Seneca Senior High School

Mrs. Brewer's Class Participate in Special Olympics!

2008-04-27T15:36:00.003-04:00

The Area 13 Special Olympics took place Friday, April 25th at Clemson University. This marked the 40th anniversary for the Special Olympics! Seneca High School's TTI athletes were victorious! Danny Hall, Joshua Loser, Paul Hammond, and Shane Quick won 1st place in the 4x100 relay. Danny Hall and Shane Quick along with Carson Lecroy and Jake Edgar won gold in the 4x100 unified relay. Zach McElroy-Burside won first place in the 50m slalom. Jody McAlister won 1st place in the shot put. Heather Connally won first place in the standing long jump and the 50m run. Bruce Steenburg won first place in the softball throw.Mitchel Blackwell won first place in the shot put. Justin Lingerfelt won first place in the softball throw. Gina Davis placed second in the 50m run. Each athlete competed well to bring home a total of 4 gold metals, 11 first place ribbons, 7 second place ribbons, 5 third place ribbons, and 4 4th place ribbons. With the help of the SHS students and staff who volunteered as buddies for the TTI students, the SHS football and softball program for providing uniforms, and the SHS band for providing flags and banners, this year's Special Olympics was unlike no other!

I am so proud of our students!!

Mrs. Brewer's Class Goes Bowling!

2008-04-23T22:20:00.005-04:00

Recently, Mrs. Brewer and her TTI class took a trip to the bowling alley! Students and teachers had a great time!

School Board Recognizes Coach Amanda Holder

2008-04-23T22:14:00.004-04:00

The Board of Trustees recognized Mrs. Amanda Holder this past Tuesday during its regularly scheduled board meeting. Coach Holder won her 600th basketball game during this year's basketball season. This is quite an accomplishment. Coach Holder received a certificate of accomplishment from Board Chairman, Mr. Harry Mays, and School District of Oconee County Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas. Congratulations Coach Holder- we appreciate your dedication to Seneca High School and our student athletes.

Principal's Blog featured on PrincipalsPage.com

2008-04-21T22:50:00.004-04:00

Seneca High School's Principal's Blog has been featured on PrincipalsPage.com this week. Principals Page is a resource for administrators across the nation. PrincipalsPage was recently featured in the America Association of School Administrator's April issue. I have attached the link if you would like to view http://principalspage.com/pagetwo.htm

HSAP Begins This Week

2008-04-20T15:22:00.002-04:00

Students in their 2nd year of high school will be taking the High School Assessment Program test this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Passing the math, reading, and writing portions of the HSAP test are required for students to earn a South Carolina High School Diploma. We encourage students to get plenty of rest and eat breakfast so they can do their very best.
Go Bobcats!

Drama Production A Success

2008-04-20T15:16:00.003-04:00

Students in Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Halliwell's drama classes performed "A Night of Mystery" in the Hamilton Auditorium April 17 and 18. Within this drama, students performed two separate acts entitled "Til Death Do Us Part," and "Trouble at the Talent Show." The following students performed in the production: Sam Turner, Rachael Kierecki, Taylor Edens, Ryan Haguewood, Jesse Worley, Jake Wilson, Brianna Hyslop, Mallory Warlick, Will Smith; Jennifer Haferkamp; Nicole Regeness; Katie Simpson, Lauren Moore, Faith Holley, Alanda Parker, Cooper Littlejohn, Stephanie Maxey, Travis Marchbanks, Alexis Gagne, Adaunnis Dodson, Lauren Yuda, Avery Oglesby, Forrest Cox, Darren Fontenot, Tabitha Krabbe, Ashleigh Moman, Andrew Willard, Jacob Bornmann, Lauren Lipscomb, Megan Carter, Victoria Jordan, Charles McMillan, Sam Turner, and Katie Simpson. Congratulations to all of our students for an excellent performance.

Students Complete Service Project

2008-04-20T15:08:00.005-04:00

Students in Mrs. Dalton's class have created flower beds around the school. Mrs. Dalton and her students wanted a project to give back to the school. Students and teachers will enjoy the flower beds during the spring months. I would like to thank our students for their contribution to our school.

Board Meeting at Seneca High School

2008-04-16T20:39:00.006-04:00

The Board of Trustees held its April Work Session at Seneca High School on Tuesday, April 16th. Emily Holleman, senior at Seneca High School, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mrs. Edgar-Crain's father, Reverend Edgar, delivered the prayer. We appreciate our school board and their support of the School District of Oconee County.

April Student of the Month: Lauren Marie Kirk

2008-04-16T20:35:00.002-04:00

We are proud to announce that Lauren Marie Kirk is Seneca High School's Rotary Student of the Month. Lauren will be acknowledged at the Rotary luncheon Thursday, April 17th. Lauren is a senior this year and is planning to attend Clemson this fall. She was born in California and moved here in 1997. She lives with her Dad, Grandmother and 3 siblings and a dog named Sadie.

While at Seneca, Lauren has been involved with Future Educators Association and Tri-M Honors Music Society. Lauren has also participated in the Choral and Orchestra programs at SHS.

Congratulations Lauren!

Ethiopia Reads

2008-04-13T18:12:00.005-04:00

Ms. Kelly Crowe, in collaboration with Mrs. Chrissy Robinson, hosted Seneca High School's first Ethiopia Reads event. On Friday, March 28th, students participated in a read-a-thon in the school's Media Center from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. to raise money for books for Ethiopia students. Students (and teachers) enjoyed reading together for this worthy cause. A huge thank you to Ms. Crowe, Mrs. Robinson, Ms. Kelsey Crowe, Mrs. Holleman, Coach Wright and Mrs. Ford for their support.

Bobcat Battalion Drill Team Wins Honors

2008-04-13T18:10:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to the Bobcat Battalion drill team! Seneca took 1st place in 4 of 5 events and 1st and 3rd places in the Knockout competition to out-distance Walhalla and West-Oak in the "shootout." Coupled with earlier outstanding performances in this series of round-robin meets, the Bobcat Battalion has claimed the 2007-2008 Oconee County JROTC Drill Championship. The drill team was presented the South Carolina National Guard championship trophy in ceremonies following the competition. It is on display on the counter in the front office. Again, congratulations to our championship drill team and Colonel Huckabee and Sgt. Major Aviles.

