Our students have something special to share this holiday season! Click the play button above to enjoy their talents. |
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Sister Act: Louise and Violette Franke Exemplify D7's Mission, Vision, Values |
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Thanksgiving took on a new meaning for the Franke sisters this year, with a surprise announcement from the U.S. Rhodes Trust for Louise and a front page spotlight in the Spartanburg Herald Journal for Violette. Louise is a 2018 graduate form Spartanburg High School and Voilette is currently a senior. Each is on an amazing journey as she leads a life defined by purpose.
Louise is one of 32 students in the nation to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar. She is making history as the first Rhodes Scholar for Clemson University and for District 7. As the oldest and most prestigious international scholarship program, Rhodes enables outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Louise is currently in her senior year studying biochemistry at Clemson University, and hopes to merge her interests in science and public policy through a career in health care policy. She will study politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford.
“We are extremely proud to celebrate this incredible accomplishment,” said District 7 Superintendent and former Spartanburg High School Principal Jeff Stevens. “Louise was a standout student in every way at Spartanburg High School. The fact that she has distinguished herself among our nation’s best and brightest is no surprise to the teachers, staff and students who have known her throughout her years in District 7.”
“It feels amazing to be part of this historic moment, as a woman and as a woman from the South,” Franke said. “I don’t really have the words for it.”
Younger sister Violette Franke, a SHS senior, is also charting an impressive path of her own. Through an AP research class project at Spartanburg High School and her involvement with the United Way of the Piedmont's youth philanthropy program, Violette has developed an initiative called Reading 4 Relief, which she hopes will encourage and positively impact incarcerated women in Spartanburg County. She is collecting book donations and distributing them to women in the county jail. What makes the books even more special are the inspirational messages written by book donors to the women incarcerated.
Inmate P. Freeman said in an email to the Hearld-Journal, "I am thankful for the donated books and the messages inside. They are greatly appreciated."
We look forward to seeing the the many ways Louise and Violette will continue to live out District 7's mission through meaningful lives of leadership and service as world citizens.
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District 7 Students and Staff Grow Through Service
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With grateful hearts for blessings too many to count, District 7 staff and students from kindergarten to high school coordinated holiday food and donation drives as well as other service projects in support of the community. Through the month of December, donation barrels at a number of our schools filled to overflowing for TOTAL Ministries, the Soup Kitchen, and other service organizations. Students from the Viking Early College and McCracken Middle School wrote letters to soldiers and veterans, while Cleveland Academy students hosted an appreciation breakfast for law enforcement officers and first responders, and Jesse Boyd held 12 Days of Caring. The list goes on! Learning that we all play a part in building a strong community is at the heart of a D7 education.
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A Message of Thanks from District 7
We are thankful for you! Our schools thrive because of each and every person who pours their heart into guiding the lives of our children – in our schools, at home, and across the community.
Our students ushered in Thanksgiving break with this special thank you message. Click below to watch, in case you missed it!
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Looking for a Last-Minute Holiday Gift? Recognize Your Student or Teacher with a Custom Engraved Brick |
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Perhaps the perfect gift for someone on your list this holiday season is a custom engraved brick paver to surround our beautiful new Forward Together sculpture at the D7 Fine Arts Center plaza! Engraved pavers are a meaningful way to recognize students, favorite teachers, or Viking alumni. Each engraved paver is $100 and benefits D7 student scholarship. Your gift ensures that both your legacy—and our community’s rich history—are preserved for future generations.
Pavers can accommodate up to three lines of text. Place your order by submitting payment along with this form. A printable gift certificate form is also available to present to the recipient. The next order of bricks will be made in January.
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Spartanburg High School's Freshman Orchestra enjoyed learning from Geneviéve LeClair, Professor at Berklee College of Music and Assistant Conductor of the Boston Ballet. LeClair was in town to conduct the Spartanburg Philharmonic for the Nutcracker Ballet. |
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Strike up the band! Our Viking Band kicked off the Spartanburg Parade this year. D7 appreciates the community support! |
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Lettuce...lettuce...lettuce! Mary H Wright harvested their first batch of lettuce from the new “Lettuce Grow“ stand! |
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Drayton Mills students participated in Hour of Code, a virtual initiative that aims to spark kids’ interest in coding. |
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Carver Middle School's Band and Orchestra's Virtual Collage Concert is sure to bring music to your ears! Kudos to our faculty and our parents for helping these wildcats develop their talents.
