership visit 2/21 Leaphart Elementary On February 21, 2012, Leaphart will serve as a "pit stop" for a group of cyclists who are riding across America to benefit the bicycle and pedestrian safety advocacy efforts of the League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Dubbed "Ride America for Safe Routes" (RASR), their ride follows a route traversing 13 southern states and 20 major cities, logging over... more info IHS receives $500 math and science grant Irmo High Irmo High School was presented with a $500.00 math and science grant on November 22. Ms. Rachel Walter, Exxon Gas Station Supervisor on Piney Grove Road, presented the check to Principal Rob Weinkle. This store is one of thirteen stores owned in the chain of Anderson Oil Company out of Barnwell, SC. Ms. Walter nominated Irmo High School because of its’ tradition of excellence and outstanding... more info IHS Jacket Journal newsletter is now Paperless! Sign up to receive it today! Irmo High The Irmo High School newsletter, the Jacket Journal, is going green! To help the environment and save on printing costs, the Jacket Journal will no longer be mailed to households. Issues will now be sent to you by email, but you have to sign up to receive them! It’s easy – simply click on the “Subscribe to E-news“ button on the left-hand side of the school’s home page, just under the site... more info 2nd Walk to School Day Planned Leaphart Elementary Leaphart is in the process of planning their upcoming Walk to School Day. In conjunction with Safe Routes to School,another South Carolina Walk to School Day has been designated for Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Start making plans to walk with your student on that day. 4K Registration Begins March 5th Leaphart Elementary Kindergarten Registration Has Started! Ballentine Elementary We will be accepting Kindergarten registration for the 2012-13 school year beginning January 30, 2012. Please bring the following documents with you when you come to register your child: • Birth Certificate • Certificate of Immunization • 3 Proofs of Residence (2 current utility bills and 1 mortgage/tax statement) You will not be able to complete the registration process without the proper... more info Applications for Magnet Programs Accepted Ballentine Elementary, Chapin Elementary, Dutch Fork Elementary, H. E. Corley Elementary, Harbison West Elementary, Irmo Elementary, Lake Murray Elementary, Leaphart Elementary, Nursery Road Elementary, Oak Pointe Elementary, River Springs Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary Lexington-Richland Five is accepting applications for the Leaphart Engineering Arts Program (LEAP), housed at Leaphart Elementary, and the Escolares Academy for gifted and talented students, housed at Harbison West Elementary. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 2. Any elementary-aged child in the district may apply for the programs. A parent information meeting for LEAP will be... more info Now Accepting Kindergarten Registration 2012-2013 Oak Pointe Elementary Please stop by your zoned elementary school to complete a registration form between the hours of 8:00am - 1:00pm. Children must be five years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2012. Bring all of the following items with you: legal birth certificate, current SC Certificate of Immunization or Medical or Religious Exemption, one property tax receipt and two current utility bills. PBIS at Leaphart Elementary School Leaphart Elementary PBIS is Positive Behavior Intervention System. What does this mean? PBIS is the application of evidence-based strategies and systems to assist schools in decreasing problem behaviors, increasing academic performance, increasing safety, and establishing positive school climates. For more information, please visit the site under the For Parents section of the website. Congratulations! River Springs Elementary RSES Teacher of the Year is Mrs. Gloria Cook and RSES Support Staff of the Year is Ms. Rosa Figueroa! Advertise in the RSES Yearbook River Springs Elementary ADVERTISE IN THE RIVER SPRINGS YEARBOOK!!! Help your business and your children…place an advertisement in the River Springs Elementary School yearbook OR submit a personal message to your student. Photos may be included. Please submit the ad (business card, photo, logo, etc) that you would like to appear in the yearbook along with a check made payable to RSES. Patrons will have a one line