7Headlines: Marching Forth with Conviction!

March 2022

A Message from Superintendent Jeff Stevens:

District 7 Earns Cognia Accreditation

Dear District 7 Family,

Over the past year-and-a-half, District 7 has been undergoing a comprehensive self-study in preparation for pursuing the renewal of our Cognia accreditation. Hundreds of teachers, staff, students, parents, and community members participated in the preparation process as well as the three-day virtual site visit by the Cognia accreditation team. I am pleased to share that on the final day of the site visit, the Cognia team gave an enthusiastic and positive report, noting that no insufficiencies were found. District 7 will receive our official designation and the full report soon, which will strengthen our continuous improvement process at the school and district levels we incorporate their feedback.

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards that focus on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation for meeting the needs of learners, and effective leadership. It is widely considered to be the "gold standard" of quality assessment for schools and school districts. District 7's voluntary participation is a reflection of our commitment to excellence, our recognition of the value of external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.

We send a HUGE THANK YOU to all who helped with the process and our success! During the three-day virtual visit, the Cognia team interviewed 108 members of our D7 family, including employees, students, parents, community partners, and reviewed around 150 documents of evidence as they studied all aspects of our operation.

Since the accreditation team was unable to be here in person due to the pandemic, we created the video below to introduce them to District 7 on the first day of their visit. I hope you will enjoy this video as three very special teachers share their perspective on who we are as a D7 family.

We learned a great deal from the reflection and self-study. This is a moment to celebrate the good work we do and our commitment to continuous improvement. Thank you for contributing to our success. Whether you are a teacher, staff member, parent, or student, you play an important role through your unique Power of ONE!

Jeff Stevens

Superintendent

Teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community partners work together during D7's self-reflection and review process.

A Mid-Year i-Ready Update

As we take stock of our progress with implementing i-Ready, we remain committed to sharing this process with parents and cultivating a shared approach to student success.

We are just beginning to scratch the surface of all that is possible through this massive program, and the process is bringing to light new opportunities for how we can help each student reach their full potential. Some conversations are hard. Some conversations are exciting. We will continue to delve deeper into this process over the next few years - together experiencing all of the ups and downs that come with trying something new, with stretching ourselves to overcome obstacles, and with recognizing that new insights and tools really do open new doors to success.

At mid-year, all students in grades K-9 took an i-Ready assessment in reading and math. The results are shared below along with our growth goals for the end of the year. Each school set individual growth goals as well. This is D7's first year of setting i-Ready goals and understanding what we can expect for student progress. As we continue to learn more about how to leverage i-Ready data and insights, we will improve our ability to set meaningful targets for growth at the school level and district-wide.

Tier 1 (in green) means a student performed on or above grade level. Tier 2 (in yellow) means a student's performance is approaching grade level. Tier 3 (in red) means a student performed at two or more grade levels below. This year, with hundreds of virtual students returning to the classroom and with the impact of the pandemic in full effect, there has been tremendous growth already. However, much work lies ahead to help all students catch up. In order to move a student from red to green, the student must grow not only the full amount typically expected over the course of a school year, but 1.5 to 2 times more than typical growth, and do so for multiple years in a row. For students performing significantly under grade level, the process will likely take several years of above-average growth. Thus, i-Ready is not a sprint but a marathon for our students and teachers.

All four of District 7's focus areas, from implementing the Fountas and Pinnell Literacy Classroom to creating our Instructional Framework to supporting student and staff well-being to i-Ready, work hand-in-hand towards these goals.

Teachers are being intentional about sharing detailed i-Ready Diagnostic data with each student and their parent(s) in order to create a shared understanding of their growth and as a springboard for deeper conversations about additional support when needed. As students review their own progress and have a chance to discuss it with their teacher, they gain a deeper understanding of where they need to improve, along with increased confidence and motivation to do so.

Parents can also access their student's weekly i-Ready progress on their student's Macbook. Simply click into the i-Ready app from the Classlink page. Alongside your student's data is a link to the i-Ready parent resource webpage. These parent resources can also be found on District 7's i-Ready webpage here.

Our D7 Board members recently visited Drayton Mills Elementary School (pictured below) to learn how their Instructional Services Team is partnering with teachers to harness the power of i-Ready. We are thankful for their participation and support in this process.

