Spartanburg District 7 -

🎉 This edition of 7Headlines: MAY We Celebrate! 🎓🎭🎨 May is bursting with milestones and memories in the making! From graduation cheers to artistic achievements, from outstanding educators to student success stories—you’ll find plenty of reasons to celebrate in this joyful issue. PLUS: Teacher and Nurse Appreciation, Senior Spotlights, Arts Showcases, and a look ahead at summer fun! Take a moment to soak in the pride, the progress, and the people who make District 7 shine. ✨ MAY we celebrate all that makes D7 great: 📬 Read the full issue here: https://tinyurl.com/7HeadlinesMay2025

#AlwaysAViking: 🎓 Celebrate the Class of 2025 with us! 🎓 (Ceremony info & MORE) Our beloved Vikings are “Going for Great” as they get ready to walk across the stage and into a future filled with promise and purpose. Caps and gowns are pressed. Tickets are in hand. And the entire District 7 community is cheering them on! For those attending the ceremony or watching the livestream, note important details below. For the rest of our Spartanburg community, we hope you will see our Class of 2025 Tribute published in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal this Sunday, May 18 and next Wednesday, May 21, which outlines numerous accolades earned by our graduating seniors. Also, be sure to see our senior tribute billboard right in front of Spartanburg High School—an eye-catching show of love and pride for our graduating class! THE SENIOR WALK Following commencement rehearsal Friday morning, our seniors will return to their D7 elementary schools for “The Senior Walk.” Wearing their caps and gowns as they process through the hallways, seniors will be applauded by our elementary students and will reconnect with teachers and staff from their past. Not only does The Senior Walk honor and celebrate our graduates, but it also sets a positive example for younger students as they look to their own futures. 🎓 Be on the lookout for our photo slideshow to enjoy seeing these special moments! 🎓 CLASS of 2025 SENIOR TRIBUTE Each year, D7 prints a two-page, full color spread in the newspaper honoring the many accomplishments of our graduates. Copies of the Class of 2025 Tribute will be available for each senior to pick up from the school starting Monday. 🎓 Visit our Class of 2025 webpage at https://www.spartanburg7.org/ClassOf2025 to see the digital version of our senior tribute after commencement! 🎓 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY INFO • Commencement Ceremony: Friday, May 16 at 7 PM • Graduates report to auxiliary gym in cap and gown no later than 5:45 PM • Gates open for guests at 5:30 PM. Ticket required for admission. Security screenings and the district's clear bag policy enforced (ONLY clear bags that do not exceed 12"x6"x12" or small clutch bags no larger than 4.5"x6.5" allowed). Please allow extra time for parking and to get to your seats. • PROHIBITED: Noisemakers, beach balls, drones, and balloons • Accessible parking (handicap pass required) is available in the lot adjacent to the home side entrance into Viking Stadium. COMMENCEMENT LIVESTREAM 🎓 Watch the commencement livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/live/1GQdkCYGttg 🎓 CLASS OF 2025 WEBPAGE D7 is adding information, links, and new content (such as our tribute ad) to the Class of 2025 webpage. 🎓 Follow along to help celebrate our Vikings! https://www.spartanburg7.org/ClassOf2025. 🎓 HONOR YOUR SENIOR (OR FAVORITE D7 TEACHER) WITH AN ENGRAVED PAVER AT SHS Families are invited to mark this special occasion by honoring a senior or a special teacher with an engraved brick paver on the campus of SHS! Each engraved paver is $100 and benefits D7 student scholarships. Your gift ensures that both your legacy and our community’s rich history are preserved for future generations. Engraved pavers are installed in Fine Arts Center plaza. They can accommodate up to three lines of text. Orders are installed in batches throughout the year, depending on the time of order. All orders received by June 30 will be installed this fall. 🎓 See additional details to place your order on our Engraved Paver Order Form at spartanburg7.org/bricks. 🎓

🚧✨ Something BIG is coming to Spartanburg! ✨🚧 We’re building the future — literally — and we’re inviting local trade partners to be part of it. Join us on Tuesday, May 27, from 4–6 PM at Drayton Mills Elementary School for a special New Jesse Boyd Trade Partner Outreach Event hosted by Harper General Contractors. 🏗️ You'll get a first look at the plans for the new Jesse Boyd Elementary School and learn more about the project timeline, bidding process, and how you can get involved. 📍 Drayton Mills Elementary School 📅 May 27, 2025 | 4:00–6:00 PM 📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer or register online today (https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=w4QUXBw2P066jCNQTF-9ZBYpAY7AxRlFruWR4dDnIXRURTZYVUE4MzdGQTJRUlU3S0RJWTQ4VE9LSC4u) Let’s build something amazing — together.

