Flora Update
The Latest News and Information from AC Flora High School
Upcoming Events
This is our final Flora Update for 2025. We will see your students next week. Have a healthy and happy winter break!
Tonight! Thursday, December 11- Winter Concert (see flyer below.)
Friday, December 19- Early Dismissal (11:45 a.m.)
Monday, December 22, 2025 - Friday, January 2, 2026: Winter Break
Thank you from Student Council
The A.C. Flora Student Council is deeply grateful for the incredible support from our students, staff, and community. Your kindness allowed us to provide Thanksgiving Meal Boxes to over 40 Flora families and holiday gifts to 40 Flora-zoned families. Thank you for helping us make a meaningful difference. Wishing you and your families a wonderful holiday season! See photos below.
From the Counseling Office:
Click here for the latest Scholarship Update.
The Heyward Career Opportunity Fair will be Friday, January 23, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the Heyward Career and Technology Center. Questions? Please contact Yolanda Smith, Parent and Family Engagement Specialist- (803) 908-9985 or Eugenie Parker, School Counselor- (803) 735-3345.
Horatio Alger Scholarships (for Juniors and Seniors):
The Horatio Alger Association is seeking students who display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, and plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Students must have financial need and a determination to turn adversity into opportunity and pursue their American Dream.
The Association awards 2 South Carolina Juniors with a $25,000 National Scholarship
And 10+ South Carolina Juniors with $10,000 scholarships. Click here for more information.
Central Carolina Community Foundation Scholarships
The Central Carolina Community Foundation administers more than 45 scholarships. Since 1994, the Foundation has awarded more than $6.2 million in private donor scholarships to help students obtain a higher education. This past scholarship season, they awarded over $699,000 in scholarships to more than 200 students.
High School seniors, nontraditional students, and current college students can apply for all of 45+ scholarship opportunities through our one application found here: https://www.yourfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/scholarships/.
The application period is January 1st - March 5th for the 2026-2027 academic year. See flyer below.
Career & Technical Education Student of the Month
Congratulations to Adham Elsadany!
Adham is a senior and was selected as a district CTE student of the month for the month of November. This award is based on his excellence in the classroom and his respective CTE program, Web & Digital Communications, which includes coursework in Advanced Web Design & Development and AP Computer Science. Adham was nominated by his teacher, Mrs. Isenhower. See photo.
Around and Outside School
Mr. Codega's Design Tech students have been making cutting boards, just in time for Christmas gifts! Photos below.
We held a career fair in the competition gym today. Representatives from the Navy, Prisma Health, Francis Marion University, The Governor's School for Agriculture, Paul Mitchell Academy, Chick-Fil-A, and more spoke with our students about opportunities beyond high school. Thanks to our Jobs for America's Graduates Specialist, Mrs. Workman, for coordinating this event! Photos below.
Members of the Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy volunteered at Harvest Hope on November 24. Photos below.
From Administration:
Upcoming Network Outage
Please be advised that after 1pm on Monday, December 22, the district network will be shut down to repair the generator at our district office. All applications will be fully available when the district returns from winter break on Monday, January 5.
Students will not have access to the internet or any web resources on their devices during this period. They will only be able to use Microsoft applications installed locally, such as Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Students should ensure that any files they need are downloaded to their desktop in advance and, upon returning, save their work to OneDrive.
Winter Celebration next week!
Please see bell schedule below for next week's (B-Day) Winter Celebration. Morning Heyward students travel (they will be back to attend Assembly), Afternoon Heyward will stay in the Cafeteria 3rd & 4th Blocks.
From Flora Athletics:
Congratulations to Azel Banag!
Azel was recently named both the November SCHSL Boys Student-Athlete of the Month and the Richland County Recreation Football Player of the Year. See photos below.
Baseball Update
Open season officially starts January 1, 2026. High School open season will run January 4-28.
Open season is available to all students who attend Flora and Crayton. Not just returning players. Practices are not mandatory.
