Patriot Points
Powdersville Middle School - Fall Newsletter - 2021
Principal's Corner
Todd Binnicker, Principal
Welcome to our 2021-2022 school year! We had a great opening. I want to thank you for taking care of the online registration requirements before the start of school and taking the time to attend our Open House. Attendance at our Open House on August 11 and 12 was outstanding. This shows how involved our parents are in the education process. I also want to thank all of you for your patience as we continue to improve on our dismissal process and bus transportation issues.
Powdersville Middle School (PVMS) will continue to focus on providing rigorous academics and building positive relationships as we strive to prepare all students for the challenging academic and career/technical courses in high school. PVMS is committed to continuing the ASD1 tradition of excellence by providing world class knowledge, skills, and life characteristics based on the individual needs of each student.
Every five years our school and district are evaluated through an accreditation process. This accreditation process is known as Cognia and it holds us accountable for improvement and for having a growth mindset for our school and district. It gives us the opportunity to ask: "How are we going to improve all aspects of our work to better serve our students tomorrow than we did today?" All stakeholders in the educational process are asked to provide information via surveys. If you have not already taken this survey, please click on the link below. This is a short parent survey and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for your valuable input!
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/170095/p1197
Lastly, I am honored to be your middle school principal. If I can ever do anything to make your child’s learning experience better, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to working with each of you and wish you a wonderful school year.
Teacher of the Year - Lee Carter
I am truly honored to be selected as the Powdersville Middle School Teacher of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year! I grew up in Georgia, received my bachelor’s degree and masters’ degree from the University of Georgia, and then taught my first four years in Georgia before moving to South Carolina. After marrying my wife Paige and moving to the Upstate, I started teaching at Powdersville Middle nine years ago. At different times, I have taught 7th grade Math and Social Studies, and will be back working with math in an intervention role for the next two years. Paige and I have four kids, who will be entering 10th, 6th, 4th, and 3rd grades this year. Outside of school, I enjoy gathering with my church, playing sports (including disc golf, volleyball, and pickleball most recently), working out at the Y, reading books, and drinking lots of coffee. As teacher of the year, I’m hoping to be involved in conversations about what we can continue to do as a school and school district to improve the educational experience and quality for all of our students!
Support Staff of the Year - Officer Shanika Simpson
What's New
The 2021-22 school year has several changes from the past year:
School Time – 8:25 a.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Pick-Up - Students not riding a bus home are expected to be picked up in a timely manner. Dismissal is at 3:25 p.m. For safety concerns, all car riders are to be picked up in the car circle area. Students should never cross traffic lanes without the parent being present to walk with them. Adult supervision is provided daily until 4:00 p.m. We do realize that, on occasion, parents may be delayed due to heavy traffic, car trouble, or some other unforeseen circumstance. However, this situation should be the exception and not the rule. Middle school student are not permitted to walk over to the elementary school at dismissal. In the afternoon, parents/guardians will need to pick up each student separately using Hood Road for the elementary school student and the Roe Road entrance for the middle school student.
Drop-Off - Students arriving to school by car are to be dropped off curbside in the car circle area (Roe Road Entrance) as early as 7:20 a.m. For safety reasons, students should not get out of the car and walk across the parking lot or through the line of cars. Additionally, drop off in the parking lot in front of the school and the bus loop (Hood Rd., Driveway B) is not permitted. Drop-off for parents/guardians with students attending both Powdersville Elementary School and Powdersville Middle School have two choices. Middle school students may be dropped off at Powdersville Elementary and they walk across to the Powdersville Middle School bus entrance or parents may use the Roe road car entrance to drop off their middle schooler..
All other changes regarding dress code, cell phone use, attendance, student conduct, etc. can be found in the 2021-2022 Parent Handbook which can be accessed via the link below, our web page or you may get a hard copy from our front office.
Quarantined - Now What?
Please make sure you have completed your online registration which provides us with your current contact information (phone numbers and emails) and have activated your Parent Portal account.
