Despite recent rains, crews are making progress in construction at Lyman Elementary School.  

Currently, workers are laying exterior brick in the classroom wing, as well as installing above ceiling mechanical units on the interior.

In the new kindergarten wing, outer block completion is underway, as workers are also setting steel beams on the roof.

In total, the project will add more than 14,000 square feet of space to Lyman, housing kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grade students.  The project is expected to be complete by August.

Dozens of District Five band and orchestra students are taking their talents to the state level, to play among the most talented music students in South Carolina!

Four D5 Orchestra students have earned a spot in the SCMEA All-State Orchestra.  Congratulations to:  Peyton Lee (Florence Chapel- Violin), Preston Lee (Florence Chapel- Cello), Natalie Pickren (Florence Chapel- Cello), and Emily Carroll (Byrnes High School- Violin).

Also, a large group of District Five band students received callbacks to audition for All-State Band.  Congratulations to: 

D.R. Hill Middle: 

Madison Gardner (trumpet)

Florence Chapel Middle: 

Sydney Stevens (Oboe), Amanda Cox (Bassoon), Sarah Scholz (Clarinet), Aidan Donovan (Trumpet), Sami Qatawi (Trumpet), Daniel Kitts (Trumpet), Payton Lee (Horn), Jacob Sareault (Horn), T.J. Moore (Trombone), Conner Saunders (Tuba), Bennett Donovan (Tuba), Clay Gurley (Percussion)

Byrnes High School: 

Kalika Bridwell (Flute), Chase Ethridge (Oboe), Jake Brown (Bassoon), Caitlin Roberson (Clarinet), Thomas Scholz (Tenor Sax), Payton Kennemore (Baritone Sax), Christian Gyles (Trumpet), Gailan Mash (Horn), Quincy Eigner (Tuba), Bob Willis (Tuba), Drew Rogers (Tuba), Jessica Spurling (Flute), Hailey Jones (Flute), Hunter Mcleod (Bassoon), Tristan Whaley (Trumpet), Matthew Powell (Trumpet), Michael Blackwell (Trombone), Wil Johnson (Trombone), Quinn Kinzie (Percussion), Carson Ruffing (Percussion), Matthew Compton (Timpani).

Auditions will be held at Lexington High on January 23.  Good luck, students!

Lyman Elementary School students laced up their running shoes this week, and did some laps for the school's annual "Boosterthon" campaign.

Boosterthon, a nationwide effort, promotes healthy lifestyles and exercise, while giving kids the chance to raise funds for their school.  Lyman students asked friends and family to make "pledges" for each lap they could complete in the school's Fun Run.



As an extra treat, students in Ruth Howell's class won the "Most Pledges Raised In A Night" challenge, with 68 pledges totaling $1,467!  Their prize:  a good old fashioned game of "Pie Face"!

Great job, Lyman!

Just days before the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, some students at Reidville Elementary School are being honored for their artwork about the famous humanitarian.

Students in Elizabeth Brown's 3rd and 4th grade art classes at Reidville entered the MLK Poster Contest, sponsored by the City of Spartanburg Community Services Department.  Three Reidville students walked away with the top prizes in the competition!

Congratulations to:  Lea Tidball (3rd Grade), Charlotte Price (3rd Grade), and Jada Batichon (3rd Grade).

Each of the students will receive a prize presented to them at hte annual Unity Celebration on January 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Great job, Reidville students!

Two Berry Shoals Intermediate School students are taking what they've learned about bullying, and sharing it with their younger neighbors.

Jill Brown and Ashland Evans, 6th graders at Berry Shoals, help teach an Olweus lesson recently to Kindergarten students at River Ridge Elementary School.  After a story about "warm fuzzies", each Kindergarten student received a warm fuzzy pom pom from their 6th grade guests.  The gift served as a reminder to give "warm fuzzies" to others every day.

We're proud of you, Jill and Ashland!

Congratulations to these Beech Springs Intermediate School students, named Terrific Kids for the 2nd 9 weeks:
Emma Boasi, Jack Bollinger, Cadence Clayton, Emilee Dellinger, Keyshawn Fiddermon, Andrew Helker, Masyn Hill, David Jardon, Ethan Jennings, Braylon Johnson, Samuel Millwood, Nelya Mosijchuk, Sally Murphy, Breanna Neal, Triniti Pettigrew, Heather Pridemore, Andrew Roberts, Rylan Robinson, Laura Sanchez, John David Sexton, Christopher Snoddy, Zach Solesbee, Austin Stines, Hayden Weatherman, Rachael Weaver, Hope Weeks, Aidan White, Evan Williamson, Michaella Willis, Landen Wilson,
and Lauren Wilson.

Way to go!