The Bobcat Blaze
May 20, 2022

+++We Are AC Moore STRONG+++
SCHOOL VISION
Every AC Moore student will enter middle school reading at or above grade level.
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
We collaboratively empower students to be accountable and successful.
STAFF CORE VALUES
Passion: Embracing and nurturing our school community
Intentionality: Purposeful, Present, & Prepared
Accountability: Growth Over Ego
Student Pillars of Leadership: PreK - 2
Respect
Cooperation
Community
Responsible
Self-Control
Caring
Trustworthy
Student Pillars of Leadership: 3rd - 5th
Respect
Collaboration
Citizenship
Responsible
Self-Discipline
Empathy
Integrity
---------------------------------
Principal's Message
Happy Friday Bobcat Families!
We had an amazing day today for Field Day. Special thanks to Mrs. Whetstone for organizing such a fun-filled event. I hope your students had as much fun as I did throughout the day.
Next week is our last 5-day week of school. We have several activities and programs so please be sure to review not only this newsletter, but communication sent by homeroom teachers with specific information.
We hope you will join us on the playground on Tuesday, May 24th for out PTO Picnic! This is a free event for all families!
I look forward to welcoming all Bobcats back on Monday. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay safe!
---------------------------------
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
May
May 1-31...................................................................Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
..................................................................................Mental Health Awareness Month
May 23......................................................................Stand-alone Text Dependent Analysis Field Test (3rd-5th Graders)
May 25......................................................................Literacy Day
May 30......................................................................Memorial Day Holiday, No School
June
June 3.......................................................................Last Day of School (Early Release Day)
June 6.......................................................................Last Day for Teachers
-----Parent News and Reminders-----
3rd - 5th grade students to take a stand-alone text dependent analysis field test
On Monday, May 23rd, a stand-alone field test form will include one text dependent analysis (TDA) question and will be administered online. The entire student population will be field tested in the online format for grades 3–8. Schools with waivers approved by the State Board of Education for paper testing must participate in this online field testing. In addition to providing important data for test development, exposure to online testing provides students with experience and practice for online testing in coming years.


------------------------------------------
Returning Student Enrollment in Parent Portal
It is time to fill out the Returning Student Enrollment in Parent Portal for next school year. If your child is not returning to A C Moore next year or you are having trouble with your Parent Portal login please contact Mrs. Thorpe at madolyn.thorpe@richlandone.org or call 803-343-2910, ext 29206
4K student’s re-enrollment will be transferred to their zoned school. Make sure to provide two proofs of address when enrolling, email them to Mrs. Thorpe or bring by the school.

We Did It Bobcats!
Thank You Family and Friends!
We would like to say a special thank you to the students and families for their donations during our SCFitMe and Special Olympics fundraising campaign. The Marvel hero squad won the Rivalry with a $397.74 to $80.02 victory over DC. Thank you for supporting SCFitMe and Special Olympics South Carolina.
------------------------------------------

