John W. Moore Receives Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant for the Environmental Center

The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $4,770.00 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education® grant to John W. Moore in Florence for creating an Environmental Center at Moore where students and staff can take their learning outside.

Primary Years IB program going strong at North Vista Elementary

North Vista Elementary School recently held a Principal’s Breakfast where an update was given on the school’s Primary Years International Baccalaureate Program (PYP).

Wilson Student to Compete in International German Olympics 2020

Sophie Watson, a junior at Wilson High School, has advanced to the National Final Round of the International German Olympics 2020.

Students Recognized for Perfect Scores on South Carolina Standardized Tests

At its November meeting, the Florence 1 Schools Trustees recognized students who earned perfect scores on standardized tests during the 2018-19 school year. Twenty- five students earned the maximum score on a portion of the SC READY, and 10 students earned a perfect score on a portion of the SC PASS.

Florence 1 Schools to Present Annual Choral Concert November 25

Florence 1 Schools will present the Senior All-City Choral Concert on Monday, November 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Chapman Auditorium on the campus of Francis Marion University.

USC President to Visit South Florence High School

The University of South Carolina President Dr. Robert L. Caslen will visit South Florence High School as a part of a special partnership program.

West Florence High School’s Nichole Scipio Named Florence 1 Schools 2019-20 Teacher of the Year

Nichole Scipio explains her path to becoming a classroom teacher began with an original desire to work in the medical field.

Florence 1 Schools IB Program receives commendations on five-year evaluation

Florence 1 Schools recently received the results of the five-year evaluation of their International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. In the results, the program received several commendations including one for increasing the number of classes offered as well as the recent expansion at both the MYP and the IB Diploma levels.

First Florence 1 student books job using drone certification

For Emily Barnett, the drone certification course at West Florence High School is really paying off. Barnett is the first Florence 1 Schools student to be paid to use their drone operating skills.

National Mental Illness Awareness Week Seeks To End Stigma

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 out of every 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness each year and 1 out of every 25 adults in the U.S. experience serious mental illness each year.

Florence 1 Schools receive Palmetto Gold and Silver awards

FLORENCE, SC--The State Department of Education today announced the winners of the 2018 and 2019 Palmetto Gold and Silver Schools. Florence 1 Schools had three schools chosen to receive these awards.

Florence 1 Schools more than doubles number of ‘Excellent’ schools on new SC Dept of Ed report cards

According to new school report card data released by the South Carolina Department of Education, four schools in Florence 1 Schools achieved the highest overall rating of Excellent, more than doubling the number from the previous school year.

Boeing visits STEM schools in Florence 1

Students at Carver Elementary Magnet School and West Florence High School had some very special guests Oct. 2 as Boeing Communications Specialist Libba Holland and Education Relations Specialist Frank Hatten visited their classes.

Farm to School Month in Florence 1 Schools

What activities will you take part in for Farm to School Month?

Sideline Stores Now Online For All Middle and High Schools

Time to stock up on all your favorite school’s apparel! The BSN SPORTS Sideline Stores for Sneed Middle, Southside Middle, Williams Middle, South Florence High, West Florence High and Wilson High Schools are now online.

Helle Heckmann to return to Florence in September

Heckmann to promote Florence 1 Schools and The School Foundation’s 5 Golden Keys early childhood initiative.

The ClassLink My Florence launchpad is here!

The ClassLink “My Florence” launchpad is here! Find the district’s most popular applications and your child’s instructional resources all in one place

McLeod Health and Florence 1 Schools Partner to Offer School-Based Telehealth Program

McLeod Health and Florence 1 Schools announced on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, a partnership to offer a School-Based Telehealth Program (SBTP) at four locations within Florence 1 Schools this school year.

Florence 1 Schools Board of Trustees to Meet on Thursday, August 8

The Florence 1 Schools Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, August 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the John T. Sullivan Board Meeting Room of the School Administration Building located at 319 South Dargan Street.

Florence 1 Schools offers free meals at seven schools for upcoming school year

Students at seven schools in Florence 1 will receive breakfast and lunch completely free starting in the 2019-2020 school year, thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010.

New administrators named in Florence 1 Schools

At its most recent regular meeting, the Florence 1 Schools Board of Trustees approved the administration’s recommendation to hire two new administrators.

