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Member News
New Online Employment Application Available
Darlene Cantey Named SC VFW Citizenship Education Teacher
County Middle Schools to Participate in National Job Shadowing
Morningside of Camden Names New Director
CMS Teacher Receives State's SE Region Earth Science Award
Jr. Leadership Kershaw County Kicks Off 24th Year
Program to Spur More Than $180 Million on Lending
A Sunset Breakfast-Dawn Inspired Dishes Served at Dusk
Chamber Business Member Spotlight Beyond Bargains Nursery
Whittington Gallery Wins 2011 Custom Woodworking Business Portfolio Award
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New Online Employment Application Available
on KCSD Website
February 2, 2012
(Mary Anne Byrd, (803-432-8416 x1229)
Persons interested in working for the Kershaw County School District now submit their job applications using KCSD’s online Applitrack system located on the district’s website.
“Previously, we have gotten applications for our certified positions from CERRA—the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement,” said Professional Development/Recruitment Director John Gardner. “By having people complete the application directly with us, we know that they are definitely interested in our school district.”
Gardner said another advantage of the new system is that applicants can apply for multiple types of positions by completing one application. “The system creates a unique application based upon the types of positions of interest as indicated by the applicant.”
He also said the new program will allow the school district to access a candidate’s information much more quickly and efficiently. “We no longer have to print applications in hard copy or send them to schools for consideration. It is all automated now. We are now able to work smarter as we serve the needs of the public.”
All support documents such as employer references are loaded right into the new system. Gardner said that the online system also allows a candidate to save information and return to it later so that an application does not have to be completed in just one session. The system emails the applicant when the application is complete and can send an email to schedule interviews.
The site also has a current listing of available jobs, both certified and non-certified which are updated regularly. To access the new online application, visit the district’s website at www.kershaw.k12.sc.us and click on the “employment” tab.
Persons wishing to apply for a vacancy in the school district who may not have access to the Internet may visit the district office and complete an application using a lobby computer.
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Camden Elementary School Teacher
Named SC VFW Citizenship Education Teacher
January 23, 2012
(Mary Anne Byrd, (803-432-8416 x1229)
Darlene Cantey is so passionate about bringing America’s history to life that she calls her 4th grade class the Patriots. When they study the Revolutionary War, they learn about it as if they were students during that time including attending a Ball at Historic Camden.
“Mrs. Cantey has been promoting the values and greatness of our country to her classes for many years,” said Camden Elementary School Principal Ed Yount. “She is the leader in our school for finding ways to support both veterans and current soldiers.”
For her efforts, Cantey was recognized by VFW Post 8346 as its local Citizenship Education Teacher. Today she was honored as the South Carolina Citizenship Education K-5 Teacher and will now compete on the national level. Other grade level winners were Hillcrest Middle School teacher Carla McDaniel from Simponsville and South Florence High School teacher Michael Brown from Florence.
Cantey’s efforts are felt throughout the school, most notably visible in the school’s Veterans Wall of Fame where students and employees bring in photos of family members who are current soldiers or veterans for display in a main hallway. In addition, Cantey’s students provide care packages and personal notes to soldiers through the Letters to Soldiers Project. She also plans an annual schoolwide Veterans Day program where community veterans speak and sponsors the school’s Geography Club.
Parent Margaret Bishop helped with the nomination form for Cantey. “This award has Darlene written all over it,” she said. “I can’t imagine anyone more deserving.”
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County Middle Schools to Participate in
National Job Shadowing
January 2012
(Ed Garrison, (803) 424-2860)
Kershaw County middle schools will join the nation next month by recognizing Groundhog Shadowing Day on Thursday, Feb. 2. Seventh and eighth grade students will be allowed to go to work with a parent, relative or neighbor to learn more about the workplace and potential careers.
Last year more than 1,000 local middle school students shadowed in area businesses and industries as part of the district’s annual Go to Work with Your Parent or Relative Day, which has expanded to include neighbors and close friends of students.