listing... more info Springing for STEM Camp... Dutch Fork Middle hosted by IT-o-logy and presented by Allen University. The camp is FREE! Space is limited to 50 selected students. Applicants must submit a 3 minute video on YouTube answering the following question before applying: Describe your employable skills and tell us why you should be selected to participate in the STEM Camp. Click on the file below for an informational flier: ...more info Congratulations to our Teacher and Support Employee of the Year! Irmo Elementary Mrs. Merritt Pace Congratulations Mrs. Merritt Pace and Ms. Robin Looby who have been selected as Irmo Elementary’s Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year for 2012. Mrs. Pace is a resource teacher at IES and Ms. Looby is an instructional assistant in one of our Special Ed. classes. We are so proud of these well deserving educators! ...more info Mardi Gras Math and Science Night Chapin Elementary Save the date for the first ever Mardi Gras Math and Science Night on February 16th. The PTO is sponsoring the spaghetti dinner that begins at 5:00pm. Check your school newsletter for an RSVP to the dinner. The fun and games for children and their parents will begin at 6:00pm. Hope to see you there! Kindergarten Registration Seven Oaks Elementary Kindergarten registration begins January 30th. If your child will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2012, they will be welcomed at Seven Oaks Elementary School. ...more info IHS Senior chosen for National Youth Leadership Forum Irmo High Irmo High School senior, William Dowd, was chosen for and participated in the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security (NYLF/NS): Exploring American Diplomacy, Intelligence and Defense held at George Mason University in Washington, DC. This forum provides an intense and stimulating exploration of the field of government service for high school students. This six-day program introduces... more info Award Winning Author coming to RSES! River Springs Elementary Award Winning Author coming to River Springs Elementary! Meghan McCarthy is coming to River Springs Elementary on Thursday, February 23, 2012! Meghan McCarthy is a children’s book author and illustrator whose tagline is “Nonfiction is fun!” Her books have won various awards as well as appearing on several “Best of” lists for parents, teachers and students alike. We are very excited to be hosting... more info The Battle of the Dam Seven Oaks Elementary The Battle on the Dam is Saturday, March 3rd The walk starts on the Irmo side of the Lake Murray Dam and finishes on the Lexington Side at the Park where vendors will set up offering information about their goods and services. Closing ceremonies will take place there along with an opportunity to participate in Zumba! Trophies will be awarded to the schools (elementary, middle & high) with the... more info Support Staff Employee of the Year Dutch Fork Middle Congratulations to Sherman Cannon, voted Support Staff Employee of the Year for 2012-2013. Mr. Cannon is one of our custodians and was chosen by his co-workers for his dedication to the school. He is admired by both the students and the faculty alike. Great job, Mr. Cannon! Mr. Cannon with last year's winner, Ms. Bouknight District Five Orchestra Program for 5th Graders Irmo Elementary School District Five of Richland and Lexington Counties is pleased to be able to offer beginning Strings instruction to students in the 5th grade at all of our elementary schools. These classes meet during the school day and are free of charge. ...more info Famous Author is Coming to CES! Chapin Elementary Award winning author, Meghan McCarthy, is coming to Chapin Elementary on February 22nd. As a writer of nonfiction picture books, her tagline is "nonfiction is fun!" She will spend the day here and talk with all of the grade levels about her job as an author and illustrator. For more information about the author, visit her website (link below). Or if you have questions, please contact Mrs.... more info RSES Family Night River Springs Elementary Get ready for the 2012 RSES Family Night on Thursday, February 23 at 6pm! There will be something for everyone - Bingo and prizes for the kids, a Silent Auction for the parents, and Chick-fil-A too! (pre-order form for meals coming soon) Don't miss out on this fun event!!! For more information or to volunteer please contact Michelle Lubaczewski at maui1996@sc.rr.com. Afterschool