Class Ring Orders

Attention Junior Class Parents and Students: This message is for any
Junior Student who ordered a class ring.

Jostens will be here March 1st in the commons from 11:30 am until
2:00 pm for class ring payment collection.

Tuesday, March 27th is the Ring Ceremony. Parents and relatives are
urged to attend with their Junior student. This ceremony will be
in the Auditorium.

Ring service redelivery day will be April 10th from 11:30 am till 2:00
pm in the commons.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Richmond at 476-3431.

Drama Program Performs Macbeth!

We are pleased to announce that our drama program has recently completed their main stage production of Macbeth. If you were not able to attend, you truly missed out on a wonderful performance. Opportunities like these extend and enhance the curriculum so that students are able to demonstrate their mastery of the skills being taught. It is for this reason that Dutch Fork High School and District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties remained committed to the arts as a vital component of our overall curricular offerings.

We would like to take this time to commend the students and Dr. Cynthia Seel for their hard work and dedication to maintaining a level of excellence with our performing arts programs.

Here is a trailer for Macbeth...enjoy!

Dutch Fork High Girls Basketball Team Advance to AAAA Title Game

The Varsity Girls Basketball Team at Dutch Fork High have advanced through the state AAAA playoff bracket and have earned a spot in the championship game Friday night at 7:00 p.m. against the Bruins of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

We would like wish our student-athletes as well as Head Coach Faye Norris (and her staff) good luck. We are very proud of them for their accomplishments and look forward to supporting them Friday night in a way that only the Dutch Fork and Irmo communities can do.

Below you will see an excerpt from today's press conference.

DECA Students Perform in an Exemplary Fashion at the Competition!

This weekend at the DECA State Competitions in Charleston S.C.,  Dutch Fork High DECA students really shined and brought home a lot of awards. There were over 600 students from all over South Carolina and every DFHS student that competed placed and was able to go on stage and receive a medallion, WOW!!. We are very proud of those students and their advisor (Mrs. Norma Brown). We had 5 first place winners, 3 second place winners, 1 third place winner,3 4th Place winners, and 4 students in the Top Ten.

The winners are as follows:

First Place

LaruaGuirau- Retail Merchandising

Ramzie Dalloul- Restaurant and Food Marketing

Tal Wanish- Principles of Marketing

Ben Rowland- Buying and Merchandising Team Event

Morgan Soard- Buying and Merchandising Team Event

Second Place

Weston Petersen-Restaurant and Food Marketing

Katie Walshe- Buying and Merchandising Team Event

Kristy O'Keefe- Buying and Merchandising Team Event

Third Place

Rachael Spilka- Business Services Marketing

4th Place

Faith Holmes- Apparel and Accessories

Amanada Washington- Principles of Marketing

Lawrence Borrmann- Hotel and Lodging Management

Top 10

Jalissa McBeth- Accounting Applications

Taylor Gaskins-Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Event

Austin Wise- Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Event

Ryan Asciutto-Marketing Management

The first place, second place and third place winners will now go on to compete at the International competitions in Salt Lake City, Utah April 27th through May 3rd.

By: Norma Brown, DECA Advisor and Business Education Teacher

Science Fair Winners

Congratulations are extended to the following Dutch Fork High School students who participated in the annual District Five science fair held Saturday February 25th at Irmo High. The award winners are as follows:

In Engineering:
Cole Younginer -honorable mention
Michael Sherman -3rd place
Jina Han- 1st place

In Computer Science/Technology:
Sam Noblet -3rd place
Ben Aaron -1st place

In Science/Mathematics:
Jessica Wang, Bridgette Wellslager - honorable mention
Ivana Chen -3rd place
Zachary Wang -2nd place
Mattie Kowalski -1st place

These students will be competing next month at the Intel Region II
science fair competition at the University of South Carolina. We remain very proud of these students and their teachers for the excellent job being done to advance learning at DFHS.

Thanks!

Learning the Details of Forensic Science at Clemson

The thoughts of the popular crime sitcom CSI Miami is not as easy as it looks on television. Students from Dutch Fork High attended the forensics field study at the SC DNA Learning Center at Clemson University. During this experience, students had the opportunity to learn the intricacies of studying forensic science. They were expected to do the following:

Task 1: Collecting DNA.
Task 2: Perform PCR
Task 3: Loading Gels for RFLP Analysis
Task 4: Visualize the DNA Bands using UVA Light

Following the lab activities, students were allowed to ask questions about the various majors and course backgrounds chosen that lead to desired career pathways. Some of the majors discussed were:
Chemistry
Biology
Chemical Engineering
Biological Engineering
Post-Graduate Options
Nursing
Genetics

Wow, what an experience!

Forensics Students Experience Clemson University

On Thursday February 23, 2012, several science teachers (C. Tilson, P. Smallwood, J. Krusen, J. Lyerly, and E. McShane) accompanied forty students to the South Carolina DNA Learning Center at Clemson University for a Forensic Science Field Study. Students will be learning cutting edge skills with the latest technology currently being practiced in the field forensic science in addition to solving an actual crime. This is an amazing experience for our students.

DFHS Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A

On Wednesday, February 22 the Chick-fil-A in Columbiana Centre will be hosting a DFHS Spirit Night. Our school is in a competition with Irmo High School. If we win, everyone in the building (students, faculty, and staff) will win a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. We must have a minimum of 75 transactions in order to be eligible to win. For us to get credit, all guests must SAY that they are with DFHS at the time of the transaction. Spirit Night will begin at 4:00 and will last until 8:00 pm that night. Whichever school has the most transactions will win! So encourage your students, friends, children, parents, spouses, siblings, neighbors, etc to come... Invite everyone you know!