We will have our first high school workout on Sunday, January 4, from 1-4 p.m. at the field. To partake, Big Teams must be completed. Clothes to run and condition in as well as baseball clothing are expected.
Middle School open season will start January 9. Practice will be from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
JV and Varsity tryouts will be Feb 2 & 3, from 4-7 p.m.
B team tryouts will be Feb 9 & 10, 5:30-8 p.m.
Questions? Contact andrew.hallett@richlandone.org.
For team updates, see www.FloraAthletics.com.
To buy Falcon gear, see www.GetFalconGear.com.
25-26 Yearbooks now available to pre-order!
Please click here to purchase your 25-26 yearbook for $95.
From the PTSO:
Ho Ho Ho! Santa—and the Grinch—will join the AC Flora PTSO as it hands out cookies and other treats during lunch on Thursday, Dec 18. Santa is looking forward to seeing all his Falcon friends and wishing everyone Happy Holidays!
Helpers are needed to help set up stations and pass out cookies and candy canes at the first lunch from 10:45-11:50 a.m., and distribute during the second lunch at 12:45 p.m., then clean up. To sign up, please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D48A9AA2BABFF2-61147742-holiday#/ Thanks!
Holiday Cheer for Our Teachers
Calling all parents and other helpers! One of the ways that the Flora PTSO supports the faculty and staff is to provide a snack at their monthly faculty meetings. For the December 15 meeting, the PTSO is asking for donations from so we can provide a special holiday charcuterie board snack for them as they arrive for their meeting. There are still a couple of slots to fill. Please click on the link below for more information and to sign up. Thank you in advance for your help! Please drop off your donations (from the list in the link) in the Flora office and put a label on it that says "PTSO faculty snack." If you have any questions, please contact the Flora PTSO Teacher Hospitality Co-Chairs: Melissa Gentry (mfgentry@hotmail.com or 803-546-1803) or Melissa Ray (melray816@gmail.com or 803-360-7081). Thank you in advance for your support!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D48A9AA2BABFF2-60728833-snack?useFullSite=true#/
Check out what we do!
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, January 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the AC Flora Media Center.
Join the AC Flora PTSO.
Join or renew your membership in the AC Flora Parent Teacher Student Organization. As members, AC Flora parents, friends and businesses contribute to the PTSO’s continued support of classroom grants to teachers, awards and recognition programs for students, speakers, facility improvements, teacher appreciation events, and special student festivities throughout the school year. AC Flora is stronger with the support of our families, friends, and business sponsors.
To join and support the PTSO’s ongoing efforts in the AC Flora community, please click on the following links:
Friends and Family
https://flora.richlandone.org/parent-resources/ptso/family-friends-membership-online-form
Business Partner
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://flora.richlandone.org/parent-resources/ptso/business-partner-online-form
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 send an email to the following addresses:
FRESHMEN: florafreshmen@gmail.com
SOPHOMORES: florasophomores@gmail.com
JUNIORS: florajuniors@gmail.com
SENIORS: floraseniors@gmail.com
2025-2026 PTSO DONORS:
Falcon’s Pride ($500 or more)
Martha and Josh McCain
Kenzie and Ryan Newton