Congratulations to SHS Choral Students

2008-04-13T17:58:00.004-04:00

The Seneca High School Honors Chorale captured 1st place in the AAA division at the South Carolina Music Educator's Choral Festival in Columbia. They received a superior rating for their outstanding performance and a superior rating on the sight singing portion of the festival.

The Honors Women's Chorus placed 4th and also received superiors on their performance and sight singing. This is the Honors Chorale's eighth state championship in twelve years. I am proud of our students, Mrs. McFarlane, and Mrs. McClain!

Transition To Life Class Opens for Business

2008-04-13T17:53:00.002-04:00

Mrs. Brewer's class began selling Fruitful Bars the week before Spring Break. This is a great opportunity for students to order, sell, inventory, and determine the profit they have made. In addition, all of our students have enjoyed the cool treats.

Pep Rally to Honor Spring Sports

2008-03-25T21:53:00.008-04:00

On Friday, March 20, 2008, SGA held a pep rally to honor spring athletics. Members of the baseball, softball, boys' golf, boys' tennis, girls and boys' soccer, and track were recognized. Students at Seneca High School spent the week raising money for MS. A check for $1500 was presented to Ms. Sue Lord and Mrs. Kelly Holleman on behalf of the MS Foundation. I am proud of our students!

March Rotary Student of the Month

2008-03-25T17:22:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Vicki Roberts for being named Seneca High School's March Rotary student of the month. Vicki is a sophomore at Seneca High School. She has accelerated in art and plans to continue focusing on Graphic Communications at the Hamilton Career Center. In addition to art, Vicki is a writer and plays the guitar.

Congratulations to Vicki!

Zach Bailey Sings the National Anthem at the Clemson Baseball Game Friday Night

2008-03-24T21:15:00.001-04:00

Freshman Zach Bailey had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Clemson on Friday night. Zach is a member of the choral program at Seneca High School. He has an amazing voice and did a great job! Congratulations to Zach!

Shea Martin Receives Anatomy in Clay Grant

2008-03-24T20:56:00.005-04:00

Mrs. Shea Martin was suprised last week by receiving a $3500 Anatomy in Clay Grant. This grant will be used to support our new Biomedical class at Seneca High School. Mrs. Nancy Allen and Mrs. Laura Hewitt visited Seneca High to announce the winning of the grant to us. Mrs. Martin was one of 7 recipients state-wide to receive this award. Mrs. Allen brought refreshments for Mrs. Martin's class. We are proud of Mrs. Martin! (Mrs. Martin also received a grant through the Education Foundation).

CAT Parent/Student Advisory Day- A Huge Success

2008-03-24T20:46:00.003-04:00

On Friday, Seneca High School hosted its 2nd CAT Parent/Student Advisory Day. We had many parents and students meet with their CAT Advisor to discuss course selection for next year and Indvidual Graduation Plans. We thank the Hamilton Career Center and Tri County Technical College for being available to answer questions. We hope that parents found this to be a valuable opportunity. We appreciate your involvement on Friday!

Mock Trial Returns From State Competition

2008-03-11T21:17:00.002-04:00

Seneca High students traveled to Columbia this past Friday and Saturday for the state competition. While we have not received our scores, we know our students did well. Congratulations to:

Jenna Lay (doctor)- for winning most effective witness

Hunter Jarrett- for winning best attorney

I will post our results once we receive them.

Seneca High Teachers Visit Ron Clark's Academy

2008-03-06T20:51:00.004-05:00

On Wednesday, March 5, 2008, 11 teachers, Mrs. Phillips, and I traveled to Atlanta to see award winning teacher Ron Clark. I first saw Ron speak after he had won the Disney Teacher of the Year award. He was one of the most inspiring, enthusiastic teachers I had ever met. This past summer, I had the opportunity to hear him again at a conference. He shared with the audience that he had opened a school in Atlanta, Georgia. At that time I thought how wonderful it would be for new teachers to observe Ron Clark- see his excitement and learn about his different approach to teaching. In August, I made a reservation for our teachers to attend. We began by reading his book, The Essential 55. This book explains 55 expectations teachers and students should demonstrate in the classroom and in life. We watched several clips of Ron as he appeared on Oprah and on nightly news shows. We all anxiously awaited our March 5th trip. I met the teachers at 5 a.m. yesterday morning at SHS to begin our travels. We arrived at the Ron Clark Academy at 8:00 a.m. for one of the best experiences of our lives. There, in one of the toughest parts of town, is the most amazing school I have ever seen. We spent the day observing teachers and students. We ended our day sliding down the slide in the front lobby- we became "slide certified." People magazine was visiting the school today to do a story....

North Carolina Artist Visits Seneca High School

2008-03-06T19:06:00.007-05:00

Jeremiah Miller has spent the last two weeks with Mr. Fred Edgerton and his art students as they complete a mural on the 2nd floor. Mr. Miller has worked at Seneca High School in the past to create murals in the front office, main hallway, cafeteria, and in classrooms. It is amazing how much talent he and Mr. Edgerton are able to highlight from our students. Included are clips of the mural students have worked on this week. We thank Mr. Miller for being at Seneca High!

Mary Douglas Sings at Bassmaster Classic

2008-03-04T19:44:00.003-05:00

I am so proud of Mary Douglas, Seneca High School senior, who had the opportunity to perform the National Anthem for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic. This event is often described as the SuperBowl of bass fishing since the Bassmaster Classic is the most visible tournament in the world. The 50-angler field competed for a total prize of nearly 1.2 million, and the event was covered by hundreds of journalists from around the world. Mary performed the National Anthem on Saturday, February 23, 2008, and it was broadcasted on ESPN in front of more than 15,000 spectators. Mary has an amazing voice. I am proud she had the opportunity to participate in this event. Congratulations Mary!

