D. W. Daniel High School
February 2024 Newsletter
Message from the Principal
D.W. Daniel High School,
Serve EACH Student; Take Care of People! My vision for D.W. Daniel High School is a statement that combines the purpose of every educator with my hope for all humans. Serving each student each day is a challenge that we strive to meet. The introduction of Lion Time is giving students and teachers the space to meet individual needs. We have caught teachers and students doing great things during Lion Time:
Chemistry students doing a review session for Mr. Dubose,
Students writing poetry in an English class for Dr. Kendrick,
Dr. Hoover and Mrs. Plumblee leading students in a walking club,
Students all across the school being given the time in their busy day to complete homework,
Ms. Douglas and Summit Staff working on this year’s yearbook,
Students in need of additional support going to small-group sessions.
After speaking to students and faculty members, I am confident we are exactly where we need to be in serving each student every day! I could not be more proud of the work our faculty and students have done to have a successful start to Lion Time!
Course-Selection Timeline
The month of February will be focused on the process of selecting courses for next year.
During the week of February 14, the Guidance Department and the Daniel faculty will be working with our students to understand where they are in the process of completing high school and what courses are still needed to reach their goals of high school and beyond.
During the week of February 19, we will have evening meetings to provide parents/guardians and students with all the information necessary to make the best possible course requests.
What will the evening meetings look like?
Participants will start by picking up an information packet specific to their student and will then attend a 20-minute presentation in the cafeteria. Following the presentation, participants are encouraged to get answers to any student-specific questions by meeting with the experts! We will have representatives from each subject area along with AP experts, Dual Enrollment reps from TCTC and SWU, NCAA eligibility information, and more. The Booster Club will also be on hand selling your favorite Lions swag. Before leaving, we hope that you will be well equipped to make your course selection requests.
Please use the links on the graphic to schedule your appointment for course selection.
Daniel Foundation
If you are interested in helping with the faculty and staff soup luncheon on Thursday, February 22, use this link to sign up.
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.
Student Council
Valentine’s Day cookie and brownie sale: Order at lunch or before school on February 6 or 7. Delivery will be on February 14. Cookies are $2.50, and brownies are $3.50; bring exact change. Make sure you know the recipient's 3rd-period class!
Baseball & Softball Chili Cook-off and Alumni Game
Join us Saturday, February 17 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm for some live music, chili, and games!
CPR Class for Students
The PE Department will be offering a "Hands-Only CPR" class on Thursday, February 22 in the Main Gym. This will be offered during all class periods. Any student is welcome to attend with permission from teacher. Students are required to attend one session before graduation.
Yearbook
Don't forget to order your 2024 Summit!
Spring Musical
Tickets for Legally Blonde are now on sale at https://dhs.pickens.k12.sc.us/o/dhs/page/tickets! Tickets are $10; however, teachers/staff can use their usernames as a promo code to get their tickets for $7.
The AP Capstone Diploma Program
Students in the AP Capstone Diploma Program have the opportunity to distinguish themselves on their college applications and develop academic skills they'll use in high school, college, and beyond. To be awarded the AP Capstone Diploma, students earn a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams. At graduation, students meeting these requirements are bestowed with honor cords and the AP Capstone Diploma Distinction.
This year's AP Research students presented and defended their original research in January. Many will present their work at the 5th Annual SNHS Research Symposium in February and at the SC Region1 Science Fair in March. Students did an excellent job of developing topics of interest that will benefit their future studies and research. Congratulations, AP Research students!
Questions about AP Research or the AP Capstone Diploma Program can be directed to Ms. Elrod, Ms. Tidwell, or the Guidance Department.
Lilly Beckner Allergy Free Diet on a Low Budget
Roi Bein Assimilation in Southern Jews: Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?
Jacie Bradley French Green Clay: An Investigation of Its Potential Applications in Food Storage
Olivia Collins End-of-Life Prescriptions: Pressures Applied to Terminal Patients in the U.S.
