Happy New Year! Welcome back to D5 News! We will be changing some things about our weekly newsletter in 2016, and we hope you enjoy the additions. Here's a look at the news around District Five this week!
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Beloved District Employee Remembered
District Five Schools lost a longtime, treasured employee over the holiday break.
Emma Canada, a devoted member of the cafeteria staff at
Abner Creek Academy, passed away on December 30.
Canada joined
Abner Creek when the school first opened in the fall of 2008, and remained there until her death. She was named Support Employee of the Year there in 2009. Previously, she worked at
Reidville Elementary School. In total, "Miss Emma", as she was affectionately known, spent 53 years of her life working in school cafeterias.
She was famous for her amazing cinnamon rolls, but Miss Emma's legacy will be the love she had for students, and the District Five family.
We will miss her greatly!
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District Five Orchestra Students To Share Stage With Acclaimed Violinist
A master of music will soon visit District Five, to share his skills and perform with our orchestra students!
The District Five Orchestra program will be hosting a 2 day clinic called "Electrify Your Strings" (EYS) on January 28-29. Mark Wood, a world-renowned electric violinist, founding member of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Emmy-winning composer for orchestra students, along with his partner, Sarah Charness, will be at the Fine Arts Auditorium to conduct an intense 2-day workshop with D5 middle and high school orchestra students.
Students, along with Wood and Charness, will perform an orchestra rock concert with Mark Wood at the FAC on January 29th, 2016 at 7:00pm.
If you would like to see this once in a lifetime concert you can pre-order tickets for $8/ or buy them at the door for $10. Contact
arlyn.mills@spart5.net
for more information if you would like to pre-order.
Come out and support our orchestra students rocking out with Mark Wood! This is a concert you won't want to miss!
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Duncan Teacher Honored For Making A Difference
Duncan Elementary School teacher,
Sally Robinson, is starting the new year off with a big honor!
Robinson, a Special Education teacher at
Duncan, was among 10 teachers recognized by Upstate Parent Magazine, in their "Educators Who Make A Difference" issue this month.
The magazine received hundreds of nominations, and
Robinson was one of just a handful of teachers selected from Spartanburg County. The longtime special ed teacher was
Duncan's Teacher of the Year last year.
Congratulations,
Sally Robinson!
To read the article, click
here.
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Berry Shoals Students Shine In Science
Students at
Berry Shoals Intermediate School put their science skills on display before the holiday break, for a shot at the regional Science Fair!
The school held its own science fair, and winners were selected in the following categories: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and General Science.
Congratulations to these 5th and 6th grade students:
Physics:
Thomas Eubanks (1st Place), Caleb Melton (2nd Place), William Chastain and Grey Lister (3rd Place), William Emerson (3rd Place), Kamdan Gilbert (Honorable Mention), and Jack Eitel (Honorable Mention)
Biology:
Cole Gillis and Juston Slate (1st Place), Sara Proper (2nd Place), Michael Adolf (2nd Place), Makayla Pernell (3rd Place), Asa Fendley (3rd Place), and Xander Reeves (Honorable Mention).
Chemistry:
Adrian Gluchowski (1st Place), Daniel Wallwork (2nd Place), Shawna Gasper (3rd Place), and Charlotte Whitesell (Honorable Mention).
General Science:
Raegan Burnette (1st Place), Jared Palmer (2nd Place), Harrison Scott (2nd Place), Caroline Martin (3rd Place), and Timothy Sullan (Honorable Mention). 
School winners will go on to compete in the Piedmont Region III Science Fair this February, hosted at USC Upstate.
Good luck,
Berry Shoals students!
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Cotter Duo Brings Talents To Band Conference
A District Five pair spent part of their holiday break showing off their skills at a nationally recognized band clinic.
Thomas and Kaci Cotter were invited to play with the Tara Winds, out of Atlanta, at the premiere Midwest Clinic performance in Chicago. Thomas is the band instructor at
Beech Springs Intermediate School, while Kaci leads band students at
D.R. Hill Middle.
The Cotter's performed as part of the final piece, Dimitri Shosatkovich's Symphony No. 5, in a tribute to honor Mr. James Copenhaver, former band director at the University of South Carolina, who passed away last Thanksgiving. They were joined by fellow USC alumni and the Eastern Wind Symphony.
The Midwest Clinic, which began in 1946, focuses on bringing international music directors in contact with outstanding published music, teaching new and established teaching techniques, and introducing products and services to music educators.
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Byrnes Librarians Featured For Work
Open the pages of a national magazine, and you'll find the words of Byrnes High School librarians, Karen Hill and Jamie Gregory!
The pair has an article published in this month's issue of VOYA magazine (Voice Of Youth Advocates). Their article titled "Learning for Real: Engaging Students In Their World Using Contemporary YA Titles" discusses how students can become successful readers and cultivate curiosity by reading fiction that addresses read-world topics like human trafficking.
Hill and Gregory also incorporated authentic learning opportunities like a Skype visit with an author and a visit from a local organization fighting against human trafficking in the Upstate.
Great job,
Karen Hill and
Jamie Gregory!
Click
here to see the article.
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Berry Shoals Students Share With Others
Before they took their holiday break, students at Berry Shoals Intermediate School got in the spirit by giving to others!
Members of the Berry Shoals Beta Club delivered 27 pairs of new pajamas, 12 new blankets, and 8 winter coats to Middle Tiger Community Center.
Many of the new pajamas and blankets were sent to their Christmas house to be added to the Christmas gift program.
Way to go, Berry Shoals students!
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Monday, January 11
Tuesday, January 12
- BSIS Beta Club Induction
- BSIS Terrific Kid Ceremony 8:00 am
- RVES Zaxby's Night 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 13
- BRSH Terrific Kid Parent Breakfast 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 14
- WA PTO Family Game Night 6:00 p.m.
- BHS Beta Club Talent Show 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 15
- BSIS LIGHT Honor Roll Celebration
- DES "Read Your Shirt" Day
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Happy New Year At Abner Creek!
Kindergarten students at
Abner Creek Academy came back in 2016 ready to work!
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Berry Shoals Club Braves Cold Weather For Good Deed
A little cold weather didn't stop the
Berry Shoals Intermediate School Beta Club from getting their hands dirty over the holiday break!
Members of the club held off on starting their winter break, in 32 degree weather, to take part in the Adopt-a-Road service project.
Shoals Road looks great because of their efforts!
Way to go,
Berry Shoals!
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Reidville Dives In To Learning
Reidville Elementary School students recently made a *splash*, as they opened up a new world of learning at the Georgia Aquarium!
4th grade students took a trip to the Atlanta aquarium before winter break, and visited with all the amazing creatures there.
Students learned about how dolphins are trained, not only for entertainment but also to cooperate with veterinarians to learn more about marine life.
They also got a special behind the scenes look of how the animals are fed, learning about food webs and how we can do our part to protect marine life. It was a great preview of upcoming curriculum!
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Winterguard Preview Show
Come out and support the District Five Winter Guards as they offer a preview of the 2016 competitive season!
The guards will perform on
Saturday, January 16 at the
Byrnes Freshman Academy gym, beginning at
7:00 p.m.
Tickets are $3 at the door, and donations will also be accepted. All proceeds will go to benefit the Winter Guard program.
Help us cheer on these talented students!
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