2022 Start Strong Summer Program
Greetings,
This is the R1 Start Strong Program hosted at Hand and Dreher this summer. This program is open is to ALL Students. Richland One is offering a two-week Start Strong Summer Program for rising 6th – 9th graders. This in-person program is designed to provide students with literacy and numeracy strategies that will help support their learning when they return to school in the fall. During the program, students will participate in engaging activities and have opportunities to receive incentives. Students will be assessed to determine their progress on content and skills learned in the summer program. There is no cost to attend the Start Strong Summer Program.
Parents/Guardians who register will be contacted before the end of the school year with more information.
Canisha Fletcher
Curriculum Resource Teacher
Hand Middle School
2600 Wheat Street
Columbia, SC 29205
803-343-2947 ext. 2207
Richland One está ofreciendo un programa de verano Start Strong de dos semanas para los estudiantes de sexto a noveno grado. Este programa en persona está diseñado para proporcionar a los estudiantes estrategias de alfabetización y aritmética que ayudarán a apoyar su aprendizaje cuando regresen a la escuela en el otoño. Durante el programa, los estudiantes participarán en actividades atractivas y tendrán la oportunidad de recibir incentivos. Los estudiantes serán evaluados para determinar su progreso en el contenido y las habilidades aprendidas en el programa de verano. No hay costo para asistir al programa de verano Start Strong.
Los detalles adicionales sobre el programa de verano Start Strong se enumeran a continuación:
Asistencia:
o Se espera que los estudiantes asistan al programa en persona, todos los lunes a jueves, del 11 al 21 de julio de 2022. El programa estará cerrado la semana del 4 al 8 de julio de 2022.
Cronograma:
o El horario diario será de 8:30 am a 12:30 pm.
Los estudiantes que ingresarán a los grados 6, 7 y 8 asistirán a Hand MS.
Los estudiantes que ingresarán al noveno grado asistirán a Dreher HS.
Complete el registro antes del martes 17 de mayo a las 3:00 p.m. Deberá completar un formulario por cada alumno que asista. Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes, comuníquese con canisha.fletcher@richlandone.org.
The South Carolina State Department of Education Climate Survey
March 31, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians:
The South Carolina State Department of Education (SCDE) is utilizing a Climate Survey for accountability/report cards this year as in the past. The delivery model for the survey has changed. Students in grades three through twelve will take the survey, however, the SCDE is placing the survey in the Student Portal account of PowerSchool instead of using a link or paper copies.
Before spring break, your student will be asked to create a Student Portal account for PowerSchool (if they don’t already have one) to access the survey when it becomes available. If they already have an account we will make sure they still have access. If they do not have an account, a sheet will be provided them so they can create an account. All students in grades three through twelve will be assisted by their schools, if needed, to create these accounts.
Parents will be receiving a Climate Survey through Parent Portal as well. If you do not currently have a Parent Portal account, please contact your student’s school and they will be able to assist you with setting up an account.
The Climate Survey will be available beginning April 4, 2022 and will close on May 27, 2022.
Click the banner above to report an absence for your student

-----------School News-----------
A Bobcat Shout-Out to...
AC Moore winners in the Richland One Elementary Art Show!
Fifth Grade
Permanent Art Collection Winner: Eli Simmons
1st Place: Hervey Houssou
2nd Place: Johnny Greytak
3rd Place: Rhys Boyd
Honorable Mention:
Waylon Broome
Elizabeth Hales
Victoria Shifflett
Fourth Grade
1st Place: Laurel Hilley
1st Place: Ashley Banks
2rd Place: Maddie Warren
3rd Place: Zane Humphrey
Honorable Mention:
June Heyden
Third Grade:
1st Place: Alice Dowdy
2nd Place: Gabriella Banks
3rd Place: Hiram Rudell
Honorable Mention:
Kyndal Moody
Lucy Rankin
Second Grade
1st Place: Jorgan Stefik
2nd Place: Hank Fields
3rd Place: Hooper Wallace
Honrable Mention:
Soukaina Doucoure
Kyndal Steen
First Grade
1st Place: Luke Horton
2nd Place: Nell Wallace
3rd Place: Dylan Banks
Honorable Mention:
Dennis Ayala
Webb Reardon
Safety Patrol!
A.C. Moore Celebrates...

Documentaries and programs that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

Mental Health Month: Together For Mental Health
For 2022’s Mental Health Awareness Month, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will amplify the message of “Together for Mental Health.” We will use this time to bring our voices together to advocate for mental health and access to care through NAMI’s blog, personal stories, videos, digital toolkits, social media engagements and national events.
Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
Help us spread the word through awareness, support and advocacy activities. Share awareness information, images and graphics for #MHAM throughout May.
--Parent and Family Engagement Opportunities--
May Newsletter

Parent Leadership Partners Program
Carolina Family Engagement Center Training Opportunity
The Carolina Family Engagement Center (CFEC), housed in the SC School Improvement Council (SC-SIC), has a professional development opportunities to share!
Parent Leadership Partners (PLP) program Train the Trainer
CFEC has had a lot of success with its PLP program and many school districts have inquired about the possibility of running similar programs in their districts. Due to this interest, CFEC has developed a virtual Train the Trainer program so that South Carolina school/district administrators, community members, parents, and/or teachers interested in learning how to facilitate a PLP program can do so! For more information see the flyer attached. To register for this summer session, click HERE.