Activities and Events Leaphart Elementary *The First Annual Dutch Fork Fall Boy's Basketball Clinic will be held 10/15/2011 and/or 10/22/2011. There is a fee for this clinic. *Privotal Fitness is sponsoring a fun filled family event on Monday, Oct. 24th. *Seven Oaks Park is holding registration for Winter Sports. They will offer Wrestling, Indoor Socer, Junior Golf League, Boys Lacrosse and Basketball. Registration if from Oct. 18-Nov.... more info Talented Artists River Springs Elementary Talent show 2012 is looking for talented artists! Submit a piece of artwork to be displayed the evenings of the talent shows. Please label with name and grade and hand your artwork in to the front office. All artwork is due by March 12. Any questions contact Tracy Hionis at theresahionis@bellsouth.net 'Seven Oaks Has Talent' Seven Oaks Elementary This year’s Talent Show will be on Thursday, February 9th, at 6:00p.m. in the Seven Oaks Elementary PE Center. Students performing in the Talent Show need to be in the PE Center at 5:45. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC Leaphart Elementary Mrs. Cindy Reeves, Leaphart's music teacher is asking for your support and effort to help put a plan in action. She is working on a special project and needs some supplies. Among the supplies needs are: shoe boxes, rubber bands, glue sticks, straws, clean PVC pipes, clean PVC couplers, ceral boxes, oatmeal boxes, plastic soda bottles, paper towel bubes, peanut or raisin containers, heavy paper,... more info Talent Show is March 9th! Irmo Elementary This year’s Talent Show will be presented on Friday, March 9th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Crossroads Middle School cafeteria. ...more info Two DFMS Students Make Varsity Tennis Team Dutch Fork Middle Congratulations to Lauren J. and Alison W. who made the Varsity All-Region Tennis Team. These middle-schoolers played for DFHS and helped them to a 17-1 season. Way to go, girls! Lauren and Alison March 7, 2012 is the Inaugural SC Walk to School Day Dutch Fork Middle International Walk to School Day, held every October, has become wildly popular. In fact, South Carolina had so many schools participate in the fall that we ranked 6th in the country for the most participating schools! SC Walk to School Day will provide the opportunity to continue this momentum. Please click on the file below for more information: ...more info PTA Parent/Child Sweetheart Dance Seven Oaks Elementary Friday, February 17 7:00-9:00pm in the PE Center Presidents' Day/Student Holiday Seven Oaks Elementary District Professional Development Day No student attendance Congratulations to the DFMS Academic Team! Dutch Fork Middle The team finished in second place out of twelve teams from South Carolina competing in the fall Knowledge Master Open. DFMS also ranked 128 out of 545 Academic Teams nationwide. ...more info Battle on the Dam 2012 Irmo Elementary Battle on the Dam 2012 will be held on Saturday, March 3rd, 9 a.m. on the Lake Murray Dam. Irmo Elementary had the most student participation last year, and we certainly hope to hold on to that honor this year! Deadline for turning in the applications is Wednesday, February 15th. All children who are signed up by the deadline will get a free t-shirt and a free pass to the PLEX ...more info PTA Donut Sales Seven Oaks Elementary Buy your fresh Krispy Kreme Donuts in the morning carpool line! DFES 2011-2012 Yearbook Orders Dutch Fork Elementary To order your Dutch Fork Elementary 2011-2012 Yearbook click the link on our homepage. February 15, 2012- Early Release Day- Dismiss at 11:40 Nursery Road Elementary Announcing Our Geography Bee Winner... Dutch Fork Middle Congratulations to Nata P., a very talented young man! Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with... more info Nata P. February 20, 2012- Professional Development Day; student holiday Nursery Road Elementary Notable in the Bear Bulletin Ballentine Elementary The Bear Bulletin and Paw Print have information about Jump Rope for Heart, the upcoming Author Visit and our Yearbook. March 1, 2012- Publix Math Night 6:00-7:30 Nursery Road Elementary 2nd Annual Battle of the Dam Walk Dutch Fork Middle The walk is scheduled for March 3rd. Registration forms are in the front office. Theeadline to register is Feb. 15th. T-shirts are being offered to employees and employee family members for $5.00. You may register to walk only, without purchasing a t-shirt or