Winter Break...See you on January 6, 2020

Holiday Spirit Week

Thank you to our students and staff for participating in Holiday Spirit Week at Upper Campus! It was fun to see everyone wear holiday clothing each day. Pictures from this week are on our Holiday Spirit Week Album.

We hope you all have a safe, restful and happy holiday break. See you on Monday, January 6, 2020.

Tacky Sweater Wednesday

Wednesday was Tacky Sweater Day. Tomorrow is the last day of our Holiday Spirit Week at Upper Campus. Wear your holiday colors and hats before we start Winter Break!

A new look at LCEL

As we look forward to the upcoming Winter Break, I have exciting news to share. Beginning Friday, December 20, work will begin on security improvements to our front entrance. 

Over the two weeks of the break, Thompson Turner Construction will put up walls and install glass and doors to create a secure entrance. When we return on January 6, 2020, you should see all of the construction work completed. Once the new secure entrance is in place, we may need to adjust our visitor check-in procedures. We will update you on the new process after the break.

In addition to this improvement, the other capital improvements for our school including restroom renovations are scheduled for the summer of 2020.

If you have any questions about the enhancements to our school made possible by the 2018 Bond Referendum, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Berry.

Lost & Found

Just a reminder that all items in the lost and found will be donated Thursday afternoon. Please stop by and look for any items your child might be missing.

Perfect Day for Pajamas!

Pajamas were perfect for today's Holiday Spirit Day! 

Wear your Tacky Sweater tomorrow and holiday colors and hats on Thursday!

Career Day at Lower Campus

Despite the rainy weather, students still enjoyed career day. They were introduced to several emergency vehicles and learned about various careers from our guest speakers: US Army, Sothern Med nurse practitioner, Painting with a Twist, Forensics, CAT Team Police officer, lawyer, MUV Fitness and robotics from It-Ology. Thank you to everyone that was able to donate their time to share with our students today. Mr. Beach and Mrs. Ishmal worked hard to make today a success. Who knows, they might have

Holiday Spirit Week @ Upper Campus

Plaid today...Pajamas tomorrow!

Hour of Code @ Upper Campus

All students at Upper Campus participated in the Hour of Code this week. This week is a part of the introduction to computer science that is taught in the computer lab. The Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week and has become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with coding activities. Upper Campus has participated every year and the students love it! 💙#hourofcode

Students have been learning about computer science and computer programming/coding this semester with many activities and resources including:

1. unplugged coding
2. Sphero robots
3. code.org
4. hourofcode.org
5. http://compute-it.toxicode.fr/
6. https://www.abcya.com/games/lightbot

Upper Campus Holiday Spirit Week (December 16-19)

Thank You for Supporting Sistercare

Thank you for supporting the Upper Campus Service Learning Project for Sistercare with the  donation of bath towels and wash cloths, games, school supplies, and paper towels.  Sistercare is a local organization that provides shelter and support for mothers and their children. Mindset 6 from The 7 Mindsets, "Live to Give", reminds us that we can all make a positive impact on the world. Service learning is one way we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Service Learning Projects End Tomorrow

Reminder...Service Learning Projects on both campuses end tomorrow, Friday the 13th. Please consider donating items to the local organizations we are supporting.

Lower Campus is supporting the Richland Two Backpack program with the following items:
pancake mix, peanut butter, spaghetti noodles,Chef Boyardee, apple sauce (individual cups), cereal, Bisquick, saltine crackers,instant rice, canned chicken or tuna, Pop-Tarts, individual macaroni and cheese cups, syrup, jelly, spaghetti sauce, instant mashed potatoes
canned soups and instant grits

Upper Campus is supporting Sistercare, Inc with the following items:

school supplies, new board games, washcloths, bath towels, paper towels

Students that bring in or have brought donations can wear a hat tomorrow!

iSmile

Richland Two Choice and Magnet Program Information

Richland Two Choice and Magnet Program Information

Lower Campus Monthly Reading Challenges

Just a reminder, each month we post a reading challenge for students to encourage reading. Participants are entered into a drawing to read with Ross each month. At the end of the year, students that have participated in 6 of the 9 challenges will be invited to a special reading celebration. There is still time for your child to participate if you start this month!

Click the links below for more information:

Monthly Reading Challenge Rules

December Reading Challenge Form

2nd Grade Winter Concert

Mrs. Beck and our 2nd graders did an amazing job with their winter performance. Students and teachers worked hard to prepare for this special program. Thank you to everyone who came to watch last night. 