“This is one of the most popular workplace learning activities we do each year,” says Ed Garrison, the district’s coordinator for career education activities. “For many students this opportunity is their first introduction to the workplace and the skills necessary to be a productive employee".
“I encourage all Kershaw County businesses to take part in this activity and host one or more students, particularly if they are the son or daughter of one of their employees.”
Garrison says the goal is to help students learn more about careers and workplace expectations. “Not only can it be a good bonding experience for the parent and child, it can also open up a whole new world for students in terms of possible careers to consider as they head on to high school and beyond.”
Students who participate must have written permission from their parent or guardian and the business they are shadowing. “We are asking area employers to allow their employees to once again host their son, daughter, relative or even a neighbor if a request comes across their desk,” adds Garrison. “It’s a fantastic learning opportunity all the way around.”
To help make the activity more meaningful and not just a day off from school, when students return to the classroom they are given assignments to complete that relate to the shadowing.
Garrison says alternate career-related activities will be made available this year for teachers to use with their students who remain in the classroom on Feb. 2.
“This will allow students to explore careers by either going online to approved Internet sites for virtual shadowing experiences or by viewing closed-circuit video programming.”
Garrison says that not all students are able to shadow and “we want to offer them and our sixth grade options for some career exposure.” Last year more than 600 students participated in virtual shadowing activities in the classroom.
Job shadowing is one of many workplace leaning opportunities offered students in Kershaw County schools. High school shadowing is offered to students beginning in the 9th grade and is available throughout the year. Internships are also available to high school students beginning in the 11th grade.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Morningside of Camden Names New Director
November 3, 2011
Morningside of Camden is pleased to introduce new Executive Director, Daryl Orage. Daryl comes to Morningside from Charleston. He has experience in human resources and operations with assisted living communities in that area. Previous to that, Daryl worked at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as a Senior Inspector.
His experience there includes surveying facilities to ensure their compliance with state licensing standards; developing and managing the multi-million dollar budget for the state's Division of Emergency Medical Services, and managing staff training among other duties. In his new role, the South Carolina State graduate will manage daily operations of a 40 apartment community and staff of 22.
Daryl is married to Deborah and has one son, Carmichael, age 20.
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Receives State SE Region Earth Science Award
October 14, 2011
(Mary Anne Byrd, (803) 432-8416 x1229)
Camden Middle School teacher Valerie Willis thought it was a big honor to be nominated for the 2011 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award and was thrilled to earn the top award for South Carolina. So when she learned that she also received the honor for the whole Southeast region, she was even more flattered.
“At a time when the importance of earth science is increasing but the attention paid to it is just beginning to catch up with the need, it is encouraging to encounter teachers such as [Willis] who do so much to bring earth science the recognition it deserves,” said Clemson University emeritus professor John Wagner.
Wagner nominated Willis for the award and serves as the state coordinator for the National Association of Geoscience Teachers who sponsor the award along with the South Carolina Science Council.
This is the first time in 12 years that the South Carolina winner has also won the regional competition.
Willis has taught earth science for the past eight years and constantly searches for new ways to engage kids in the classroom. She incorporates multiple intelligence strategies in her teaching which include hands-on and virtual labs, research-based projects, 3-D models, drawings and computer based software to encourage student creativity.
Students leave her classroom with tools to guide their inquiring minds, an awareness of our precious resources and what needs to be done to protect them.
"If I am not exploring the land, I am swimming in the sea,” Willis explained. “I love our planet Earth and feel very strongly about preserving all that is outdoors. Earth is grandiosely amazing, and I am a firm advocate of environmental education."
For the past three years, Willis has worked with the school’s Environmental Club to sponsor cell-phone collection drives. She received the Golden Apple Award for bringing hands-on gem mining to her school and was selected to attend the Santee Cooper-Energy Educators Institute in 2009.
Willis is a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and was chosen by Clemson University to attend the Discover Carolina/SC Life Summer Field Course.
“Mrs. Willis is a very hard working teacher who strives to get the most out of her students,” said Camden Middle Principal Jeff Jordan. “She is certainly deserving of this award.”