PVMS School Counselors
Who's New
Jen Anderson - 6th Grade Science
Our family moved here when my husband joined the staff at Clemson, and we like this area a lot. Our three daughters Abi (17), Sophia (12), and Josie (10) attend the Powdersville schools and keep us busy! In my free time, I like to play board games, travel, and try new recipes. I can’t wait to get to know the students at PVMS!
Lisa Bondy- 7th Grade World Geography
I am very excited to be teaching 7th grade World Geography at Powdersville Middle this year. I earned my M.Ed. from Clemson and this is my twelfth year teaching middle school. My experience includes writing Social Studies curriculum for our state department, and I am currently serving on the Social Studies textbook selection panel for the state. My goal for every class period is for students to think and learn as much as possible so that they can become productive members of society.
I am blessed to have a daughter, Emma (23), and a son, Will (22). My hobbies are reading and exercise. I am looking forward to serving the students and families of Powdersville Middle and a wonderful school year!
Rita Clardy - Custodian
Mary Clater - 6th Grade Math Resource
Starr Gillespie - 6th Grade ELA
Amber Govera - ELA Interventionist
Adriane Lynn - Special Education
Jane Mann - ISS Supervisor
I grew up in Pickens County, graduated from Clemson University and currently live in Clemson with my precious rescue dog, Paddington (Paddy). Most of my family lives in Australia so I travel there as often as possible, and I’m looking forward to post-Covid travel again. Traveling and reading are my hobbies.
As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher. I worked for the School District of Pickens County as a teacher and Guidance Counselor for 30 years. I then transferred to Spearman Elementary School as Guidance Counselor before retiring. I am excited to be at PVMS working with children again, (and with familiar faces) and I am looking forward to an amazing year.
Interesting fact: I am a certified scuba diver and have been diving in Australia, Vanuatu, Turks and Caicos and Mexico.
Abby Pace - 8th Grade ELA/Honors Teacher
Lynn Rogers - Special Education Aide
Kathleen Smith - ESOL Teacher
Hi! My name is Mrs. Kathleen Smith. I will dedicate myself to the PVMS students and create a positive learning environment that I hope will inspire the children to reach their greatest academic potential.
I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, Bob, two amazing sons, Keegan and Nolan, and Keegan’s incredible wife, Grace. We also have a Double Doodle dog, Blarney, who makes us laugh and smile all the time. I love to visit family and friends, travel, hike, swim or just relax by reading or watching movies.
It was my dream as a child to become a teacher. I have my Bachelor of Arts in three areas: Social Science Education (7-12), Elementary Education (N-6) and Political Science and also a minor in music. I also hold my Master of Arts Degree in Social Studies Education from Albany State University. I am certified to teach in three different areas: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Social Studies Education. This year, I am expanding my teaching career as an ESOL/ML teacher.
I am so excited to be an ESOL/ML teacher, work with such a dedicated team of professionals and be a part of the wonderful learning environment here at Powdersville Middle School!
Travis Watkins - Computer Science Teacher
Hey! My name is Travis Watkins, and I am excited to join the Powdersville Middle School family this year. A little about myself - I grew up in a town called Marion, North Carolina and attended McDowell High School. My passions growing up were always football and baseball. My senior year I received a baseball scholarship to play catcher at Lenior Rhyne University in Hickory, NC. Later on, I transferred and received my Bachelor's Degree in Business from Appalachian State University, the team/school who took down the mighty Michigan Wolverines and might go down as the greatest football upset of all time.
I worked in the sales industry for many years before following my passion for teaching. I am a graduate of the SC Pace Program whereby I received my professional teaching certificate in Business & Technology. I taught at Mauldin High School for the last four years and was a club advisor for a business program called DECA. We traveled and competed in business competitions throughout South Carolina, as well as national competitions. I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to teach and advise students who are now chasing their business aspirations at the collegiate level, including Harvard Business School.