This Wednesday (May 14) is "Hats OFF to Education" day in D7! All faculty, staff, and students are invited to support future educators from the Class of 2025 by wearing your favorite hat and bringing $1 (or more) to school to contribute to the effort. All funds raised will support our Teacher Forum's scholarships for this year's seniors majoring in education. We hope you will join in the fun as we all work together to support future educators!

Help us give a shout out to the Class of 2025, who graduates next Friday, May 16! As you drive by Spartanburg High School, be sure to check out our billboard congratulating them (at the student entrance on East Main Street)!

Summer Just Got Sportier for Future Vikings! Viking Athletics is bringing the HEAT this summer with a lineup of exciting sports camps at Spartanburg High School! Whether your child wants to spike, shoot, cheer, or swing for the fences, there’s a camp for every young athlete. Lady Vikings Sports Camp | June 2–5 Viking Cheer Kiddie Camp | June 9–11 Basketball Kids Camp | June 9–12 Wrestling Camp | June 9 -12 Soccer Camp | June 9–11 Baseball Camp | June 16–18 Locations include the Viking Arena, Viking Athletic Fields, Viking Wrestling Facilities and Duncan Park. Spots will fill fast — get more info and register now at: www.hubcitylocker.com/vikings Come train with the best, make memories, and stay active all summer long! GO VIKINGS!

💙 Happy National School Nurse Day! 💙 Today, we celebrate the heart of every school — our incredible school nurses! From caring for scraped knees and big feelings to managing health plans and emergencies, you are a calm and steady force for students and staff alike. In District 7, you are true superheroes — compassionate, skilled, and always going the extra mile. THANK YOU for the difference you make every single day. 🩺 We see you. We appreciate you. We are better because of you. #SchoolNurseDay #D7isGoingForGreat

TODAY is National Teacher Appreciation Day and THIS ENTIRE WEEK is Teacher Appreciation Week! Will you help us shower faculty and staff across our D7 Family with lots of love this week? Often, a simple note telling that special teacher (past or present!) how they made a difference in your life is the most meaningful gift of all. Please join us in thanking our wonderful educators who dedicate their lives to inspiring and equipping students for meaningful lives of leadership and service.. We sure do love all of our faculty and staff members across D7 and we are excited to celebrate them this week! #D7IsGoingForGreat #ToInspireAndEquip

Every orchestra student in grades 5-12 performed before a packed house in Viking Arena for last night’s season finale. It was a spectacular tribute to their year! Our 400+ students ended the concert in perfect harmony as they joined togetherer in playing “America the Beautiful”. Congratulations to each of our orchestras and their conductors on “Going for Great” - and achieving it in the most beautiful way! #D7isGoingForGreat #ToInspireAndEquip

🌟 Administrative Professionals Day 🌟 Today — and every day — we celebrate the incredible administrative professionals who are the heart of our schools and offices across District 7. From the front desks that offer the first smile of the day to the behind-the-scenes experts who keep everything running smoothly, your work matters deeply. To our school secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and district support staff: thank you for being the calm in the chaos, the problem-solvers, the organizers, and the glue that holds it all together. You show up with grace, kindness, and a commitment to excellence that lifts everyone around you. This amazing group from the District Office represents just a small part of the brilliance and dedication we see across every campus. We are so grateful for each of you and the essential role you play in our mission of Going for Great. #D7isgoingforgreat

Rising 7th-12th graders are invited to the Viking Band's spring marching band camp! No advance registration needed. Parents will have the opportunity to attend an informational meeting during the camp, which runs April 28, 29 and May 1. Contact Band Director Bobby Cotter with questions: rgcotter@spart7.org.