Timrod kicks off 2019-2020 school year

School is officially back in session for Henry Timrod Elementary School. Timrod students are the first in Florence 1 Schools to kick off the 2019-2020 school year, heading back into the classroom Monday, July 29. Principal Michelle McBride said that students and staff were so excited for the new year to begin.

Florence 1 Schools Media Specialists Explain Library Role in 21st Century Learning

The job of a librarian, oftentimes now called a media specialist in the school setting, has changed a lot over the years. Several Florence 1 Schools libraries/media centers were recently on display

Wilson IB results show nearly 80 percent overall pass rate

Long–awaited International Baccalaureate scores have been released for the 2018-2019 school year. According to the results, Wilson High School students had a 77 percent subject pass rate overall.

Florence 1 Schools is Now Enrolling Four-Year-Old Children in Preschool Programs

Enroll for Free 4-year-old kindergarten! Starting in August 2019! Your child must be 4 before September 1, 2019. Call 843-758-6869 or 843-673-1129 to enroll!

Over 250 Teachers in Florence 1 Schools Recognized for Perfect Attendance

Two hundred sixty (262) certified teachers in Florence 1 Schools have received recognition for having perfect attendance during the 2018-19 school year. Each of these teachers will receive a monetary award of $2,000 each on June 14.

South Florence High School teachers chosen for fellowship program

It may be close to the end of the school year but several teachers from South Florence High School will soon be headed back into the classroom: Lennette Diggs, Clare Smith, and Hope Moyo, applied for and were accepted into the Hollyhock Fellowship Program at Stanford University.

Southside Middle to Hold a Ghost-Out on Friday

A ghost-out is an alcohol and drug awareness program aimed at students to raise awareness that traffic crashes are the number one killer of teens with over one-third of teen traffic deaths being alcohol-related nation wide. At 10:30 a.m. on Friday a medical helicopter will converge upon Southside Middle. At 1:30 p.m., an ambulance will go to the gym and role play a drunk driving accident involving a teen. The ambulance will begin its "Ghost Out" assembly.

Florence School 1 Offers Summer Feeding Program 2019

Florence School District 1 announces its Summer Feeding Program for youth ages 18 and younger, which will be served at the following sites. Sites will be closed July 4, 2019.

Shand Josey named principal at Southside Middle School

Southside Middle School will have a new principal at the start of the 2019-2020 school year, though her face will be a familiar one to many people in Florence 1 Schools.

Speech-Language Therapy Camp to be offered in conjunction with USC

Florence 1 Schools will be working with the University Of South Carolina Department Of Communication Disorders to offer a speech-language therapy camp this summer

West Florence students learn about STEM Careers

The Celebrate Freedom Foundation was at West Florence High School May 1 showing students first-hand a few of the STEM career options that they have after graduation.

Florence 1 Schools announces Exceptional Education Department restructuring

After a ribbon cutting for Carver Elementary Magnet School’s new inclusive playground equipment April 17, Florence 1 Schools (F1S) officials announced reorganization efforts in the Exceptional Education Department.

Capes For Kids to be held May 4

All proceeds will be donated to The Care House of the Pee Dee in memory of a Carver Elementary student who lost her life due to child abuse and will directly benefit abused children in our community.

Wilson High School student awarded summer study trip to Germany

Sophie Watson, a student at Wilson High School, has won an all‐expense‐paid summer study trip to Germany.

Wilson High School students excel on Spanish exam, Level 4

Fifteen students in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB/MYP) at Wilson High School attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2019 National Spanish Exam, Level 4.

Carver Elementary School cuts ribbon on inclusive playground equipment

On April 17, school and Florence 1 Schools district officials cut the ribbon on new inclusive playground equipment at the school.

Taste of Briggs continues delicious tradition more than a decade old

The Taste of Briggs is back again, bringing together fundraising and fun. The annual event will take place April 11 at Briggs Elementary School, 1012 Congaree Drive in Florence, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Florence 1 Schools hosts Interview Day for teacher candidates

Florence 1 Schools will host a Spring Recruitment Interview Day on April 13. The event will take place at Sneed Middle School, 1102 South Ebenezer Road, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Florence 1 Middle School Students to Blend Voices in Concert

Choral students from Sneed Middle, Southside Middle and Williams Middle will blend their voices together for a musical concert of 100 voices strong.

Florence 1 Schools Music Education Program Receives National Recognition for 6th Consecutive Year

For the sixth consecutive year, Florence 1 Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.