I am a husband to Erin and parent to two wonderful kids: Brody (12) and Landry (4). Brody is a rising 7th grader here at Powdersville Middle School.
It has been a blessing to get to know wonderful people in our Powdersville community, and I look forward to meeting and becoming colleagues with all of you. I will be working with Mr. Jay Bagwell in the computing department.
iPad Protection Plan
If you have not paid the $29 fee for the iPad Protection Plan please do so as soon as possible. This fee is required by the district. Until payment is made, if your student's iPad is lost, stolen, or breaks, you will be responsible for the full amount of the cost for repair and/or replacement.
Free Meals Exception
Parent-Teacher-Student Organization
Please support the Powdersville Middle School PTSO today by joining our PTSO membership! The cost is $10.00 which goes towards programs for the students, teacher and staff appreciation and much more!
Your membership alone will give us a BIGGER voice in our school and community! Budget, programs, school events & volunteer opportunities will be discussed at meetings (attendance is not mandatory).
We would love for you to join us at our next meeting and see all the awesome things PVMS PTSO has to offer and will be doing throughout the year 2021-2022!
Vaccination Deadline
- Mrs. Pence, School Nurse
Yearbook
Yearbook sales have begun. Yearbooks can be purchased online through a link on our website or you can bring cash or a check made payable to PVMS to the school office or Mrs. Cole. If you want to personalize your yearbook, you must order it through the Josten's website. The link is on our PVMS website.
The early-bird purchase price for this full color, 90+ page yearbook is $40 through September 17, 2021. On September 18, 2021, the price increases to $45. Yearbooks ordered after December 30, 2021 will cost $50. The final day to purchase your yearbook is April 24, 2022. After this date, yearbooks will only be available for purchase if there are extra ones, on a first-come-first-serve basis, and they will cost $50, cash only.
The final day to submit 8th grade ads is also February 4, 2022.
PVMS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL
Project Lead The Way
We’re excited and privileged to have been recognized as a 2020-21 PLTW Distinguished Gateway School. Only 158 PLTW Gateway programs across the country earned this status. This recognition is based on our commitment to helping students own their education by increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in our PLTW Gateway program.
Gift Cards for Field Trips!
We anticipate being able to offer field trips this year! PVMS offers the opportunity to purchase gift cards as a great way to earn credit for your child’s school field trips and to help PVMS reach its goals for school improvement! Every gift card you purchase gives you 100% of the purchase value in addition to a designated credit percentage (80% of profit) towards your child’s trip and a designated percentage (20% of profit) towards the school's improvement goals. This program has paid the entire field trip cost for many of our students and their parents in past years. Consistency is the key! Don’t buy gas without gift cards! Ingles and WalMart/Sam’s Club give discounts on gas if you buy with gift cards! Don’t buy groceries, eat out, or go to the movies without gift cards! Don’t buy birthday, wedding, or shower gifts without gift cards! Don’t do home improvements or purchase appliances without gift cards! Definitely don’t go shopping without gift cards! Encourage relatives, neighbors, and co-workers to order gift cards in your child’s name.
There are many gift cards available through our online ordering. To get started, go to www.scripzone.com. Our group ID is 864269PMS. It is best to use your child’s name when you register as a new user.
We typically place our school order for gift cards on Wednesday morning. In most cases, gift cards will be ready for pick-up (or to give your child) by Thursday afternoon of each week.
We are not able to accept postdated checks.
A record is kept of your child’s credit through our online software. A record of your credit may be requested through e-mail (pvmsgiftcards@gmail.com).
We are not able to exchange gift cards after they have been picked up or sent home by your child. Please check your written or online order carefully before submitting. If we make a mistake in filling your order, we will be glad to make the necessary correction. We keep order forms on file for verification.
Plan ahead for what you will need for holidays. Filling orders the week before holidays is very challenging and availability is not guaranteed. Order early to ensure that you get what you need!