SCWS News
A Monthly Newsletter - February 2022
Did you know February 7 - February 11 is National School Counselors Week? Please reach out to your school counselor and say thank you! You can also leave a message for a member of our schooling team by clicking on their name below.
Mrs. Goff, Mr. Disbrow, Mrs. DeLong, Mrs. Gilbert, Ms. Hurley, Ms. L'Etoile
A message from our school leaders.
"February is here! Make sure you read the entire newsletter so you don't miss out on groups, school events, and other important information. Please take some time to reach out to your school counselor to tell them how much you appreciate their support especially during National School Counseling Week, which is February 7th-11th."
"Thank you for taking the time to read the SCWS Newsletter each month! National School Counseling Week is February 7-11th. This is a special week to focus our attention on the contributions of our school counseling team and highlight the impact they have on helping our students achieve success. Please take a moment and make your school counselor's day by sending them a message letting them know how much you appreciate them. Our counselors work hard each and everyday to advocate for you!"
Student Enrollment 2021-2022
Course Announcement!
Counselor's Corner
Counselor Tips for Success
Check your Weekly Round-Up email. There you will find current grades and how many credits you have earned this school year. Remember, the expectation is for students to earn 6 credits each school year.
Grade Level Meetings
12th Grade: February 10th at 11am. Click here to join.
March 14th at 1pm. Click here to join.
11th Grade: March 15th at 11am. Click here to join.
10th Grade: March 15th at 1pm. Click here to join.
9th Grade: March 16th at 11am. Click here to join.
Groups
Join Mrs. Gilbert for Lit Lunch on the 1st and 3rd Thursday each month from 1-2 pm. Come and share/get feedback on your latest creative projects, meet new friends, and chat about your favorite Netflix binge worthy shows. Bookmark our meeting link here.
Join Mr. Disbrow for his “Unsure of your career path? I can help” group on Wednesday, February 16th at 2PM. This group will explore a variety of tools and questions you can start asking yourself to bring some clarity to your future career choice! Please join me with this link.
Recordings
Group recordings can be found here.
Events
Always check the calendar linked to your school email. Many events will be added there as well.
Seniors
Attend monthly 12th grade meetings and/or watch the recordings
Schedule and attend your IGP with your counselor (see below)
Order your cap and gown here by January 15th for guaranteed delivery
Gather pictures of you as a kid and now to submit for graduation.
Think of an idea to decorate your graduation cap.
IGPs
Attention all sophomores, juniors, and seniors: Please book your IGPs with your counselor ASAP.
Students with last names beginning with A-F Click Here Mr. Disbrow
Students with last names beginning with G-M Click Here Mrs. DeLong
Students with last names beginning with N-Z Click Here Mrs. Gilbert
Scholarships
Remember, many scholarships allow students to apply before they are seniors.
Play Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship: $1500. Must be a graduating senior and submit a story describing the impact they made in the life of a rescue animal or other animal welfare cause. Click here for more information.
KnowBe4 Women’s Scholarship: $10,000. Must be a female pursuing cybersecurity with a GPA of 3.3 or higher. Deadline is February 28, 2022. Check out more information here.
Learn about more scholarships by clicking here.
Use your imagination to create a Google Doodle based on what self care means to you.
Click here to learn more! A $30,000 scholarship will be awarded to the winner, $50,000 Google for Education scholarship for your school and you will get your design will be placed on the Google homepage for a day!
Competition is from January 11, 2022 until March 4, 2022
Dual Enrollment
Are you an 11th or 12th grader looking to earn college credit while in high school? Limestone University is offering virtual dual enrollment courses! Check it out here and let your counselor know if you are interested.
Opportunities
Game On! With the help of ITology, a non-profit company working to grow the number of IT professionals in South Carolina, students will create their own simple gaming app using text-based JavaScript coding and commands. Bitsbox is an exciting way for students to build and share their very own, personalized gaming app. The cost of this virtual workshop is $20 and is the responsibility of the student. Register for this event here.
Class of 2022!
You can begin ordering your cap and gown package online, click here. *The last guaranteed shipment date is January 15th, 2022.Graduation is Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the https://www.columbiaconventioncenter.com/. We want to ensure graduates have a safe and memorable graduation. We will provide more details about this event (guests, attire, honor cords) in the early Spring.
Seniors, have you filled out your exit ticket? Click here to complete the form.
Dialogue Virtual Mental Health Counseling
SC Whitmore School has partnered with Dialogue, a virtual mental health counseling program that is FREE to students. They offer help with anxiety, depression, grief, and much more. If you have more questions click here to learn more about Dialogue, and how to sign up.