She will be officially recognized during the SC Science Council’s annual awards ceremony next month.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jr. Leadership Kicks Off 24th Year
August 2011
Roderick Todd and Lucas Joseph of Camden High School work to solve the broken bridge activity of the team challenge course. Alex Webster of Camden Military Academy observes from behind. Thirty students spent two days bonding with each other and learning leadership skills.
Junior Leadership Kershaw County kicked off its 24th year Aug. 26-27 with a two-day retreat for the 2011-12 class that included conquering a high ropes course.
Thirty juniors and seniors representing Camden, Lugoff-Elgin and North Central high schools as well as the Camden Military Academy participated in a variety of team-building and leadership development activities.
Junior Leadership Kershaw County is a partnership of the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, the Kershaw County School District and Camden Military Academy. The program began in 1988 and is one of the oldest continuously running high school leadership programs in the state. Since it began approximately 700 students have completed the program.
“Junior Leadership is one of the most popular programs we sponsor,” says Liz Horton, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “It is a unique venture and has really resonated with our schools, their students and the business community.
“Over the years it has been very successful developing student leaders and future leaders in our community. Some of the graduates have gone on to become doctors, attorneys, teachers, a state representative and even a pro football player.”
During the year students will meet in monthly sessions to learn more about leadership, career opportunities, state government and cultural diversity. They will also participate in a community service project.
The two-day opening retreat is the foundation of the program where students learn about team-work and overcoming obstacles. On Aug. 26 students participated in Myers Briggs personality profile session led by Dr. Linda Salane of Columbia College’s Leadership Institute. They also heard from Don Jenkins, managing partner of Leaders Advantage in Columbia, who led the students in an exercise about leadership values.
Students were challenged to practice their leadership skills on Aug. 27 during their day-long participation on a low and high ropes course at the Gravatt Camp and Conference Center near Aiken. Tackling the ropes course obstacles puts the students to the test both as individuals and as a team,” says Laurie Parks, who chairs the Junior Leadership steering committee. “It is a long, grueling day, but in the end it is worth their sweat and toil. They enjoy it immensely.”
The year ends in April with a graduation dinner and presentation of the Robert. J. Sheheen Outstanding Junior Leadership Student of the Year award.
Students apply for Junior Leadership in the spring of the school year and are chosen by their schools as representatives in the program.
This year’s class includes:
Camden High: Corey Blanks, Davis Goodrich, Amber Jackson, Lucas Joseph, Callie Olano, Alex Stephens, Katie Tiller, Roderick Todd and Briana Woods.
Camden Military Academy: Alexander, Drinnen, Blake Holmes, Nick Pinelli, Alex Trznadel, Cason Vogel and Alex Webster.
Lugoff-Elgin High School: Antuan Augustus, Kyle Ballard, Kaylee Boone, Taylor Cornor, Layla Ferjani, Carrie Lynch, Ashley Martin and Liz Ranges.
North Central High School: BriAnna Alexander, Carman Fowler, Andrew Galuppi, Meagan Moseley, Tyler Tollison, Chris Turner and Sammi Woods.
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Program to Spur More Than $180 Million in Lending
July 21, 2011
The South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA) announced today it will be leveraging $18 million in federal funds to spur more than $180 million in job-creating lending activity to small businesses. South Carolina Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Otis Rawl stood alongside JEDA and the South Carolina Bankers Association for the announcement. The program will make funds available to participating financial institutions to increase credit availability for qualifying credit worthy small businesses.
“As I travel the state, small businesses continue to cite access to capital as a major concern and a key competitiveness issue in growing their businesses. We thank our elected officials for authorizing this initiative that will ultimately create jobs,” said Otis Rawl, president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
The South Carolina Senate has authorized implementation of the capital access program. The funds are South Carolina’s share of the $1.5 billion State Small Business Credit Initiative, created nationwide by the U.S. Treasury Department as part of the U.S. Small Business Jobs Act signed into law last fall.