See more photos

3rd Grade Diamond Del Mining Adventure

Third grade students experienced the Diamond Del Gem Mining Adventure today for a hands-on experience as part of their study of rocks and minerals in science. This is always a favorite with the students!

Tri-District Arts Consortium Summer Program

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 Tri-District Arts Consortium Summer Program. Middle school students (rising sixth through ninth graders) who attend the public schools of Lexington One, Lexington/Richland Five and Richland Two are eligible to participate. This year marks the 35th year Tri-District has provided students with an outstanding and concentrated study of the arts through this summer program.

Parents may nominate their sons and daughters  by completing the nomination form from the Tri-District website: https://tridac.org/. 

The program is designed for artistically gifted and talented students who are rising sixth through ninth graders in the summer before the 2020-2021 school year. Students may audition in creative writing, dance, music (strings, vocal and wind/percussion), theatre or visual arts.

The Summer Program will be held on the campus of the Palmetto Center for the Arts (PCA) at Richland Northeast High School June 29 through July 18. Classes meet Monday through Friday  from 9:00 AM till 3:15 PM. Friday, July 3 will be observed as a holiday. Tuition and lunch for the three-week experience is $400.00.

Arts and classroom teachers, administrators, and/or parents may nominate students. Nomination forms  for all art areas, along with general information about the Tri-District Arts Consortium are also available on line in each school district and on our website at  www.tridac.org.

All  nominations must be received by January 15, 2020. Applications will be sent to each nominated student and parent/guardian.  Spaces for qualified students from each district are limited.

Auditions for Creative writing, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal, and Wind/Percussion will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Richland Northeast High School. Auditions for the areas of Dance, Strings, and Visual Arts will be held Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Richland Northeast High School.  There will be no make-up auditions.

Reading Counts

Lower Campus Reading Counts Information

• Please click the link to learn more about Reading Counts and our incentives here at Lower Campus
• Lower Campus Media Center

Reading Counts Upper Campus Incentives

• 50 points = Choice of 1 prize
• 150 points = Gift Bag or Poster
• 250 points = T-shirt
• 500 points = $20 Book Fair Certificate and Recognition on Morning Show

The Reading Counts points report at the end of each month to award prizes. All names are displayed and read on the news show to celebrate our hardworking Gators!

Service Learning Projects End Friday

Service Learning Projects on both campuses continue through this Friday. Please consider donating items to the local organizations we are supporting.

Lower Campus is supporting the Richland Two Backpack program with the following items:

pancake mix, peanut butter, spaghetti noodles,Chef Boyardee, apple sauce (individual cups), cereal, Bisquick, saltine crackers,instant rice, canned chicken or tuna, Pop-Tarts, individual macaroni and cheese cups, syrup, jelly, spaghetti sauce, instant mashed potatoes
canned soups and instant grits

Upper Campus is supporting Sistercare, Inc with the following items:

school supplies, new board games, washcloths, bath towels, paper towels

Ned's Mindset Assembly

Lower Campus students and staff really enjoyed Ned's Mindset Mission assembly. Ned encourages students to never give up, encourage others and do their personal best!

2nd Quarter Interims

Interim reports for the 2nd quarter grading period will be accessible from Parent Portal today, Friday, December 6. When you log into your account, the current grades for your child will automatically appear on the screen. There is not a report tab to click in Parent Portal. If you have any questions, please call the school at 803-691-3360.

You can access Parent Portal at https://parents.richland2.org.

Note from Nurse Kopp

The health room is in need of gently used khaki or navy uniform pants for boys and girls sizes 5-10.

Also, it is not a bad idea to put a spare outfit in student's backpacks for those unforeseen messy moments that may warrant a change.

Coffee Talk: Literacy over the break

This morning Dr. Berry and Mrs. Egan hosted a coffee talk here at Lower Campus today. If you missed this presentation, take a look at the link to learn more. They talked about ways to incorporate literacy and math over the break.

Coffee Talk: Literacy Over the Break

December Read with Ross Reading Challenge

Diversity December!  Read at least 6 books that highlight diversity in the month of December. These books can include information about disabilities, different cultures, holidays, traditions, etc...  Kindergarten students may read 3 books to complete this challenge. 

Check out the display in the library to help you choose the books to read! 

Remember, students must complete at least 6 challenges for this school year to be able to attend our end of the year reading celebration! 

December Reading Challenge Form

Lost and Found

Is your child missing a jacket? Can't find a lunch box? The Lost and Found has many found items!