Important Covid-19 News for School-age Children
Today, the CDC recommended that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series (5 months after their second dose). Please visit https://vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov/ or contact your child's health care provider for more information on where your children can get their boosters.
All households are now eligible to receive 8 additional at-home Covid-19 test kits. Register your address at https://www.covid.gov/tests and they will be shipped directly to you. Test kits and shipping are FREE! I also have test kits available for A.C. Moore students. Please let me know if you need one!
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Jennifer Robinson, School Nurse
803-929-3886
----------WELLNESS WATCH----------

Healthier Generation & Kohl’s are helping you make healthier choices this summer. By making simple swaps, you can eat healthy, stay active & recharge your mind. Read the #SummerSwap blog series to learn how your choices affect your health.

Take A Look at Your Bobcats...
Engaged in Learning!
Overdue Library Books
Dear Parents/Guardians:
There are still quite a few books out from last school year and the 2019-2020 school year. I know these were very exceptional years, but please make every effort to locate and return those books to the library as soon as possible. Thank you for you help in maintaining our library collection of books!
Jessica Warren, Librarian
Carline procedures
In an effort to maintain a safe arrival/dismissal and decrease the wait time for car riders, we would like to issue the following reminders:
MORNING CAR RIDERS
- Please be courteous to the other parents in the carline...remain in your vehicle to allow for a more efficient arrival procedure.
- Pull as far forward as possible before allowing your student to exit the vehicle.
- Have students prepared to exit the vehicle with masks on and bookbags ready prior to entering the drop-off area.
- Students should exit the vehicle from the passenger side, along the sidewalk.
- Students should walk along the sidewalk to the gate at the end of the sidewalk.
- Students should not be allowed to exit the vehicle in between the parked cars.
AFTERNOON CAR RIDERS
- Please be sure your child knows his/her car number.
- Hang your car tag from your rearview mirror and be sure it is visible to the staff member on duty.
- Please be courteous to the other parents in the carline...remain in your vehicle to allow for a more efficient dismissal procedure.
- Pull forward as much as possible before allowing your student to enter the vehicle
- If your student needs assistance with buckling into a seat or seatbelt, please move forward to the end of the carline before assisting your child.
Attention: YMCA Families
Good Afternoon AC Moore YMCA Families,
I hope this note finds you all well and you’ve had a great week.
I just wanted to pass along a quick note about YMCA pick-up on a weekly basis Tuesdays-Thursdays. When arriving to the school to pick up your child or children from the YMCA program can you all please park on the side of the road instead of the bus loop? There is after school tutoring (CRP) going on during these days and by parking in the bus loops it prohibits the busses from getting in the bus loop.
Thank you so much for your understanding and please let me know if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Matthew Taranto
Program Director
YMCA of Columbia
1447 Hampton Street
Columbia SC, 29201
(w) 803 799 9187; © 772 480 3942
------------DISTRICT NEWS------------
The Richland One Board of School Commissioners Approves 2022-2023 Academic Calendar
Richland One Parents,
The Richland One Board of School Commissioners approved the district’s 2022-2023 academic calendar at last night's board meeting.
Tuesday, August 16, 2022 will be the first day of school for Richland One students. The last day of school will be Friday, May 26, 2023, which will be an early release day for students.
Other key dates include:
- Thanksgiving Break – November 23-25, 2022
- Winter Break – December 21-30, 2022
- Spring Break – April 10-14, 2023
Draft Calendar B, which was the calendar that was approved by the Board, was the one that was preferred based on feedback obtained through the online survey of students, parents and staff. The Board gave its initial approval of the 2022-2023 calendar at the March 8 board meeting. The 2022-2023 calendar is posted on the district’s website (www.richlandone.org); click on the District Calendars link under Site Shortcuts.
Karen E. York
Executive Director of Communications
Richland County School District One
Masks Are Optional for Richland One Students and Staff
Superintendent's Book Club
We are so excited to participate in this year’s Superintendent's Book Club. Students in grades prekindergarten – eighth who either read 100 picture books or ten chapter books between March 2 and May 6 will become members of the club. New book club members will receive prizes and an invitation to a reading celebration.
As a school, we will also be awarding prizes to the top two readers in both PreK-2nd Grade and 3rd-4th Grade each month. Make sure your child is logging all the great books they are reading at home on their reading log. Please also note, that books read aloud to them count as well.
Happy Reading!
Register for the 2022-2023 Pre-K Program Now!

