🐾The PAW Print
What Wildcat Families NEED TO KNOW
Learn our School Pledge and ROAR with us, The Waccamaw Way!
251 Claridy Road, Conway, SC 29526
Office (843-347-4684), Fax (843-234-6004)
ADMINISTRATION
Leslie Huggins, Principal (lhuggins001@horrycountyschools.net)
Doreen Wheat, Assistant Principal (dwheat@horrycountyschools.net)
Tasha Livingston, Assistant Principal (tlivingston001@horrycountyschools.net)
Hours of Operation
School Hours 7:30 am—2:30 PM
Building opens at 7:00 AM
School begins at 7:30 AM; Tardy Bell rings at 7:35 AM
Morning car rider line opens at 7:00 AM
The front Office closes at 4:00pm every day.
You can find all kinds of Back to School info at this link, including school supply lists! Click this link to access all this helpful info as you prepare your wildcat for school.
Click this LINK to access the 🐾2026-27 WES Parent/Student Handbook🐾.
Use this document to help you find answers to many of your questions about our school procedures, including attendance, transportation, field trips, fees and much, much more!
Please LIKE and FOLLOW us on our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/WaccamawElementary.
You'll find lots of valuable information, pictures and videos of fun happenings at WES and many other important things located here.
It has been a hardworking summer for our HCS Facilities team and other contractors who have been working diligently to complete several projects for WES. Many parts of the building have already received a full overhaul of the HVAC system and the remainder will be completed next summer in this two year project that began over spring break 2026. In addition to this work, older student and staff restrooms have been renovated and updated and the school has received some other electrical upgrades.
🐾👀Be on the lookout for some special wildcat surprises as you return to WES during Open House! Can you and your child find Wes, our wildcat, posted in some new places around the building? You never know what you may find!🐾
📖📚Learn More about our HCS Rise With Reading initiative here:
Check out the HCS Rise With Reading link below to learn more about this initiative, get tools to help you understand your child's Lexile level, get ideas on how to support your child with reading and learn more about the Superintendent's Reading Challenge!
In HCS and at WES we are focused on creating balanced, engaging learning environments for students.
This new initiative focuses on reducing unnecessary classroom screen time while continuing to use technology where it enhances learning. Teachers and staff will receive practical tools, screen-time tracking resources, blended learning strategies, and professional development to increase opportunities for hands-on and collaborative learning in the classroom.
To learn more about our approach and commitment to student success, visit horrycountyschools.net/screentime.
- Breakfast and lunch will be provided at NO COST to families for 2026-27.
- Students will have a “grab and go” breakfast option available.
- Students who choose breakfast will eat in the following locations:
- Child Development, Kindergarten, 1st, 4th, and 5th graders will eat in their classroom
- 2nd and 3rd graders will eat in the cafeteria
Each week our newsletter will include the lunch menu for the week. You can also always check breakfast and lunch menus at this link: https://menus.healthepro.com/organizations/2111
These important documents will help families plan ahead for the school year.
Check the Aug. 24 edition of The PAW PRINT to find links to our WES Save the Dates and Dress Up/Spirit Days document!
- All students will enter school each morning through a Weapons Detection Device, much like a standard metal detector. It will be a very simple process. Students will be able to keep their backpacks on to walk through the detector.
- Some items may cause the detector to go off. Please refer to the flyer below for a list of items that are allowed but may cause delays at detectors. If possible, avoid these items.
- Per HCS policy, ALL VISITORS who enter the school will pass through a weapons detection system upon entry. If you are visiting WES, please bring only your ID and necessary items to avoid delays with bag checks.
Thank you for following these HCS procedures to help create a safe environment for our wildcats.
Please visit the HCS website for details and to access FAQs regarding the NEW HCS Clear Backpack Policy: https://www.horrycountyschools.net/departments-services/policy-and-legal-issues/clear-backpacks
School Bus Transportation:
• Waccamaw Elementary is in the CAROLINA FOREST CLUSTER BUS AREA.
• LIKE and FOLLOW the Carolina Forest Area Bus Office at https://www.facebook.com/CarolinaForestBusOffice; information is frequently posted regarding pick up time changes and late drop offs.
• NOTE: Bus routes may have changed! Please do not assume your child will ride the same bus # or have the same pick up/drop off point.
• Routes are often slightly behind regular schedule on the first days of school.
Be sure to confirm your child's afternoon transportation with your child's teacher during Open House.
CD, Kindergarten and 1st grade students must be issued a bus tag and will not be released from the bus without a parent or adult present at the bus stop.
The Tagged Child Program is designed to ensure that young riders on school buses are delivered to the correct bus stops with proper supervision. All students who attend child development, kindergarten, or first-grade classes are considered Tagged Children.