Let's beat Irmo!

Asset Testing

Attention: Juniors and Seniors who plan to attend Midlands Technical College. The ASSET test will be given on our campus Tuesday, February 21st in the auditorium. You must register in Guidance by Feb. 14th (registration will be complete when you have submitted the online application at http://www.midlandstech.edu and paid the $35 application fee).

Seven Students Named National Merit Finalists at Dutch Fork High

Dutch Fork High School is proud to announce that the following seven students have been named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

B. Aaron, N. Kowalski, A. Leaman, J. Moore, E. Walker, J. Wang, Z. Wang

They are now among an elite group of 15,000 students from across the country that are eligible for various award categories from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The National Merit^® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT^®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of more than 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

Student Entry Requirements

To participate in the National Merit^® Scholarship Program, a student must:

1.       take the PSAT/NMSQT^® in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern;

2.       be enrolled as a high school student, progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school, and planning to enroll full time in college no later than the fall following completion of high school; and

3.       be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

The student's responses to items on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet that are specific to NMSC program entry determine whether the individual meets requirements to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Click here to see NMSC program entry items on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet. Score reports provided for test takers and their schools indicate whether the student meets program entry requirements. 

We are certainly proud of these students for their accomplishments and wish them good luck in their academic endeavors. 

PowerScore SAT Workshop

Interested in improving SAT scores? Sign up for our PowerScore SAT Weekend Workshop February 18th and 19th. The workshop guarantees a 150 point score increase which may be just what you need to qualify for scholarships or get into your college of choice! To register call 1-800-545-1750 and mention that you're a DFHS student to get the discounted rate/$150. Happy Testing!!

Bridgette Wellslager has been Chosen to Attend the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

Source: http://goo.gl/znnxl

Irmo, South Carolina -- Bridgette Wellslager, a student at Dutch Fork High School has been selected to represent South Carolina as a National Youth Delegate to the 2012 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment at George Mason University.

Bridgette joins a select group of only 250 students from all over the country honored with the opportunity for an intensive study of leadership in environmental science and conservation.  Wellslager was chosen based on academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in leadership in the sciences and conservation studies.

George Mason University along with partners, the National Geographic Society and the National Zoo will host the nation’s leading youth scholars from June 22-29, 2012.   With distinguished faculty, guest speakers, and direct access to elite D.C. practitioners, The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment offers scholars and student leaders an unparalleled experience.  The week long program, held at George Mason University’s state-of-the-art campus, will encourage and inspire young leaders from across the country who desire a unique experience focused on successful careers in this dynamic and important field.

About George Mason University

Named the #1 national university to watch in the 2009 rankings of U.S.
News & World Report, George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Mason provides students access to diverse cultural experiences and the most sought-after internships and employers in the country. Mason offers strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering and information technology, organizational psychology, health care and visual and performing arts. With Mason professors conducting groundbreaking research in areas such as climate change, public policy and the biosciences, George Mason University is a leading example of the modern, public university.

About the 2012 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) is a unique student leadership conference designed to develop and encourage future leaders in the important field of environmental studies and conservation in the 21st century.  The Advisory Board, is chaired by Mark Bauman, Executive Vice President of National Geographic Television and co-chaired by Joe Sacco, Educational Director for the National Zoo.  Additional members include world renowned scholars, distinguished scientists and award winning university faculty, such as Dr. Tom Lovejoy, noted environmentalist and former executive vice president of the World Wildlife Fund.  Delegates gain an insider look at environmental science, policy and conservation issues.  Distinguished past speakers include Inés R. Triay, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management (appointed by the President) and Dr. Marcia McNutt, Director of the US Geological Survey.  For more information visit us online at wyse.gmu.edu.

Debbie Gascon and Jessica Thur Have Article Published in South Carolina Council of Teachers of English Journal

English Teachers Debbie Gascon and Jessica Thur have entered the realm of professional writing to enhance and extend their commitment to continuous professional learning and collaboration. In the Fall 2011 Journal of the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English, they have an article entitled, It's Not About the Book: Finding Ways to Make Canonical Literature Approachable. It is a phenomenal article that speaks to the manner in which a teacher can find many strategies or methods to reach all learners. An excerpt from the article epitomizes this very notion:

"It's not about picking a perfect novel or choosing the right excerpts from the textbook; it's about teaching strategies that will allow students to feel successful when they approach any text."

Mrs. Gascon is a National Board Certified teacher who has taught middle and high school English for 16 years. She also teaches journalism, is a Master Journalism Educator, and advises the yearbook. She has earned several Fulbright and National Endowment for the Humanities' grants that have taken her all of the world, including a year-long Fulbright grant in Aiud, Romania to teach English.

Mrs. Thur is a National Board Certified teacher who has been teaching for thirteen years. She also has worked with the University of South Carolina's Professional Development School and has been an instructor for South Carolina's Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (P.A.C.E.). Between 2003-2005, Jessica has worked with South Carolina's Department of Education and Dr. Janet Allen to pilot a revised curriculum for tenth grade English and continues to be a Senior Developer for Dr. Allen's Plugged in to Reading.

We are so proud of these awesome teachers!

By: Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Assistant Principal for Instruction