Mock Trial Goes to State Competition

2008-02-28T20:42:00.004-05:00

This past Saturday, Mock Trial students competed in Greenville. On Wednesday, we learned that our students had qualified to participate in the state competition on March 7th and 8th. The state competition will be at the Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse in Columbia. Fourteen teams out of 46 teams were selected to participate at the state level. Congratulations and good luck to our students!!
Mock Trial is sponsored by Nan Jones, Cynthia Carlisle, and Amy Livingston. Attorney coaches are Kim Welchel and Delane Rosemond.

Region Band

2008-02-28T20:39:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Matthew Dunlap, Warren Evans, Kate Faires, and Allison Pursley for auditioning for and making Region Band. Region Band will be held at Furman University in Greenville on February 29 and March 1.
Congratulations students!

Seneca High Donates 107 Pints of Blood

2008-02-28T20:23:00.008-05:00

On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, students and teachers participated in our annual blood drive. Eleven teachers and over 120 students donated blood. A huge thank you to Mrs. Cynthia Carlisle for organizing the blood drive. We would also like to thank our parents: Thwanda Davidson, Wendy Evans, Anita Fredman, Sandi Garland, Sandy Perry, Terri Smith, Kari Walker, and Kay Wilson for their help. A big thank you to Mrs. Barnes, Mr. Turner, Connor Hawkins and the Senior Class SGA members for their help.

Hardees dontated bisucits and Trehel donated pizza.

We appreciate all of the support Seneca High received for this wonderful cause.

Mock Trial

2008-02-26T20:40:00.005-05:00

This past Saturday I had the privilege of watching Seneca High School students compete in Mock Trial at the Greenville County Courthouse. The SC Bar prepares a case each year- either civil or criminal- for students to use for the mock trial. This year's case was a civil case that was modeled after the McDonald's hot coffee case. There were 13 teams competing in the Piedmont Region. Chase Huston and Cooper Littlejohn were recognized as outstanding attorneys in their respective rounds.

The following students participated:

Defense Attorneys- Cooper Littlejohn, Lauren Moore, and Zach Al Nasser

Witnesses for the Defense- Brittany Buchanan, Laura Klukkert, and Devan Williams

Plaintiff Attorneys- Alondara Guerra, Hunter Jarrett, and Chase Huston

Witnesses for the Plaintiff- Kelly Vicario, Jenna Lay, and Morgan Roper

Baliff- Claire Yuda

Timekeeper- Paige Blackmon

I was so impressed with our students!

A huge thank you to Mock Trial Advisors- Mrs. Nan Jones, Mrs. Amy Livingston, and Mrs. Cynthia Carlisle.

I would also like to thank our attorney coaches Delane Rosemond and Kim Welchel.

February Rotary Student of the Month

2008-02-26T20:34:00.001-05:00

Congratultions to Ms. Keyona Woods for being named Seneca High School's Rotary Student of the Month for February. Keyona was honored last Thursday during a luncheon at the Seneca Rotary Club. Keyona is currently a junior at Seneca High School. She is also a student at the Hamilton Career Center. I am proud of Keyona's accomplishments.

Seneca High Announces Teacher of the Year, Support Person of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year

2008-02-26T20:24:00.004-05:00

The faculty and staff recently nominated and voted for this year's Teacher of the Year, Support Person of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year. I would like to congratulate the following people:

TEACHER OF THE YEAR- MRS. NANELLE COOK

This is Mrs. Cook's fourth year teaching at Seneca High School. She also substituted for a year and did three long term subs before she became full time. This is her second time to teach at SHS. She is actively involved in the Freshmen Academy and has enjoyed working with all of the faculty members who are diligently working to make the academy a tremendous success. She is co- advisor to the Student Government Association at Seneca High School, along with Kelly Crowe. Mrs. Cook stated, "It is an honor to be a faculty member of this high school. After having been away from the area for thirteen years, it was my desire to return to the halls of Seneca High School and once again be a part of this faculty."

SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR- MRS. SANDY BARNES

Mrs. Barnes is our receptionist and attendance secretary. In addition, she is proud to support Seneca High School athletics as she transports our student athletes to games. I am proud of Mrs. Barnes and appreciate her dedication to Seneca High School.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR- MR. DANA MOORE

Seneca High School Chorus Awards

2008-02-24T18:29:00.003-05:00

Seneca High School's chorus students participated in a Chorus Solo and Ensemble competition at Converse College on Saturday, February 23rd. Congratulations to the following students:

Superior Plus Rating- Solo Category
Tess Krabbe
Adrienne Pitre

Superior Rating- Solo Category
Emmy Williams

Superior Plus Rating- Advanced Solo Category
Jeremy Peirce
Rashad Roberson

South Carolina Music Educator's Scholarship
First Place- Jeremy Peirce
Second Place- Rashad Roberson

Women's Ensemble- Excellent Plus
Gracie Campbell
Hali Cannon
Erin Cartmell
Angela Collins
Shirlandria Dixon
Fredeica Henderson
Morgan Jones
Natasha Lyle
Lavika McKey
Nicole Regeness
Jaleesa Skelton
Brittni Stevens
Aliecia Washington
Christy Watters

Men's Chorus- Superior Rating
Levandrick Bacote
Cody Crooks
Shakeyon Evett
Paul Fort
Lance Glenn
Randy Marchbanks
Stephen Nicholson
William Rathbone
Spencer Rogers
Wynton Stephens
Lucas White
Andrew Willard

Madrigal Ensemble- Superior Plus Rating
Michele Burton
Christina Cleveland
Mary Douglas
James Jernigan
Tess Krabbe
Kendall Leslie
Michael Mendes
Michael Peckham
Jere,y Peirce
Adrienne Pitre
Jordan Ross
Joel Smith

Congratulations to students and to Mrs. Diane McFarlane and Ms. Melissa McClain!

January Rotary Student of the Month

2008-02-21T19:55:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Jalessa Skelton for being named Seneca High School's Rotary Student of the Month. She was honored today during a luncheon at the Seneca Rotary Club. Jalessa is a senior at Seneca High School and will be attending Converse College in August. She plans to pursue a degree in education and will minor in music. I am very proud of Jalessa. She is an excellent student and is a positive role model for all of our students. Congratulations to Jalessa.