Andrew Dou Mathematical Applications Applied to Bass Drum Tuning
Haley Heaton Urbanization Effects on Water Quality
Maddie Hedden Connections Between Hyphenates and the Writer’s Strike
Allen Hong The Effect of ChatGpT on Google
Samprokshana Karthikeyan The Effect of the Fungal Species on the Flexural Strength of the Mycelium Composite
Tommy Murray-Tuite Public Perception of Power Restoration Priorities
Sarah Grace Partridge Screentime's Effects on Sleep Deprivation and Emotional Regulation in College Students
Dana Phillips Veterinary Work Environment and Compassion Fatigue
Adam Schilf Low Cost IOT Monitoring High School Classrooms
Henna Sekhon Evaluating the Ethical Permissibility of Using CRISPR to Edit Human Genes
Ahan Shi Naturalization, Citizenship, and Voting Among Immigrants
Claire Sun Does the Lack of Financial Equity of Access Create a Sense of Elitism in Greek Life?
Ashby Williams Barriers to Medication Adherence in Rural College Towns: A Qualitative Study
Ashley Winkler How Does Age and Gender Affect a Person’s View on Abortion Within Christianity?
Gibson Yoder Fear, Cognitive Function, & Selective Attention
Keyla Zhao Using Deep Learning to Optimize Technical Analysis for Retirement Accounts
Ruideng Zhong The Compression of C60 into LOPC
Science National Honor Society
At our December meeting, Dr. Heather Dunn, assistant professor of bioengineering at Clemson, discussed the research in her lab on triple-negative breast cancer samples and the different opportunities she provides for her students. She explained her findings on the racial disparities in invasive breast cancer and emerging measures for early detection. Dr. Dunn also described her exciting career path and gave insights for stem-oriented high school students.
(submitted by Hannah Brown, Senior SNHS Officer)
On Wednesday, January 10, Dr. John Ballato from Clemson University spoke to the Science National Honor Society about his work with fiber optics. He described how lasers and optic cables work, and he explained how his team at Clemson University is engineering lasers to run at cold temperatures and is utilizing semiconductors in optical cables. He also shared the lesser known story of Charles Townes, the laser innovator, Nobel Prize winner, and Greenville, SC native. Dr. Ballato explained his journey to fiber optics, as well as why material science is such an important field.
(submitted by John Penna, Senior SNHS Officer)
5th Annual SNHS Research Symposium
Students from the Science National Honor Society, AP Research, and the Research Club will present their original work at the 5th Annual SNHS Research Symposium on Wednesday, February 21.
See Ms. Tidwell for more information.
RiSE Environmental Club
The RiSE Environmental Club, in partnership with the City of Clemson, completed its first-semester project. Based on the data from the tree inventory students conducted at Tottie’s Place in Clemson, RiSE members determined the biodiversity needs of the park. To meet the identified needs, understory native species were selected. RiSE members then held a celebratory tree-planting event in December with the assistance of the City of Clemson’s Department of Urban and Park Land Management. Early December is an ideal time to plant trees in South Carolina because the trees are dormant and it tends to be rainy, reducing shock to the trees as they transition to their new site.
The RiSE Club will continue its work during the second semester. While several projects are in the works, the first one is analyzing data from the tree inventory to quantify the benefits and values of trees at Tottie’s Place using the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree Tools. Students are planning a “Tree-Walk” installation to educate visitors to the park about the benefits of the trees beyond just beauty and shade.
Interact Club
Interact Club is active this semester providing service projects:
- Cupid Shuffle 5K with Rotary Sunrise Club February 10
- Clemson Child Development Center February 23 and March 22
- Donut Sale March 15
- Mental Health Workshop at Daniel March 23
- Memorial Garden Cleanup April 18
Roaming Pride
Do you want to visit 4 countries in 10 days? Take a journey through the cobblestone streets and busy town squares of Central Europe and see how the local folkloric traditions still thrive here in the 21st century. A waltz in Vienna, a Gothic church in Prague, the Glockenspiel in Munich—the evolving cultures of modern Europe are deeply tied to their rich and colorful histories. The DWD Roaming Pride will travel to Central Europe in June 2025. Our tentative travel dates are June 4–13. For more information, please email Ms. Amy Elrod: amyelrod@pickens.k12.sc.us.