The purpose of the written instructions is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students on board any State or County school bus in Horry County. To give guidance to bus drivers, supervisors, and school administrators in the proper manner to handle Tagged Children.
The school that each tagged child attends is responsible for providing a tag that is to be worn by the child when onboard any school bus. The tag worn by the child must have the following information:
- The child's full name
- The route number that the child rides
- The child's bus stop location
- A PowerSchool photo of the child, if available
- Child's current grade level. (CD, K, or 1st Grade)
Note: Tags are not to have names of people who are authorized to pick up the student. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to be at the bus stop. Drivers will not be checking IDs at the bus stop.
- The Driver must be on his/her bus, by the entrance, during the loading process. The Driver must check each child's tag information for accuracy prior to that child taking their seat.
- All tagged children must have assigned seats in the rows nearest the front of the bus. If a tagged child has an older sibling on the same bus, they may sit together; however, it must be a seat at the front designated for tagged children.
- The child's tag must be worn by the child until that child exits the bus and has supervision at the bus stop.
- During the unloading process of a tagged child, the driver must remove the child's tag prior to the child exiting the bus and verify that the child is at the correct bus stop and that the child is supervised when getting off the bus.
- All tagged children must have supervision at the bus stop before the child is allowed to depart the bus.
- At bus stops where community leaders are picking up multiple students, the driver must ensure that all tagged children have been accounted for and are under the supervision of the community leader prior to the bus leaving that stop.
- When at the bus stop of a tagged student, the driver determines that the child does not have supervision present, the driver will immediately contact their supervisor via radio, and in most cases return the tagged child to his/her school before their next route.
- When at the bus stop of a tagged child in child development, kindergarten, or first grade, the driver determines that the information on the tag is incorrect, the driver will contact their supervisor immediately via radio. The driver will follow the instructions given by his/her supervisor. If, for any reason, the driver cannot reach their supervisor, they will return the tagged child to his/her school before their next route.
SAFETY is our 1st PRIORITY.
If your child has a change of transportation please email to,
westransportation@horrycountyschools.net
Please do not email individual staff members regarding any transportation changes.
To help us avoid confusion for students, all changes should be made no later than 1:30 PM.
Car Rider Traffic Safety
- Our morning drop off car rider line opens promptly at 7:00 AM. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT EXIT VEHICLES PRIOR TO 7:00 AM. There is no supervision prior to 7:00 AM.
- Students MAY NOT be dropped off in the parking lot unattended by a parent/guardian.
- The car rider line should be used for all drop off.
- Parents/guardians should remain in their car at all times in the car rider line. If you need to exit your vehicle to assist your child with a car seat, etc., please pull up to #0 in the car line before doing so.
- Please stay in the single car lane that is designated for car rider drop off and pick up.
- Be sure to help our line move smoothly by MERGING at the designated spot in the line.
- If you are entering the building for a visit, please use the CROSSWALK at all times.
- Our day begins at 7:30 am. If you child plans to eat breakfast, he/she should arrive by 7:15 to ensure arrival to class on time.
- If your child arrives at 7:35 AM he/she is LATE. The second bell is a late bell. Students will receive a tardy after the 7:35 bell rings.
- If your child is arriving after 7:35 am, he/she MUST be walked to the main office by an parent or guardian.
- Afternoon car rider dismissal begins at 2:30 pm.
- Please have your car rider tag displayed DAILY where school staff can see the student name.
- If you do not have your car tag displayed you will be asked to move to #0 and present ID to pick up your child.
Parents Right to Know
As the parent of a student, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers and instructional assistants who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for the following information about your child’s classroom teachers and requires the school to provide this information in a timely manner.
Whether the teacher meets the state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grades and subjects he/she teaches.
Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status because of special circumstances.
The teachers’ college major, whether the teacher has advanced degrees, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
If you would like to receive additional information, please contact Mrs. Leslie Huggins, principal at 843-347-4684 or lhuggins001@horrycountyschools.net. You may also access the information at the website below.
Information may be obtained through the SC State Department of Education’s website at https://ed.sc.gov
Once on the home page, click “Educator Qualifications Search” in the search bar (upper right hand corner).
Click on Parents Right to Know
In the middle of the page click on Educator Qualification Link. Then enter the teacher's name or school’s name.
Our Mission
At Waccamaw Elementary, we foster a culture of LISTENERS, LEARNERS, and LEADERS to become contributing members of our community and society. We strive to demonstrate THE WACCAMAW WAY, every day.
The mission of Waccamaw Elementary School, a diverse and growing community of unique individuals, is to ensure that each child will experience optimal social, emotional, academic, and physical success through a challenging and progressive child-centered educational program in a safe and healthy learning environment.
Contact Us
251 Claridy Road
Conway, SC 20526
Telephone (843)347-4684
Fax (843)234-6004