GCSD Magnet Connections

August 2026

Goal setting is one of the essential skills at the heart of the AVID framework; it's how we build student agency, the belief that students, not circumstances, drive their own success. This year, every classroom K-12 is bringing that principle to life through The Great Goal Quest, a school-wide goal-setting adventure designed to make agency something students practice, not just hear about.

Rather than a one-off lesson, we built a shared, sustained experience every teacher can run with their own students, all year long.

Along the way, students:

• Pick a goal that matters to them
• Find their why — the personal motivation behind it
• Map the path — concrete, doable steps forward
• Sign a pledge — committing to their own follow-through

Progress is marked at three checkpoints across the quarter: a Week 1 Kickoff, an Interim Check-In, and a Q1 Reflection, with students earning a personal Goal Card at each one.

This isn't just an activity, it's a direct, visible way for students to own their growth, and for teachers to document it. Completed Goal Cards double as ready-made evidence for your goal-setting indicator: a quick photo or scan at each checkpoint is an easy, authentic addition to your monthly AVID evidence collection.

Every goal set is a small act of agency. Every checkpoint is proof it's working.

Brown’s Ferry Elementary School for the Creative and Performing Arts rolled out the red carpet for an exciting new school year! Throughout August, our Bengals explored the arts, strengthened their AVID skills, set meaningful goals, and discovered new ways to learn through creativity.

For the first time, our Pre-K students joined the related arts rotation and immediately began shining like Bengal stars! In visual art, students explored different types of lines—and even used their bodies to become the lines they were learning about. In music, our youngest Bengals practiced keeping a steady beat while exploring African drums, tambourines, maracas, Boomwhackers, and other classroom instruments.

Students in grades K–5 also participated in AVID 101. They learned what AVID means, how organization supports success, and why hard work matters. Students practiced setting up and using their AVID binders, agendas, folders, and organizational tools. During goal-setting lessons, students marked up their agendas, discussed the importance of creating action steps, and began the Great Goal Quest. Students in grades 3–5 developed individual SMART goals, while our younger Bengals worked together to establish meaningful class goals. As we reminded students, a goal without a plan is only a wish!

Students in Mrs. Streett’s class brought their ideas to life using ChompSaws—kid-friendly tools designed for safely cutting cardboard. Through this hands-on experience, students strengthened their creativity, problem-solving, and engineering skills as they transformed ordinary cardboard into original creations. This exciting project is a wonderful example of how Brown’s Ferry integrates the arts, technology, and innovation to create meaningful learning experiences.

From Magnet Monday and TEAL Tuesday to AVID 101, collaborative planning, music-making, visual art, goal setting, and hands-on innovation, August was filled with opportunities for our Bengals to shine. Brown’s Ferry is proudly setting the stage for a year of creativity, achievement, and possibility as our students continue “Leveling Up Through Their Own Hard Work!”

Project-based learning is going next level in the STEM Lab at PEDIS! 5th grade scholars in Ms. Lovell's class are in the planning phase of an exciting coding project where they will design a game centered on migration from east to west along the Transcontinental Railroad. From brainstorming to collaborating, students are thinking like historians, designers, and computer scientists as they prepare to bring their learning to life through creativity, coding, and problem-solving!

Ms. Johnson’s first graders are putting their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to work in the STEM Lab as they prepare to build their very own bridges! Through hands-on exploration, scholars are learning how engineers plan, design, test, and improve their ideas. As they work together to turn their plans into structures, these young engineers are discovering that STEM learning is all about thinking creatively, collaborating, and finding solutions to real-world challenges.

Ms. Ewing, a representatives from GKCU and one of our community business partners, is helping students connect self discipline with making smart choices about money. Through real world conversations and engaging activities, students are learning that thoughtful decisions today can lead to stronger financial habits tomorrow. From understanding wants versus needs to thinking before spending, scholars are building the skills to make responsible choices and wise financial decisions—lessons that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

August has been an exciting beginning to a new year of learning, exploring, creating, and discovering at Pleasant Hill Elementary STREAM Academy. Through our STREAM magnet theme, students are already engaging in meaningful, interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect science, technology, reading, engineering, the arts, and math. Our environmental emphasis is woven throughout these experiences, encouraging students to observe the world around them, understand their connection to the natural environment, and consider how their choices can positively impact their school, community, and beyond. Through Project-Based Learning and hands-on experiences, students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate ideas, collaborate, solve problems, and apply their learning in authentic ways.

This is The PHESA Advantage—giving students opportunities to experience learning, make real-world connections, think creatively, and grow as responsible problem-solvers and thoughtful stewards of the world around them. 🐾❤️

At PHESA, we believe learning should reflect the way the real world works—not in isolation, but through meaningful connections across disciplines.

