D.W. Daniel Newsletter
September 2019
Message from the Principal
If the first week of school is an indicator for the rest of the school year, students at Daniel High School are going to have an amazing 2019-2020 school year. Welcoming our new students, and welcoming back our returning students, was very exciting. The halls of the school have felt empty this summer. The faculty enjoyed getting to see the students we have been planning and preparing for throughout the summer. We are looking forward to meeting our students' families during our Open House on September 4.
Our student body is larger than ever. We welcomed close to 1200 students into our building. We are a growing school and a growing community. We are excited that this is a school where students want to be and that families are choosing to live in our area so that their children can attend. We work hard each day to make sure we are providing your student with an excellent education in a safe and caring environment We are committed to making sure that each of our 1200 students feels successful at our school and that each student finds their place at our school.
Thank you for entrusting your students with us. We are looking forward to another successful year at D. W. Daniel High School!
Shannon Sharkey
Principal
New Faces @ Daniel
We would like to welcome our new faculty and staff members:
Aaron Pobiak- PE
Christina Figueroa- Spanish
Juan Carlos Villazan- Spanish
Sarah Nickels- English
Sarah LeCroy- English
Mandy Davidson- SS
Kristy Tapper- Math
Lauren Merck- Science
Michael Peppers- PE
Beth Brittain- Attendance
Michael Ticknor- SRO
Message from the Health Room
Please notify Nurse Roy of any significant changes in your student’s health status.
Accurate information on your student's overall health is imperative. This may include any diagnosis of allergies, asthma, seizures, recent surgeries, etc. that may affect your student during this school year. Being aware of a specific condition may save valuable time in the case of an illness or injury at school. Please contact the school nurse if your child has a change in their health condition. As well, please provide updated contact phone numbers if your phone number changes.
Students who become sick while at school should see the nurse. For the safety of your student, please remember that Daniel High School’s policy and procedure is that sick students need to see the nurse. Using their phone to call or text home to be dismissed is not an appropriate means of dismissal. Please encourage your child to see the nurse if they are sick.
As always, feel free to contact Nurse Roy, in the Health Room, with any questions or concerns you may have.
Thank you,
Jill Roy, RN, School Nurse
Attendance
Attendance is crucial - even in study hall. If you are a junior or senior, you are eligible for late arrival/early dismissal during those study hall periods. You need to pick up a form in the main office, have it signed by your parent or guardian, and return it to the main office. If you are a freshman or sophomore, study hall is mandatory. If parents wish for their sophomore to be excused, you must contact an administrator for approval. Please remember that approval is granted quarterly for sophomores. Forms will need to be turned in by October 17 for the next quarter.
Guidance
Stay in the know with the DHS Guidance Schoology Group!
ASVAB will be offered at the Career Center on September 24.
Regional College Fair on September 23.
Do you want to learn more about what college opportunities are out there for you? On September 23 we will take a group of 11th and 12th grade students to the Regional College Fair at Southern Wesleyan University. Colleges from all over the southeast will be represented. Sign up in the Guidance office to attend. We will provide bus transportation between Daniel and SWU. Students will only miss 1st and some of 2nd period while attending this opportunity.
Daniel Foundation
Welcome to the D.W. Daniel Foundation!
Making a Difference in 2019-20 for D.W. Daniel High School!
The D.W. Daniel Foundation is a non-profit organization similar to a PTO consisting of parents, faculty, and community members who work together to serve Daniel High School. Our efforts focus on meeting the needs of our students, faculty, administration, facilities, landscaping, and more. Every Daniel High School student benefits from Foundation efforts, as we focus our expenditures to benefit the overall student body and improve learning experiences. Our organization’s mission is to support our school’s commitment to academic excellence and student success.
Look at some of the things we were able to do last school year!