✨ Shining Bright in Spartanburg County! ✨ Today, the future of Spartanburg County gleamed brighter than ever at the Kiwanis Club of Spartanburg's annual Terrific Kid of the Year luncheon! 🌟 We’re bursting with pride as we celebrate the incredible achievements of our elementary school superstars who’ve shown what it means to lead with heart, character, and determination. A huge shoutout to the exceptional students from District 7 who are truly shining examples of kindness, responsibility, and perseverance: • Zavion Omari Hillstock, Cleveland Academy of Leadership • Jayden Beatty, Drayton Mills Elementary • James Martin Crotts, E.P. Todd School • Emily Georgion, Jesse Boyd Elementary • Matthew Franco, Mary H. Wright Elementary • Charley Donnelly, Pine Street Elementary • Scarlett Hayes, McCarthy-Teszler Teszler Division • Calvin Miller, McCarthy-Teszler Secondary Division (Not pictured: Joseph Ramos, McCarthy-Teszler Elementary School) These Terrific Kids were recognized for their outstanding character, receiving a special plaque, a T-shirt, and a certificate signed by the Governor – a true reflection of their hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence. The Kiwanis Club’s Terrific Kids program is all about cultivating thoughtful, enthusiastic, respectful, and capable young people. These honorees embody those qualities and more, setting an inspiring example for their peers and our entire community. A round of applause also goes to the families, teachers, guidance counselors, assistant principals and principals who support and encourage these students every step of the way. You’ve helped nurture these bright young minds, and we couldn’t be more thankful for your guidance. To all the Terrific Kids: Your journey is just beginning, and the world is lucky to have you. Keep reaching for the stars, keep being the change, and keep inspiring those around you. The best is yet to come! 🌟💫 Congratulations again to all of our D7 honorees, and to all Terrific Kids celebrated today. The impact you make will echo through the years. Keep shining, keep dreaming, and never stop striving for greatness! #D7isgoingforgreat #TerrificKidSpartanburg

Spartanburg, get ready to laugh, cheer, and believe in happily-ever-afters (with a swampy twist)! ✨🎭 Everyone’s favorite ogre is stomping onto the stage a week from this Thursday, in Shrek The Musical at Spartanburg High School—and you won’t want to miss the magic! From beloved fairy tale characters and jaw-dropping sets to live music and a fire-breathing dragon (yes, really 🔥)—this show has it all. 📍 Join us at the D7 Fine Arts Center on the campus of SHS, April 24–27! 🎟️ Reserved seating is now open and tickets are flying fast: https://our.show/d7shrek Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, this Tony Award-winning musical features music by Jeanine Tesori and a hilarious book by David Lindsay-Abaire. It's packed with heart, humor, and high-energy performances that the whole family will love. ✨ Costumes. Puppets. A donkey in waffle-loving overdrive. And a reminder that beauty is in the eye of the ogre. Snag your reserved seat now—before they disappear like Rumpelstiltskin! 💚👑 https://our.show/d7shrek

🎉 Celebrating National Assistant Principals Week! 🎉 Although our schools were on Spring Break, we couldn't let National Assistant Principals Week pass without recognizing the extraordinary work and dedication of our Assistant Principals in Spartanburg School District 7! We love our Assistant Principals—and for good reason! These outstanding professionals play an essential role in our schools, working tirelessly to support teachers, motivate students, assist principals, and create positive, thriving learning environments. They face the many challenges that come their way with determination and grace, and their commitment to student success is unmatched. We are incredibly fortunate to have such an exceptional team. Their passion for our students, faculty, staff, and community is evident in everything they do. They are dedicated to the success of each student, and we are deeply appreciative of the time, effort, and expertise they invest in our schools. Thank you to all of our Assistant Principals for your continued hard work and dedication. You are a vital part of our mission of Going for Great, and we are grateful for the positive impact you make every day. Here’s to you—our Assistant Principals, the heart of our schools! 👏🎓 Jesse Boyd Elementary Stephanie Seay | Dr. Lichelle Jones-Wilkins Cleveland Academy of Leadership Alanda Posey | Alphonso Richard Drayton Mills Elementary Adena McDaniel | Thurman Evans E.P. Todd School Brian Landon | Vanessa Norman Mary H. Wright Elementary Dr. Ashley Barnes Mitchell | Alexis Clowney-Fox Pine Street Elementary Reena Waston | Dr. Erin Davis Carver Middle School Cherrel Jackson | Jaime Talkington McCracken Middle School Katrina Johnson | Tripp Manuel | Jeannee Abercrombie (AJ) Johnson | Rebecca Miller Spartanburg High School Lindsey Johnson | Rod Daniels | Eric Parker | Jeff Boucher | Dr. Lavetta Collins | Dr. Shay Rice | Ryan Smith Whitlock Flexible Learning Center Tawayne Weems | Sarah Watson McCarthy Teszler School Quida Black

Happy Spring Break, D7 Family! We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday, April 14.