S – Science: Kindergarten Weather Watchers are observing and identifying weather conditions and patterns. 1st Grade Sky Detectives are investigating the sky, light, shadows, and moon phases. 2nd Grade students are exploring matter and the chemistry of food. 3rd Grade Eyes on the Sky students are studying clouds, weather tools, and patterns in weather data. 4th Grade Natural Hazards students are learning about hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and coastal erosion. 5th Grade High Tides and Little Guides students are exploring the history, culture, environment, architecture, and unique features of Georgetown and the surrounding Lowcountry as they prepare to welcome a tour bus filled with tourists and persuade them that Georgetown is a wonderful place to live.

T – Technology: Technology is embedded throughout our PBL experiences as students use digital tools to research, create, organize information, and communicate their learning. 3rd Grade Eyes on the Sky students are using digital media to explore weather concepts, gather information, and strengthen their understanding of weather patterns and forecasting. 4th graders are using Book Creator and other digital tools to develop natural hazard preparedness resources, while 5th graders use technology to research Georgetown and create persuasive products for their authentic audience.

R – Reading: Reading is woven throughout every grade level and every PBL experience at PHESA. In Kindergarten Weather Watchers, students build vocabulary and read about weather conditions and patterns. In 1st Grade Sky Detectives, students read informational texts and gather evidence about the sky, light, shadows, and moon phases. 2nd graders read about matter, states of matter, and food chemistry as they connect literacy to hands-on investigations. In 3rd Grade Eyes on the Sky, students read weather information, interpret digital media, and gather details to support predictions and explanations. 4th Grade Natural Hazards students research hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and coastal erosion to identify important facts and safety information. 5th Grade High Tides and Little Guides students read informational and historical texts about Georgetown, its culture, landmarks, architecture, and environment as they prepare to persuade tourists that Georgetown is a wonderful place to live. Across all grade levels, students use reading to research, ask questions, gather evidence, make connections, and communicate their learning throughout the PBL process.

E – Engineering: Through the Engineering Design Process, students across all grade levels are learning to think like engineers. They are identifying problems, asking questions, imagining possibilities, designing solutions, testing ideas, making revisions, and learning to trust the process. These experiences are building critical thinkers and problem-solvers who understand that engineering is not about getting it right the first time—it is about learning from each attempt, using evidence, persevering, and improving along the way. From Kindergarten Weather Watchers and 1st Grade Sky Detectives to 2nd Grade matter investigations, 3rd Grade Eyes on the Sky, 4th Grade Natural Hazards, and 5th Grade High Tides and Little Guides, students are discovering how engineers think, work, revise, and solve authentic problems throughout the PBL process.

A – Arts: The arts are woven throughout PBL experiences in every grade level, giving students opportunities to communicate ideas creatively and make their learning visible. In Kindergarten Weather Watchers, students use drawing, movement, and visual representations to show weather patterns. 1st Grade Sky Detectives use art to represent observations of the sky, light, shadows, and moon phases. 2nd graders create visual models and representations connected to matter and food chemistry. 3rd Grade Eyes on the Sky students use graphics, illustrations, and digital media to communicate weather information. 4th Grade Natural Hazards students design visual products that help others understand disaster preparedness and safety. 5th Grade High Tides and Little Guides students use design, visuals, and creative presentation techniques to showcase Georgetown’s history, culture, architecture, environment, and community as they persuade tourists that Georgetown is a wonderful place to live.

M – Math: Math is embedded throughout every grade level and every PBL experience at PHESA. In Kindergarten Weather Watchers, students count, compare, sort, and identify patterns in weather observations. In 1st Grade Sky Detectives, students count, compare, sequence, identify patterns, organize observations, and use simple data to make sense of changes in the sky, shadows, the sun, and moon. 2nd graders apply measurement, quantities, and comparison skills during matter and food chemistry investigations. In 3rd Grade Eyes on the Sky, students collect, organize, and analyze temperature, rainfall, and wind-speed data to identify patterns and make weather predictions. 4th Grade Natural Hazards students interpret data and apply mathematical thinking as they investigate the impact of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and coastal erosion. 5th Grade High Tides and Little Guides students use measurement, distance, scale, data, and other mathematical reasoning as they investigate Georgetown and prepare to persuade tourists that it is a wonderful place to live. Across all grade levels, students are discovering that math is not isolated—it is a powerful tool for analyzing information, solving problems, recognizing patterns, and making informed decisions throughout the PBL process.