Schools are finding creative ways to rally students, teachers and parents around the exciting possibilities that i-Ready brings. Thank you to our entire D7 family for tackling this challenge. It truly takes a village and we sure do love ours!

Parent Tip: Stay Connected to Your Student's Grades and More through the Powerschool Parent Portal

Staying "in the know" about your student’s grades throughout each nine-week period is easy to do! You can do so right from your smart phone with D7's PowerSchool Parent Portal. Visit our Powerschool Parent Portal page online to learn more.

PowerSchool gives parents access to information as teachers post assignments, grades, attendance, and more. Setting up a parent account provides the simple way to know how your student is doing throughout the year. Contact your child's school and ask for your Parent Portal Access Letter. It contains everything you need.

Thank you for being a partner in your child's learning!

A Celebration of Black History and Culture

Throughout every D7 school last month, students were immersed in a wide array of activities that deepened their understanding and appreciation of African American culture and history. While the list for each school is far too long to include here, this sampling demonstrates the range of learning experiences enjoyed by our students:

As an arts-infused school, Pine Street Elementary celebrated Black history through a lens of the arts, with student music and dance performances and artwork, student research presentations, a performance by Carver Middle School's Step Team, spotlights on great Black artists of the past and present, and presentations by several Pine alumni including dancer Lustra Miller, the first Black woman to win Miss Spartanburg and a former Miss S.C., who spoke about the importance of the performing arts and the preservation of Black history. Watch their video below:

Every Friday, McCracken Middle School students watched a video featuring a guest speaker or artist. For example, Russell Booker shared an inspiring reflection about his family and heritage and encouraged students to prioritize things that matter in life. And Natalise Daise, storyteller and host of “Gullah Gullah Island,” shared stories and Gullah culture.

A door decorating contest showcasing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and alumni who attended them from Carver Middle got competitive, with judges from the District Office selecting the best design and content.

Drayton Mills students researched iconic members of the Black community and put their artistic talents to work creating beautiful portraits of them to display.

Students studied African America spirituals at Mary H. Wright and learned how these songs helped slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad in the 1850s.

At Spartanburg High School, events were tied to each week’s theme: Health Awareness, History of Music, HBCU’s and Greek Week (which included college tours), and Black Business Week. From daily trivia to lunch and learns to a paint night to door decorations (pictured below), it was the school’s most robust celebration yet.

Members of Spartanburg High School's science department creatively represented their subject area while participating in Black History Month theme of celebrating Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Teams from Carver and McCracken honed their knowledge of Black history and competed in the county-wide Black History Bowl. Congratulations to all of the students and coaches who participated, and particularly to our teams who won first and second places in the county! We are proud that our teams are comprised of a diverse group of students who recognize Black history as being a shared history that is relevant to us all.

Pictured above: McCracken Middle School's Team 2 won first place in the county and also won the poster contest. The team includes coach Mr. Thurman Evans and students Levi Lazenby, John Surratt, Joseph Brown, Mary Ratterree, Kirsten Glymph, and Josiah Greene.

Pictured above: McCracken's Team 1 earned Second Place. The team includes coach Mr. George Stevens and students Jayshun Brown, Myles Klosterman, Fredreona Carson, Resce Youngblood, and Tessa Lewis.

Pictured above: Carver's teams The Hive and The Fantastic Four were coached by Ms. Lateka Beasley and include students Andrea Jefferson, Londyn Choice-Edwards, Azzie Ross, Jaianna Wright, Jaylen Mathis, Rilley Rasheed, Josue Rodriguez- Zarrabal, and Brandalyn Anderson.

Students at Meeting Street Academy learned about and dressed up as prominent African American leaders. Older MSA students also created poster presentations in their classrooms.

The Spartanburg Herald Journal featured story about how Cleveland Academy is filling an unmet need in its students by providing weekly swim lessons during the school day at TK Gregg Community Center. READ THE STORY BY CLICKING HERE

We applaud our schools for the many ways they celebrated the rich and vibrant contributions of Black Americans to our culture and democracy. While Black History Month has drawn to a close, we continue to inspire our young people to be champions for equity and inclusion and to understand how acts of courage lead to change.

