Principal's Message
Happy Friday Bobcat Families!
I hope you have enjoyed this great week of weather as much as I have! While it may have only been a 4 day week for students, they packed in the same amount of energy into their learning as they always do and I could not be prouder.
We look forward to celebrating Read Across America Week next week. Please check out the daily themes and encourage your student to participate.
Many great things are coming up this semester so please keep an eye on your students' backpack and your emails for things coming out from the school.
Have a great weekend!
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Tera Poole, Doctor of Dental SurgeryTera Poole, the first Black valedictorian of the University of Maryland's School of Dentistry, the world's largest and first dental school is making name for herself within and outside of the medical field. On top of doing clinicals in San Francisco and working toward her goal of becoming an orthodontist, she’s also created her own fitness program, “Not Born Fit,” that strives to create a community for those who don’t identify as fitness addicts. Both in and outside of her work, she’s dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives. Whether it be through restoring confidence in a high school student who’s been bullied or helping an overworked person who’s looking to take better care of themselves establish a fun and sustainable gym routine, Tera cares. | Dr. Myron Rolle, Neurosurgeon and Former NFL PlayerMyron L. Rolle is a Bahamian-American neurosurgeon and former football safety. He played college football at Florida State, and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He attended the Florida State University College of Medicine and is a neurosurgery resident at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University for the 2009–10 academic year in order to earn an MSc in Medical Anthropology. In 2010, he was chosen as the second-smartest athlete in sports by the Sporting News, behind baseball player Craig Breslow. On February 17, 2021, AbioMed, a member of the S&P 500, announced Dr. Rolle as a member of its Board of Directors. | Dr. Michelle Henry, Dermatologic SurgeonDr. Henry earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She served as the chief resident in her dermatology residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She followed up her residency with a fellowship in cutaneous oncology, Mohs micrographic surgery, and reconstructive surgery at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Dermatology at the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts. In her practice at Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, Dr. Henry believes in using the most state-of-the-art techniques and research-backed methods to provide high-quality and holistic care. She is a fellow in a number of professional organizations, including the American College of Mohs Surgery, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, where she also chairs the education committee. |
Tera Poole, Doctor of Dental Surgery
Tera Poole, the first Black valedictorian of the University of Maryland's School of Dentistry, the world's largest and first dental school is making name for herself within and outside of the medical field. On top of doing clinicals in San Francisco and working toward her goal of becoming an orthodontist, she’s also created her own fitness program, “Not Born Fit,” that strives to create a community for those who don’t identify as fitness addicts. Both in and outside of her work, she’s dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives. Whether it be through restoring confidence in a high school student who’s been bullied or helping an overworked person who’s looking to take better care of themselves establish a fun and sustainable gym routine, Tera cares.
Dr. Myron Rolle, Neurosurgeon and Former NFL Player
Myron L. Rolle is a Bahamian-American neurosurgeon and former football safety. He played college football at Florida State, and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He attended the Florida State University College of Medicine and is a neurosurgery resident at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital.
He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University for the 2009–10 academic year in order to earn an MSc in Medical Anthropology. In 2010, he was chosen as the second-smartest athlete in sports by the Sporting News, behind baseball player Craig Breslow. On February 17, 2021, AbioMed, a member of the S&P 500, announced Dr. Rolle as a member of its Board of Directors.
Dr. Michelle Henry, Dermatologic Surgeon
Dr. Henry earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She served as the chief resident in her dermatology residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She followed up her residency with a fellowship in cutaneous oncology, Mohs micrographic surgery, and reconstructive surgery at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Dermatology at the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts.
In her practice at Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, Dr. Henry believes in using the most state-of-the-art techniques and research-backed methods to provide high-quality and holistic care. She is a fellow in a number of professional organizations, including the American College of Mohs Surgery, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, where she also chairs the education committee.
