Anderson School District 3

To provide the most transparent and accurate information regarding positive COVID-19 cases as possible, once contact tracing is complete, there will be three types of notification. Notification procedures can be found here: https://bit.ly/34O687M

Congratulations to Anderson School District 3 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Carly Herron! 🍎 Mrs. Herron is a Kindergarten teacher at Flat Rock Elementary School. "There are a million reasons why Carly Herron is the teacher of the year at Flat Rock. Her enthusiasm for her job is contagious. Carly was born to be an elementary teacher. Her “Why” is evident through her passion to teach combined with her ability to prepare her students to exceed their academic growth while nurturing their emotional growth as well. An exceptional teacher is not only one who can grow the knowledge of a student but can also grow their hearts with kindness. Carly was made to spend her days with our youngest students cultivating their love for learning in a way only she can." Congratulations, Carly! Thank you for your dedication to the students of Anderson School District 3! 💛

Congratulations to Anderson School District 3 Support Staff Employee of the Year, Mrs. Abby Busby! Mrs. Busby is a kindergarten paraprofessional at Starr Elementary and a school bus driver for special needs students. "Abby is one of those people you may label as a rare gem. There are many characteristics that can describe Abby. Dependable, hard-working, honest, artistic, helpful, caring, kind, self-manageable, and loving. There is not a day that she comes to school not wearing her smile, ready to love on the children and teach them the things they need to learn. She brings happiness wherever she goes and is always willing to lend a helping hand, however, needed." Congratulations, Mrs. Busby! Thank you for your dedication to the students of Anderson 3!

Welcome, Lyndsey Long! 🍎 Mrs. Long will be joining the A3 Teaching Team as a 6th Grade ELA teacher at Starr-Iva Middle School! Lyndsey is joining us from Anderson 5, where she taught for nine years. She is a 2011 graduate of Anderson University and holds a degree in Elementary Education. In 2013, Lyndsey earned her master's degree in education, also from Anderson University. Lyndsey and her husband Jacob live in Anderson with their two daughters, Eliza Kay (5) and Alice (4). We are excited for Mrs. Long to be joining the A3 Family! Please join us in welcoming her to our district.

Starr-Iva Middle School is currently looking to employ a long term certified substitute teacher for the 2020-2021 school year. Middle-level science is preferred; however, all certifications are welcome. Please email Adam Coats, principal, at coatsa@acsd3.org.

Virtual Students, we are here to help you! 💻 If you happen to have tech issues during virtual learning, visit https://bit.ly/a3virtualhelp or call 864-209-1074! This link will allow our tech department to assist you as fast as possible. The attached graphic will also help you with the most common tech issues.

Welcome, Kate Abernethy! 🍎 Ms. Abernethy will be joining the A3 teaching team in the Math Department at Crescent High School! Kate has been teaching Math since before the turn of the century. (She couldn't resist giving us that phrase to use!) Two years ago, Kate and her two dogs decided to head north to Northeast Georgia after getting tired of sunny Florida (Ironically enough). She soon rediscovered an appreciation for hiking after her move. Last year Ms. Abernethy taught at Calhoun Falls Charter School in Abbeville County. Previously, Kate taught for 15 years at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, FL. This will not be her first time as a CHS Tiger! 🐅 We are excited to have Ms. Kate Abernethy join us this year! Welcome to Anderson 3!

The Anderson 3 Transportation Department recently received 4 New Saf-T-Liner® C2 Thomas Built School Buses. These buses include a PV360® multi-camera system that provides a 360° view around the school bus in the "Safe-T-Zone." The PV360 system automatically opens in the rearview mirror during a bus stop, when the turn signal is engaged, and when the bus is in reverse. These cameras assist in protecting students and extend the driver's overall visibility. The new Saf-T-Liner school buses include built-in Wi-Fi Hotspots for student use, as well as a rear stop sign to aide motorists in school bus visibility.

Welcome, Grace McClain! 🍎 Ms. McClain will be joining the A3 Teaching Team as a 1st-grade teacher at Starr Elementary School. Grace is a recent graduate from the Early Childhood Education program at Clemson University. Her college experience included opportunities to intern with the educational non-profit Junior Achievement in Columbia, SC, and work in the America Reads program at Clemson University. Ms. McClain has dreamed of being a teacher since before she was in school and is excited to be a teacher in Anderson 3. We are excited to have you, Ms. McClain! Welcome to Anderson 3!