Governor's Citizenship Award

2008-02-17T20:34:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to Emily Holleman for receiving the Governor's Citizenship Award. The Governor's Citizenship Award honors one student from each participating school for outstanding service, leadership, responsibility, character, and discipline. Each winner receives a Governor's Citizenship Award certificate and a Governor's Medal of Citizenship. Emily will be recognized at the State House this spring.

2007-2008 The Investment Center Character Awards

2008-02-17T20:26:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to the following students for receiving The Investment Center Character Award:

Seniors (1st Quarter)
Emily Holleman and Cody Burkett

Juniors (2nd Quarter)
Anna Williams and Kevin Egan

Sophomores (3rd Quarter)
Kalyn Guill and Hunter Jarrett

Freshman students will be selected for 4th Quarter.

Congratulations Students!

Students Watch Clemson vs. Duke

2008-02-17T20:14:00.005-05:00

This past Wednesday night, Mrs. Brewer took her students to Littlejohn Coliseum to watch the Lady Tigers play Duke. Students enjoyed watching the game, cheering with the cheerleaders, taking pictures with the Tiger, and spending time with their classmates. While we did not get to see the Lady Tigers win (Duke 83 Clemson 54), we certainly enjoyed the game. Having the opportunity to spend time with our students is one of my favorite activities as Principal at Seneca High. I truly enjoyed my evening at the game with the TTI class.

Seneca High School's First Book Club

2008-02-17T20:06:00.004-05:00

I was very excited to participate in our Media Center's first book club. Mrs. Chrissy Robinson and Mrs. Cheryl Cook have done an outstanding job creating an environment that both students and teachers can enjoy. Please read below to find out more about the first book club.

On Friday, February 8th, and Monday, February 11th, the Seneca High School Media Center came alive with 78 students and staff members discussing the characters and plots of books they had voluntarily read for the school’s first book club meetings. Using recommendations for young adult literature from the American Library Association and VOYA magazine, Seneca High School’s media center staff (media specialists Chrissy Robinson and Cheryl Cook, and media center clerk Betty Gamble) selected the following books for student reading: the light-hearted young adult mystery Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe , Copper Sun from the genre of historical fiction by award winning young adult fiction author Sharon Draper, and the science fiction/fantasy selection of Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by best selling young adult and adult fiction author, James Patterson.

In January with the announcement of the SHS book club, the media center staff was met with an enthusiastic response by students and staff members with all 60 book copies being circulated within the first week. To the surprise of the media center staff, many students quickly read their first selection, returned their books, and then began reading a second selection for the book club meeting to be held in February. Seneca High School media specialist Chrissy Robinson stated, “We were thrilled to find that so many students and staff members responded with such enthusiasm to the book clubs. Due to the limited number of copies of books that we had, students started sharing books with one another in order to give others the chance to participate in the book club.” Media specialist Cheryl Cook added, “As librarians, it was very encouraging to see young adults so excited about recreational reading; but it was equally exciting to see the students’ demonstration of the Seneca High community spirit.”

The Seneca High School media center provided a total of 60 copies of the books for students and staff members wishing to participate in the book clubs. Over a three week period, participating students and staff members read the books at their own pace, then in February met in the media center to enjoy a lunch and to participate in discussion groups. Student feedback and participation indicate that the book clubs were a success and that students hope for more meetings and books in the future. SHS media specialists are currently exploring funding options for more book clubs in the future, including state and federal grants.

Working Opportunity

2008-02-06T21:36:00.001-05:00

Mrs. Brewer's Transition to Independence class spent today working at Goodwill of Seneca. Students sized, tagged, received, and stocked donations. One student sorted donated items and placed the items in designated containers. Another student stocked the shelves and racks with priced merchandise, and another tagged and sized the merchandise. All students were able to stay alert for the entire work shift, meet production standards, perform repetitive tasks, stay focused on the task, and practice and maintain good health standards. I am proud of our students!

Students Sign Athletic Scholarships

2008-02-06T21:21:00.001-05:00

I am proud that we had two students sign athletic scholarships today. Chantelle Davidson signed a track scholarship with Winthrop University, and Conner Hawkins signed a football scholarship with Furman University. These two student athletes have done an excellent job in the classroom and in their sport. I congratulate them both and wish them much success!

Jesse A. Pearce- National Merit Finalist

2008-02-04T21:43:00.000-05:00

Seneca High School congratulates senior Jesse A. Pearce!! Jesse has advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2008. He has high potential for future academic accomplishment.

Only 15,000 students nationwide have advanced to the Finalist stage of the competition. Of the 15,000 approximately 8200 will be named Merit Scholarship winners in March. Congratulations Jesse!

SHS Teachers Write EIA Teacher Grants

2008-01-23T20:27:00.000-05:00

Teachers at Seneca High School had the opportunity to participate in an EIA teacher grant workshop with District Grant Writer Jennifer Dodd today. EIA teacher grants support the improvement of classroom instructional practices and procedures. Grants may be written for projects that support instructional activities and for the implementation of the South Carolina curriculum standards. Grants may be writtent to support teachers in the following areas:

implementation of performance assessments

instructional activities for parental reinforcement at home

computer-assisted instruction

techniques for motivating and rewarding achievement

techniques for improving students' study skills

innovative teaching strategies, activities

Teachers may write individual grants up to $2,000, or teachers may submit group grants up to $6,000. Seneca High School is proud of the following teachers for participating in this workshop:

Stephanie Brewer, Al Langston, Michelle Williams, Demetric Tensley, Hans Schmidt, Jaquette Gilbert, Cheryl Cook

All County Orchestra

2008-01-23T20:22:00.001-05:00

Seneca High School would like to congratulate the following students for being selected to participate in All County Orchestra:

Sheida Abdi
Saxon Cook
Brianna Hyslop
JoAnna McAnally
Olivia Piccirillo
James Quarles
Kim Romero
Brianna Smith
Brian Stephens
Zach Suffern
Jason Vo
Javier Zamarripa

The concert will be Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 7:00 at West Oak.