you may purchase a t-shirt without walking. Announcements will be made to the students periodically over the next few weeks.... more info Career Day 2011 - Be a Presenter! Irmo Elementary IES Career Day is being planned for Friday, March 30th. We would love for parents and community members to present at this fabulous event. March 3, 2012- Battle on the Dam Walk Nursery Road Elementary The 2012 Battle on the Dam Walk will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 9:00 AM, beginning on the Irmo side of the dam and walking to the Lexington side of the dam. The Battle on the Dam Walk Committee is sponsoring a t-shirt design contest for D5 students. T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST The Battle on the Dam Committee is holding a t-shirt contest for D5 students to design the t-shirt promoting... more info Dates To Know Ballentine Elementary February- Feb. 15: Early Release Day, 11:40 dismissal. Feb. 20: Student Holiday. Feb. 27-March 2: Jump Rope for Heart. March- March 3: Battle on the Dam, 9 a.m. March 12-30: MAP Testing, grades 2-5. March 20-21: PASS Writing, grade 5. April- April 2-6: Spring Break, schools closed. April 11: Spring Picture Day. 2012-2013 Kindergarten and First Grade Registration Irmo Elementary Registration for kindergarten and first grade(new students) will begin for the 2012-2013 school year on Monday, January 30, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Items needed for registration are: certified birth certificate, SC immunization record, 3 proofs of residence (2 utility bills showing the name and address on the bill, and your property tax receipt on the residence, mortgage statement,... more info DFMS Has a New Dance Team! Dutch Fork Middle A message from Ms. Shatzer, our dance teacher: "Silver Belles Dance Team is a group of dancers who present high energy entertainment and have tons of school spirit. The 2012 team consists of ten talented 7th and 8th grade students: Zakiya A, Carissa A, Anyah B, Aaliyah B, Rashada C, Lindsey M, Carrigan M, Eliza McL, Aliza McM, and Cameron W. The Silver Belles are currently practicing for... more info April 2-6, 2012 Spring Break Nursery Road Elementary Shout Out to The Following Band Members: Dutch Fork Middle All-State: Maggie D. - 3rd chair Kai S. - 3rd chair Region Symphonic Band: Sammy W. - 3rd chair Jordyn D. - 11th chair Avery A. - 2nd chair Hannah R. - 8th chair Region Concert Band: Crystal T. - 9th chair Austin C. - 3rd chair Nick G. - 1st chair Cameron S. - 1st chair Jillian D. - 5th chair Josh R. - 2nd chair Alternates: Josh F. - 1st... more info April 16, 2012- Early Release Day- Dismiss at 11:40 Nursery Road Elementary PBIS at Irmo Elementary Irmo Elementary Our school is participating in an important district initiative called Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS). PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. It is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school-wide, and classroom behavior support systems. For more information, see the For Parents... more info DFMS Musician Makes All-State Orchestra Dutch Fork Middle Congratulations to Richie Z, an eighth grade violinist, for being selected to participate in All-State Orchestra. He will travel to Myrtle Beach in February for the three day event. Way to go, Richie! Richie Z. May 28, 2012- Memorial Day-School closed Nursery Road Elementary DFMS 7th Grader Dances in Hellenic Dance Festival in Atlanta Dutch Fork Middle Lexi W. has been practicing hard for several months with her friends at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for the Hellenic Dance Festival which was held in Atlanta, GA. Her team place 2nd in the Junior Advanced Division. Congratulations, Lexi! Lexi W. May 30, 2012- Students Last Day Nursery Road Elementary Kudos to Our Art Students Dutch Fork Middle Some of Ms. Shealy's and Ms. Wallace's art students created a tile and zen garden to give to the board members on January 23rd at Crossroads Middle School. Students who made a Zen garden: Raven S, Courtney G, Darian H, Kinslee M, and Kyra F. Students who made a Clay tile: Taylor G, Sydney B, Alyah H, Elizabeth R, Malik H, and Cora D. July 24-26, 2012-Summer Math Camp- 9:00-12:00 Nursery Road Elementary Read 365 Winners Dutch Fork Middle Each of our readers won an mp3 player. Our seventh grade winners were Braxton C. and Cade F., and our eighth grade winners were Karisha D. and Caroline B. Congratulations, students, and