Kindergarten Enrollment is in Full Swing

District 7 has opened the enrollment process for NEW 4K-5K students. For information and to apply visit spartanburg7.org/Kindergarten. The best way for parents to ensure their child's kindergarten readiness is to enroll them in a quality 4K program, either in District 7 or the community. Many 5K students come into District 7 with no prior education. Students who lack the necessary preparation have a harder time catching up and becoming proficient throughout their school career.

This coming school year 4K classes will be added at Pine Street School and JBE rounding out full day 4K programs at ALL of the District’s elementary schools.

Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2022 must enroll in public or private kindergarten, unless their parent or legal guardian signs a waiver. Free 5K programs are available at ALL District 7 schools.

For information on what parents must present at schools to apply/enroll for 4K-5K, along with details about the District's 3K program visit spartanburg7.org/kindergarten or stop by your neighborhood elementary school between the hours of 8:30am – 2:30pm. If your child is already enrolled in D7 you DO NOT need to complete this new student enrollment process. You will not need to take any action until you receive instructions for registering your returning student for 5K.

Spartanburg High School Hosts All-State Orchestra

For the first time in D7 history, Spartanburg High School hosted All-State Orchestra on its own campus, thanks to our beautiful new high school complete with our D7 Fine Arts Center! The incredible venue was bursting with beautiful music, as more than 250 of the best musicians from throughout South Carolina convened to mesh their musical talents for three concerts on Sunday, Feb 27.

All-State is a highly competitive opportunity for students to experience what is possible when musicians of exceptional talent come together. Being selected is an accolade that propels students into top music programs at the college level. Three D7 students were selected for this honor: Ezra Anderson (violin) and Foster Neely (viola) of SHS and Sebastian Cartwright (bass) of McCracken Middle. They are pictured below.

District 7 is honored to host All-State Orchestra this year and we look forward to welcoming students, teachers and parents from across our state again in future years!

Students Move Forward in National Merit Competition

Congratulations are in order for Cooper Stone, Anna Cheek, and Maxwell Booker (left to right) as three of D7's most academically accomplished SHS seniors who have moved on to become FINALISTS in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Competition. They represent the top 1% of our nation's high school seniors. Academic records, extracurricular activities, community service, teacher recommendations, and a personal essay were considered for the designation.

Maxwell can add an additional feather to his cap: He also was named a candidate in the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. He is among approximately 4,500 candidates selected from the nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools this year. Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character, and involvement in community and school activities.

We congratulate all our scholastic champions and to all who helped prepare them along the way! These recognitions represent excellence in education that comes from our elementary, middle and high schools. All of us in D7 are honored to have been a part of their journey.

Norse News Spotlight: SHS Students Connecting to Make a Difference

Helping Youth with Mental and Physical Health

by Caroline Colbath, Norse News Viking Voices Co-Editor

Connect Spartanburg is an adolescent health initiative of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare Foundation and promotes healthy choices and provides opportunities to Spartanburg youth. In order to become more connected with the community, Connect Spartanburg has taken on two interns from Spartanburg High School – Anna Beeson (10) and Zion Littlejohn (10).

Littlejohn is passionate about the goals of Connect Spartanburg. “At Connect Spartanburg, we create projects and goals for teens in all of Spartanburg. Connect is youth-led because teenagers will most likely listen to other teens about problems they go through,” Littlejohn said. “Mental health, getting sleep, eating breakfast and physical health are important because it’ll help you get better grades, increase your happiness and overall help you live a better and healthier life.”

Connect Spartanburg not only focuses on physical health, but mental and emotional health as well. Erin Lyerly is a guidance counselor at Spartanburg High School and helps provide students with advice on personal and school related problems, including mental health. “Mental health is a critical component of the overall health of teenagers, as well as people of all ages. It can be overlooked, or considered as taboo to talk about in our society,” Lyerly said. “But research tells us that 75% of mental challenges begin during teenage years. Some teenagers may feel more comfortable talking to friends about their mental health.”

Connect Spartanburg is holding a conference on adolescent health in Aug. 2022. The conference will focus on topics concerning local teens in the Spartanburg area. Local and national experts will come together with the leaders of Connect Spartanburg in order to find programs and opportunities to improve adolescent health.

Since Connect Spartanburg focuses on topics such as mental health, emotional health, healthy relationships, substance abuse and physical health, they are finding new opportunities to help adolescents become healthier and more active in their community.