Mrs. Brewer's Class visit China Inn

2008-01-21T19:31:00.001-05:00

Mrs. Brewer's students have been studying China. During the unit, students learned about the geography, history, and people of China. Guest speakers, Sam Holleman and Dr. Norton, shared pictures and artifacts from their visit to China. The students enjoyed learning about the Great Wall, Terracotta Soldiers, pandas, the Chinese New Year, and Chinese Food. As a culuminating activity, students had the opportunity to eat lunch at China Inn on Friday. In addition to eating Chinese cuisine, many students ate with chopsticks! Mrs. Brewer has done an outstanding job with her students. They have had the opportunity to participate in many educational activities this year.

Coach Duncan and Family Visit Seneca High

2008-01-10T21:42:00.001-05:00

Today was exciting at Seneca High as we welcomed Coach Duncan. Coach Duncan spent several hours touring our school and athletic facility, and meeting teachers and students. Coach Duncan also met with all boys interested in playing football. More than 100 young men met with Coach Duncan to hear about the football program. He began explaining his expectations for our students and our football program. Seneca High School and the Athletic Booster Club hosted a reception for Coach Duncan, his wife Misty, and their two children. We had a great turn out of students, parents, faculty, and community members. Coach Duncan plans to be at Seneca High School a few days each week during second semester. Our school and community are proud to have Coach Duncan join our faculty.

A huge thank you to Frank and Beth Thompson and the Athletic Booster Club for coordinating the reception.

Seneca High Welcomes New Football Coach

2008-01-08T20:45:00.000-05:00

Seneca High School welcomes Head Football Coach and Social Studies Teacher Ron Duncan. Coach Duncan was approved by the School Board on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 during its regularly scheduled meeting. Coach Duncan comes to Seneca High School from Bamberg-Earhardt High School where he has established a successful football program. He has an overall record of 50-12. He has been named Region V Coach of the Year for the last four years. His football team has had numerous accomplishments including being the Region V Champions and Upper State Champions in 2007, Region V Champions in 2006, and Lower State Champions in 2005. He is described as being an excellent teacher, running a first class football program, a great communicator and a person with high expectations. Ron is married to Misty and has two children- Jackson and Laney Claire. We are excited to have Coach Duncan at Seneca High School. A reception will be held for Coach Duncan and his family on Thursday, January 10th from 4:30-6:30 in the Seneca High School cafeteria- students, parents, faculty, and staff are invited.

Welcome Back!

2008-01-02T19:48:00.000-05:00

I would like to welcome our students, faculty, and staff back to Seneca High School. I hope that everyone had a safe and restful break and is looking forward to a great 2008. Students and teachers will prepare for exams that begin on January 11, 2008. I have included the exam schedule on the right column of my blog. The schedule can also be found on the school's website. It is important for students to study and do their very best on these exams. Second semester will begin January 17, 2008. As we enter a new semester, please contact the school if you have any questions or concerns. The faculty and staff of Seneca High School enjoy working with your student and want to provide a positive and safe learning environment for all students.

Also included on the right column of my blog is our registration schedule for next school year. Please be sure to mark important dates on your calendar.

Have A Happy New Year!

"Sounds of the Season" performed by Seneca High School Choral Department

2007-12-13T22:57:00.000-05:00

Tonight we began celebrating the holiday season by attending our choral department's "Sound of the Season." This year's concert was performed at Seneca Baptist Church, so we enjoyed their facility beautifully decorated for the Christmas Season. More than one hundred twenty-five students participated in the choral concert representing five differen choral groups: Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus, Honors Women's Chorus, Honors Chorale, and Madrigals. The groups performed a wide selection of music. Some of the titles include: "A Joyful Spanish Carol," "Marshmallow World," The Coventry Carol," "Carol of the Bells," "Jingle Bells," "Aspenglow," "Still, Still, Still," and many more. I am very proud of our students-- we have such great talent. A huge thank you to Ms. Diane McFarlane and Ms. Melissa McClain for their expertise and hard work to prepare our students.

Winter String Performance

2007-12-07T22:36:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, December 4, Seneca High School's Chamber and Orchestra performed for family and friends. A variety of music was played including Sarson de Cordes (Season of Strings), Handel's Concerto for Strings Orchestra, and some favorite holiday songs. Mr. Warlick played violin and Sheida Abdi accompanied on the piano to the night's final selection, The Christmas Song. The faculty and staff are proud of our strings students.

Generation Next Votes 2008

2007-12-07T22:20:00.001-05:00

Thursday, December 6, 2007, nearly 1,000 students in the School District of Oconee County had the opportunity to participate in Generation Next Votes 2008. Of the 1,000 students, more than 160 were Seneca High School students. These students, who will be 18 before November 8, 2008, had the opportunity to register to vote and to learn more about the Presidential candidates. Candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties were invited to join the students. Senator John Edwards, a former Seneca resident, made an appearance at the assembly and spoke to students about the importance of exercising their right to vote. This was a great opportunity for our students. We would like to thank Mrs. Evie Hughes, principal of Walhalla High School and the Walhalla High's SAGE team (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship) for inviting Seneca High School to attend.

Students Inducted into National Beta Club

2007-11-27T20:40:00.000-05:00

Seventy-seven Seneca High School students were inducted into the school's chapter of the National Beta Club. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher are eligible to join the National Beta Club. Congratulations to the following students:

10th Grade
Shedia Abdi ; Kira Grimes ; Leirin Smith
Jessica Adams; Joseph Haggwood; Haley Tanner
Samantha Adams; Christopher Hall; Jessica Tollison
Cameron Blassingame; Brianna Hyslop; Jason Vo
Samantha Brown; Hunter Jarrett; Christy Watters
Sam Burchfield; Tiffany Lament; Gregory Watters
Reneisha Butler ; Jenna Lay; Breanna Whitner
Brittany Collins; Carson LeCroy; Devan Williams
Maria Condatore; Corey McCubbin; LaMarcus Wright
Taylor Edens; Morgan Roper ; May Zhu
Erin Garland; Jordan Ross
Kiley Gaston; Tori Schiazza