Wallace Gregg receives grant from FMU Center of Excellence

Wallace Gregg Elementary recently received the Community Outreach Research Project grant from the Francis Marion Center of Excellence.

Briggs Elementary School starts school-wide compositing initiative

What’s old will become new again at Briggs Elementary School as students undertake a school-wide composting initiative with school-related waste.

Florence 1 teacher chosen to participate in Nintendo Labo Classroom Program

STEM education takes many forms, from creating weight-bearing structures with straws to exploring the biology of a frog using virtual reality. In Brittany Smith’s REACH classroom at North Vista learning looks like a game, thanks to the Nintendo Labo Classroom Program.

SC STEM Educator of the Year Finalists Announced on Pi Day

On this Pi Day, SC Future Minds, S2TEM Centers SC, the STEM Development Foundation, and Comporium are delighted to announce the finalists for the inaugural SC STEM Educator of the Award. Selected by a panel of judges from leading STEM companies, including Dominion Energy, Michelin North America, BMW Manufacturing Co., Duke Energy, as well as STEM education specialists, the finalists hail from five regions of the state and represent the finest in STEM ingenuity and innovation.

South Florence holds Arts Magnet Information Meeting

I would like to invite you and your 8th graders to an informational meeting at South Florence High School, Tuesday, March 5th at 6:30 p.m. in the library.

Students Showcase Vocal Talents: Division Winners Chosen

On February 19, more than two dozen students participated in a vocal talent competition at Florence-Darlington Technical College's SiMT. The annual program known as Vocal Star is the culmination of a qualifying event in which almost 90 students competed for a spot in the competition.

Florence 1 Students Named National Merit Finalists

Two Florence 1 students named semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program last fall have advanced to the next level of competition.

Florence One Students to Share Music with Magnolia Mall Shoppers During the Weekend of February 28, March 1 and March 2

The month of March has been designated Music in our Schools Month and in recognition, Florence 1 music students will celebrate with live performances at Magnolia Mall beginning Thursday, February 28 and culminating on Saturday March 2.

West Florence to become STEM Magnet School

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Magnet program at West Florence High School is an honors magnet program.

South Florence and Wilson High Schools ‘TEAM UP’ with Governor’s School for virtual courses

Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, students at Wilson and South Florence High Schools will have the chance to take classes through the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) without ever leaving their home school’s campus.

F1S Black History Activities

February is Black History Month and in recognition, schools have specific activities designed to celebrate during this month. Here is a listing of activities:

Pacing 4 Pieces

The 7th Annual Pacing 4 Pieces Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk will be held March 9, 2019. This event is the largest fundraiser for All 4 Autism, with over 500 registered runners in 2018. Money raised from the race stays LOCAL and funds the Autism Resource Center of the Pee Dee, the first and only in the region.

McLaurin Elementary School unveils inclusive playground equipment

Squeals and laughter were bountiful Friday morning, February 8, as children at McLaurin Elementary School played on a piece of newly installed inclusive playground equipment.

Florence 1 Schools implements online registration for 2019-2020 school year

Registration for the 2019-2020 school year will be a streamlined, parent-friendly process in Florence 1 Schools after district administration decided to implement online registration.

Local High School Student Selected for Journalism & Media Study at George Mason University

Karis Wymbs, a junior at West Florence High School, has been selected to represent Florence, South Carolina, as a National Youth Correspondent to the 2019 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University.

West Florence selected to be part of Amazon’s $50 million education investment

Students at West Florence will soon have the option of taking two Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Computer Science, introducing them to everything from the fundamentals of computer science principals to Java programming and app development.

Florence 1 Schools to Offer Remote Pilot’s License Program to High School Students

Through a partnership with a regional organization, Florence 1 Schools is providing a unique opportunity for its high school students to gain a remote pilot’s license. Students who are enrolled in engineering class at South Florence and West Florence, or computer coding class at Wilson High, will be offered the iFLY Drone Pilots certification course.

West Florence High School receives approval to implement Advanced Placement Capstone Program

West Florence High School continues to seek ways to raise the bar for academics for all students by adding the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma Program to its offerings in 2019-2020. The school was recently notified that it had received the designation of AP Capstone School. West Florence joins a small select group of 30 high schools in South Carolina to offer this rigorous Capstone Diploma Program.

