Flora Update

Thursday, October 8- End of 1st Quarter

Thursday, October 8- Early Dismissal 11:45 a.m./Parent-Teacher Conferences - more info below

Friday, October 9- Teacher Workday

Monday, October 12 and 13- Underclassmen Picture Days

Wednesday, October 14- Richland One Consolidated Fair (Juniors and Seniors-more info below)

Tuesday, October 20- PSAT (10/11) and Pre-ACT (9) more info below

26-27 Richland One Calendar

The AC Flora School Improvement Council (SIC) is an advisory council to the principal that is

focused on school improvement issues. It is made up of representatives of parents, teachers and

community members. The SIC meets monthly during the school year.

Flora parent representatives are nominated and elected by their fellow Flora parents. Any

parent/guardian of at least one child enrolled in Flora is eligible to place his/her own name or the name of another parent in nomination.

Please submit your nomination to the SIC on this form and return the form to the Flora front office in person, by mail or email to martha.jennings@richlandone.org. Nomination forms must be received no later than October 7, 2026.

All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will participate in the Pre-ACT (9th) or PSAT (10th/11th) at AC Flora Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

Pre-ACT parent letter

PSAT parent letter

Seniors Only!

On this day, seniors will have the opportunity to participate in activities that will directly relate to their post-secondary futures. All seniors will be required to participate in one of the activities below to be counted present at school on that day. Please see flyer below. If paperwork is not returned by the deadline, your student will be marked absent. IB seniors will take IB practice tests in the Media Center. Check email for more info from Mr. Keller.

Senior Job Shadow Form

Senior Service Form

Please complete this form to let us know your plans.

Upcoming college and career visits:

College room in guidance (Flight Time)

Friday, October 2: Columbia International University

Tuesday, October 6: Wofford College

Wednesday, October 7: Brown University (1st Lunch)

Please see the latest Scholarship Update.

Please see this useful list of Scholarship Websites for the 26-27 school year.

Major Knowledge Pilot Program

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education is offering the Major Knowledge Pilot Program, a virtual initiative designed to help high school students explore college majors, learn about different fields of study, and gain insight into programs offered at participating institutions.

Register for the upcoming sessions:

October 14: Finance, Real Estate, and Business Management
October 21: Plumbing/HVAC and Industrial Engineering
October 22: Plumbing/HVAC and Industrial Engineering

Time: 5 - 5:45 PM

Students can learn more and register here:
Major Knowledge Registration

Richland One is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for your seniors and juniors! The Richland One Consolidated Fair - ED OP 2026 (College Fair) will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Students will be transported to and from the event by Richland One transportation.

Registration info:

StriveScan allows real-time collaboration with college and career representatives at the event. Participating students will need to create their own accounts by clicking HERE.

Click HERE for a list of participating colleges.

We were so excited to have so many of you attend the FAFSA Information Night. Please click here for the presentation on our Scholarships page. FAFSA completion night will be on Wednesday, October 21, at 6 p.m. in the library. See flyer below.

The South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program supports high-achieving high school seniors with up to $24,000 ($6,000 per year for four years) at one of 14 participating colleges and universities, plus leadership development, professional learning, service opportunities, school-based experiences, and educator connections. In return, Fellows commit to teaching in a South Carolina public school for one year per Fellowship year. Eligible South Carolina residents can apply October 1–December 1; start your application today at CERRA.org!

This is for any senior who may want to teach - you do not have to major in Education to be a Teaching Fellow.

Teaching Fellows Info Sheet

An info session is available for students and parents interested in applying for the Teaching Fellows program.

This is only available to students graduating this spring (2027).

Zoom session:

November 17, 2026 - 7 p.m.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93619670892

Go to jostens.com/ybbuy to place your order for the 2026-2027 yearbook! Prices increase on November 20, so order yours today!

Yearbook ads are a great way to show your recognition and pride for your senior! To create and purchase your ad, go to jostensadservice.com/student and place your order. Time and space is limited, so be sure to place your order today!

The deadline to order graduation supplies (seniors) and class rings (juniors) is Thursday, October 1. Please use the QR code if you'd like to receive updates from Jostens.

Flora Athletics

To buy Falcon gear, see My Team Shop.

Save the Date for Upcoming Spirit Night!

Mark your calendars for the next Spirit Night. On October 14, you can skip the cooking and come get dinner at Chipotle on Forest Drive to further support the PTSO. More to come as we get closer!

Apply for Teacher Grants from AC Flora PTSO

AC Flora’s PTSO is pleased to offer teacher grants again this year. Applications are due October 9 to Elizabeth Beasley, PTSO Academic Excellence chair. The PTSO will review applications and reward a total of $4,000 in grants. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Beasley at eibeasley@gmail.com.

Join the AC Flora PTSO

To join and support the PTSO’s ongoing efforts in the AC Flora community, please click on the following links:

Friends and Family Memberships

https://www.acfptso.org/membership

Business Partners

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://www.acfptso.org/business-partners

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 click here.

