Class notes: Battery Creek student wins photo contest

A photo by 17-year-old Jessica Berry, a junior at Battery Creek High School, will decorate the cover of this summer's EMBARQ Yellow Pages.

The photo was selected by Dex Media, publisher of the directory, from about 50 submissions as the winner of the "Beautiful Beaufort" contest.

Through the contest, students photograph picturesque scenes in Beaufort County and learn to appreciate the beauty of their community, said John Cullinen, a photography and visual arts teacher at Battery Creek.

"I found this scene hidden away from the view of the local tourists," Jessica said of her photo, which shows a marsh near Woods Memorial Bridge in Beaufort. "I preferred the bright greens of this marsh to the duller browns of other marshes in the area. This photo, I decided, would be a perfect representation of Beaufort because it consisted of two common features in our area: a Palmetto tree and a marsh scene."

Jessica will continue studying photography at Battery Creek next year.

Virtual charter school to offer information session

South Carolina Connections Academy, a virtual charter school for kindergarten through high school, will host an information session for parents who want to learn about the program. SCCA accepts students from all counties in South Carolina.

The information session will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mink Point Gym, 2900 Mink Point Blvd., in Beaufort.

Details: ConnectionsAcademy.com or 800-382-6010.

BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL

• Students designs were chosen for the Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity's sixth annual Birdhouse Auction poster. The following student's designs were chosen: Nicholas Lake, Antoine Dix, Dakota Slabinski, Stephanie Hudson, Brianne Canaday, Ryan Gibbs, Jasmine Smalls, Blake Sexton, Anthony Timmins, Miranda Bing, Miguel Mendoza, Javonte Scott, Bonnie Flora, Katey Humme and Vanique Delaney. Several students also donated hand-painted birdhouses: Stephanie Hudson, Katey Hummel, Bonnie Flora and Miranda Bing.

• A mandatory senior class meeting will be at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the cafeteria.

• The Senior Awards Assembly will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the John J. McVey Performing Arts Center.

• A powder puff football game will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the stadium. Admission is $5.

• All back fees are due to Mrs. Myers by Friday. Fees must be cleared before a student may participate in graduation. Seniors may see Ms. Jenkins or Mrs. Grooms for back fees owed.

• Senior exams are May 26-29.

• A Parent Teacher Student Organization meeting is at 6:30 p.m. May 28 in the John J. McVey Performing Arts Center.

• A strings and band concert will be at 7 p.m. May 28 in the John J. McVey Performing Arts Center.

• More than 800 parents will be honored through the school's "Parent Honor Roll" at a recognition night from 7-10 p.m. May 29.

• All clearance sheets are due by 2 p.m. June 1.

• The Athletic Booster Club meets at 6 p.m. June 1 in the school cafeteria.

• The Baccalaureate Service will be at 6:30 p.m. June 5 in the John J. McVey Performing Arts Center. All seniors should attend and wear their graduation robes.

• Mandatory graduation practice is from 8 to 11 a.m. June 5. A cookout will follow.

• The senior breakfast will be at 8 a.m. June 8 in the cafeteria. Graduation practice will begin after breakfast.

• Graduation is June 8. Seniors should report to the gym by 5:45 p.m. to line up.

• A School Improvement Council meeting is 6:30 p.m. June 11 in the school media center.

• Senior portraits for the Class of 2010 are scheduled for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 28; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July 29; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July 30; and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sept. 12 in the John J. McVey Performing Arts Center. The sitting fee is $20. See Mrs. Grooms for an appointment.

BEAUFORT ACADEMY

• Beaufort Academy's chess team competed in the Merriwether Mavericks Scholastic Chess tournament in North Augusta. Team members included second-grader Max Trask, left, kindergartner Kevin Rogers, center, and first-grader Ben Trask, right. Darrin Rogers is the team's coach.Kevin, the 2008 kindergarten champ, faced 2009 champ Patrick Wang in the first round. Kevin won in 32 moves, and BA tied for first place.

• Departmental awards were given to: freshmen Michael Shane Bible, Katherine Marie Neal and Morgan Elizabeth McNeal; sophomores Megan Emily Gallagher, James Christopher Huckabee, Peter Crawford Olsson, George Benjamin Post, Nathaniel Edwin Akers and Jaymie Elizabeth Baggerly; juniors Nathaniel Weeks Rollings, Lucas Daniel Hetherington, Emalie Rebecca Ingram and Audrey Valerie Woodman; and seniors Sarah Victoria Parks, Kaitlyn Cheri Becker, Fabiana Carmin Rodriguez-Nieves and Mary Whitworth Danielson. Grace Elizabeth Salzer won the U.S. Fine Arts Departmental Award.

BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

• The Beaufort County Reading Council's final meeting of the school year will be at 4:15 p.m. Thursday at the Okatie Elementary library.

BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL

• Senior awards night will be at 7 p.m. tonight.

• A strings concert will be at 7 p.m. Thursday.

• No school May 25.

• The SIC meets at 6 p.m. May 26 in the media center. Details: 843-322-2000.

• Senior exams will be May 27 and May 28.

BEAUFORT MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Jonathan Boulon, Michelle Houge and Steven Palinosky are the BMS winners of an essay contest sponsored by district social workers. Fifty-two BMS students submitted an essay titled, "Why is School Attendance Important?"

• For scoring high on the spring 2008 PACT test and earning high grade point averages, 124 students were recognized as Presidential Academic Award Winners.

