This Week

At the November meeting, the Florence 1 Schools Board of Trustees recognized 61 studetns who earned perfect scores on a portion of the 2025-2026 South Carollina College-and-Career Ready Assessments (SC READY).

SC READY is a statewided assessment that includes tests in English/Language Arts, Science and Mathematics. It is administered in the spring to all students in 3rd through 8th grades.

Items on the SC READY are aligned with the South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards. Standards outline what schools (teachers) are expected to teach and what students are expected to learn Follow this link for the complet listing of SC READY Perfect Scoring Students.

Annually observed on the Wednesday during American Education Week, (November 16-20) National Education Support Professionals Day honors the contribution of school support employees. These support professionals provide invaluable services and are essential partners in a child's education. Click the image to enlarge the photo at right.

Education Support Professionals Day honors a long list of professionals who keep schools running smoothly. They include all secretaries, classroom assistants, cafeteria staff members, maintenance workers, bus drivers and all others who support educators, school leadership and the students, too. These professionals do their part in making public schools exceptional for every child so they can be safe, learn, grow and achieve.

• Monday, November 16 – Kickoff Day: Schoolwide announcements, student essays, and poetry to launch the week.
• Tuesday, November 17 – Family Day: Parent and guardian classroom visits, open houses, and family engagement activities.
• Wednesday, November 18 – Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day: Appreciating bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, paraprofessionals, and office staff.
• Thursday, November 19 – Educator for a Day: Community leaders, local speakers, and student career-shadowing events.
• Friday, November 20 – Substitute Educators Day: Honoring substitute teachers and advocating for fair wages, health benefits, and professional support.

At the November Florence 1 Schools Board of Trustees meeting, McLeod Health received the Community Impact Award. View this month's video to become familiar with the partnership between Florence 1 Schools and McLeod Health.

The South Florence Chamber Choir has been officially invited to perform at the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) 2027 Annual Convention.

Being selected to perform at this prestigious statewide event is a tremendous honor and a true testament to the exceptional talent, hard work, and dedication of our choir students and director. Enjoy this video of the Chamber Singers performing Bring Me A Little Water.

The West Florence High School STEM magnet students worked the STEM zone this year's Pecan Festival. West Florence High School also made headlines this week with individual tennis state champions Shelby White representing the state runner up and Grace Murrell. Abby Sullivan is the tennis coach at West Florence (pictured center) flanked by Murrell (left) and White (right).

Wilson High School German students from the IB program participated in the 10th Lowcountry German Day at the College of Charleston. In this statewide event, students

participated in an interactive German Lesson and practiced their German skills with other German

students in South Carolina.

In addition, students took part in a panel discussion with College of Charleston students who have studied abroad and alumni who are using German in their careers. The trip was sponsored by the College of Charleston, Mercedes-Benz, and the German Embassy. Former Wilson graduates, Eliza Parrot (class of 2023) and Jeanie Davidson (class of 2026), gave students a campus tour and shared their college and study abroad experiences with the students.

Thirty-seven Florence 1 students have been named to the SCDA All State Chorus.

Performing in a South Carolina High School All State Choir is the highest honor a talented student choral musician can earn, following a rigorous singing and sight-reading audition. Selected students join the state's best musicians to perform under the batons of internationally celebrated conductors. All State choirs this school year will be hosted at Winthrop University and Coastal Carolina University.

Among them are Wilson High School's Weston Powers (pictured). Other students and schools represented include: Southside, Moore , Royall, Carver and South Florence. To view the entire roster, click 2026 F1S All-State Chorus.

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.

The Florence 1 Center For The Arts at South Florence High School presents SIX: The Musical - Teen Edition on November 19, and 21 at 7 PM and November 22 at 3 PM. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased online at https://southflorence.f1s.org/fine-arts/the-florence-one-center-for-the-arts or at the box office before each performance. Tickets purchased online or with a card will incur a convenience charge.

This week Florence 1 Schools held ceremonies and read-ins to honor Veterans. Pictured above are a few of Florence 1 Schools military heroes. They are: David Blanchard, West Florence High; Jevonne Brooks, Savannah Grove Elementary: Connie Cockfield, Wallace-Gregg Elementary; Gregory Hall, Florence 1 Schools; and Melissa Manning, South Florence High.

South Florence High School Naval JROTC students participated in the Florence Veterans Day ceremony. Pictured above are Senior Chief Michael Brown; c/PO2 Jayden Guiles; c/PO2 Olivia Sanders; c/CPO Kayliana Harrison; c/CPO Saniya Brown; and c/CPO Breanna Waiters. They are flanked by members of the Florence Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Interim reports were issued this week. Have you checked your students' academic progress?

Families of students in grades 5K–12 received interims electronically on November 11 at the parent/guardian email address provided during registration.

If you did not receive your child’s interim or your email address has changed since registration, please ​visit your child’s school with a valid photo ID for assistance.

National School Psychology Week (NSPW) is celebrated from November 9–13, 2026.

Clarissa Reyes, DiLara Deniz-Can, Denise Gallant, Shiquita Galloway, Robyn Griffin, Julie Hicks, Laura Matthews, William McElveen, Pam Pigg, Coretta Pinckney, Kristin Poston, Megan Powell, Kentrice Cameron and DeAnn Tiller.

Sponsored by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), this annual event highlights the vital role school psychologists play in supporting students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral well-being.

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In Friday night football action, the Bruins will host Lucy Beckham High School of Mount Pleasant (Charleston County) with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Get the facts about the One Table Florence event. https://onetableflorence.com/.