It's been a stellar month for District Five band and orchestra students, who have performed among some of the top student musicians in the state!

Congratulations to the Byrnes High School Symphonic Band, and the Byrnes Freshman Academy 9th grade bands, who both earned the rating of "Superior with Distinction" at this week's SCBDA Concert Festival!  This is the highest rating SCBDA gives, and requires top marks from all judges for a band to receive.  With the rating, both the Byrnes Symphonic band and Freshman Academy 9th grade band have qualified for the SC State Master Concert Festival in May.

We are so proud of this tremendous accomplishment!

District Five orchestra students also had a remarkable week, with fantastic performances at the 2016 SCMEA Orchestra Concert Festival.  Every District Five orchestra earned either a Superior or Excellent rating at the annual event!

Congratulations to these orchestras who earned "Superior" ratings:  Byrnes Philharmonic, D.R. Hill Middle 8th Grade Orchestra, D.R. Hill Middle 7th Grade Orchestra, Florence Chapel Middle 8th Grade Orchestra, and Florence Chapel Middle 7th Grade Orchestra

Congratulations to these orchestras who earned "Excellent" ratings:  Byrnes Concert Orchestra, BFA Orchestra, Beech Springs Orchestra, and Berry Shoals Orchestra.

We are proud of all of you!

Byrnes High School student, Matthew Powell, is playing a happy tune this week, after being named the best band student in South Carolina!  Powell, a senior at Byrnes, was named Outstanding Bandsman for 2016 by Phi Beta Mu International School Bandsman Fraternity.  The award, given annually, recognizes the top band students in the state.

Powell was honored with award at the All-State Band Clinic last weekend at Furman University.  The senior trumpet player was also drum major for the Rebel Regiment marching band this year.

Congratulations, Matthew Powell!

Eight River Ridge students were selected for the Convention's final round, and four were honored with big awards.  In the end, the school swept the 4th grade division.

Lyman Elementary School students recently learned they can succeed in the classroom, and help their community at the same time!

Through a service learning project called "Read to Feed the Hungry", 4th grade students at Lyman learned about giving back to their neighbors.  During the two week project, students secured pledges of canned goods in exchanged for a certain number of books they promised to read. 

In the end, students read more than 500 books, and contributed more than 3,500 canned food items to the Greer Soup Kitchen, operated by Daily Bread Ministries.

On Friday, the students had a chance to tour the facility and see the result of all their hard work.

We are so proud of you, Lyman students!  Great job!

A special parent program is really making a difference in some District Five schools!  The "Parents As Teachers Preschool Program", organized by parent educator Rosemary Nelson, works with families at Abner Creek Academy, Reidville, River Ridge, and Lyman Elementary School.

Recently, parents prepared a *royal gathering* for their children, for the unit:  "Pretend Play With Your Child:  Princes and Princesses".

Research indicates that children who are good at pretend play when they start school become good at reading and writing.  Pretend play also enhances social-emotional development, and parents play an important role in this!

In the unit, parents prepared props and learned new words associated with the theme in the visits, prior to the "Royal Gathering".  Children and their parents built castles with blocks, painted and decorated crowns, and made royal rings with jewels.  Students and their families also read stories about princes and princesses, and about dragons too!

It was a great time for everyone!

  Some students at Abner Creek Academy can now call themselves published authors:  and they're only in the first grade!  The assignment, which focused on animal research, required students to work in the media center.  They chose an animal, researched that animal, wrote down facts, and published their own non-fiction book. 

As part of the project, the 1st graders also completed special "About the Author" videos that were linked with QR codes on the back of their books.  All the hard work culminated with a special publishing park to celebrate their success!

Way to go, Abner Creek students!

Honors history students at Byrnes High School recently got a unique opportunity to put their learning in motion.

Students in Jessica Jones's Honors U.S. History classes studied the history of labor unions and strikes by completing a gallery walk in the BHS library with librarians Karen Hill and Jamie Gregory, including information about the textile mill industry in South Carolina.

They also enjoyed the chance to skype with local author, Frank Beacham, who spoke to students about the history of the Chiquola Mill in Honea Path, SC.

What a wonderful learning experience!

Makeup Artist Brings Skills To Beech Springs

Drama students at Beech Springs Intermediate School got a unique lesson, ahead of upcoming production of Disney's "The Lion King Jr.", the musical.  USC Upstate student, Jillian Alene Wain, mentored the Beech Springs makeup crew to prepare for the show's debut!

The USC Upstate student taught proper technique of applying makeup that is visible for the big stage.  Wain, a theater major, has hopes of becoming a professional actress and makeup artist one day.  She will showcase her work in both shows of "The Lion King Jr." on March 25 at the Fine Arts Center.

The 6:30 p.m. show is open to the public.  Admission for children is $1, and $2 for adults.