“The state had to show that it could expect this investment would return at least $10 in new private lending for every $1 in federal funding,” said Lloyd Hendricks, president and CEO of the South Carolina Bankers Association.
JEDA will work with the Business Development Corporation of South Carolina to implement and administer the capital access program, called SC SSBCI CAP. For more information, visit www.scjeda.com or www.businessdevelopment.org.
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A Sunset Breakfast-Dawn Inspired Dishes Served at Dusk
March 25, 2011
(Katherine Lemay Brown, (803) 432-5858)
The University of Georgia recently hosted a meal plan special event which featured a fruit dish from Bloomsbury Inn. The presentation, A Sunset Breakfast, featured menu items from select bed and breakfasts from across the United States. The Bloomsbury Cold Fruit Soup was one of three fruit selections presented. Of the hundreds of recipes tested, this recipe was one of thirty-four menu items featured. The selected recipes were served to over 8,300 industry participants.
The Bloomsbury Cold Fruit Soup recipe will again be featured in the Sunset Breakfast event when it competes for national recognition in the Loyal E. Horton Menu Awards in mid April. Bloomsbury Inn and owners, Bruce and Katherine Brown, were presented a commemorative plate in appreciation of their participation. Katherine Brown noted, "It is an honor to be the only bed in breakfast in the State of South Carolina to have a recipe selected for another state's event which will now compete for national recognition. We often receive compliments on the soup when we offer it as our first course at breakfast, but it had not occurred to me that it was special enough to be one of the top three in the Nation." The soup is offered three or four times a month to the guests of Bloomsbury Inn. Bruce Brown thinks that, "Katherine is too modest about the breakfast meals that she serves. I was not surprised when we learned that one of her recipes had been selected with recipes presented by such renown chefs as Matthew Minor, The Swag near Ashville NC, vegan Chef Kyle Evans of Stanford Inn by the Sea in CA, or Four Seasons Farm Chef Pierre Wolfe."
Bloomsbury recipes are shared in a variety of ways. You can now dine at the University of Georgia to enjoy the soup; you can book an evening at Bloomsbury Inn and request the soup for breakfast; or, you can make it for yourself. The recipe can be found online: www.bloomsburyinn.com or in the Camden Junior Welfare League cookbook, Dining by Candlelight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chamber Business Member Spotlight
Beyond Bargains Nursery
December 15, 2010
(Liz Horton, (803) 432-2525)
Pictured L-R: Deborah Outlaw, Chamber Board President, Faith Childers, owner of Beyond Bargains Nursery, and Liz Horton, Chamber Executive Director.
On Wednesday, December 15, 2010, Deborah Outlaw, President of the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce and Liz Horton, Executive Director of the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce paid a surprise visit to the owner of Beyond Bargains Nursery, with popcorn and balloons stating they simply "popped by" to say thanks to Mrs. Childers for her support of the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce the past few months. Beyond Bargains Nursery is one of the Chambers newer members having joined in July of 2010.
They are located at 756 Hwy 1 North in Camden and offer locally grown flowers and vegetable plants, fruit trees, shade trees, shrubs, bulk garden seed and wildlife plots. The nursery also features a gift shop and fireworks store. Winter hours are Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The nursery will close on January 2nd and reopen on March 1st for the Spring.
Buy the biggest and best fireworks to celebrate the New Year at their Camden location, or at their Lugoff location (Mega Fireworks of Lugoff) which will be open extended hours December 28th through January 1st.
Faith & Danny Childers say, "We love what we do and we are here to support the community. We work hard to provide a large variety, but if we don't have what you need, let us know and we will try to get it."
For more information, drop by, or call (803) 420-0925.
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2011 Custom Woodworking Business Portfolio Award
November 15, 2010
(Tamara Whittington, (803) 272-0510)
Whittington Gallery has won a 2011 Custom Woodworking Business Portfolio Award with "The Dream Wagon" bed in the Specialty Woodworking Category. This national competition is an annual event. Whittington Gallery will be featured in the upcoming issue of Custom Woodworking Magazine.
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