Flora Update

Friday, September 25- Early Dismissal 11:45 a.m.

Saturday, September 26- Homecoming Dance

Monday, September 28- Friday, October 2- Homecoming Week

Thursday, October 8- End of 1st Quarter

Thursday, October 8- Early Dismissal 11:45 a.m./Parent Teacher Conferences - more info TBA

Friday, October 9- Teacher Workday

Wednesday, October 14- Richland One Consolidated Fair (Juniors and Seniors-more info below)

Tuesday, October 20- PSAT (10/11) and Pre-ACT (9) more info TBA

Juniors and Seniors! Save the Date: Saturday, April 17- Prom

26-27 Richland One Calendar

We are excited to share that AC Flora was named the 25-26 College Application Month School of Excellence by the SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) and the American College Application Campaign (ACAC). On Tuesday, State Superintendent of Education The Honorable Ellen Weaver, R1 Superintendent Todd Walker, Board of School Commissioners Vice-Chairwoman Barbara Weston, Senator Overture Walker, Representative Heather Bauer, Jeff Perez (CHE) and Tyler Morris (ACAC) along with other district officials came to celebrate the award.

AC Flora is the only school in the state to earn this award! The award recognizes AC Flora for going above and beyond to help seniors complete college applications, demonstrating program consistency, and meeting data reporting deadlines. Our school counselors are amazing! Thank you to Ms. Porter, Ms. Bartley, Ms. Mujica, Ms. Mack, and Ms. Broadnax for going above and beyond - not only for College Application Day but each and every day as they work with our students.

Speaking of College Application Month, our annual College Application Days took place Tuesday and Wednesday in the library. Students met with college representatives, worked on college applications, and received help from our counseling team in all ways related to their future after Flora. See photos below.

Senior Portrait makeups will be Tomorrow, September 18, 2026 in Room 326.Please click here to book.

Our Homecoming Dance will be Saturday, September 26, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Upper Gym. This event is for A.C. Flora students only. A current A.C. Flora ID is required. Tickets are $16.

Please click here to purchase tickets.

With 120 cadets, the Falcon Battalion has its highest enrollment in over a decade! The Battalion Leadership Team for this school year is c/LTC Layla Brabham (Battalion Commander), c/MAJ MacKenzie Holmes (Battalion Executive Officer) and c/CSM Nah’Riyah (Battalion Command Sergeant Major). We’re off to a great start with the new cadets learning the fundamentals of discipline, drill and ceremonies, and getting fitted for new uniforms. It is fulfilling to see our more experienced cadets take on the responsibility to teach our newer cadets and serve as positive examples. Be on the lookout for the Flora Battalion at our football games, community service events, and the highly anticipated Veterans Day parade in November!

Flora students, get ready to make a real impact! Applications are open for 10th and 11th graders to join the Leader Academy sponsored by Chick-fil-A.

Student participants commit to meeting one Friday a month from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for leader labs and several times throughout the year for group service projects. Applications are online at https://app.chickfilaleaderacademy.com/apply?school=3467&classroom=1929

The deadline to apply is tomorrow, September 18, 2026.

Anyone in Fellowship of Christian Athletes should contact Coach Thompson at jacob.thompson@richlandone.org.

Upcoming college and career visits:

College room in guidance (Flight Time)

Thursday, September 24: Barnard College (NYC)

Tuesday, September 29: Davidson College

Friday, October 2: Columbia International University

Please see the latest Scholarship Update.

Please see this useful list of Scholarship Websites for the 26-27 school year.

Richland One Consolidated College and Career Fair

Richland One is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for your seniors and juniors! The Richland One Consolidated Fair - ED OP 2026 (College Fair) will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Your student will be able to meet with a number of colleges and career professionals, pick up college applications, and learn about financial aid opportunities. Again, please place this important date on your calendar: Wednesday, October 14, 2026; during the school day. Students will be transported to and from the event by Richland One transportation. All school rules and protocols will be adhered to.

All forms need to be returned to the counseling office no later than Tuesday, September 29, 2026. If the form is NOT returned by Tuesday, September 29, 2026, your student WILL NOT attend the event.

Please click HERE for the permission form. Paper copies can be found in the main office and the counseling office. All forms should be returned to the counseling office.

Thank you and we look forward to sharing this wonderful opportunity with your student.

On Monday, September 21 (B Day), Jostens will be on campus to speak with Juniors about class rings at 9 a.m. Seniors will meet at 9:45 a.m. to learn about Graduation Supplies.

All students should be present at their respective meetings. If you have morning Heyward, students should go to your Heyward class.

When: November 7th , 2026

Where: Most likely Lexington HS. But TBD - The association has not made it public yet.

What happens: Girls compete within their AGE and WEIGHT class in the Bench Press, Squat and Broad Jump exercises. See photos below.

In order to compete: Email Coach Rumsey at ian.rumsey@richlandone.org. You will need to take home and complete permission slips as well.

For general updates, see floraathletic.com.
To buy Falcon gear, see My Team Shop.

For team schedules, see Schedule.

Apply for Teacher Grants from AC Flora PTSO

AC Flora’s PTSO is pleased to offer teacher grants again this year. Applications are due October 9 to Elizabeth Beasley, PTSO Academic Excellence chair. The PTSO will review applications and reward a total of $4,000 in grants. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Beasley at eibeasley@gmail.com.