Art is an important part of the PBL process at PHESA. Mrs. Kenley works with students across grade levels to explore a variety of art techniques, materials, and mediums that connect directly to their classroom PBL units. Students use art to represent ideas, communicate understanding, create visual products, and add creativity and design to their learning. This month, she highlighted our Kindergarten Meteorologists and 1st Grade Astronomers, using art to help students creatively represent what they are learning about weather, the sky, and space.

The Media Center plays an essential role in supporting inquiry and research across all PBL units. Mrs. Amy helps students learn how to ask questions, locate reliable information, use safe digital resources, conduct research, and evaluate sources. These skills give students the tools they need to investigate their PBL questions, gather evidence, and become more independent learners.

Music adds another layer of creativity and connection to student learning at PHESA. Students are learning to play a variety of instruments while exploring rhythm, patterns, movement, and musical expression. Mr. Moses is also helping students make meaningful musical connections to their grade-level PBL units, showing them how music can support and deepen learning across content areas. Through these experiences, students are building confidence, creativity, collaboration, and a stronger understanding of how the arts connect to the world around them.

A very special thank you to Byron Young for all you do for PHESA! Your generosity, your love for our students, and your commitment to giving back to our school community mean more than words can say. ❤️ Our students know you as more than a supporter. They see you as a hero, role model, and friend of PHESA. Thank you for helping us kick off another amazing school year with Back to School with Byron Young and for continuing to invest in our students in such a meaningful way.

A huge PHESA shout-out to our newest business partner, SiteOne Landscape Supply, for supporting both our environmental focus and our school’s aesthetic and marketing efforts. We are especially grateful for their generous donation of the new PHESA Spirit Rock, which will give us another exciting way to celebrate our students, families, staff, events, and school pride throughout the year.

A huge PHESA shout-out to Farm Bureau for supporting our environmental focus and helping bring the PHESA Farm to life. We are especially grateful for their generous purchase of our baby chicks, which will become an exciting part of the authentic, hands-on learning experiences taking place on our campus. The PHESA Farm will be opening soon, featuring farm-fresh eggs, produce, and flowers grown and cared for right here at PHESA.

Thank you, Farm Bureau, for investing in our students and helping us create meaningful opportunities for them to learn about agriculture, sustainability, responsibility, and the environment. Your support is another example of The PHESA Advantage! 🐾❤️

As we close out August, we are proud of the strong start our students and staff have made. From standards-based PBL experiences and STREAM connections to the arts, special areas, business partnerships, and environmental learning, August has already shown what makes PHESA such a special place. We are excited for the learning, inquiry, creativity, and collaboration that will continue to grow throughout the year. Thank you to our families, staff, students, and community partners for helping us make learning meaningful, connected, and memorable. At PHESA, we don’t just talk about our theme—we SCREAM our theme! 🐾❤️ That is The PHESA Advantage—Where Learning Is an Experience!

Ms. Brooks' art class is buzzing with creativity this week! Students are inspired by the remarkable work of artist Faith Ringgold and are creating their own storytelling quilts a wonderful way to combine art with narrative. Ms. Faith Ringgold's quilts are powerful examples of how art can preserve and share important stories, particularly stories from African American history and culture. Through her quilted narratives, Ringgold has given voice to experiences that might otherwise go untold, demonstrating how artists can be storytellers and historians. Her work shows students that quilts are not just decorative—they are documents of memory, identity, and community.

By creating their own storytelling quilts, our students are learning that art can be a bridge between personal experience and shared understanding. They're discovering how visual art and written narratives work together to create meaning and connection. Right now, our young artists are sketching designs, preparing their materials, and watching their ideas come to life. It's exciting to see planning, creativity, and storytelling all working together in the classroom. At CBMSA, our Bears are making art come alive!

Thank you to The Village Group for sponsoring the CBMSA LEGO Robotics Team this school year! Your support helps our students dive into robotics, engineering, coding, teamwork, and problem-solving through hands-on learning experiences. Partnerships like yours bring learning to life beyond the classroom and inspire our students to reach for their dreams.

The Village Group's commitment to our school demonstrates the power of strong community partnerships in advancing STEAM education. By investing in programs like robotics, they show their dedication to preparing our students for success in a technology-driven world. This kind of support strengthens the bond between our school and community, creating a shared vision for student achievement.

We're grateful to The Village Group for believing in our Bears and supporting the innovative programs at Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy. With community partners like you, we can continue doing great things at the Bay!

Who knew that sinking the perfect three-pointer could unlock the secrets of computer science? In Ms. Andrade's STEM classes, students are on an electrifying mission: they're cracking the code of basketball physics by analyzing exactly what happens when a ball soars through the air toward the hoop.Here's the challenge: Can you program the perfect basket? It sounds impossible, but students are discovering it's totally achievable—if you understand the science.

