D. W. Daniel High School
November 2023 Newsletter
Message from the Principal
D. W. Daniel High School,
It’s harvest time. As our students move toward the holidays, we begin preparing for exams. On the stage, theater, strings, and chorus students prepare for their shows. Our sports teams compete in playoffs, and the band wins another State Championship! At this time of year, it is easy to believe in D. W. Daniel High School’s Tradition of Excellence. It is a tradition that has been earned. If you were around the school this summer, outside the school at 5:00 p.m. in October, in the auditorium after school, in professional learning with our teachers, or in any number of other locations around this campus, then you would believe that excellence has little to do with outcomes and much more to do with a process. These are the lessons that Serve EACH Student at D. W. Daniel High School. Learning that excellence is made and not inherited. It is earned through hard work, attention to detail, and a process. It is when a school and community embrace these things that we truly have a bountiful harvest!
Serve EACH Student; Take Care of People!
Adam Russell
#OneDaniel
Marching Band Wins State Again!
The Lions Pride Marching Band marched their way to a second consecutive State Championship! The band’s distinctions include High Music Performance, High Overall Effect, and a 90.6 rating! Congratulations to the 2023 AAA SC State Marching Band Champions!
(photos taken by Jacob Dean)
Academic Team Heading to Nationals
Daniel High School fielded 4 teams in the Clemson University Academic National Qualifying Tournament.
Team A, consisting of Ahan Shi, Jenna Black, Yaolin Liu, and Artem Alexandrov, finished as runners-up in the tournament, qualifying them for the National Tournament.
Ahan Shi won the individual championship, and Henry Laurence finished third in the individual competition. Shout out to Jenna Black for organizing and Coach Bill for supervising!
Clemson Declamation
German-language student, Samprokshana Karthikeyan, was awarded first prize at Clemson University's 50th Annual Poetry Declamation held on Saturday, October 21. Sophia Harrer, a German-language student, and Sadie Sawyer, a Spanish-language student, also represented Daniel High School in this event.
Girls Golf at State
Congratulations to Girls Golf (Samantha Dean, Ever Deaton, Campbell Epting, Sophia Hepler, Peyton O'Brien, and Spencer Wright) and the coaches (Andy Swords and Emileigh Swords) for finishing 2nd in the SC AAA Girls Golf State Final! Senior Peyton O’Brien captured the individual championship in dramatic fashion by hitting birdies on 18 and on a playoff hole. Sophia Hepler also made the All-State Team.
Competitive Cheer
Congratulations to Competitive Cheer for winning first place in AAA at the TL Hanna Cheer Competition!
Mr. Football
Senior Watson Young is one of five finalists for Mr. Football in the State of South Carolina. The only other Daniel Lion to win this award is Watson’s dad, Kyle, in 1996.
Swim Team at Region & State
Region
We had a great season, and swimmers saw best times over and over. We swept our region again this year. We are 4X Region Champions!
The following swimmers were named to the All-Region Team:
Sophia Harrer - 200 Medley Relay, 100 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke
Kate Hollingsworth - 200 Medley Relay, 100 Breaststroke
Ellie Russell - 200 Medley Relay, 200 IM, 100 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relay
Julianna Tang - 200 Medley Relay
Mary Greene - 200 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay
Paige Durham - 50 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay
Bailey Choi - 400 Freestyle Relay
Jay Owens - 200 Medley Relay, 200 IM, 100 Backstroke, 400 Freestyle Relay
Curtis Henry - 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 400 Freestyle Relay
Phelim Crowley - 200 Medley Relay, 50 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay
Dylan Plumb - 200 Medley Relay, 100 Freestyle
Harrison Finneran - 400 Freestyle Relay
State
This season we had 22 different swimmers earn at least one State-qualifying time. Ten girls and nine boys made the State Finals. Our Girls finished 4th in the state, and the Boys finished 7th.
The following swimmers/relays had top-ten finishes at State:
Girls
Paige Durham – 4th in the 200 Free and 5th in the 50 Free
Mary Greene – 5th in the 200 Free and 7th in the 500 Free
Bailey Choi – 9th in the 200 Free and 10th in the 100 Free
Ellie Russell – 9th in the 200 IM
Medley Relay – 8th
200 Free Relay – 5th
400 Free Relay – 5th
Boys
Jay Owens – 3rd in the 200 IM and 3rd in 100 Back
Curtis Henry – 8th in the 200 IM and 3rd in the 100 Breast
Phelim Crowley – 3rd in the 50 Free and 5th in the 100 Back
Medley Relay – 3rd
400 Free Relay – 5th
We also had four All-State swimmers!
Curtis Henry - 200 Medley Relay and 100 Breaststroke
Jay Owens - 200 Medley Relay, 200 IM and 100 Backstroke
Phelim Crowley - 200 Medley Relay and 50 Freestyle
Dylan Plumb - 200 Medley Relay
Thank you all for the support. This team is growing (we had 43 swimmers this year), and we have great things ahead!
Daniel Foundation
Through the support of the community and parents of Daniel High School, the Daniel Foundation is able to provide funding to teachers and staff for the additional resources needed to ensure exemplary education.
November Spotlight
This fall, English teachers Dana Howard and Meghan Chandler were able to purchase graphic novels for their co-taught English 1 class:
"Graphic novels have opened the door for students to ignite an interest in reading. Students who have never been ardent readers have finished entire book series. These books have been a gateway to reading!” -Mrs. Howard
“Before this year, I would not have called myself a good reader. I didn't have any motivation to read. That has all changed with graphic novels. They help me visualize in a new way, and I love to read now. I've read 16 books this year.” -9th-grade student
“I am glad that we had money to buy them because these books have given us the option to have books that feel like watching a movie. I hope people keep giving to the Daniel Foundation because they are helping kids learn to like reading!" -9th-grade student
Thank you for your continued support of the Daniel Foundation. If you'd like to give so that our teachers and students can continue to have additional resources, please visit our site.