Find out more about AC Flora’s PTSO

PTSO members are welcome to attend the PTSO board meeting if they want to know more about what the board does and how the PTSO contributes to the school environment and experience. The next meeting will be Monday, September 28, at 5:30 p.m. in the AC Flora Media Center.

Join the AC Flora PTSO

To join and support the PTSO’s ongoing efforts in the AC Flora community, please click on the following links:

Friends and Family Memberships

https://www.acfptso.org/membership

Business Partners

As a Business Partner, you can promote your business to the large AC Flora community throughout the whole school year. All donations are tax deductible.

https://www.acfptso.org/business-partners

Stay in the know about your student’s grade level.

For each grade level at AC Flora, the PTSO hosts a GroupMe in which the PTSO’s grade representatives will post and circulate information about events and activities for that grade.

To get added to your student’s grade level GroupMe, please click here.

2026-2027 PTSO Donors:

Falcon’s Pride ($500 or more)

Josh and Martha McCain

Kenzie and Ryan Newton

Sarah and Harrison Penn

Falcon’s Flight ($250)

Stephan and Rachael Ardis

Aaron and Katie Barthel

Nicholas and Elizabeth Beasley

Shaun and Courtney Blake

Tommy and Missy Boggs

Nick and Heyward Bonyata

Susan Childs

Edward and Molley Clarkson

Stephen and Lindsay Creech

Shaun and Allison Cranford

Brian and Lauren Cunningham

Stephen and Townes Denemark

Alex and Sarah Dillard

Jay and Jackie Edwards

Ryan and Kelly Foster

Ryan and Melissa Gentry

Patrick and Leslie Gibbons

Shelton and Elizabeth Haile

Kyle and Meredeth Hewett

Sara Svedberg Homewood

Scott and Ashley Jaillette

Carter and Elizabeth Jeffords

Andrew and Jennifer MacLeod

Jonathan and Cydney Milling

Preston and Louisa Sabalis

Stephen and Liza Sansbury

Kevin and Anna Shalkham

Zac and Carmen Thomas

Bill and Rebecca Warren

Benefactors ($100)

Tom and Kim Andrews

Blair and Erin Baldwin

Jonathan and Kelly Barbrey

Wendy Bauman

Ed and Elizabeth Black

Rob and Danielle Boysen

Tim and Courtney Brooks

Blake and Ashlee Buchanan

Jason and Talyse Burkett

Travis and Elizabeth Burt

Gary and Celeste Carnaggio

Walt and Marianna Cartin

Erik and Nicole Crook

Eric and Laura Curbo

Andrew and Christin Daniel

Brunson and Emily DePass

LJ and Kat Dragner

Antione and Kalenia Frederick

Scott and Raven Gambrell

Michael and Mundi George

Will and Lauren Gillespie

John and Megan Harrison

Ian and Emily Hancock

Mike and Suzy Hanes

Michael and Jessica Haught

Todd and Amanda Hicks

Shannon and Gretchen Hope

Harry and Kelly Hoppman

Rocky and Eveleigh Hughey

George and Elizabeth Hutton

Oz and Elise Ince

Kenn and Ginny Jameson

Tom and Victoria Juran

Richard and Kalen Kloskey

Kent and Nan Krieg

Spann and Elizabeth Laffitte

JP and Clark Lee

Deonne and Kristen Long

Jon and Erica Ludovina

Glenn and Elisa Lumpkin

Denny and Elizabeth Major

Marwan Marzagao

Phil Muhlenkamp and Laura Nolting

Michael Mareska and Tara Powell

Mark and Lori Mauldin

Keith and Kelly McCook

Jamie and Monica McCutcheon

Terry and Kristy Moore

Dale and Kerri Ness

Chris and Jenny O’Neill

Drew and Adriane Radeker

Hal and Melissa Ray

Ricky and Kristie Rowe

Stephen and Amy Scott

Mary Catherine Scouten

Andy and Christy Slaughter

Jamie and Oakley Smyth

Bart and Rachel Snyder

Will and Ashley Thomas

Patrick and Shawn Toole

Justin and Kate Vaughan

Laura and Chad Voyles
Aaron Jasnow and Kristy Welshhans

John Lavigne and Sheryl Wiskur

Michael and Mandy Wren

Falcon Platinum

Forest Acres Needlepoint

forestacresneedlepoint.com

Falcon Gold

Brabham Griffin Insurance
brabhamgriffin.com

Sumter Utilities, Inc.

sumter-utilities.com

Falcon Silver

Andrews Law Office

thomasandrewslaw.com

Border States

borderstates.com

HLJ Creative

hljcreative.com

JHV Travel

Bookyourjollyholiday.com

Johnson & Lesley

johnsonandlesley.com

McKenzie & Lybrand

mckenzielybrand.com

Milliken Properties

millikenproperties.com

Milling Law Firm
millinglaw.net

Purpose Equity Group

www.purposeequitygroup.com

Falcon Bronze

Camp, Moring & Brendle, LLC

cmccpas.net

Lipscomb Auto Sales
lipscombautosales.com

Lipscomb Stump Grinding
lipscombstumpgrinding.com

Sandhills Pediatrics
www.sandhillsped.com

Email: jennifer.collins@richlandone.org
Website: https://www.richlandone.org/Domain/45
Location: 1 Falcon Drive, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: 803-738-7300
Instagram: @acflorahigh