- Funded faculty requests/grants for: Biology (lab supplies), AP Biology (photosynthesis lab & bacterial transformation lab), Chemistry/Physics (two-stage vacuum pumps), Science Dept. (electronic balances, BreakoutEDU kits), Anatomy & Physiology (fetal pigs), Agriculture Science (hand tools), Math Dept. (50 new TI-84 rental calculators), Intermediate Algebra (field trip to Clemson Outdoor Lab), English Dept. (Freshman-class field trip transportation to Romeo & Juliet), English 1 (classroom library supplies), Cafeteria (2 new microwaves & stands), ACT/PSAT testing snacks, and DHS Academic Team (buzzer system)
- Provided monthly faculty meals and Teacher Appreciation Week in May
- Maintained the DHS Faculty & Student Memorial Garden
- Operated our DandeLION Closet that provides everyday items to students in need, including specialized clothing for semi-formal, prom, job interviews, and graduation
In 2019-20 we are working on:
- Funding more grant requests from the faculty
- Encouraging more memberships from families, faculty, and corporations
- Locating and securing additional grants
- Fundraisers, like our customized Daniel fleece blankets (order forms on myschoolbucks.com and the DHS website)
- Continuing our “Lion’s Mane” piece sales (see it in the front lobby)
- Supporting student activities that encourage leadership and involvement
How can YOU make a difference? JOIN, DONATE, and/or VOLUNTEER!
- Visit the DHS website & find us under Clubs & Organizations to join or donate
- Follow us on our Facebook page: DW Daniel Foundation
- Follow us on Instagram: @dwdanielfoundation
- Follow us on Twitter: @ DWDFoundation
- Become a Corporate Sponsor
- Buy a piece of the Lion’s Mane
- Provide food for our faculty meals
- Give financially or donate needed items/supplies to our DandeLION Closet
- Serve on a committee (Membership, Fundraising, Faculty Appreciation, Communication, etc.)
- Contact our President, Tina Maloney (tmmaloney@gmail.com) or Membership Chair Sonya Story (storytime@bellsouth.net) for more information or to get more involved!
Thank you for supporting Daniel High School! Go Lions!
Student Council
A few other dates have been reserved for Student Council events this year:
Spirit Week - Sept. 30 - Oct. 4
Homecoming - October 4
Semi-formal - November 23
Winter Assembly - December 19
Miss Summit - January 25
Talent Show - February 11
Buff Puff - March 27 (during big lunch)
Lip Dub - May 1 (Awards Day)
DWD TV
D. W. Daniel Anglers
Students interested in joining the fishing team should stop by room 239 for info or see the Daniel website under Fine Arts/Organizations. First meeting is September 12 after school in room 239.
Mane Stage Players' Fall Play
Show dates are November 7 & 8 at Daniel and November 15-17 at the state competition.
Students should prepare a 45-60 second Shakespearean monologue for auditions.
Students only need to attend one day of auditions (September 16 or 17 @ 3:15).
Beta Club
If you are a junior with above a 3.500 unweighted GPA and have not yet joined Beta Club but would like to, please pick up an invitation to join from Ms. Justus in room 238 by September 9. Sophomores who qualify should automatically receive invitations by September 9 through their science classes. Freshman and seniors are not eligible to join Beta Club.
Lion's Pride Marching Band
The Marching Band is hard at work on their 2019 competitive show entitled Revolution. They will begin their competitive season on Saturday, September 28 at James F. Byrnes High School. If you are in interested in seeing the Lion’s Pride in competition this season, there are several shows that are in the area. The competition schedule is:
September 28 – James F. Byrnes
October 5 – Easley High School
October 12 – Pendleton High School
October 19 – Upper State Championships at Belton Honea Path High School
October 26 – State Championships at Chapin High School
AFJROTC: From Good to Great?