This edition of 7Headlines: MARCHing Toward Greatness! Step into a full-circle moment as McCracken Middle School makes way for the future, experience the culinary magic of Celebrity Chef Jet Tila at Cleveland Academy, and grab your tickets to the Spring Musical, Shrek! Plus, a special message from Superintendent Stevens. Don’t miss a beat—check out all the highlights in this exciting issue: tinyurl.com/7HeadlinesMarch2025 We're fired up to MARCH forward and Go for Great in D7!

🎭✨ Get ready for a roaring good time, Spartanburg! ✨🎭 Everyone's favorite ogre is taking the stage this April at Spartanburg High School, and you don't want to miss it! Shrek The Musical is bringing all the beloved characters, incredible live music, and yes... even a fire-breathing dragon! 🔥 Join us for this sidesplitting fairy tale adventure at the D7 Fine Arts Center from April 24-27. ✨ Tickets are flying fast, and with reserved seating now open, you’ll want to snag yours today: https://our.show/d7shrek 🎟️ Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, this Tony Award-winning musical features new songs by Jeanine Tesori and a hilarious book by David Lindsay-Abaire. 🏆 It’s a treasure trove of creative magic, with unforgettable costumes, sets, and puppets. Plus, it’s fun for the whole family—beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre! 🌟 Don't wait—get your tickets before they’re gone!

🎵 🎻🪘🎷🎹 March is Music in Our Schools Month! 🎵 🎻🪘🎷🎹 For 40 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month. It is a time of year when schools and communities across the nation raise awareness about the importance of music education for all children, celebrate our music teachers and programs within the community, and demonstrate the value school music brings to students of all ages. In District 7, many of our annual school musicals take place during March and April. We invite our Spartanburg community to come enjoy these productions! The centerpiece of our musicals lineup is Spartanburg High School's production of Shrek The Musical, which takes place in our District 7 Fine Arts Center on April 24-27, 2025 and features students from our elementary, middle and high schools. Tickets are now on sale at https://our.show/D7Shrek! We also encourage you to explore the many other concerts and special music events presented by our schools. D7 students have an extra spring in their step as their dedication and hard work culminates in these opportunities to showcase the beautiful music they create! Together, they lift their voices and make their instruments soar - Going for Great in one symphony of sights and sounds! 🎵 District 7 School Musicals for 2024-2025 🎵 Jesse Boyd Elementary: Aristocats Kids March 11-13 – 9 am and 6pm Cleveland Academy: Finding Nemo Kids April 1 and 3 – 10 am, April 2 – 6 pm Mary H. Wright Elementary: Willy Wonka, Jr. April 1 – 10 am and 6 pm, April 3 – 6 pm Pine Street Elementary: Aladdin, Jr. December 4-6, 2024 E. P. Todd School: Into the Woods March 17-18 – 9 am and 6:30 pm Spartanburg High School: Shrek The Musical April 24-26 – 7 pm, April 27 – 3 pm

Friendly Reminder! Friday, March 14 is an eLearning day for students, serving as a make-up day for some of the six school days missed last fall during Hurricane Helene. We are continually inspired by the resilience of our students and the dedication of our families in supporting their success. Your partnership makes all the difference! Students will have two school days after each make-up day to complete and submit their eLearning assignments. For families in need of childcare and eLearning support, the City of Spartanburg is offering two FREE day camps: 🔹 Ages 5-12: CC Woodson Community Center (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) 🔹 Ages 13-17: Dr. TK Gregg Center (12 p.m. – 5 p.m.) Snacks will be provided! While participation is free, advance registration is required—please scan the QR codes on the attached flyers for details. We are incredibly grateful for the City’s partnership in supporting our students and families. Thank you, parents and caregivers, for your unwavering support, flexibility, and commitment to your child’s education! 📚✨

Spartanburg School District 7 Closure Announcement – Wednesday, March 5, 2025 Due to the strong wind advisory in effect from 4 AM to 7 PM by the National Weather Service, Spartanburg District 7 schools will be closed on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Forecasts indicate sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph. In accordance with state safety regulations, school bus operations must be suspended when gusts exceed 45 mph, making travel unsafe for our students and staff. Unlike other weather-related closures earlier this year, this will not be an eLearning day, as we have exhausted our allotted eLearning days for the year. The safety of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this weather-related closure. Please take all necessary precautions, stay safe, and look out for one another. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Thursday.