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Hard work pays off! We are so proud of McCracken Middle School students from the Region Honors Orchestra. A big thanks to their teacher Allison Key! |
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Jesse Boyd's 12 Days of Caring project got off to a great start as students focused on the many ways they can uplift others beyond their school. |
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It was all smiles during Meeting Street Academy's Family Drive-In Movie Night. Thank you to all the families and staff who took time to invest in this special time for students. |
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What a gem! Third graders from E.P.Todd School discovered and uncovered on their field trip to Roper Mountain Science Center. |
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Each year, the fifth graders at Pine Street Elementary host Immigration Day to better understand the experiences of immigrants and the many cultures and nations they represent.
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Our friends from Drayton Mills Elementary got into the holiday spirit by making Reindeer prints and ornaments. Rudolph would be impressed! |
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Not a mean one here, Mr. Grinch! It is all smiles at McCarthy Teszler as Secret Santa gifts are in full swing. |
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Mary H Wright captured some of the reasons for the season during their Holiday Spirit Week. |
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Cleveland Academy's first iReady Champion is Josiah Jones! As a reward for his hard work and having the highest growth on the 4th grade reading assessment, Josiah was gifted a hoverboard. He advanced a total of 79 points from fall to winter! |
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Pine Street families enjoyed fun and cheer during their holiday drop in. Many thanks to the PTSO for its generosity and holiday spirit. |
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Our youngest learners at The Franklin School are seeing how their garden grows. They learned how to make smoothies with the beautiful kale from the raised beds on their campus, proclaiming that the finished product "looks like gummy bears"! |
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Friday, December 18
Half Day/End of First Semester
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Friday, December 17
Half Day/End of 1st Semester
Silent Disco with Connect & SAM
Monday, December 22-
Friday, December 31
Winter Holidays
January 2021
School Board Appreciation Month
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Monday, January 3
Staff Development
Student Holiday
Tuesday, January 4
Students Return
School Board Meeting
Report Cards
Monday, January 18
MLK, Jr. Holiday
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Check out the December edition!
You can navigate to December’s award-winning student newspaper, the Norse News here. This is Spartanburg High School’s DIGITAL EDITION of the long-standing staple. If you or your company are interested in advertising in the online publication, or you would like to support the students of SHS, please contact Mrs. Angela Eaton at areaton@spart7.org.
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From the December issue of Norse News: A Season to Remember
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Quarterback Garrett Fulmer (11) completes a pass to running back Drek Carter (11). |
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Football Team Puts Up One of the Greatest Seasons in Viking history
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It was a year of great success for the Vikings Varsity Football team. After two losses to Gaffney and Mauldin to start the season, the Vikings were able to reposition themselves into winners. These minor inconveniences at the beginning of the year would not stop the team from having one of their most preeminent and exciting seasons in years.
After their first two losses, the Vikings hosted Hillcrest for a 45-37 victory. The following week, the team played an away game against Boiling Springs for a dominating win with a final score of 52-13. Following the blow out win, the Vikings traveled down to Irmo to face nationally-ranked Dutch Fork. The team fought hard in the fourth quarter to get 13 points, but ultimately fell against the Silver Foxes, 42-13. After this tough loss, the Vikings put themselves back together in a grand effort to defeat Byrnes, 33-30. This was a close battle that came down to the last second with Virginia Tech commit John Love (12) scoring the game winning field goal. J.D. Cash (11) has played a vital role on the offensive line this season as the starting center. “Winning this game against Byrnes meant a lot for the team, and I enjoyed being part of it,” Cash said.
The Vikings next faced Wade Hampton for another blowout victory, 65-19. The team then traveled to Riverside to extend their winning streak with a 35-7 victory. On Friday, October 29, the Vikings hosted Dorman in a suspenseful match-up to determine the region. Going into the fourth quarter, Spartanburg was down 24-7 with 9 minutes remaining in the game. After a few minutes, the Vikings made it a one-score game when wide receiver Andrew Dantin (11) received a 62-yard reception, securing the win against the Cavaliers. “I was super excited to be able to win the game with it being against our rival and also it stapling us outright Region Champions,” Dantin said.
After long fought and well rewarded regular season, the Vikings performed exceptionally well in the playoffs. They battled against Woodmont, Spring Valley and Ridge View in the first, second and third rounds, and eventually made their way to battle familiar foe Gaffney for the the South Carolina 5A Upper State Championship. Despite the cheer of the crowd and their best effort, the 2021 ended at home against the Indians, who would make their way to become the eventual S.C. 5A State Champions.
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610 Dupre Drive Spartanburg, South Carolina
P: 864.594.4400
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