11th Grade
Zachary Al-Nasser; Mackenzie Garland; Michael Price
Katheline Armentrout; Danielle Gay; Courtney Pund
Paige Blackmon; Brittany Hartman; Ajalek Robinson
Devon Bowser; Jordon Helms; Tripp Ross
Lauren Brock; April Holland; Brytannia Sears
Rebecca Conner; Lauren Klukkert; Jason Smith
Josiah Conrad; Anna Maria Land; Zachary Thompson
Necia Cook; Hillary Lee; Sydney Tran
Rachel Cunningham; Bobby McGill; Paul Watters
Kristopher Dennis; Andrea Oglesby; Anna Williams
John Doud; Alanda Parker; Heather Wright
Kevin Egan; Tamara Parker
Katie Fronck; Adrienne Pitre

12th Grade
Mary Douglas; Leann Nix; Sheena Swaney
Shanice Mayes ; Chase Pate; Levall Wall

Research Says Family Involvement Important

2007-11-26T20:28:00.002-05:00

Family involvement in student education is important...even high school students. This month's National Association of Secondary School Principal's Research Review dedicates the issue to promoting family involvement. The article identifies four important facts, and they include:

Family involvement in education remains a powerful predictor of student academic achievement and other positive outcomes.
Family involvement in secondary education is associated with higher rates of college enrollment.
Academic encouragement by parents is more powerful than the support provided by friends.
Intervention programs can strengthen family involvement with positive results for student school success.

The faculty and staff of Seneca High encourage you to be involved in your student's education. We encourage you to contact a teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator for ways that you can be involved.

Seneca High Opens a New Computer Lab

2007-11-26T20:19:00.000-05:00

Students in Mr. Tensley's computer classes began working in a new computer lab prior to Thanksgiving Break. Twenty-eight new Dell computers were purchased so that teachers and students would have more access to technology. The classroom is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with computers, printer, and an LCD projector. Mr. Tensley and his students have enjoyed the new technology. Other students and teachers may access the lab during Mr. Tensley's planning period.

2007 Report Cards are Published

2007-11-15T19:16:00.000-05:00

The South Carolina State Department of Education has released school and school district report cards. Seneca High School's Report Grade is Absolute Rating: Average; Improvement Rating: Unsatisfactory; Adequate Yearly Progress: Yes.

The Absolute Rating for high schools is based on four items: Graduation rate, First Time HSAP (High School Assessment Program), Longitudinal HSAP (the percentage of students who pass all three portions of the HSAP(reading, writing, math) prior to graduation, and End Of Course Exams.

Seneca High School's Graduation Rate is 74.3% up from 69.3% last year.
Seneca High School's First Time HSAP is 81.8% up from 79.3% last year.
Seneca High School's Longitudinal HSAP is 89.5% down from 94.9% last year.
Seneca High School's End Of Course is 65.8%. This is the first time EOC has counted in the absolute rating of the report card.

The faculty has reviewed many different types of data this school year. We have also reviewed and discussed our report card grade. As a faculty, we continue to set goals that will allow us to continue improving our school ensuring that we prepare your student for their future. I am very proud of the outstanding faculty we have at Seneca High School.
For more information about our school report card, please contact me.

PLAN Given to Seneca High School Sophomores

2007-11-15T19:09:00.001-05:00

Three hundred twenty-four students participated in ACT's PLAN assessment today. PLAN's content is very similar to the ACT. PLAN is given to 10th graders and provides information to schools and school districts about instructional areas that may need to be improved. PLAN is also used as a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years. Seneca High School will host a PSAT/PLAN interpretation workshop on Wednesday, January 23rd at 7:30 in the Hamilton Auditorium.

November Student of the Month

2007-11-15T18:58:00.000-05:00

Josh Powell was honored today as Seneca High School's November Rotary Student of the month. Josh is a senior at Seneca High School. He is very active in school activities and volunteers in our guidance office. We are proud that Josh represented Seneca High School.

Stephanie Mihaly Signs with Furman University

2007-11-14T21:29:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Stephanie Mihaly! Stephanie signed to play softball with Furman University today. A reception was held for Stephanie in the Media Center with friends, family, and SHS faculty prior to her signing. Stephanie is the 2nd High School Softball player to sign with a Division I school. She has many athletic accomplishments including: CAWS AAA State Player of the Year in 2006, High School Sports Report Player of the Year in 2006, Region Player of the Year 2006 and 2007, and All Region 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. She also has many academic accomplishments including being in the top 5 in her class and being a Palmetto Fellows Recipient. We are proud of Stephanie's athletic and academic accomplishments and wish her much success at Furman!

Seneca High Students Participate in All County Band

2007-11-13T21:11:00.000-05:00

Thirty-three Seneca High School students participated in this year's All County Band. The concert was held at 7:00 Tuesday night at Walhalla High School. Mr. C. Philip McIntyre, band director at James F. Byrnes High School in Spartanburg, was the Senior Band Director. Students worked with Mr. McIntyre on Monday and Tuesday to prepare for the concert.

Congratulations to the following students:
Flute
Taffie Blassingame
Warren Evans
Bassoon
Kristopher Dennis
Clarinet
Brianna Green
Shay Jones
Natalie Leonard
Ashley McJunkin
Elizabeth Robinson
Kim Romero
Ashley Sanders
Alto Saxophone
Sean Lee
Aaron Swarner
Baritone Saxophone
DJ Morris
Tenor Saxophone
Chatham Jones
David Spry
Trumpet
Kate Faires
Ashton Frager
Kyle Martin
Adriano Menin
Aubrie Rushe
Jessica Tollison
Horn
Austin Baldwin
Matthew Sloop
Trombone
Matthew Dunlap
Kyle Gutman
Corey McCubbin
Ingrid Romero
Baritone
Steven Wright
Tuba
Allison Pursley
Tripp Ross
Mallet Percussion
Skyler Switzer
Andi Swarner
Timpani
Devan Williams

Congratulations students! Thank you for your hard work!