The 2018-2019 school year for Daniel High School’s SC-941 “Flying Lions” Cadet Corps was a uniquely challenging yet extremely productive year across the board. But the best thing about last year may be that it has positioned Daniel’s AFJROTC unit for one of its best years this year. A quick summary of what the Cadet Corps accomplished in 2018-2019 makes a strong case. According to AFJROTC Headquarters’ database, Daniel’s Cadet Corps completed over 2,053 community service hours in accomplishing 163 separate community service events during the year. Additionally, the “Flying Lions” provided 50 color guards for various civic, memorial, and sporting events. Cadets also competed in numerous competitions in the three separate categories of Competitive Drill, Raiders Events, and a new pursuit known as JLAB – a nationwide competitive circuit of traditional Academic Bowl events. Of course, anyone who attended any football event at Daniel’s Singleton Field knows that the Cadet Corps plays a huge and pivotal role in everything from managing paid Booster Club parking to Color Guards, Saber Arches, full stocking and staffing of all concessions, and stadium cleanup after every event. But it may be that the AFJROTC program’s biggest impact on Daniel High School is its annual management of the Daniel High School Recycling Program. Over the course of last year, the Cadet Corps managed 36 separate recycling days in which we collected all materials, sorted and prepped by category. For each of those days, Major Childress transported the material to the Pickens County Recycling Center. This amounted to over 5,000 pounds of materials recycled during the year – a huge service to the school and the environment.
The good news is all indications suggest the 2019-2020 school year may be even more successful. Major Childress and Chief Preisch began working during their summer break to prepare for the biggest event any AFJROTC unit faces – a Unit Evaluation, or “UE.” Once every 3 years, every AFJROTC unit receives a day-long visit from AFJROTC Headquarters, and every single aspect of unit operations is evaluated to the finest detail. In 2017, the last time the “Flying Lions” were evaluated, they received the highest possible rating and were identified as one of the top 3 units in a region comprised of over 67 units. Shortly thereafter, the “Flying Lions” were named the Outstanding AFJROTC Unit in South Carolina and were presented the prestigious “Sword of Excellence” to mark their State Championship. In fact, very soon you’ll be able to see the latest Daniel High School State Champion Banner take its place among the others in the Daniel Gym as the AFJROTC State Championship Banner is installed. And it’s that 2017 series of events the “Flying Lions” feel poised and prepared to recreate this year. The Unit will be evaluated in March, and if all goes as planned, they’ll once again receive the highest possible rating, which will set them up for a strong run at yet another State Championship. This would be the Unit’s 6th title since its establishment in 1994.
Regardless of what happens with the Unit Evaluation and no matter if the Unit earns another State Title, there is no doubt that Daniel High School’s “Flying Lions” Cadet Corps will continue throughout the 2019-2020 year to live out their mission statement of “Developing citizens of character, dedicated to serving their nation and community.”
Student Recyclers
Last school year marked the beginning of D. W. Daniel's participation in the Crayola Color Cycle program, which recycles used markers, highlighters, sharpies, and dry erase markers. A few students organized this effort to reduce plastic waste from our school. After only a couple of months participating in the program, we collected approximately 14 pounds of used markers!
These markers were sent back to Crayola to be repurposed instead of going to a landfill. We are so excited to continue participating in this program and making a difference in our community and the world!
Markers can be placed in the collection boxes located in front of the library and in all teacher workrooms. For more information please see Annie Buck, Annika DeVol, Alexis Williams or Mrs. Tidwell (room 339).
Roaming Pride Traveling to Italy
Daniel’s Roaming Pride travel group is touring Italy this spring break 2020!
There is an informational meeting on September 10 @ 6pm in the Library Media Center. Plan on attending if you are interested in learning about this nine-day educational experience.
This is not a school-sponsored trip but is open to Daniel students and families.
FCA
Homecoming 2019
D.W. Daniel High School Homecoming
October 4, 2019
Daniel Lions vs. Palmetto Mustangs – 7:30 PM
Tickets may be purchased on-line https://gofan.co/app/school/SC580 or at the ticket booth at the game.
D. W. Daniel High School
140 Blue and Gold Boulevard, Central, SC 29630
864.397.2900