keep on reading! Karisha and Braxton ...more info Congratulations to DFMS Lego League! Dutch Fork Middle The Lego League Tournament was held Saturday, December 3 at Keenan High School and we would like to recognize the following participants: Team 10982 - Allen W, Ryan S, and Nathan P. won first place for their Food Factor Project. Team 8970 - Isaac J, Guari P, Kyle N, Liam O, Ben S, Michael T, and Michael B. won second place for Design. Dutch Fork Middle Receives Excellent Rating Dutch Fork Middle Lexington-Richland Five remains at the top of the state in terms of academic performance, based on annual school and district Report Card ratings for 2011. Sixteen schools in Lexington-Richland Five received an Absolute rating of Excellent or Good. All schools maintained their Absolute ratings from last year or improved them. Each high school and middle school in the district received... more info Fox Spirit Wear Winners Dutch Fork Middle Congratulations to Crystal T. and Parker H. pictured here with Mr. Raynor and Mr. Lawrimore. Mr. Raynor, Crystal, Parker, Mr. Lawrimore Announcing the Literary Magazine Staff Dutch Fork Middle Karah B. Abby B. Haley B. Tyler D. Jennifer G. Miriam H. Kelsey H. Ashley T. Lego Robotics Team Dutch Fork Middle Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to be part of this year's DFMS Lego Robotics Teams. The seletion process was difficult, but our team of engineers from teh Intel Corporation was able to narrow it down to the following 20 members: Nicholas G. Will L. Graham G. Isaac J. Jordan M. Lucas V. Adam H. Cade F. Gauri P. Kayla J. Allen W. ... more info Box Tops Announcement from Ms. Grewe Dutch Fork Middle Students shoule turn box tops in on sheets directly to Mary at the Spirit Wear window on Wednesdays. She will put sheets in teachers' mailboxes and there will also be some at the Spirt Wear window for students who need more than one sheet. When the students turn in the sheets, they will be able to pick a prize for their submission. The sheets will have a place to record their name and their DEN... more info Send us your best snapshots for the yearbook! Dutch Fork Middle The Dutch Fork Middle School yearbook staff invites you to submit your photos for the yearbook. Our photographers can’t be everywhere, so if you’ve got great photos of school/community events or of you and your friends just having fun, we’d like to see them. The more photos we get, the better the yearbook will be for everyone! Please click on the file below for specific instructions on how... more info Announcing PBIS Fox Card Winners for the First Interim Grading Period Dutch Fork Middle Congratulations go out to Jonathan R. (7th grade) and Taylor B. (8th grade) for being our first Fox Card Winners of the school year. Students accumulate signatures on their Fox Cards when they display positive behaviors. Once a card is filled, the student turns it in for a special treat or privilege. Every 4 1/2 weeks, a drawing is held for a grand prize-winner from each grade. (Photos... more info Jonathan R. (7th grade) with Mr. Lawrimore Announcing the Marching Band... Dutch Fork Middle Avery A. Jillian D. Jordyn D. Jessica F. Josh F. Moquesha G. Nick G. Dalia H. Grace I. Niya J. Alecia K. Nicole L. Yasmeen L. Andrew L. Aaliyah P. Hannah R. Cassarra R. Cameron S. Kai S. Crystall T. Director - John Brady Assistant Directors - Colt Campbell, Brian Greenleaf, Tom Henke Varsity Swim Team Roster Dutch Fork Middle Hailey A. Darian H. Mason P. Alex W. Christopher W. Dallas Z. Coach - Jared Rypthena Proof of Residency Requirements Dutch Fork Middle ATTENTION PARENTS: All Students Must Provide Proof of Residency For the 2011-2012 School Year Every five years, all students who attend school in Lexington-Richland Five are required to provide current proof of residence for their home address. All students who will be enrolled in Lexington-Richland Five during the 2011-12 school year must provide three documents that verify their home... more info PowerSchool Parent Portal NEW Single Sign On Dutch Fork Middle The Parent Portal is a powerful, easy-to-use, secure communication tool connecting teachers, parents and students through the District 5 website. Using Pearson’s PowerSchool student information system, the Parent Portal allows collaboration to improve student achievement. Up-to-date, online access to grades, homework, attendance and assignments makes it easier for parents, teachers and students to... more info