Free Tutoring
Tutor.com offers real-time tutoring to K-12 students in Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, etc. The South Carolina State Library provides the service for free. The student can quickly connect with a tutor using the “Connect with a tutor now” option, or they can create a free tutor.com account to drop off a math question, submit a paper for review, or connect with their favorite tutor. Creating an account is optional and is not needed if using the “Connect with a tutor now” option.https://lhh-tutor-com.scsl.idm.oclc.org/Landing.aspx
Username: discus2021
Password: think1!
Scholarships
Do you love poetry and art? Check out this contest to see how you can win some awesome awards for your writing or artwork!
Voorhees College invites you to their Annual Spring High School Visitation Day on March 18, 2022. Click here to learn more https://bit.ly/SCWSVoorheesCollege2022
Free Bereavement Camp
Did you know that Camp Hands of Hope, is a weekend-long bereavement camp for youth and their loved ones who have experienced the loss of a loved one in the past three years?
This camp will take place online on February 18 - 20, 2022, and will involve a mix of independent family activities facilitated by clinical bereavement professionals.
Click this link to register: www.camphandsofhope.org
February Testing Updates
SAT Testing
March 2, Information has been sent to those who confirmed their spot.
ACT Testing
March 10 in Columbia only. Please check your messages if you confirmed your seat.
March EOC
Mark your calendars for the upcoming EOC (End-of-Course Exam). Information has been sent out.
March 14-18 are EOC dates
Monday: Conway
Tuesday: Spartanburg
Wednesday: Charleston
Thursday: Rock Hill
Friday: Columbia
January 2022 Student All - Stars
How do you become a Student All-Star?
Each month the SC Whitmore School Faculty and Staff identifies 4 students that really stand out. The student All-Stars will receive a $100 reward. These students are: most improved, best all-around, monthly standout, and the SCWS All-Star.
Most Improved - Jochebed Ollennu
A student who has shown an increased effort in their course(s).
SCWS All-Star - Eliana Price
A student who has done well in their courses and engages with the teachers.
Best All-Around - Kayden Melvin
A student who has consistently demonstrated their ability to earn great grades and stays on pace. this student is also engaged, reaches out for help, and shows up to one-to-one meetings.
Monthly Standout - David Sales
A student who has shown tremendous efforts this month overall.
Learn more about our All-Star Students here.
Staff Spotlight
Michelle Bishop, Director of Compliance
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Read, play World of Warcraft, and garden.
Tell a little bit about your background.
I am an old timer in education. I have been working for 38 years in the field. I am a graduate of USC, but I like Clemson football! I love animals and wish I could have dozens of rescued pets.
What do you do at SCWS and what do you enjoy most about your role?
I am the Director of Compliance so I make sure all the rules are followed! I also work with special education, testing, and attendance. I love what I do! There are no two days that are the same.
What do you want the students to know about you?
I believe all students have it in them to achieve. You just have to bring your best. I will go the extra mile to help students who are trying to help themselves.
One of my 3 cats, Spot.
For the Alliance!
One of my 4 dogs, Daffodil.
Meet the Student Resource Coordinator
My name is Ms.L’Etoile. I am the school’s Student Resource Coordinator. I am excited to be working with you all this upcoming year!
Experience: I am originally from Massachusetts, and made South Carolina my home in 2017. I received my masters degree in educational counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston. I previously worked as a graduation coach, school counselor, social worker, case coordinator, crisis counselor, and therapist. I am honored to be able to serve the state of South Carolina in providing social support services to our students and their families. I am here for YOU!
As your Student Resource Coordinator, I will be working alongside students, parents, teachers, administration, school counselors, and other supportive staff to deliver individualized social support services.
Some of the services I provide include:
• Assessing your student’s overall well being, including any potential mental health needs.
• Communication and consultation with you and your family, your student’s teachers, and other supportive services for monitoring your student’s progress.
• Identifying barriers that may be hindering your student’s education and/or connecting you and your family with community resources to ensure basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing are being met.
• Providing trauma informed individual and group counseling services.
• Providing monthly life skills groups.
• Psycho-education for parents and teachers.
Contact: CLETOILE@scwhitmoreschool.org (803) 216-1721 (call or text) CLICK HERE FOR REFERRAL FORM!
Resources: COMMUNITY RESOURCES FIND A COUNSELOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCIES
Upcoming Events:
2/8/22 6:30-8p, Organization Skills Workshop
3/8/22: Discovering Your Student’s Pathway Workshop
4/12/22: Student Self Advocacy Workshop
Click here to watch a video from Ms. L’Etoile.
Clubs
Beta Club is a group of students committed to leading through serving others in their community and state. These students are selected based upon their GPA, attendance and behavior. Students work to complete volunteer hours, as well as come together as a team to complete a service project. Induction Ceremony is held in the fall.