Anna Beeson was selected to be a Connect Spartanburg intern. “Zion Littlejohn and I are organizing a mental health campaign at the moment and are trying to get a mental health video approved by Dr. Jones to show to the school,” Beeson said. “We are making posters with little messages about mental health to put throughout Spartanburg High School. We also help with community events such as dance parties and things like that for kids around our age.”

You can navigate to our award-winning student newspaper, Norse News, here. This is Spartanburg High School’s DIGITAL EDITION of the long-standing staple. If you or your company are interested in advertising in the online publication, or you would like to support its publication, please contact Mrs. Angela Eaton at areaton@spart7.org.

D7 In the News

Students at Daniel Morgan Technology Center (DMTC) are putting in hard work. Sweat, time, and patience is a recipe for a masterpiece, such as the one they are building. Students in Carpentry II and III classes are in the process of building their yearly house on the school’s property. Asil Gordon, a senior at Spartanburg High School said, “I wanted to learn how to build.” That is exactly what Gordon is doing. The house is 1,300 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths and an open living room/kitchen concept.

READ ALL ABOUT IT: Students build house during class in Spartanburg County

So many D7 students accomplish great things growing up - they have national and even global dreams and aspirations. Today, we celebrate Pine Street Elementary's Davis Petty, who just won his second consecutive National Under Armour Championship victory. Last summer, he won three national championships. He is on quite a roll! The article praises, "Spartanburg's Davis Petty is one of the most physically gifted golfers in the world among his age group, but it's his remarkable mental strength that's consistently provided him his dominant edge."

READ ALL ABOUT IT: 11-year-old golf prodigy Davis Petty wins another national championship

Scene Around Seven

Super Selfies

Some may find the head guy in charge a little intimidating, but not OUR students and staff. They see Superintendent Stevens as the #1 POWER of ONE in D7. He is their biggest fan and they know it!

Celebrating Love in D7 During February

From Love the Bus Week, to School Counseling Week, to Kindness Week, District 7 was showing and sharing love during the month of February. Our students also poured their hearts into service projects at their schools and in the community.

Lots of love from students and staff at Jesse Boyd! Pictured are the many cards their 4K students made for residents of local nursing homes. We are proud of them for learning to care for others in our community!

I've got my eye on you! Love was in the air at Mary H. Wright Elementary as students exchanged Valentine's with students across the US! The kids were excited to learn about other schools and write about their own.

The counseling team at SHS is working on individual graduation plans and registering students for the 2022-2023 school year. All of this and still finding time to talk with students about their well-being. A counselors job is never done!

Kindness goes a long way - Orchestra Students from McCracken Middle planted flowing bulbs to create a beautiful addition to the school's front entry!

Everyone show our bus drivers some love - during Bus Driver Appreciation Week and always! We couldn't do school without them. They are the first D7 smile to greet many of our children each school day.

It’s deposit day at Cleveland Academy and students are saving for success. Cleveland has partnering with Carolina Foothills to help prepare the next generation to make wise financial decisions.

Read Across America in D7 Schools was in full force! Thanks for all the wonderful participation!

Carver Middle School’s Kingz Club mentees with incoming principal, Mr. Randy Edwards Jr.

These cuties from the Franklin School are on the move and ready for more adventures.

Up and away! 4th grade science content covers weather and climate, so Cleveland Academy helped their Tiger scholars experience what it takes to get a hot air balloon to fly. We believe the teachers were just as excited as the students.

EP Todd students planted four trees with Trees Upstate. Planting trees serves the dual purpose of sustaining the local environment and the community. It is also an investment in the school’s future generations.

SHS student-athlete Banks Mullen is the 5A 182 lb. wrestling state champion! Go Vikings!

Congratulations to SHS Boys Varsity Tennis on their 1st place finish at Sparkle City Classic!

These projects are for the pros! SHS students Juan Zepeda (11) and Devin Phipps (10) are using a metal lathe to produce precision metal parts for their projects in Mr. Garner’s Machine Tool Technology class at Daniel Morgan Technology. Juan is using a dial caliper to check the precise measurement of his machined part.

We are proud of all of our District 7 singers for presenting a wonderful Choral Extravaganza! Special kudos to Mrs. Dale Fischer who was honored by past and present Jesse Boyd Bulldogs Chorus members in celebration of her retirement at the end of this year.