Please have your child stop by to look for any missing items. Lost and Found is located by the cafeteria at both campuses. Any left items will be donated at Winter Break. 

Richland Two Choice Fair

RETHINK Contest Winners

Congratulations to these students from Lake Carolina for being selected as the winners of the 2019 RETHINK Contest! Entries required students to learn why plastic bags are a problem both in nature (endanger wildlife) and in recycling bins (jam recycling machines), make an upcycled project out of plastic bags and other previously used items and write up what they learned and the impact on nature and recycling bins. 

Winning students will display their in front of the Columbia Museum of Art for the 50th Anniversary of EARTH DAY. 

They sure used a lot of creativity to create: a tutu, pumpkin, pencil pouch, heart artwork, a neighborhood, clean ocean water and a jump rope and skip-it! Great job gators! 

Lower Campus Winners: Avery, Kylie, Makayla, Gianna, Hailey

Upper Campus Winners: Becca, Lea, Meagan

Upper Campus Service Learning Project

Each year we organize service learning projects to support those in our community. Our first project will be focused on the support of Sistercare, Inc. of Columbia. This organization provides shelter and support for mothers and their children. We will be collecting the items below until Friday, December 13. 

Thank you in advance for helping us remind our students that we are able to learn "beyond the classroom walls" and we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Boxes will be set up on our main level next to stairwell as our point of collection.

Items we are collecting:

• School Supplies
• Board Games (New)
• Washcloths
• Bath Towels
• Paper Towels

Goodies for Grands 2019

Thank you to all of our grandparents for coming to our annual Goodies for Grands breakfast last week. We enjoyed seeing you at LCE!

Special thanks to Village Church for your support of this event!

Pictures of Goodies for Grands

Lower Campus Service Learning Project

Fall 2019 Service Project

Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus

Our fall community project at LCEL is to assist with the Richland Two Backpack program. This program supports Richland Two Families. Our PTO has donated money to support this program, however after December the food store used to fill the backpacks will be depleted, so we need your help!

Needed items are listed below:

 Please bring in items November 25th  - December 13th 

• pancake mix
• peanut butter
• spaghetti noodles
• Chef Boyardee
• apple sauce (individual cups)
• cereal
• Bisquick
• saltine crackers
• instant rice
• canned chicken or tuna
• Pop-Tarts
• individual macaroni and cheese cups
• syrup
• jelly
• spaghetti sauce
• instant mashed potatoes
• Soup: chicken noodle, tomato, chicken and stars
• Instant Grits

**Please make sure donations are not expired and have quite a bit of shelf life left.

Coffee Talk

 

Please join us at Lower Campus on Wednesday, December 4 at 8:30am for a coffee talk!Enjoy some delicious coffee while learning about ways to maintain math and literacy skills over winter break. Participants will receive ready to use resources and fun ideas for their children. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Prek & Kdg Thanksgiving Feast

These students have a lot to be thankful for...great teachers and friends at LCEL. After learning about the Pilgrims and Native Americans, students had a feast. We are so thankful for all these wonderful gators.

More Feast Pictures

Happy Thanksgiving

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time with family and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, December 2.

Talent Show Reminder

Reminder that completed LCE Talent Show applications will be accepted beginning next Tuesday night at 8:00PM.  

Please take time to review the application information that includes all of the dates you will need to be available for practice and performance dates.

Talent Show Dates:

K-3rd Grade: Monday, January 27th at 6:30PM

4th and 5th: Tuesday, January 28th at 6:30PM

COMPLETED applications will be accepted via email starting on Tuesday, November 26th at 8:00PM to lce.talentshow@gmail.com. Only the first 15 COMPLETED applications for each show will be accepted. 

K-3 Grade Application

4th - 5th Grade Application

Donation of Soccer Goals

Thank you to Coach David Kenga from Elite Soccer for donating 2 soccer goals for a playground on the Upper Campus.  

We are grateful for your support!

enLiGHTenSC Contest

EnlightenSC Children's Book Challenge

Fourth and fifth-grade students from South Carolina are invited to write and illustrate a children’s book on new technologies in the energy industry. Students, individually or in group of up to four, must develop their entries under the supervision of an adult who assures the entry adheres to the rules and provides general guidance. The story and illustrations must be the students’ work and be submitted on the hardback book sets provided. The entry task is to write and illustrate a children’s book that focuses on New Technologies in Energy. Examples include solar energy, smart meters, smart thermostats, or electric vehicle charging stations.

