We are in the Final Countdown to the start of the year. What an amazing morning at our District 7 Convocation! We are proud to announce that the District 7 Teacher of the Year came from right here at JBE - Mrs. Marissa Drake!

D7 schools and offices will OPEN AT 11 AM on Monday, August 3 so all employees can participate in our annual Opening Convocation.

Thank you for your support and understanding during this special time for our faculty and staff to prepare for the start of our new year!

The countdown is on! One week from today, we will welcome back our families at our annual Meet the Teacher Night! We hope to see everyone on Tuesday, August 4 from 5:30-7:30pm.

Families, please check your email on this Friday for our newsletter, the JBE Principal's Page for August.

We look forward to seeing everyone soon at the one and only JBE!

Today, our school principals, assistant principals, and Superintendent’s Cabinet members came together for a leadership retreat to kick off the new school year. As the sun rose over our transportation department’s beautiful new training facility (which opens next week!), a palpable excitement was in the air. Each year is a new opportunity, a fresh start, a beacon of hope, and an opportunity to grow–not only for our students, but also for our D7 Family of faculty and staff.

Our day included:

• A deep dive into Spartanburg’s growth and development from OneSpartanburg CEO Allen Smith

• A window into the unique perspective and wisdom of three of South Carolina’s strongest school district superintendents through a moderated panel discussion

• A reflection on leading school communities through change and a look at the successes resulting from our new blended schedule model at Spartanburg High School by Dr. Andrew McMillan

• A journey through the results of our recent teacher survey on instructional technology and digital device use across D7, along with several exciting new developments to realign and rebalance our approach to best serve students (look for details coming soon)

• The reveal of our D7 theme for the 2026-2027 school year (STAY TUNED for the public reveal next Monday following our Opening Convocation celebration)

• And much more!

It was a day of fellowship, connection, growth, and recommitting ourselves to District 7’s mission “To inspire and equip our students for lives of leadership and service as world citizens.”

We can’t wait to welcome teachers back later this week and students next week!

Address verification is in full swing and we are beyond excited to begin the process of mailing our famous blue postcards this week! Thank you for your patience this Summer with our new process. We are excited to begin the new school year soon! If you haven't completed either Final Forms or brought in your address verification, please do so as soon as possible so we can send your post card. Happy remainder of Summer!

Happy Independence Day, JBE!

District 7 schools and offices will be closed Thursday, July 2 in observance of Independence Day. We hope our D7 family enjoys celebrating our great nation on this special anniversary year!

🇺🇸 Happy 250th birthday, America! 🇺🇸

Document drop-off begins July 13!

Happy Father's Day!

First Look Inside the NEW Little Vikings Employee Childcare Center

As finishing touches are being made, we’re excited to give our community a first look inside the new District 7 Little Vikings Employee Childcare Center—opening just in time for the new school year! Watch at spartanburg7.org/LittleVikings.

In this preview video, center director Moira Scheel takes you on a tour of our beautiful new facility and shares how the thoughtfully designed curriculum, spaces, and furnishings will support the growth, learning, and well-being of children in our care.

Made possible through the support of our community in the recent referendum, Little Vikings will play a vital role in helping Spartanburg School District 7 recruit and retain outstanding educators. Access to affordable, high-quality childcare is a priority for our community—especially for teachers and staff with young families. We’re proud to take this important step toward supporting them, which in turn will strengthen our schools.

Enrollment is now open for children of District 7 employees, with limited space still available for all age groups from infants through 4K! Learn more and secure your child’s spot at spartanburg7.org/littlevikings.

Take a look inside and see what’s ahead for our Little Vikings!

Returning Families, Make sure to complete your Final Forms registration today! That is the first step towards receiving placement cards. Step two will be to verify your address starting on July 13. We hope your Summer is going great!

That's a wrap on an amazing year at the one and only JBE! Thank you students, staff, families, and community partners for another wonderful year! #oneandonlyjbe

Wednesday was a very special day at JBE as we honored our 5th grade class. We are proud of them and all they have accomplished during their time, and we appreciate the legacy they leave! Go and change the world! #oneandonlyjbe

It's always a special day each year when our graduates and their families return to The Greatest School on Earth to walk the hallways one last time. They even stayed for recess! We were so happy to welcome them back home and to congratulate them on this wonderful occasion! #oneandonlyjbe

From 5K helping us to make sure we "Don't Stop Believin'" to our 5th graders hosting an amazing Exhibition as they explored culture, today was another greatest day at the greatest school on Earth! #oneandonlyjbe

Day 2 of The Greatest Field Days on Earth was an awesome success! Our students in grades 3-5 had loads of fun! #oneandonlyjbe

Day 1 of The Greatest Field Days on Earth is in the books! Great weather was enjoyed and a great time was had by all! #oneandonlyjbe

We hula'd our way through a wonderful Aloha to 4K program this morning. Congratulations to our awesome students and teachers on a great year! #oneandonlyjbe