Upper Campus Patio Garden

We would like to thank the PTO and Troop 202 for their wonderful support in creating our student patio.  

Students are and will enjoy this area for reading, lunch and a breath of fresh air!

LCEU Patio Garden

Face Coverings

 

Richland School District Two will continue to require face coverings to be worn by employees, students and visitors in accordance with Richland Two Board Policy ADD Face Covering. In making this decision, district leaders consider the following guidance:

• On May 15, 2021, the CDC posted on their website the recommendation that schools continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year.

• S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has reviewed the CDC updated recommendations regarding face masks released on May 13, 2021. Following that review DHEC announced the following:

“DHEC has reviewed the science behind the CDC’s recent mask guidelines and now advises that South Carolinians who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors with a few exceptions.

“At this time, people should still continue to wear masks when in schools, healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and on commercial transportation.

“Unvaccinated people need to continue to properly wear face masks in public.”

• In rescinding the state face covering policy with the exception of the school bus requirement, the S.C. Department of Education stated: “After a thorough legal review of Executive Order 2021-23, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) finds no legal grounds by which the Governor can set aside a policy and regulatory directive issued by another constitutional officer or constitutional board whose power is not derived from the state of emergency nor the Executive Branch but by the South Carolina Constitution and Code of Laws. This power is reserved solely for the South Carolina General Assembly.”

• In responding to Executive Order 2021-23, both DHEC and the SCDE released statements affirming that wearing face masks and taking other precautions are important disease prevention methods in the school setting.

• The district must adhere to public health guidance to preserve immunity from COVID-19 liability as directed in the South Carolina COVID-19 Liability Immunity Act signed into law on April 28, 2021.

When the CDC and DHEC update their mask guidance for the school setting, the district will revisit Policy ADD Face Covering.

District leaders understand and respect that some individuals will not agree with this decision in light of the Governor’s May 11, 2021 executive order. We assure the Richland Two family that the district’s decision to maintain the face covering requirement is based on our commitment to putting health and safety first. Continuing to rely on the recommendations of public health authorities ensures our decisions are based on expert knowledge.

South Carolina Code of Law 59-19-90 gives school boards the authority to establish standards of conduct in order “that the welfare of the greatest possible number of pupils shall be promoted… .” Allowing individuals to opt out of legally passed policies created to ensure the safety of our employees, students and visitors creates a dangerous precedent that jeopardizes the safety of all — now and in the future.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we focus on finishing up the last four weeks of 2020–2021 school year in the safest and most effective manner possible.

State Testing for Upper Campus Students

 

The SC Ready and SC PASS state assessments begin tomorrow for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students:

• ELA - Day 1 (Writing): May 18th
• ELA - Day 2 (Reading): May 19th
• Math: May 20th
• Science (4th grade only): May 25th

All testing will be completed online at the school.

Prepare your child for testing:

• Have your child get a good night's sleep.
• Please avoid scheduling appointments for your child on testing days. We cannot guarantee when the test will end, and the tests cannot be suspended to be resumed the next day once a student starts the test.
• Arrive at school on-time. Students who come to school tardy may end up taking their tests in an alternate testing location or on a make-up testing day.
• Bring a fully charged, school/district issued chromebook for testing.
• Encourage your child to take his/her time, read all of the passages and questions carefully, use the scratch paper provided, write rough drafts, work out problems, and do his/her personal best.
• Have your child eat a light, healthy breakfast on days of testing.

2021 NAEOP Office Professional Award

Congratulations to Mrs. Marybeth Gawrys! 

The National Association of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP) has selected Marybeth Gawrys as its 2021 Olive T. Richie Office Professional of the Year. Since coming to work in Richland School District Two 29 years ago, Gawrys has filled a long list of positions that includes being a health room assistant, media assistant, receptionist, teaching assistant and attendance secretary. Mrs. Gawrys is currently the Student Data Coordinator and Registrar at Lake Carolina Elementary School - Upper Campus. Her responsibilities include maintaining student records in PowerSchool, registering new students, helping to cover the receptionist desk and helping out in any other way that is needed. During her career, she has had the privilege of assisting with the openings of three new schools in Richland Two.

2022-21 Turnaround Achievement Awards

Congratulations to our 2020-21 Turnaround Achievement students,
Illya Smith in 2nd grade and Jamin Eubanks in 5th grade.

Students selected for the Turnaround Achievement Awards in Richland Two are students that have worked extremely hard to make positive and lasting changes toward their own learning.

Summer Reading Opportunities

Please open the presentation link for a variety of Summer Reading Opportunities. Select the programs that interest you and your family of readers!  

To participate in the LCEL and LCEU Summer Reading Celebration for the 2021-2022 school year, you simply need to bring your reading medal from the Richland County Public Library.

Summer Reading Presentation

State Department of Education Parent Survey

All parents with current students in K-12 public schools are asked to  complete the annual South Carolina Department of Education Parent Survey. Parents can complete the survey for each student attending a public school. The deadline to complete the Parent Survey is Tuesday, June 1.

Please click the link below and enter the appropriate 7 digit code for lower campus and/or upper campus when you complete the survey. 

If you have a student at both schools, you can complete for each location.

Link to Parent Survey: https://ed.sc.gov/surveys/parent-survey/

Lower Campus ID Code: 4002089

Upper Campus ID Code: 4002102