Guest Speaker from Clemson University

2007-11-12T19:37:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Barbara Kennedy-Dixon visited Seneca High School last week to meet with students. She is one of several speakers to visit SHS this year. Mrs. Kennedy-Dixon spoke to students about the importance of academics, maintaining a good attitude, and working hard to reach your goals. Mrs. Kennedy-Dixon was the first female in Clemson’s history to be inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor; she is the only female in the history of Clemson women’s basketball to have her Jersey retired. She has been inducted into Clemson’s Athletic Hall of Fame and into the South Carolina State Hall of Fame. In 1987, she joined the Clemson Women’s Basketball Coaching staff and served as an assistant coach. In 1992 she was hired at Clemson as the Minority Omsbudman. Then in 1994 Barbara rejoined athletics as an Athletic Academic Counselor. In 1999, she served as Assistant Director of Compliance Services for the athletic department. She returned to women’s basketball as an Assistant Athletic Director for Women’s Basketball Operations and was the color analyst for the Clemson Radio Network. In June of 2005, she was named as the Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women’s Administrator. Seneca High School is proud to have had Mrs. Kennedy-Dixon share her experiences with our students.

Bobcat Battailion Wins Awards

2007-11-12T19:25:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the Bobcat Battalion drill team!! These students won 3rd place overall at Saturday's Jack Frost Drill Meet at J. L. Mann High School in Greenville. Students presented their trophies to me Monday morning! We are proud of our ROTC students!

HSAP Celebration

2007-11-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

Two hundred twenty-three students participated in an HSAP (High School Assessment Program) celebration on Friday. Each spring second year high school students take the HSAP Exit Exam. The HSAP tests students in 3 areas: reading, writing, and mathematics. In order to earn a high school diploma, students must pass the HSAP in addition to earning 24 Carnegie units. Last spring, students were promised a celebration if they passed all portions of the Exit Exam. Students enjoyed a cookout and an opportunity to socialize with their friends during this celebration. We are proud of our students' accomplishments.

Two Seneca High Teacher Receive The Prestigous National Board Certification

2007-11-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

Seneca High School congratulates Mrs. Jennifer Halliwell and Mrs. Amy Livingston for earning National Board Certification. Both teachers were notified on Friday that they had received this prestigous certification. There are 5 core propostions teachers must demonstrate in order to receive National Board Certification:
1. Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
2. Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
3. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
4. Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
5. Teachers are members of learning communities.

Teachers work through a rigorous process to obtain this certification. We are very proud of Mrs. Halliwell and Mrs. Livingston.

38 SHS Students Named to All-State Chorus

2007-11-10T15:22:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Seneca High School choral students who were named to the South Carolina All-State Chorus this week. Students will sing at Winthrop University in March with world-renowned conductors Dr. Alan Raines and Dr. Diane Loomer. Seneca High School had 38 students named to All-State. We were second in the state for the largest number of students chosen.

Honors Mixed Chorus:

Soprano I: Mary Douglas, Alexis Lanham, Heather Wright
Soprano II: Lauren Brock, Andrea Hansen, Alee Jones, Tess Krabbe, Adrienne Pitre, Olivia Sons
Alto: Christina Cleveland, Kendall Leslie, Kelly O'Malley, Karen Onate, Tamara Parker, Nora Sampson
Tenor: James Jernigan, Michael Mendes, Jeremy Pierce, Rashad Roberson
Bass: Eric Horton, Chase Huston, Jeremy Jennings, Adrian Mayes, Bobby McGill, Michale Peckham, Joel Smith

All-State Women's Chorus

Soprano I: Jessica Adams, Michele Burton, Heather Jenkings, Chelsea Taylor
Soprano II: Devon Bowser, Becky Conner, Tori Schiazza, Bethany Simmons
Alto: Lindsey Conaway, Bethany Cummings, Kelsey Hawkins, Emily Holleman

Congratulations Students- We are proud of you!

Homecoming Parade

2007-11-06T20:30:00.000-05:00

On Friday, October 26th, students, faculty, parents, and community members enjoyed the SHS Homecoming Parade. Students worked extremely hard all week to prepare their floats for judging and to display in the parade. Mrs. Edgar-Crain and I fulfilled childhood dreams of riding in a fire truck. Thank you to Colonel Huckabee and ROTC for sharing these Homecoming pictures.

Seneca High School Students-- On The Job!

2007-11-06T20:18:00.001-05:00

Students at Seneca High School have had the opportunity to gain job experience while at school. Students in Mrs. Brewer's classroom have been training at the Clemson McDonald's in a variety of jobs. Mrs. Brewer and her students have traveled on the CAT bus from Seneca High School to McDonalds. One student was offered a job today! Congratulations to Mrs. Brewer and to her students for a job well done!

DAR Winner Announced

2007-11-01T20:51:00.000-04:00

Chase Pate, senior at Seneca High School, has been selected as the winner of the 2008 DAR Good Citizen Award. DAR recognizes high school seniors who possess good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. Each award is given on a merit basis including completion of a questionnaire, essay, scholastic record, and a letter of recommendation. Chase is an excellent student and exemplifies the qualities required for this award. We are proud of Chase's accomplishments. Congratulations Chase!

Seneca High School Makes Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

2007-10-30T21:26:00.000-04:00

I am very proud to announce that Seneca High School was one of 15 schools in the School District of Oconee County to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). AYP at the high school level is based on graduation rate and first time HSAP (High School Assessment Program) results taken by sophomores in the spring. Seneca High School's graduation rate increased from 69.3% in 2006 to 74.3% in 2007. Seneca High School had 19 different objectives to meet. In order to make AYP, we must meet all 19. Congratulations to our students and teachers!

HOMECOMING

2007-10-29T19:59:00.000-04:00

Students and faculty enjoyed Homecoming Week last week. We had many students (and teachers) participate in spirit week activities. We hope that you enjoy the pictures of some of our events. We thank Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Crowe, SGA Class sponsors, and SGA members for making the week a huge success!

Parents Right To Know

2007-10-29T19:49:00.000-04:00

Under Title II of No Child Left Behind Act, a parent has the right to know certain information about his/her child's teacher certification. The link below will allow you to access information about teacher certification, the area in which teachers are certified, and the experiation date of their certificate. You can access this information by teacher name or by school name. http://www.scteachers.org/titleii/certinq.cfm

Bobcats are in the Playoffs!