Florence 1 Schools Awarded $1.5 Million Dollar Mental Health Resiliency Grant

Florence 1 Schools was recently awarded a $1.5 million dollar grant by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). SCDE was the recipient of a US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant; Florence 1 was awarded a sub-grant under SC Project AWARE: Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education.

Florence 1 Schools to Send Students to All State Choral Events

Six local high school students have made the South Carolina Music Education Association’s (SCMEA) 2019 All-State Chorus. South Florence High School’s all-state chorus members are Antonio Brown, Joryll Robinson and Jah’Reon Robinson. West Florence High School’s all-state choir members are Dontex Haggins, Joshua Barrett and Kendal Harvey.

Applications for MYP at Williams Middle School

Applications for MYP at Williams Middle School are now being accepted. The deadline for the online application is January 31st, 2019 at 5:00pm.

Patti Nunnally Named a Top Inspiring Teacher in South Carolina And Honored With $10,000 from the National University System - Sanford Teacher Award

The National University System-Sanford Teacher Award recognizes one PreK-12 teacher in each state, following a nomination and application process based on criteria of inspiring teaching; The awards, supported by philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, reflect the mission of the Sanford Harmony and Sanford Inspire programs

Access Online Textbooks

Parents, did you know that if your child forgets their textbook at school they can access it through the Florence 1 Schools website? Follow the instructions below according to your child’s grade.

Blended Voices of High School Choral Students Come Together for Annual Concert

Florence 1 Schools will present the All-City Choral Concert on Monday, November 19th at 7:00 p.m. at Wilson High School. The All-City Chorus is the school district’s largest concert choir made up of student voices from South Florence, West Florence, and Wilson high schools.

Florence 1 International Baccalaureate Program Ranks Second in State Exam Pass Rates

According to data recently released by the South Carolina Department of Education, the Wilson High School International Baccalaureate (IB) program has the second highest pass rate on subject exams in the state. Wilson has an 84.4 percent pass rate; Travelers Rest has the highest pass rate but only has twelve students in the program.

Parent Teacher Conference Day Slated for November 5th

Parent-teacher conference day in Florence One Schools is scheduled for Monday, November 5th. Parent-teacher conferences will be held between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at all local schools.

Florence 1 Schools Imagine Forward - Parent Training Schedule

In the first phase of a district-wide technology initiative, Florence 1 Schools will hand out Chromebooks to students in third, fourth and fifth grade on November 12. The Chromebooks will be available for students to use in their classrooms and at home.

Florence School District One 2017-18 Teacher of the Year Announced

John W. Moore Intermediate School Art Instructor Sharri Duncan has been selected Florence 1 Schools 2018-19 Teacher of the Year. Duncan was selected from over 20 applicants in Florence 1 Schools.

Florence 1 Schools Introduces New College and Career-ready Interface

Students in Florence 1 Schools have a new way to track their progress in high school and lay out their college and career goals. SchooLinks is a college and career readiness platform built for the 21st Century student.

School Make up Days Announced

The Florence 1 Schools Board of Trustees voted to approve make-up days for those missed during Hurricane Florence.

Students Recognized for Perfect Scores on South Carolina Standardized Tests

At its October meeting, the Florence One Board of Trustees recognized 29 students who earned perfect scores on standardized tests during the 2017-18 school year. Twenty- one students earned the maximum score on a portion of the SC READY, and eight students earned a perfect score on a portion of the SC PASS.

Florence 1 Schools announces multi-million dollar investment in the arts

At the Oct. 18 Board of Trustees meeting, Florence 1 Schools announced a multi-million dollar investment in arts education. Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley said that over the next year, $3 million dollars will be spent to improve current programs across the district and implement additional programming.

Florence 1 Schools Implementing National Best Practices in Special Education

Under the new leadership of Dr. Richard O’Malley, Florence 1 Schools is moving special education to the forefront of the district’s agenda, moving toward creating more learning opportunities in creative ways and fostering inclusive learning environments in all of their schools.

Local Leaders to Get a Close Look at Day-to-Day School Operations through Chamber, Florence One, School Foundation Partnership

Through a three-way partnership among Florence One, the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and The School Foundation, a program designed for business and community leaders to spend time getting a unique, behind-the-scenes look into schools in Florence One continues in its fourth year. The program, known as the Fellows in Education Program, began with an orientation today for its members.