Dreher in Focus

Dreher in Focus is our bi-weekly family newsletter designed to keep parents and guardians informed, connected, and engaged. Each edition will highlight important updates, upcoming events, school reminders, celebrations, and other information to help families stay connected to life at Dreher.

October 12

Senior Make-Up Yearbook Pictures

October 13

Pre-ACT/PSAT & College Application Day

Girls Volleyball Senior Night vs AC Flora at 7:30 PM

October 14

Richland One College Fair (Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center)

JAG Induction Ceremony at 6 PM (Dreher Auditorium)

October 15

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration during homeroom (Dreher Auditorium)

Orchestra Concert at 6:30 PM (Dreher Auditorium)

October 16

Friday Night Rivals football game on WACH FOX - Dreher @ Lugoff-Elgin at 7:30 PM

October 17

Prisma Health Flu Clinic from 9 AM to 1 PM (Dreher Parking Lot)

NJROTC Brain Brawl at North Augusta HS

Band Assessment at Rock Hill HS

October 22

High School Theatre Festival

October 23

Senior Night for Cheer, Football, NJROTC, and Band

October 24

NJROTC Drill Meet at Silver Bluff HS

Band Assessment at Byrnes HS

October 27

Richland One Board Meeting at 6 PM (Dreher Auditorium)

October 29

Fall WIN Testing for 12th Grade

October 30

JAG SC Thrive Conference

Football vs AC Flora at 7:30 PM (Dreher is the AWAY team)

NOTE: Click Here for a detailed athletics calendar from our athletics website, which also provides updates regarding changes and cancellations for athletic contests.

On Monday, October 12, 2026, the South Carolina School Report Cards were released, and we are proud to share that Dreher High School earned an overall rating of Good, scoring 62 points and finishing just five points shy of an Excellent rating.

This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, staff, families, and the many individuals who have contributed to Dreher's continued success. It is an encouraging sign that our school is moving in the right direction and that even greater accomplishments are within reach.

While we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to continuous improvement. We will continue building on our strengths, refining our practices, and creating the conditions that help every student succeed.

You can view the full report card here: South Carolina School Report Card.

We're excited to celebrate our September Teacher of the Month as well as our October Teacher of the Month, Support Staff Member of the Month, and our October Students of the Month.

• September - Ms. Madalyn Hazlett (Teacher)
• October - Ms. Megan Johnson (Teacher), Nurse Jackson (Support Staff)
• October Students - Jayden Glover, Lachlan All-Black, and Aria Le.

Let's congratulate these awesome people that make Dreher a great place to work and learn.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Columbia Chamber is pleased to announce Alex Lopez Arrocha (Dent Middle School) and Dr. Nicoleta Hodis (Dreher High School) as Educator Excellence Award winners.

The Educator Excellence Award, sponsored by Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, recognizes outstanding educators from Richland One and Richland Two school districts. This biannual award honors teachers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students, innovative teaching methods, and a commitment to community involvement. Each award winner also received $500 from Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union.

“What educators do every day goes far beyond the classroom. They’re building confidence, creating opportunity, and shaping what comes next for our community. At Palmetto Citizens, that’s something we take personally. Because we were founded by teachers, it makes recognizing outstanding educators especially meaningful for us," said Emilie Lewis, Director of Community Engagement at Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union.

Please see the attachment for the full press release.

Congratulations to Jorde Adams and her JAG students for conducting their first Initiation and Installation Ceremony for Dreher High School on Wednesday, October 14 at 6:00 PM. If you're uncertain of what JAG is, their vision is to see "a future where every South Carolina student has the tools and support to thrive in school, career, and life."

Special thanks to Yolanda Pearson-Smith, our Parent and Family Engagement Specialist, for assisting Mrs. Adams with coordinating this event. We look forward to an even brighter future.

Congratulations to our Dreher Visual Artists on another outstanding showing at the 2026 South Carolina State Fair! More than 82 original artworks created by Dreher students are on display, with 11 award-winning entries recognized in this year’s competition.