Sarah and Harrison Penn
Falcon’s Flight ($250 or more)
Tiffany and Christopher Anderson
Elizabeth and Nick Beasley
Missy and Tommy Boggs
Cam and Culver Choate
Molley and Edward Clarkson
Allison and Shaun Cranford
Lindsay and Stephen Creech
Townes and Stephen Denemark
Summer and Shawn Elliott
Kelly and Ryan Foster
Melissa and Ryan Gentry
David Hawkins
Sara Svedberg Homewood
Catherine and Jason Lockhart
Jennifer MacLeod
Cydney and Jonathan Milling
Rebecca and Bryan Norris
Courtney Parent
Sally and Marvin Robinson
Louisa and Preston Sabalis
Carmen Thomas
Benefactors ($100 or more)
Kelly and Jonathan Barbrey
Marni Bird
Talyse and Jason Burkett
Latosha and James Croffie
Nicole and Erik Crook
Laura Curbo
Sarah and Alex Dillard
Jackie and Jay Edwards
Mundi and Michael George
Lauren and Will Gillespie
Susan Guy
Ashley and Scott Jaillette
Catherine and Shaun Kirchin
Angie and Jim Lichty
Kristen and Deonne Long
Andrea Maas
Marwan Marzagao
Kristy Moore
Kerri and Dale Ness
Adriane and Drew Radeker
Melissa Ray
Sara and Andrew Reed
Liza and Stephen Sansbury
Jamie and Oakley Smyth
Sheryl Wiskur
Kalen and Richard Kloskey
Rebecca and Bill Warren
Kristy Welshhans
Amy Scott
Sazy and Steven Johnson
Christy Slaughter
Ainsley Rhame
Emily and Strat Stavrou
Erica and Jon Ludovina
Kalenia and Antione Frederick
Paige Haas
Colleen and Reaves McLeod
Caroline Milliken
Evelyn and Darren Knight
Elizabeth and Shelton Haile
Amy Hill
Ashley and Joe Sitton
Marianna and Walt Cartin
Mandy and Dan D’Alberto
Misha and Mitch Goodwin
Carla Harkness
Laurel Frank-Dojaquez
Elizabeth and Derek O’Bradovich
Courtney and Shaun Blake
Michelle and Mark Thomas
Ashley Thomas
Meredith and Rob Robertson
Raven and Scott Gambrell
Laura and Chad Voyles
Elizabeth and Spann Laffitte
Kendall Adams
Mandy and Michael Wren
Lindsay and Jimmy McQueen
Michael Parent
Shawn and Patrick Toole
Stacey and Gary Meyer
Henry and Kyle Brazell
Angie and Robert Gahagan
Lauren and Greg Hudgens
Eveleigh and Rocky Hughey
Sarah and Morris Lyles
Laura and Greg Moise
Rachel and Gregory Phillips
Maria and Mark Price
Heather and Tommy Stallworth
Susan Childs
Caroline and Austin Scott
Kristie and Ricky Rowe
Falcon Gold
Brabham Griffin Insurance
brabhamgriffin.com
Lamplighter Insurance
lamplighterinsurance.com
Sumter Utilities, Inc.
sumter-utilities.com
Forest Acres Needlepoint
forestacresneedlepoint.com
Bryan Eye Clinic
bryaneyes.com
Falcon Silver
Border States
borderstates.com
H+J Cattle Co
handjcattle.com
HLJ Creative
hljcreative.com
Johnson & Lesley
johnsonandlesley.com
JHV Travel
Bookyourjollyholiday.com
L&N Produce
landnproduce.com
McKenzie & Lybrand
mckenzielybrand.com
Milliken Properties
millikenproperties.com
Milling Law Firm
millinglaw.net
Palmetto Insurance Group
palmettoinsurancegroup.com
Peace of Mind
sodacitypeaceofmind.com
Process Hair Salon
processhairsalon.com
Synovys
www.synovus.com
Brabham Fence
brabhamfence.com
Callison Tighe & Robinson
callisontighe.com
Ellison Kibler
https://advisor.ml.com/sites/sc/columbia-sc/ek
Falcon Bronze
Brandon Davidson Interiors
brandondavidsoninteriors.com
Camp, Moring & Brendle, LLC
cmccpas.net
Ned Lipscomb Auto Sales
Ned Lipscomb Stump Grinding
Richardson Thomas
richardsonthomas.com
South State Bank
southstatebank.com
Speedy Tanner & Atkinson
staclaw.com
Tazikis
tazikis.com/location/columbia
Thomas Law Firm
markthomaslawfirm.com
Catalyst Architects
catalystarch.com
Reed Interior Design
Sandhills Pediatrics
sandhillsped.com
Falcon Friend
Cottage and Vine
shopcottageandvine.com
Contact Us
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