By combining real-world basketball skills with cutting edge programming, learners are diving deep into force and motion, unraveling how gravity pulls on every shot, predicting distances with precision, and analyzing data like true data scientists. Every calculation brings them closer to understanding the magic behind that satisfying swish of the net. This isn't just a lesson it's a game changing experience where athletics meets innovation, and every student becomes both an athlete and an engineer.

What's the secret to bringing abstract physics to life? Mrs. McClary's 6th grade class just cracked the code—and it glowed! Students dove into an exciting hands-on lab that transformed ordinary glow sticks into windows into the invisible world of molecular movement. By plunging glow sticks into hot and cold water, students witnessed firsthand how thermal energy speeds up or slows down molecules, revealing the real-world magic behind kinetic energy. The buzz in the classroom was electric as curious minds observed, questioned, and discovered scientific principles in action. Students meticulously recorded their observations, measuring glow intensity and timing changes as water temperatures shifted—turning raw data into compelling evidence of thermal energy's effects. By following the scientific method from hypothesis to conclusion, they didn't just learn physics. They became real scientists conducting authentic experiments. With activities like these, Mrs. McClary is sparking the next generation of STEM innovators—one glowing moment at a time!

We are excited to welcome our students, families, and community back for the 2026–2027 school year! This year, we will continue to connect learning to college, careers, and real-world opportunities through our Early College and Career model.

August was all about building a strong foundation for success and Empowering Our Children through the lens of inquiry, organization, and collaboration. Students are developing the habits and skills needed to ask meaningful questions, stay organized, work effectively with others, and take ownership of their learning.

As we begin this journey together, we are creating a culture where students are encouraged to think deeply, work together, explore possibilities, and apply their learning beyond the classroom. Through intentional instruction and the implementation of Project-Based Learning, our Bears are already making connections between what they learn today and the opportunities that await them tomorrow.

Students are exploring STEM and career-related experiences through the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Computer Science course. Through hands-on, problem-based learning, students are developing skills in computational thinking, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving while discovering how computer science connects to real-world careers.

These experiences allow students to see themselves as innovators, creators, and future technology professionals, while making meaningful connections between classroom learning, college pathways, and career opportunities.

Our students stepped into the shoes of medical researchers to investigate the connection between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems! Working in collaborative teams, students designed their own experiments to explore how physiological responses (like heart rate and respiratory rate) change under different conditions.

Through hands-on inquiry, teams formulated testable questions, gathered real-time data, and analyzed how the body works to deliver oxygen to cells and manage stress. It was an incredible demonstration of teamwork, critical thinking, and scientific discovery!

Students in Mrs Goredema's class are becoming Biochemist as they investigate common household items to determine the presence of macromolecules. Through hands-on testing, observation, and analysis, students explored how carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and other macromolecules function in living systems.

This engaging experience allowed students to apply scientific practices while making connections between biology, real-world applications, and STEM careers. Students are not just learning about science, they are thinking and working like scientists!

Start NOW and stay ahead! Research, organize, and apply for scholarships early.

• Create or update your resume
• Research opportunities and deadlines
• Check requirements carefully
• Request recommendation letters
• Keep documents organized
• Apply for multiple opportunities

Tip of the Month

Create a scholarship folder (physical or digital) along with a document to keep track of the following:

• Name of Scholarship
• Amount of Scholarship
• Eligibility
• Requirements
• Deadline
• Status

*Please click here to check out our Counseling Center for more scholarship opportunities*

College recruiters came from near and far to connect with our seniors, share college opportunities, answer questions, and help students take the next step toward their futures. Our seniors were engaged, excited, and ready to explore the many pathways available to them!

From college applications to meaningful conversations about college, careers, and life after high school, the day was filled with opportunities, connections, and inspiration.

Our students are exploring their interests, discovering new passions, building friendships, and making memories along the way! From trying something new to diving deeper into the activities they love, our students are enjoying every moment of the experience. 💫

We love seeing our students connect, create, collaborate, and grow beyond the classroom! There’s a place for everyone to shine! 💙

A special thank you to WIOA of Conway, SC, for choosing Carvers Bay Early College and Career High School’s Teacher Cadet Course and for your generous support in delivering much-needed back-to-school supplies!

Your kindness, partnership, and commitment to our students are truly appreciated. Your support helps our students begin the school year prepared, confident, and ready to succeed while providing meaningful opportunities to explore careers in education.

Thank you for investing in our students, our future educators, and the future of education!