Free COVID-19 Test Kits
If you have not placed your order for 4 free rapid COVID-19 test kits through the government at the following website www.covidtests.gov, please do so today! Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Click the banner above for the most recent COVID-19 cases and quarantines in the district. The COVID-19 tracker is updated by 4 pm each evening.
Click the banner above to view the COVID-19 Mitigation and Safety Protocols (revised 3-11-2022).

Read to Succeed
Attendance...What You Need to Know


ThriveRichland Spark Time (Virtual ) Play Group
Richland School District One Student Technology Replacement Fees
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

------------------------------
-Neighborhood News & Community Connections-


Tutor.com Offers Free, Real-time Tutoring for All South Carolina Residents
The South Carolina Department of Education and the South Carolina State Library (SCSL) have partnered with Tutor.com to address the continuing academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership will span the next three years and is funded through the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER).
- Tutor.com is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for English and Spanish speakers.
- Connect with a tutor on various subjects, such as math, science, language arts, social studies, world languages, computer literacy, and AP courses.
- Tutor.com offers test prep assistance, skills coaching, and help with specific math and essay-writing questions.
- Unlock even more features with a Tutor.com account. Creating a Tutor.com account is optional and not required to connect with a tutor.
Visit scdiscus.org to get started. If you don't know the Discus login information, contact discusoffice@statelibrary.sc.gov.



Free Tuition for Technical Colleges in South Carolina
Good afternoon,
Below are links about a recent educational opportunity in South Carolina that may be beneficial for high school students within the district and/or parents/caregivers within your school communities interested in continuing their education. This initiative, SC Workforce Scholarships for the Future, has been designated $17 million in GEER funding for the Spring semesters. The governor is asking Congress for an additional $24 million from the American Rescue Act funds to extend the program through June 2024.
This initiative allows any adult in South Carolina the opportunity to attend one of sixteen technical colleges for free if they choose to major in a high-demand career preparation program including: construction, nursing, manufacturing, technology, hospitality/tourism, and early care and education.
Links with more information:
· South Carolina technical colleges free tuition: how it'll work | wltx.com
· McMaster: Pandemic cash for free 2-year degrees (live5news.com)
Hope this helps!
Laurann Gallitto Patel, MMFT
Lead Regional Family Engagement Liaison
Midlands Region
803-687-3460
Carolina Family Engagement Center
College of Education
University of South Carolina
820 Main Street
Columbia, SC 29208

The University of South Carolina String Project directed by Dr. Gail V. Barnes is the model for university string programs across the country. This nationally recognized program caters to children 3rd-5th grade & adults. Click above for more info.

DHEC - Richland County Health Department
Dates and Times
Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30
Further Information
- Limited quantity of SELF-ADMINISTERED COVID RAPID ANTIGEN TEST KITS available
- Self-Administered COVID-19 PCR Test Kits are also available
- Call ahead for availability
Appointment Needed: No
Referral Needed: No
Pediatric Testing Available: Yes