Ms. Arthur and the SIMS staff were excited to receive their new Dell Precision Laptops during their first day back! Staff at CHS and SIMS are receiving new laptops and docking stations this year as part of our technology refresh cycle. Thank you to the A3 Tech Team for your hard work in getting the new equipment ready! 💻

School Makeover: Lunchroom Edition 🥪🥄 This summer, the Starr-Iva Middle School Lunchroom underwent a cosmetic makeover. After a fresh coat of gray and gold paint and updated tables and ceiling tiles, we can hardly recognize this space! SIMS has also placed paws on every other seat, to assist students with social distancing!

Welcome, Kate Abernethy! 🍎 Ms. Abernethy will be joining the A3 teaching team in the Math Department at Crescent High School! Kate has been teaching Math since before the turn of the century. (She couldn't resist giving us that phrase to use!) Two years ago, Kate and her two dogs decided to head north to Northeast Georgia after getting tired of sunny Florida (Ironically enough). She soon rediscovered an appreciation for hiking after her move. Last year Ms. Abernethy taught at Calhoun Falls Charter School in Abbeville County. Previously, Kate taught for 15 years at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, FL. This will not be her first time as a CHS Tiger! 🐅 We are excited to have Ms. Kate Abernethy join us this year! Welcome to Anderson 3!

Welcome, Lilly Schweickhardt! Ms. Schweickhardt will begin her teaching career in A3 as a 3rd Grade teacher at Starr Elementary! Lilly, a Charleston native, attended Clemson University and fell in love with the upstate while earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees there. During her year-long Master’s program, Lilly was recognized as the Teacher Resident of the Year for her outstanding work in her student-teaching experience. Outside of teaching, Lilly enjoys watching and playing sports and spending time with her cat, Tippy. Welcome to the A3 family! 💛

Gov. McMaster used the Anderson Institute of Technology facility to announce $10 million worth of PPE will be distributed to 70 school districts in South Carolina. More here: https://bit.ly/2Cqvtc0

SC Superintendent Molly Spearman answered questions regarding the state departments Wi-Fi HotSpot program at today's press briefing. Anderson 3 will receive 750+ hotspots to be distributed to families based on federal poverty guidelines.

Today Superintendent Hipp attended United Way of Anderson's drive-in campaign kick-off! Thank you, United Way, for supporting the Anderson County communities for 75 years! 👍

This week's #A3AllStar is a special retirement spotlight! 🌟 Meet, Mary Lewis! Ms. Lewis is retiring after 12 years as a School Mental Health Counselor for Anderson 3 and the Anderson County Board of Education. Mary began her career as a Program Coordinator of a Children's Day Treatment Program for S.C. Department of Mental Health. She later worked in Anderson 5 as the Program Director/Lead Clinical Counselor of their Children's Day Treatment Program before joining our team. Q: "What do you value most about your position?" A: "The opportunity to work with children of all ages, the chance to collaborate with so many incredible teachers, counselors, and support staff, and the lasting friendships that developed." Q: "If you could sum up working in education in a few sentences, what would you say?" A: "Working in education can be the most rewarding and humbling experience of a lifetime. Regardless of how much we think we know, there is always more to be learned and discovered. Often, it's children that teach us that very lesson." Here are Five Facts about Ms. Lewis: 1. The outdoors is my happy place! ☀️ 2. I love hiking, kayaking, and golfing. 🥾🚣🏌️‍♀️ 3. I'm right-handed but eat with my left hand. 🥄 4. I have two schnauzers: Lexi (4) and Riley (1), who are in charge of the house. 🐕 5. My retirement bucket list includes traveling to see all of the U.S. National Parks. 🏞️ Thank you, Ms. Lewis, for your service to the students of Anderson School District Three. We will miss you, but we wish you the best in your retirement! Keep Calm; your summer is extra long! 😎

Welcome, Tonya Frare! Mrs. Frare will be joining the A3 teaching team as an 8th-grade math teacher at Starr-Iva Middle School! Mrs. Frare is a graduate of Clemson University and has a degree in Elementary Education. She began her career as an elementary teacher but later switched to middle school math. Before this year, she taught 7th-grade Math at Robert Anderson Middle School. Her favorite activities outside of school are cycling, knitting, and spending time with her family. Mrs. Frare and her husband, Jack, live in Anderson and have five children and nine grandchildren. Please join us in welcoming her to our district!

Iva Elementary is looking for a long-term certified substitute teacher for the 2020-2021 school year! Please contact Daniel Crawford, Principal, for more information.

Starr Elementary is looking for a long-term certified substitute for the 2020-2021 school year! Please contact Melissa Davis, Principal, for more information.