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Dr. Nik Whyte, Family Physician, Aesthetic and Bariatric Mediciner. Nik Whyte is a family physician practicing in aesthetic medicine, bariatric medicine, and men’s sexual health. He completed his family medicine residency program at University of Toronto in July 2017. Given his background as a personal trainer and triathlete, Dr. Whyte wanted to develop a practice focused on health optimization and disease prevention rather than following the traditional pathway in medicine of treating illness as it arises. In 2018 he became a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). He used the knowledge and skills obtained in this program to develop an individualized weight loss program which he uses to help patients achieve their weight loss goals. Dr. Whyte is also passionate about aesthetic medicine. He feels that looking and feeling your best helps optimize one’s overall health and has an interest in a variety of treatment modalities in non-surgical aesthetic medicine. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Aesthetic Medicine (CAAM) and currently a pursuant of the fellowship pathway. Dr. Whyte performs non-surgical treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, PRP, and laser. | Dr. Phoenyx Austin, Founder of The FitBeauty ShopDr. Phoenyx Austin, M.D. is the founder of DRPHOENYX.COM, founder/creator of DR.PHOENYX® Nutrition & Beauty, and a best-selling author. A certified Nutrition Specialist, wellness beauty expert, and consultant, Dr. Phoenyx loves creating nutrition, skin care, and wellness essentials that help fellow women look and feel beautiful from the inside out! As a medical doctor in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Phoenyz was not taught nutrition in medical school. Instead, she learned how to treat disease with medication after you became sick. It wasn’t until after medical school that Dr. Phoenyx learned the importance of fitness and nutrition. Highly respected for her expertise in nutrition, fitness and beauty, Dr. Phoenyx is also a Nutrition and Health/Beauty Communications Consultant for major food, nutrition, and wellness brands, her work is featured in numerous major print and online publications, and she serves as a wellness consultant on traditional media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and TV One. | Dr. Jennaire Lewars, Internal Medicine Resident PhysicianJennaire Lewars is well on his way to becoming the first doctor in his family. It’s something he’s wanted to do since he was about 15 years old. That’s when his mother interrupted summer vacation by handing Lewars her anatomy book and telling him to learn, and love, his favorite organ system. The ambitious request didn’t come out of the blue. Lewars’ mother is a registered nurse, and at the time he was enrolled in a gifted program designed to get high schoolers into a specialty early. “The first system I started studying was the heart. That’s what got me in love with medicine in the first place, and ever since then, I haven’t wavered from that particular interest. It’s been a tossup between cardiovascular surgery or just cardiology, medicine based.” |
Dr. Nik Whyte, Family Physician, Aesthetic and Bariatric Medicine
r. Nik Whyte is a family physician practicing in aesthetic medicine, bariatric medicine, and men’s sexual health. He completed his family medicine residency program at University of Toronto in July 2017. Given his background as a personal trainer and triathlete, Dr. Whyte wanted to develop a practice focused on health optimization and disease prevention rather than following the traditional pathway in medicine of treating illness as it arises.
In 2018 he became a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). He used the knowledge and skills obtained in this program to develop an individualized weight loss program which he uses to help patients achieve their weight loss goals.
Dr. Whyte is also passionate about aesthetic medicine. He feels that looking and feeling your best helps optimize one’s overall health and has an interest in a variety of treatment modalities in non-surgical aesthetic medicine. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Aesthetic Medicine (CAAM) and currently a pursuant of the fellowship pathway. Dr. Whyte performs non-surgical treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, PRP, and laser.
Dr. Phoenyx Austin, Founder of The FitBeauty Shop
Dr. Phoenyx Austin, M.D. is the founder of DRPHOENYX.COM, founder/creator of DR.PHOENYX® Nutrition & Beauty, and a best-selling author. A certified Nutrition Specialist, wellness beauty expert, and consultant, Dr. Phoenyx loves creating nutrition, skin care, and wellness essentials that help fellow women look and feel beautiful from the inside out!
As a medical doctor in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Phoenyz was not taught nutrition in medical school. Instead, she learned how to treat disease with medication after you became sick. It wasn’t until after medical school that Dr. Phoenyx learned the importance of fitness and nutrition.