• Thirty percent of students -- 174 -- have been on the BMS honor roll all three grading periods this year and 18 students have received all A's.

• Citizenship award winners for the year have consistently exhibited the characteristics of leadership, responsibility, character, behavior, and service. Winners are: Arlen Ho, Adam Lipsitz, Reilly Kilpatrick, Jesslyn Craner, Allison Crandall, Bhoomi Patel and Taylor Phetkhamyath. The Governor's Citizenship Award recipient was Adam Lipsitz.

• Eighth-graders Arlen Ho, Michael Houston, Legend Lewis, Jordie Promislow and Raymond Wayne have had perfect attendance throughout middle school.

• Rebekah Crandall, Adam Lipsitz, Brianna Londono and Krista Pequegnat have remained on the all "A" honor roll throughout middle school.

• Camille Bibb received the retired Military Officers Association Award, which is presented to a seventh-grade student who excels in academics, athletics and citizenship.

• Students who have completed more than 40 hours of community service this year are: Ashley Adam, Emani Alston, Tyler Goneke, Adam Lipsitz, Destinne Andrews, Margaret Edwards, Maura Wechsler and Taylor Phetkhamyath.

• Minister Johnnie Simmons was honored with the Community Award of Excellence in Education for his contributions to the "On Location" project as a visiting artist.

• Outstanding Parent Volunteer of the Year is Cassi Kilpatrick.

• Support Staff Member of the Year is Debra Williams, a data specialist.

• Teacher of the Year is Gayle Gremillion.

• Spirit Night is from 6-8 p.m. May 28 at the Chick-fil-A on Boundary Street. BMS earns 10 percent of profits to help the school revamp its courtyard.

JOSEPH J. SHANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• No school May 25.

• The PTO and Sand Dollar Singers on May 28 will present "An Evening of Musical Theater," a dessert theater celebrating music. Tickets are $3 in advance and $5 at the door. Proceeds will pay for new stage lighting.

• An end-of-the-year and fourth-quarter achievement assembly will be at 9:15 a.m. June 5 for first grade and at 1 p.m. for second grade.

• Shanklin Family Fun Day is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 8. Volunteers are needed.

• An end-of-the-year and fourth-quarter achievement assembly will be at 9:15 a.m. June 9 for third grade and at 1 p.m. for fourth grade.

• A "moving up ceremony" will be at 9:15 June 10 for pre-kindergarten and at 1 p.m. for kindergarten.

• An end-of-the-year and fourth-quarter achievement assembly will be at 9:15 a.m. June 11 for fifth grade.

• A assembly to recognize perfect attendance will be June 12.

LADY'S ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Fifth-grade drama club students will present "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

• No school May 25.

• The PTO Spaghetti Dinner and Dance Performance is at 6 p.m. May 28 in the cafeteria.

• Field Day will be June 2.

• Fourth and fifth grade graduation is at 6 p.m. June 5 in the Beaufort High School auditorium.

• The last day of school for students is June 10.

LADY'S ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL

• The 2009-2010 LIMS Cougar Cheerleaders are: Jimaria Green, Ariana Torman, Kayla McClam, Sophia Lauder, Caroline Cook, Jessica Mathis, Akaysha Murray, Brittany Dansky, Kacey Dalrymple, Jayln Washington, Miranda Seng, Caroline Donaghy, Ashley Gearhart, Kelly Smalls, Olivia Roberts, Maddy Calawor, Kari Workman, Sarah Kardohely, Leigh-Anne Tempest and Cassidy Berry.

• The media center will host a Book Fair Wednesday-May 29.

• The cheerleaders will be hold a dance after school Thursday in the cafeteria.

• No school May 25.

ROBERT SMALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL

• The Robert Smalls Middle Step Team performed at the 2009 Beaufort Relay for Life. The director of the team is Lucille Nicholson.

• Faculty and staff donated $195 to diabetes research through the "Denim for Diabetes Day."

• The last days of this year's after-school program are today, Wednesday and Thursday. There will be no program Tuesday because of a faculty meeting.

• A sports banquet and awards ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria.

• ESOL family night is at 6 p.m. Thursday at Shell Point Elementary School.

• No school May 25.

ST. HELENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Students will learn about the benefits of good nutrition and exercise at Tuesday's Kid's Club.

• About 40 fifth-graders will participate in a vessel-based program aboard "The Discovery" through the Carolina Coastal Discovery Marine Education Program on May 28.

• SIC and PTO meetings are at 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the cafeteria.

SHELL POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Steve Mix from the Butterfly Shop in Beaufort brought several species of butterflies to show second-graders who have been studying life cycles of animals by watching their own class set of five butterflies.

• PASS make-up testing will be today-Friday.

• Elections for next year's officers will take place at the PTO meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight.

• "An Evening of the Arts" at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the gym will feature poetry readings, dance and musical performances.

• Fourth- and fifth-graders will perform at the Gullah Festival at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

• No school May 25.

WHALE BRANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Ginger Hodge, author of "When Donkeys Fly," visited the school this month and hosted workshops for students to prepare them for PASS testing.

• The related arts team will host an Orcas Showcase from 5 to 7 p.m. May 29. The band and steel drum band will perform and a gallery of student artwork will be shown.

To submit to Class Notes, send at least 10 days before the event date to features@beaufortgazette.com with Class Notes as subject line; Features, Class Notes, P.O. Box 399, Beaufort, SC 29901 or via fax to 843-524-8729.