Principal's Message
Happy Thursday Bobcat Families,
Today's edition of The Bobcat Blaze is going out one day early as tomorrow is a Teacher Work Day. As usual, it was a great week here in Bobcat Country! Most classes completed STAR progress monitoring. We are very proud of the growth students are making toward their goals.
Please remember Monday is a school holiday as we observe Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Day.
On Tuesday, January 18th I invite parents to attend the virtual Parent University session regarding attendance with School Counselor Mrs. Balthazor. Information about that will be included in this edition.
On Wednesday, January 19th our monthly School Improvement Council (SIC) meeting will take virtually at 3pm. Anyone is welcome to join and participate.
Finally, report cards will go home on Thurday, January 20th.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, January 18th. Have an enjoyable and safe weekend!
Principal's Message: https://cloud.swivl.com/v/f5d27e6cb357d699c436213b98d93336
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed every year on the third Monday of January — on January 17 this year. King was an influential civil rights leader — best known for his work on racial equality and ending racial segregation in the United States. His life and achievements are remembered and celebrated on this day.
The concept of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions. After King’s death, U.S. Representative John Conyers and U.S. Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday. The bill first came to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979; however, it fell five votes short of the number needed for passage. Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition, as King never held public office. At the time, only two other figures had national holidays honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus.
Soon after, the King Center looked for support from the corporate community and the general public. The success of this strategy was cemented when musician Stevie Wonder released the single ‘Happy Birthday’ to popularize the campaign in 1980 and hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. Six million signatures were collected for a petition for Congress to pass the law and is considered the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history.
President Reagan originally opposed the holiday, citing cost concerns. But on November 2, 1983, Reagan signed a bill, proposed by Representative Katie Hall, to create a federal holiday honoring King. The bill had passed the Senate by a count of 78 to 22, and the House of Representatives by 338 to 90. The holiday was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986. It’s observed on the third Monday of January rather than directly on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday because it follows the guidelines of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
This January 17, make the holiday more than just a day off and take time to evaluate and take action on civil rights issues across the globe and reflect on the work that still needs to be done for racial equality. For ways you can celebrate MLK Day in Columbia click here.
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Kids in Print
Created by Richland Library, Kids in Print is a literary magazine that features poetry, stories, short plays, essays, drawings, photographs and more created by Midlands-area children and teens ages 6-18. The submission deadline for Richland Library’s Kids in Print magazine has been extended until February 10! We’d love to get more submissions from Richland One students!
While we look for a variety of creative work that is original, well-crafted and contributes to the overall magazine, we are unable to publish every submission. Kids in Print is not a competition. Whether they are published or not, we are proud of every contributor for having the bravery to express themselves. If you have additional questions you may send an email to:hmccue@richlandlibrary.com or to learn more about Kids in Print or to get submission instructions visit https://www.richlandlibrary.com/kidsinprint.
Rebecca Thomas
Education Coordinator
Community Outreach | Richland Library
1431 Assembly St. | Columbia, SC 29201
803.988.0891 | Access Freely at RichlandLibrary.com
Hello Bobcat Families!
Our school was selected to participate in Kinsa's FLUency school health program (sponsored by Lysol) again this year! This program allows us to give FREE smart thermometers to all school families & staff. Thirty students/staff participated last year, so we have SO many families to enroll!
Ordering your FREE smart thermometer is easy! Text JOIN to 24020 to get started. The app is helpful, and the more A.C. Moore families that participate, the more effective it is!
Please consider signing up over Winter Break if you haven't already. With 50 new orders, Lysol will provide disinfecting wipes for the school!
Email Nurse Robinson if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Jennifer Robinson, RN
School Nurse
Got Holiday Cards???
Not sure of what to do with the greeting cards you received during the holiday season? Send them to school! You can recycle your holiday cards by donating them to the AC Moore Visual Art Program! Every year before the Winter Break, Mr. Clamp has students create cards using using the recycled materials. Just tear off the backs of the cards (with the personal information) and bring them to Mr. Clamp in the Art Room. They will be saved and recycled the following season.
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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.
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.
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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