2007-10-28T21:04:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the Seneca High School football team on their win over Travelers Rest Friday night. This win made the Bobcat football team eligible to participate in the playoffs begining Friday, November 2, 2007. The football team will play Chester High School in Chester, S.C. The game will begin at 7:30. Come out and support our team!

Go Cats!

Oktoberfest at Seneca High School

2007-10-22T19:50:00.001-04:00

Mrs. Brewer's class celebrated Oktoberfest last week at Seneca High. Students learned many aspects of Germany including their culture and food. They invited Mr. Hans Schmidt, Seneca High School Spanish teacher and German native, to their class to discuss his home. I had the opportunity to spend time with Mrs. Brewer's class on Friday as they presented individual projects on the many different aspects of Germany. Students studied the types of cars made in Germany, common food eaten, and a popular dance (the Chicken). The students taught me how to do the Chicken dance! The students learned a lot about Germany, Oktoberfest, and had a lot of fun!

FEA Walk

2007-10-22T19:37:00.000-04:00

Students from Seneca High School participated in the FEA (Future Educators Association) walk for education this past Saturday. Over 70 students particpated in the Walk at Shaver Recreation Complex. Dr. Mike Lucas, SDOC Superintendent, spoke to participants before they began their walk. Dr. Lucas commended them for walking for such a worthy cause. He explained that education is a very rewarding and exciting career. Seneca High School would like to thank Mrs. Lynn Wilson and the FEA for organizing the walk.

HSAP October 23, 24, 25

2007-10-22T19:31:00.000-04:00

The HSAP Exit Exam will be given on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week to juniors and seniors who have not taken or passed all portions of the HSAP. In order for students to earn a high school diploma, they must pass all portions of the HSAP (writing, reading, and math). We encourage students involved in testing this week to get a good night's rest and to eat breakfast prior to taking the exam. Seneca High School thanks the Seneca Chick Fil A, Hardees and McDonalds for donating biscuits to students involved in testing. We also thank our parent and community volunteers: Mrs. Wendy Evans, Dr. Lynn Norton, Mrs. Heli Horton

Tuesday- Writing
Wednesday- Reading
Thursday- Math

Good Luck Seneca High School Students!

WENDY'S HEISMAN AWARD

2007-10-21T15:38:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Emily Holleman and Kory Keefer for being chosen as Seneca High School's Wendy's Hesiman Award Winners.

Each fall, the Wendy's Heisman Award recognizes the nation’s most esteemed high school senior men and women for excellence in academics, athletics, and community/school involvement.
To date more than 150,000 high school students have represented their schools. Of them, 157 have progressed to the National Finalist level, with 26 earning the designation of Wendy’s High School Heisman National Award Winners.

Emily and Kory will attend a banquest at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville on November 8th. We are proud of Emily and Kory and wish them success as they compete for this prestigious award.

October Rotary Student of the Month

2007-10-18T19:50:00.000-04:00

Each month, the Seneca Rotary Club recognizes a student from each of the Seneca area schools. The student is selected by the faculty of the school. Students selected for this award have demonstrated exceptional progress at their school. This month, Seneca High School is proud to recognize Chris Carter as our Student of the Month. Chris was recognized at the Seneca Rotary Luncheon on October 19th. He received a plaque to remember this day. Chris is senior at Seneca High School. In addition to his academic courses, Chris plays football and basketball. He is a Service Learning student at Northside Elementary School. Congratulations Chris!

First Semester Exam Schedule

2007-10-17T20:19:00.000-04:00

Dates for First Semester Exams

Jan. 11 1-2A and 3-4A
Jan. 14 1-2B and 3-4B
Jan. 15 5-6A and 7-8A
Jan. 16 5-6B and 7-8B

Dangers of Text Messaging and Driving

2007-10-15T19:16:00.000-04:00

As parents, one of the most difficult things we do is allow our students to drive on their own. In today's technological age, many students spend time text messaging friends while driving. This has proven deadly for many teens across the nation. Attached you will find a video from NBC Nightly News and a blog from their website. Please encourage your student to turn off the cell phone while driving.

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=d2c3fccd-3aa5-4b56-b36e-b4c81849ca2f

http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/10/15/411930.aspx

Fall Orchestra Concert

2007-10-11T21:13:00.001-04:00

Seneca High School's Orchestra students performed their fall concert tonight. The concert began with the String Orchestra performing the Star Spangled Banner, Saison de Cordes, The Boogie-Man Blues, and La Querto de Lebertad. The Chamber Ensemble performed Concerto for String Orchestra, Concerto in G Major, and finished with Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven. The students did an outstanding job! I am proud of our students and their director, Mr. David Warlick.

Student Named as National Merit Semifinalist

2007-10-10T21:20:00.000-04:00

Seneca High School is proud to announce that Mr. Jesse Pearce has been named a SemiFinalist for the National Merit Scholarship. This is a highly competitive scholarship program. Jesse is a senior at Seneca High School. He plans to attend the University of South Carolina upon graduation from Seneca High School in June. For more information on the National Merit Scholarship, click on the link below.

Jesse was recognized by the board Tuesday, October 17th for being a Semifinalist. He began the board meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php

Homecoming Scheduled for October 26

2007-10-10T20:59:00.000-04:00

Seneca High School's Homecoming will be Friday, October 26th. This will also be our last home football game. We hope that you will come support the Bobcats! During the week of October 22-26, we will have Homecoming Activities. We hope that our students will catch the Pride of Seneca and participate each day. Listed below are the activities scheduled for the week:
Monday-Decades Day
Tuesday- Beauty and the Geek Day
Wednesday-Fanatic Sports Fan Day
Thursday- Think Pink Day
Friday- Friday Night Lights

We will end the week with a Pep Rally to honor our football players, cheerleaders, and homecoming court.

CATS Corner

2007-10-10T20:58:00.001-04:00

Seneca High School's first edition of CATS Corner will be mailed to your home in late October. Please be sure to read the important information in our newsletter.

Seneca Senior High School

2007-10-09T21:28:00.001-04:00

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope that you will find important information about our school here. Thank you for your support of the students, faculty, and staff of Seneca High School.