Gallman Elementary School

Save the dates for SC READY State Testing for all 3rd-5th grade students! May 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9.

Spring Photos and Class Photos will be taken on March 20, 2025. Class photos will be taken by all. Spring photos will only be taken by those who purchase. No sibling photos will be taken.

3rd-5th grade students will participate in state-mandated testing, SCREADY. This assessment will assess the standards-based knowledge in writing, reading, math, and science. Students should be at school and on time each day of testing. Please refrain from scheduling any appointments or planned events during school hours on these testing days. May 1- Writing May 5- Reading Day 1 May 6- Reading Day 2 May 8- Math May 9- Science (4th grade only)

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF NEWBERRY COUNTY REGISTRATION FOR KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN February 24 - March 7, 2025 Register online at: https://newberry-sc.finalforms.com If you live in the attendance area for Boundary Street Elementary, Gallman Elementary or Newberry Elementary and your child will be 3 on or before September 1, 2025, please follow the same requirements that are listed for kindergarten registration. KINDERGARTEN All children 5 years old by September 1, 2025, entering public school for the first time You must bring: Birth Certificate (long form) and Immunization Record 3 Proofs of Residency Mandatory (1) Current Fed. Tax. Return with physical address Current tax notice Mortgage Lease Required (Any 2) Automobile Tax or Registration Current power bill Current phone/cell bill Current water bill Cable TV bill SC Driver’s license PRE-KINDERGARTEN All children 4 years old by September 1, 2025, entering public school for the first time. You must bring: Birth Certificate (long form) Income Verification ie: Medicaid card, most recent check stub, SNAP verification and Immunization Record 3 Proofs of Residency Mandatory (1) Current Fed. Tax. Return with physical address Current tax notice Mortgage Lease Required (Any 2) Automobile Tax or Registration Current power bill Current phone/cell bill Current water bill Cable TV bill SC Driver’s license *You may upload your proofs of residency, birth certificate and immunization record using the online registration application. Questions – please call 321-2600 Dr. Beth Brooks, Mrs. Edlin Del Valle, or your zoned school.

Montessori Parent Interest Meeting Thursday, February 20 6 p.m. at Boundary Street Elementary INDIVIDUALIZED Montessori is a hands-on discovery approach to teaching and learning. It tends to discourage traditional competitive measurements of achievement, such as grades and tests, and instead focuses on the individual progress and development of each child. Children of different ages share the same classes and are encouraged to collaborate and help one another. SPECIALIZED Specialized educational materials are used to keep children interested, and there is an emphasis on "practical life skills." The main goal of Montessori education is to provide a stimulating, child-oriented environment in which children are mastering the South Carolina state standards. The Montessori program in Newberry County serves ages three year old through fifth grade at Boundary Street Elementary, Gallman Elementary and Newberry Elementary School. Students must reside in the zoned school to be eligible for Montessori.

Due to the threat of winter weather and the resulting hazardous road conditions, the School District of Newberry County will have an eLearning day on Friday, January 10, 2025, with schools and offices closed. All activities are canceled for January 10. Teachers will post assignments for students to complete, but there will be no live Google Meets on this day. Students who do not have internet access will need to download assignments during school on Thursday. Students will have a five-school-day window of time to turn in eLearning assignments. Additional information regarding eLearning guidelines and expectations can be found at https://bit.ly/426hmBW.

SCDE responds to PowerSchool Data Breach Jan 8, 2025 Late Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) was informed by PowerSchool of a cybersecurity breach involving its PowerSource portal. This was an international incident over which the state and local districts had no control. This breach resulted in unauthorized access to certain customer data from PowerSchool’s Student Information Systems (SIS), including data from multiple states and school districts across the country. During a meeting with PowerSchool’s senior leadership, they confirmed that personally identifiable information (PII) was compromised. The SCDE is currently working to understand the full scope of the breach. PowerSchool has stated that this breach has been contained and has informed the SCDE that it has taken steps to secure its systems, engage cybersecurity experts, and is also coordinating with law enforcement to address the breach. The SCDE is actively communicating with PowerSchool, legal counsel, and local districts to assess the full impact on South Carolina schools, students, and educators and to determine next steps. The SCDE is also in direct communication with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Attorney General’s office and has notified the Governor and legislative leaders. Commenting on the seriousness of this incident, State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said, “The protection of our South Carolina students’ and educators’ personal data is non-negotiable. We fully recognize the anxiety this raises for them and their families.” She continued, “While PowerSchool has taken accountability for this breach, our Department will take uncompromising action to ensure we uncover the complete extent of this incident. We will insist that PowerSchool not only notify affected individuals but also provide them with credit and identity monitoring services." The SCDE will continue to engage and support districts and schools throughout this process as more information becomes available. https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/news-releases/scde-responds-to-powerschool-data-breach/

