This Week
September 20, 2019
Duke Energy Awards $50,000 to Florence 1 Schools for Clean Energy Curriculum
Florence 1 Schools received $50,000 from the Duke Energy Foundation for a Clean Energy Curriculum for high school students which is being implemented this school year. The grant is part of $3.2 million in funding for innovative K-12 education programs across the communities served by the company.
“Bright futures begin in the classroom, and environmental and engineering educational opportunities enhance academic success for our 21st century students,” said Mindy Taylor, government and community relations manager for Duke Energy. “The Clean Energy Curriculum really hits the mark in an area important to Duke Energy, and we’re very happy to support the Florence 1 staff in bringing it to their students.”
The Clean Energy Curriculum will give the initial class of 35 students advanced training to be successful in a post-secondary engineering program and in the clean energy workforce. It is the first of its kind in Florence 1 Schools.
“Florence 1 Schools is very excited to partner with Duke Energy to provide the Clean Energy Curriculum to our students,” said Chris Rogers, Director of STEM Education for Florence 1 Schools. “This four-course curriculum will expose our students to real-world problem solving. Our students will work with Duke Energy engineers to develop a better understanding of the work they could possibly do if they decide to pursue that career path.”
Pictured above left to right, Dr. Richard O'Malley, Superintendent, Florence 1 Schools; Matthew Dowdell, Principal, West Florence High School; students Darren Lloyd, Rachel Snider Shamiya Inman and Duke Energy's Mindy Taylor. Back row, West Florence Instructor TJ Anderson and Florence 1 Schools STEM Director Chris Rogers.
Creech is Governor Appointee
Florence 1 Schools Director of School Readiness Dr. Floyd Creech has been appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to a state-wide education committee. The committee of thirteen, known as the Early Childhood Education Study Committee, is comprised of South Carolina legislators, research directors, and educators. The committee was created out of South Carolina’s comprehensive education reform bill which addresses critical issues like early childhood education. The committee held its first meeting this week.
School Foundation to Honor West Florence High School Graduate
The 18th annual School Foundation Gala will be held on Tuesday, October 22 at SiMT in Florence. Doors will open at 5:30 pm and the program will begin promptly at 7:00 pm.
This year's distinguished graduate is Nancy C.G. Snowden, a 1973 graduate of West Florence High School and a 1977 graduate of Florence-Darlington Technical College.
She is the CEO and founder of NCGS which was established in 1984. NCGS is a contract research organization which functions as a high-level professional consultant to the health-care industry. NCGS serves as an extension to the sponsor company supporting the research, identifying and managing sites, verifying data and overseeing the safety of the subjects.
Snowden's background is in oncology, transplant medicine and critical care. Prior to establishing NCGS, she served as the Lead of a National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute funded grant at the Medical College of Georgia's University Hospital. There, she established one of the first Community Clinical Oncology Programs (CCOP), and she produced one of the top enrolling initial centers. Snowden has over thirty-five years of combined clinical research experience in drug, diagnostic and novel device development.
She resides in Charleston and is the mother of two children: a daughter, Jennifer, and a son Doug. She also has two grandchildren, James Ascher and Sophia.
Tickets may be reserved to the gala through the following link:
Annual Employee Giving Program Underway in Florence 1 Schools
All 4 Autism
Employee Giving
Greater Florence Habitat for Humanity
The School Foundation
The United Negro College Fund
United Way
Florence 1 Schools is offering its employees an opportunity to give back to the community through the annual charitable giving campaign. Five organizations have the potential to benefit through this campaign: All 4 Autism, Greater Florence Habitat for Humanity, The School Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, and the United Way.
Florence 1 staff members are provided the opportunity to pledge donations to these organizations through payroll deductions. This year, employees may access a direct link to the pledge form. Employees interested in pledging to one or more of the charities should print the pledge form provided on the Florence 1 website: https://giving.fsd1.org
Employees should submit the completed form by Friday, September 20 to their school/department bookkeeper. Employees who wish to contribute a one-time donation to these charities are able to give directly to the charity.
Delmae Elementary to Host State-wide K-12 World Language Sessions
"I am very excited about this opportunity and hope that we're able to make some professional connections with language immersion educators from around South Carolina," said Delmae Elementary School Principal Roy Ann Jolley.
The meetings will be held at Delmae Elementary from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on September 25, October 16, and November 6.
Participants must register individually or for their team (each team member must be include in the form for team registration ) via the link below.
For more information contact Wendy Stepens, World Language Education Association Associate via wstephens@ed.sc.gov.
Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
During National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) we recognize the contributions made and the important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture.
Today, 57.5 million people or 18% of the American population are of Hispanic or Latino origin. This represents a significant increase from 2000, which registered the Hispanic population at 35.3 million or 13% of the total U.S. population.
Share in this special annual tribute by learning and celebrating the generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
Inside Florence 1 Schools Returns
Prepare now to receive the 2019-20 Inside Florence 1 Schools in 60 Seconds series by downloading the Florence 1 mobile app to view this most popular, entertaining, educational and informative program about Florence 1 Schools.
What's in Your Wallet?
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month at the Bruce and Lee Foundation Library. Prizes for library card sign-ups are offered through September 30 to children ages 2 through 12 while supplies last.