Coding Club
elsif youAreInterestedIn == “Sharing a software or hardware project you are working on.” print “Come to coding club.”
elsif youAreInterestedIn == “Learning about the language this part of the description is written in.” print “Come to coding club.” End
curiousabout = {‘Ruby’ => ‘ComeToCodingClub’, ‘Python’ => ‘ComeToCodingClub’, ‘C++’ => ‘ComeToCodingClub’, ‘BASIC’ => ‘ComeToCodingClub’, ‘JavaScript’ => ‘ComeToCodingClub’, ‘other’ => ‘ComeToCodingClub’}
reasons_for_not_coming_to_coding_club = nil
Lit Lunch is a virtual meet-up for creative students who want to meet new friends and share what latest creative project they’re working on. Whether you’re into cosplay, digital art, drawing by hand, photography, rapping, writing or playing instruments, this is the space for you! We meet on the first Thursday of each month from 1-2 p.m
The SC Whitmore National Honor Society is an organization for students in grades 10-12. Selection is based on four criteria: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Members complete volunteer hours and work together to complete at least one service project each school year. Membership into the National Honor Society allows students to apply for over 400 college scholarships not available to other students. Members also have access to numerous college planning services.
The SCWS photography club works to improve students’ photography skills beyond point and shoot. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month and look at the pictures that the students took that month. We also explore a photography topic that interests the members of the club. Students get the opportunity to share their photographs with other members and learn how to make their photographs better.
S.C. Whitmore Student Council is an organization of student leaders who are elected by the student body. The Council is led by the Student Body President along with offices of Vice President and Secretary. The Council provides input into how to make student life better at SC Whitmore School. They also plan events and contribute in other areas the administration of the school sees fit. The Council is advised by a faculty sponsor who attends all meetings.
Students are eligible to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities at their local high school. Contact your local high school for more information.
TECH TIP OF THE MONTH Teaching and Tutoring
Statewide access to free real-time tutoring is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the state digital library known as Discus. Both English and Spanish speaking tutors (in select subjects) are available through the Discus Tutor.com subscription.
Check out this link: Tutor.com from Discus.
Did you know your teachers host live lessons monthly? During live lessons you can learn more about topics you will encounter in the course and have a chance to ask questions. Check the messages from your teachers to get more information about other specific incentives! These are in addition to the one-to-one help sessions that you can book with your teachers.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join us to take a break from schoolwork, meet new friends, and share any creative projects you're working on. RSVP here and click here to join.
SCWS Baking Stars! - February 16th from 10 AM - 11 AM
Join us to take a break from schoolwork, meet new friends, and share any creative projects you're working on. RSVP here and click here to join.
How to Access the New SCWS Library!
Attention, students! We are proud to announce the launch of the brand new SCWS library! This library is completely free and completely virtual and offers hundreds of e-books, audiobooks, graphic novels, and texts in Spanish.
See this flyer for information on how to download the Sora app and access the SCWS library titles. See also Dr. White's video on how to use the app once it's downloaded.
Please contact Dr. White at jwhite@scwhitmoreschool.org with any questions or concerns. Happy reading!
Please help support our school by registering to support SCWS as a Publix Partner. Click here to learn more.
Who should I contact?
If you have any questions feel free to contact the office directly at 866-476-6416. Or you can contact these individuals for your specific question.
Office: SC Whitmore School
General questions. The office will be able to point you in the right direction.
866-476-6416 - office@scwhitmoreschool.org
SC Whitmore Principal: Ebone' Adams
General student concerns.
803-768-8310 - eadams@scwhitmoreschool.org
Director of Compliance: Michelle Bishop
Questions about compliance, Special Education, 504 or IEP.
803-768-8306 - mbishop@scwhitmoreschool.org
Enrollment Coordinator: Pam Chick
Questions about re-enrollment or enrollment status.
866-476-6416 - pchick@scwhitmoreschool.org
Attendance Coordinators
Questions about attendance.
Troy Crump - A through I - 803-768-8318 - tcrump@scwhitmoreschool.org
Sam Dotson - J through Z - 803-768-8309 - sdotson@scwhitmoreschool.org
Director of School Counseling: Amber Goff
Questions about your courses, graduation requirements, plans after graduation.
Please call or text the numbers below.
Amber Goff - 803-768-8314 - email: agoff@scwhitmoreschool.org
Traylor Disbrow - A through F - 803-768-8302 - email: tdisbrow@scwhitmoreschool.org
Cameron DeLong - G through M - (803) 881-8077 - email: cdelong@scwhitmoreschool.org
JaQuette Gilbert - N through Z - 803-768-8305 - email: jgilbert@scwhitmoreschool.org
Testing Coordinator: Patrick Bowers
Questions about all things testing (SAT, ACT, EOC, WIN, PSAT)
803-786-8313 or email pbowers@scwhitmoreschool.org
Public Relations Manager: Ashten Latta
Questions about social media, newsletter, events, press release or do you have a story to tell?
803-768-8315 or email alatta@scwhitmoreschool.org