FREE TO FOCUS Beginning January 6, 2025 The South Carolina Department of Education has released a policy that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during the school day. The purpose of this policy is to create a phone-free school environment that fosters a positive learning experience free from electronic distractions. During the school day, students are prohibited from accessing their personal electronic devices. Students may not wear or access device accessories during the school day. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and gaming devices. MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

District-Wide Recruitment Fair! Saturday, January 25, 2025 Mid-Carolina High School 377 Cy Shumpert Rd. Prosperity, SC 29127 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. All positions: Teacher, Nurse, Child Nutrition, Bus Driver, Instructional Assistants, and other positions.

Gators Gear Up For SCREADY! 3rd-5th Grades will test State Mandatory SCREADY on: May 1- Reading May 2- Writing May 3- Writing Field Test May 8- Math May 9- Science (4th grade ONLY) SCREADY allows students to showcase their knowledge of grade-level standards. Students must attend school on testing dates and arrive on time. Let's Gear Up For SCREADY, Gators!

Montessori Parent Interest Meeting Wednesday, February 21 6 p.m. Boundary Street Elementary School Montessori is a hands-on discovery approach to teaching and learning. It tends to discourage traditional competitive measurements of achievement, such as grades and tests, and instead focuses on the individual progress and development of each child. Children of different ages share the same classes and are encouraged to collaborate and help one another. Specialized education materials are used to keep children interested, and there is an emphasis on "practical life skills." The main goal of Montessori education is to provide a stimulating, child-oriented environment in which children are mastering the South Carolina state standards. The Montessori program in Newberry County serves ages three through 5th grade at Boundary Street Elementary, Gallman Elementary, and Newberry Elementary School. Students must reside in the zoned school to be eligible for Montessori.

Deadline to purchase the optional Technology Insurance (alternately referred to as “Technology Fee”) is Friday, September 1. The yearly $25 cost covers the first iPad or laptop repair free. Certain first time repair or replacement costs without insurance could exceed $600. The $25 may be paid directly to your child's school. For more information, please refer to pages 16-17 of the 1:1 Technology Handbook. https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1079/NMS/3370241/2023-2024_1_1_TechnologyHandbook.pdf

Due to the threat of inclement weather, we will be moving tonight's Meet the Principal and Open House 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Meet the Principal will begin at 5:00pm and Open House will be from 5:30-6:30pm. We hope to see all of our Gators soon!

Join us on August 7th to meet our new principal, Dr. Abney and stay for Open House!

Welcome to the Swamp! Dr. Abney is coming to Gallman Elementary from Richland 2 School District. He has a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He has served in various roles within elementary schools for the past 17 years. We are Gator Proud he is joining our Gator Family.

Today is Mrs. Hunter's final day in the Gallman Gator Swamp! The last six years have been filled with lots of memories, fun, and learning! We are very thankful for all Mrs. Hunter did during her time as a teacher and principal at GES and we wish her the best as she starts her new chapter! She will always be part of the Gator Family!

Congratulations to Gallman Elementary School’s Support Staff of the Year, Mrs. Vicki Hamm! Mrs. Hamm teaches STEM. Her peers shared that she is always working hard to ensure her STEM class is interactive and relevant. She never hesitates to go above and beyond for her students and peers. We are Gator Proud of Mrs. Hamm! A special thank you to SERVPRO of Newberry and Laurens Counties for their sponsorship of our Support Staff of the Year.

Congratulations to Gallman Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year, Ms. Alisha Rutherford! Ms. Rutherford teaches second grade. Her peers shared that she is everything other teachers should aspire to be. She has a deep care for her students and always has engaging lessons. She is always smiling and lending an extra hand. We are Gator Proud of Ms. Rutherford! A special thank you to SERVPRO of Newberry and Laurens Counties for their sponsorship of our Teacher of the Year.

‼️ Attention Parents of 3-5 Graders ‼️ State testing (SCREADY and SCPASS) will take place at the beginning of May for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. SCREADY and SCPASS are required. Testing will start by 8:15 AM. Please ensure that your student has had a good night’s rest and is at school on time. Breakfast will be served like normal. Thursday, May 4- Reading Friday, May 5- Writing Tuesday, May 9- Math Wednesday, May 10- Science (4th grade ONLY) If you have any questions, please reach out to Jessica Shealy at 803-321-2655 or jshealy@sdnc.org Please take a few minutes to watch the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19fTsIWgfik0GvNr0vIp1TNuAzYp01Blf/view?usp=share_link

Congratulations to our February Gators of the Month! These students exemplify Respect, Success, and Responsibility. We are Gator Proud!