Highly respected for her expertise in nutrition, fitness and beauty, Dr. Phoenyx is also a Nutrition and Health/Beauty Communications Consultant for major food, nutrition, and wellness brands, her work is featured in numerous major print and online publications, and she serves as a wellness consultant on traditional media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and TV One.
Dr. Jennaire Lewars, Internal Medicine Resident Physician
Jennaire Lewars is well on his way to becoming the first doctor in his family. It’s something he’s wanted to do since he was about 15 years old. That’s when his mother interrupted summer vacation by handing Lewars her anatomy book and telling him to learn, and love, his favorite organ system.
The ambitious request didn’t come out of the blue. Lewars’ mother is a registered nurse, and at the time he was enrolled in a gifted program designed to get high schoolers into a specialty early.
“The first system I started studying was the heart. That’s what got me in love with medicine in the first place, and ever since then, I haven’t wavered from that particular interest. It’s been a tossup between cardiovascular surgery or just cardiology, medicine based.”
Hello A.C. Moore families!
I wanted to make you aware that Richland One has a new partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation (CDCF). The CDCF is sending people to our schools to assist with Covid-related administrative duties (contact tracing, calling parents, filing, reporting, data collection, making copies, etc.). They are employees of the CDCF and volunteers of Richland One. Our volunteer will be here from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each Monday, beginning next week. Her name is Lace Redd and I have heard great things about her!
If Ms. Redd needs to contact you, she will do so from a school phone, so your caller ID will display a Richland One number. She will not have access to PowerSchool information, only names and phone numbers that I provide her with. She will be housed in an area outside of the school health clinic. Rest assured, Ms. Redd has been trained and properly vetted by the District and she will uphold the confidentiality required by her position. Please do not be hesitant to speak to her or respond to any of her Covid-related questions.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Enjoy your weekend!
Jennifer Robinson, RN
School Nurse
jennifer.robinson2@richlandone.org
803-929-3886
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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
Water Stations
Please be informed that bottled water will no longer be available to students during the day. Our school is now equipped with water bottle refilling stations! Your student should pack a reusable water bottle daily for use at the refilling stations around the building.
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
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
Parents, please click on the banner below to sign up to provide items for the Teacher Appreciation Breakfast dates throughout the year.
Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon Named Superintendent of the Year by SCAAA
Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon has been named the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association (SCAAA) 3A/2A/1A Superintendent of the Year for 2022. The award is presented annually to the superintendent who has shown outstanding leadership and support of athletics on the local and state levels.
Dr. Witherspoon is receiving the honor for his dedication to students and his commitment toward improving the quality of interscholastic athletics and facilities in Richland One, according to Roger Dixon and Jack Kosmicki, co-chairs of the SCAAA Awards Committee. He will be presented the award on March 16 in Charleston.
“I am honored to have been chosen by SCAAA for this award, especially because it also recognizes what we do as a team in Richland One for the benefit of our students,” said Dr. Witherspoon. “Athletics play a vital role in the development of the whole student – academically, socially and personally – and we fully embrace that belief.”
Richland One has a tradition of excellence in athletics as well as in academics. Last year alone, student-athletes won 26 team and individual state championships in eight sports. Student-athletes are also expected to excel in the classroom. Richland One has a “C” average policy, requiring students in grades 6-12 to have at least a 2.0 GPA in all courses in which they were enrolled the preceding semester as a condition for participation in competitive co-curricular activities.
Bob Matz, Richland One’s athletics director, said Dr. Witherspoon is definitely one who sees value in addressing the whole student.
“He has been very supportive of athletics in Richland One, just as he has with curriculum and instruction. He sees it as an integral part of the student’s educational experience,” said Matz. “He’s allowed me to do my job and has wholeheartedly championed what we do.”
The SCAAA was established in 1987 with the purpose of providing information and professional development courses to its membership. The awards program was added some time later. Nominations are typically submitted to the Awards Committee by athletic directors, resulting in the selection of two award recipients – a 5A/4A and a 3A/2A/1A Superintendent of the Year.
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