Help the Foundation Stock Daniel's Dandelion Closet
See details below about this upcoming event on November 9 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM!
November Career Café
Our career cluster for the 2nd quarter is Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources.
November’s Career Café on Tuesday, November 7 will feature LT. Erik Martin who has worked for SCDNR for 24 years. He spent the first 6 years in the wildlife management section of the agency and the last 18 in a law enforcement capacity. He is currently in charge of all basic and advanced training for over 300 officers statewide.
Sign up to attend!
Student Council
Sign up NOW! The Daniel's Got Talent Variety Show and Mr. DHS Pageant will be Thursday, November 16. You can participate as an artist or a performer, but, new this year, we are also looking for Mr. DHS contestants. Once you sign up, we will share more details!
Fall-Play Date Change
Join the ManeStage Players to learn the origin of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and so many more beloved characters! Peter & the Starcatcher performances will be Nov. 11 at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM), Nov. 12 at 2:00 PM (doors open at 1:30 PM), and now Nov. 13 at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM). Tickets are $7 and available now at dhs.pickens.k12.sc.us/o/dhs/page/tickets!
2024 Summit Yearbook Senior Ads
Seniors, don't forget to buy your senior recognition ad today! Sales will close December 15 at 11:59 PM!
Graduation Supplies
Seniors who have not ordered their graduation supplies should do so.
You can order anytime online at www.scherffjones.com. Here is the direct link to the basic cap-and-gown package: Basic Cap-and-Gown Package.
Science National Honor Society
Dr. Christophe Darnault, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University, presented on the single-phase and multiphase fluid flow in porous media. He discussed the surface and subsurface interactions in karstic systems and the effects of nanoparticles on the mobilization and recovery of oil from petroleum reservoirs. Dr. Darnault also talked about the impact of prescribed forest fires on soil physical and chemical properties and the soil infiltration process. His research incorporates theory, laboratory experiments, fieldwork, and modeling.
SNHS members should plan on attending our upcoming meeting on November 1 at 5:30 PM in the LMC. Dr. Penni Black from the University of Kentucky will be joining us to discuss her work exploring new therapeutics for lung cancer therapy.
Upcoming Dates:
11/01/23 SNHS Meeting 5:30 PM in the LMC
12/01/23 All Research Projects Must Have ISEF Forms Printed & Signed
12/06/23 SNHS Meeting 5:30 PM in the LMC
See Mrs. Tidwell in Room 339 for more information.
(submitted by Geraldine Darnault, Senior SNHS Officer)
RiSE
Take a look at this RiSE Environmental Club research article by Julianna Tang on the importance of canopy mapping.
Also, here are some RiSE updates:
Stitches in the Lions Den
Stitches in the Lions Den is off and running with students learning how to sew! This group meets weekly on Mondays from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM in Mrs. Schaupp’s classroom.
New members are always welcome. Donations of sewing supplies are appreciated, as well, especially items like thread and other sewing notions.
AP Environmental Science
On October 25, 2023, AP Environmental Science conducted our annual water quality testing at Issaqueena Forest. Clemson’s WOW (What’s in Our Waters?) group hosted as we learned physical, chemical, and biological testing methods to determine creek health.
Students found lots of crayfish, larvae, and fish in the very clean Wildcat Creek, thanks to Clemson University’s partnership with D. W. Daniel High!
Clemson’s WOW (What’s in Our Waters?) group visited D. W. Daniel’s AP Environmental Science (APES) class to discuss watersheds and the importance of Citizen Science. Citizen Science is the idea that anyone can be a scientist. All it takes is keen observation and reporting results. APES students learned how to evaluate water health and are developing questions for poster presentations in December.
Clemson students created a water-quality board game with real data and fake money called “Chuck Bucks!” Students were challenged to test four sites for a public beach and find the site safe for swimming.
English 2 Dystopian-Novel Podcasts
During the last week in October, students in Dr. Howard's and Ms. Sprouse's English 2 co-taught class produced podcasts designed to get audiences interested in the novels they are reading.
Mrs. Travis, our Media Specialist, supported this learning endeavor by showing students how they can produce high-quality podcasts completely inside Canva. Students scripted their podcasts, designed the page graphics, recorded their ideas, and added sound effects and music.
Thank you, Mrs. Travis, for your guidance, and thank you, Mr. Russell, Mrs. Ward, Mr. Culpepper, and Mrs. Tidwell, for stopping by to see the final products in the making.
Faculty & Staff Pumpkin Contest
On Wednesday, October 25, departments displayed their pumpkins for voting with coins. All proceeds were donated to breast cancer awareness and research through the Susan G Komen foundation.
The English Department's Poe-themed pumpkins won out, but the competition was impressive!
A Successful College Application Month
October was College Application Month and provided heavy traffic in the Guidance Office.
On October 3 we hosted a College Fair and saw around 150 students and their families attend.
On October 12 we hosted an all-day event for College Application Day. This was our biggest CAD event ever! 141 students worked on college applications throughout the day in the Media Center with the help of Mr. Rhyne and college admissions reps from seven different colleges. A total of 166 applications were submitted that day, and an additional 241 applications were worked on. Students also received help with their application essays.
A big thanks to the teachers who helped with essay writing and to our donors who provided breakfast and lunch to the participating students.
On October 23 we took a group of students to Southern Wesleyan University to attend the Ed-Op College Fair. Around 50 colleges and universities were represented at this event.