A special congratulations goes to our teacher, Mary Catherine Raines, who earned the High School Educator Award for having the most student award winners. This marks her third consecutive year receiving this prestigious honor, a testament to her dedication, leadership, and the exceptional talent of Dreher’s student artists.

Families can view the award-winning student artwork in the OneDrive folder linked below. We are incredibly proud of our artists and art program for representing Dreher with creativity, excellence, and pride on a statewide stage.

Results

9th Grade (art from last year or this year):

Austin Finan, 1st place in 3D (teacher-Pfrommer)

Claudia Halford, 1st place in Photography (teacher-Raines)

Corey James, Honorable Mention in Photography (teacher-Raines)

Sarah Richter, Honorable Mention in 2D (teacher-Raines)

Vanessa Kovacs, Honorable Mention in 2D (teacher-Raines)

10th Grade (art from last year or this year):

Diana Svicarovich, Honorable Mention in 3D (teacher-Raines)

Eleanor Floyd, Honorable Mention in 2D (teacher-Raines)

11th Grade (art from last year or this year):

Nia Sims, 3rd place in 3D (teacher-Raines)

Maddison Sheppard, Best of Show in 3D (teacher-Raines)

12th Grade (art from last year or this year):

Eden Dodson, 2nd place in 3D (teacher-Raines)

Natalee Kaufman, Honorable Mention in 3D (teacher-Raines)

Arriving to Campus: Students should be in the building by 8 AM. In the mornings, the first bell will ring at 7:45 AM and the warning at 7:59 AM.

Students can enter the school using three entry points:

• Auditorium Entrance (open at 7:30 AM)
• Bus Entrance (open at 7:30 AM)
• Front of the School (open at 7:35 AM).

Remaining on Campus: All students should exit the building at 3:15 PM. Students should only remain on campus if they are with their coach, teacher, and/or club sponsor. Any students remaining in the building without an adult will be asked to leave the building.

What a phenomenal Homecoming Week at Dreher High School!

From Spirit Week activities to Friday night's celebrations, the week was a wonderful reflection of the pride, tradition, and school spirit that make Dreher such a special place. Students, families, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members came together to celebrate our shared history while creating new memories for future generations of Blue Devils.

One of the highlights of the week was the opportunity to recognize Dreher's past and present principals. During our Homecoming festivities, we celebrated the leaders who have helped guide and shape the school over the past four decades, including Rae McPherson (1986-1998), Dr. Carlos L. Smith (Interim, 2000-2001), Jeanne Stiglbauer (2001-2019), Dr. Kevin Hasinger (2019-2023), Dr. Lawrence J. Eberlin (2023-2026), and current principal Dr. Brandon Baskett. While Ms. McPherson was unable to attend, we were honored to recognize her contributions alongside those of the leaders whose service has left a lasting impact on the Dreher community.

The celebration was made even more memorable by a Homecoming victory for the Blue Devils, giving students, alumni, families, and fans another reason to celebrate. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the week showcased the strong sense of community that continues to define Dreher.

As we begin the second quarter, we remain committed to building on the legacy of excellence established by those who came before us while preparing students for bright futures ahead. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to help every student learn, grow, and thrive.

Living in Excellence, Together.

Congratulations to the following students (pictured left to right): D'Vion Carter (1st Runner Up), London Jones (1st Runner Up), Ari Floyd (Homecoming King), Lucy Kisner-Drennan (Homecoming Queen), Tytianna Portee (2nd Runner Up), JayShawn Jamison (2nd Runner Up).

Congratulations to Ari Floyd - Mr. Congeniality and Bailey Williams - Ms. Congeniality!

Jostens will meet with Seniors during homeroom in the auditorium on October 22nd to discuss Graduation Supplies. Jostens will be on campus to speak with Juniors during homeroom in the auditorium on October 28th about class rings.

Take a moment to review our school's team store where you can select from 82 different items that showcase your school spirit!