More information about this contest and support at LCEU

Important Dates:

--Storyboard Drafts Available: November 19th in the media center and Mrs. McConnell (art teacher)

--All FINAL DRAFT books are due to the media center for submission by January 29th

School Uniform at LCE

Each spring our School Improvement Council provides a survey for our families.  The survey includes questions asking if our families support  wearing school uniforms.  Over the past 5 years approximately 75% of our community has consistently indicated on the survey that they support students wearing school uniforms.  As students get older they tend to share that they do not like wearing a school uniform so we have focused on having Fridays as a choice dress day. 

Our learning community is wonderful for so many reasons and being a “uniform school” certainly helps our success.  Many of our students are choosing not to wear a uniform so our hope is that we can find ways to encourage uniform participation.  We have a variety of uniform options for our students. Uniform shirt colors are hunter green, navy blue, burgundy, or white, as well as any school spirit wear. The uniform bottoms are navy blue or khaki. We want them to know that a uniform does look great on them.

We will not mandate that students wear uniforms but encourage our families do this.  Our hope is our families will share with their children the benefits and take advantage of this opportunity.  Thanks for your support!

Blythewood Soccer Club

Are you new to the area or have a player looking to take their game to the next level?

If so, here is your chance. As many of your know the Blythewood Soccer Club in partnership with the Sumter Soccer Club fielded 4 competitive level teams this fall and are looking to continue to grow in the spring by supplementing these rosters and possibly forming new teams. If you have a player born in 2007 to 2011 that wants more than they are getting in recreational soccer or are looking to make soccer their primary sport, we have the opportunity for you. 

The club will be having free evaluations in December for the spring season. This will be an opportunity to come out for a training session with some of our academy and select level coaches. Your player will be observed and you will be given feedback about  development and if they could benefit from such a program. It will also be a chance to ask questions about the clubs competitive programs and get information about joining for the spring season.

The difference between our Juniors program and our Academy and Select teams really is about the level of commitment. Players in these programs are normally looking to make soccer their primary sport. They are usually hoping to develop and play the game in middle and high school. Teams will get two to three practices a week including a technical session with Coerver Coaching. The other practice(s) will be team practices and focus both on technical and tactical development.  These teams play in state association leagues that would require them to play 1-3 games a week with drive times of up to 2 hours. We play in Columbia, Swansea, Sumter, Florence, West Columbia, Rock Hill, Aiken and Augusta to name a few places. All coaches are licensed and trained in the age group they will be teaching. 

Registration will be opening once we confirm the evaluation date. In the meantime, if you think your player might be interested, please contact us at info@blythewoodsoccer.com. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Finally, as we grow we are also always looking for great new coaches that have a passion for the game and a desire to share that with our players.  If you are interested, we can help you get the needed training.

Frank Cahoon
President of Blythewood Soccer Club

Make Up Picture Day

Make up pictures will be tomorrow, Wednesday, November 20. The pictures taken in the fall will be used for the school's yearbook.

D.A.R.E. Graduation

The fifth grade students had their graduation ceremony for D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) this morning at Upper Campus with Sheriff Leon Lott of the Richland County Sheriff Department as the guest speaker. D.A.R.E. teaches students decision making for safe and healthy living. Special thanks to Senior Officer Pearl Whitaker for leading this program at our school and the Richland County Sheriff Department for their support. 

Students were required to write an essay about what they learned during the 10 week D.A.R.E. program. The following essays were selected from each homeroom class. Overall winner for the school was Becca White. 

• Mr. Cammann - Becca White
• Ms. Dyer - Lauren Attaway
• Ms. Earle - Khloe Ortiz
• Ms. Holmes - Peyton Hightower
• Ms. Hood - Davina Gallahar
• Ms. Rosenberg -  Matthew Burns
• Ms. Sexton - Anna Chaneyworth
• Ms. Smarr - Peyton Lynn
• Ms. Weaver - Aaden Adams

Stop the spread of germs!

Nurse Kopp is going class by class to teach students about how to prevent spreading germs. She even shows them how many germs you remain on your hands after washing them, if you don't wash them correctly. When washing your hands, be sure to wash for at least 20 seconds. Students are amazed to be able to see the germs on their hands. Thanks Nurse Kopp!

PTO Meeting with Chorus Performance

General PTO Meeting with Upper Campus Chorus performing the musical, "A Kid's Life" at 6:30PM in the cafeteria. See you there!