2026-2027 PTSO Donors:

Falcon’s Pride ($500 or more)

Josh and Martha McCain

Kenzie and Ryan Newton

Sarah and Harrison Penn

Falcon’s Flight ($250)

Stephan and Rachael Ardis

Aaron and Katie Barthel

Nicholas and Elizabeth Beasley

Shaun and Courtney Blake

Tommy and Missy Boggs

Nick and Heyward Bonyata

Susan Childs

Edward and Molley Clarkson

Stephen and Lindsay Creech

Shaun and Allison Cranford

Brian and Lauren Cunningham

Stephen and Townes Denemark

Alex and Sarah Dillard

Jay and Jackie Edwards

Ryan and Kelly Foster

Ryan and Melissa Gentry

Patrick and Leslie Gibbons

Shelton and Elizabeth Haile

Kyle and Meredeth Hewett

Sara Svedberg Homewood

Scott and Ashley Jaillette

Carter and Elizabeth Jeffords

Andrew and Jennifer MacLeod

Jonathan and Cydney Milling

Preston and Louisa Sabalis

Stephen and Liza Sansbury

Kevin and Anna Shalkham

Zac and Carmen Thomas

Bill and Rebecca Warren

Benefactors ($100)

Tom and Kim Andrews

Blair and Erin Baldwin

Jonathan and Kelly Barbrey

Wendy Bauman

Ed and Elizabeth Black

Rob and Danielle Boysen

Tim and Courtney Brooks

Blake and Ashlee Buchanan

Jason and Talyse Burkett

Travis and Elizabeth Burt

Gary and Celeste Carnaggio

Walt and Marianna Cartin

Erik and Nicole Crook

Eric and Laura Curbo

Dan and Mandy D’Alberto

Andrew and Christin Daniel

Brunson and Emily DePass

LJ and Kat Dragner

Antione and Kalenia Frederick

Scott and Raven Gambrell

Michael and Mundi George

Will and Lauren Gillespie

John and Megan Harrison

Ian and Emily Hancock

Mike and Suzy Hanes

Michael and Jessica Haught

Dave and Kristin Heydt

Todd and Amanda Hicks

Shannon and Gretchen Hope

Harry and Kelly Hoppman

Rocky and Eveleigh Hughey

George and Elizabeth Hutton

Oz and Elise Ince

Kenn and Ginny Jameson

Tom and Victoria Juran

Richard and Kalen Kloskey

Kent and Nan Krieg

Spann and Elizabeth Laffitte

JP and Clark Lee

John and Kim Leighton

Jim and Angie Lichty

Deonne and Kristen Long

Jon and Erica Ludovina

Glenn and Elisa Lumpkin

Denny and Elizabeth Major

Marwan Marzagao

Phil Muhlenkamp and Laura Nolting

Michael Mareska and Tara Powell

Mark and Lori Mauldin

Keith and Kelly McCook

Jamie and Monica McCutcheon

Terry and Kristy Moore

Blake and Anna Montgomery

Dale and Kerri Ness

Chris and Jenny O’Neill

Drew and Adriane Radeker

Hal and Melissa Ray

Wes and Brandi Rikard

Ricky and Kristie Rowe

Stephen and Amy Scott

Mary Catherine Scouten

Andy and Christy Slaughter

Jamie and Oakley Smyth

Bart and Rachel Snyder

Will and Ashley Thomas

Patrick and Shawn Toole

Justin and Kate Vaughan

Laura and Chad Voyles
Aaron Jasnow and Kristy Welshhans

John Lavigne and Sheryl Wiskur

Michael and Mandy Wren

Falcon Platinum

Forest Acres Needlepoint

forestacresneedlepoint.com

Falcon Gold

Brabham Griffin Insurance
brabhamgriffin.com

Sumter Utilities, Inc.

sumter-utilities.com

Falcon Silver

Andrews Law Office

thomasandrewslaw.com

Border States

borderstates.com

HLJ Creative

hljcreative.com

JHV Travel

Bookyourjollyholiday.com

Johnson & Lesley

johnsonandlesley.com

McKenzie & Lybrand

mckenzielybrand.com

Milliken Properties

millikenproperties.com

Milling Law Firm
millinglaw.net

Peace of Mind

sodacitypeaceofmind.com

Purpose Equity Group

www.purposeequitygroup.com

Tara A. Leaphart, Attorney at Law, LLC
taraleaphartlaw.com

Falcon Bronze

Ace Glass

aceglasssc.com

Brabham Fence

brabhamfence.com

Brandon Davidson Interiors

brandondavidsoninteriors.com

Camp, Moring & Brendle, LLC

cmccpas.net

Lipscomb Auto Sales
lipscombautosales.com

Lipscomb Stump Grinding
lipscombstumpgrinding.com

Sandhills Pediatrics
www.sandhillsped.com

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