Pelion Pride rose above the dampening clouds of the pandemic this school year as Pelion High School continues to work towards providing our students with the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolin Graduate. Our academics, career clusters, athletics and fine arts programs are all beginning to thrive again. While leveraging creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills across the curriculum, our students have reconnected to deep learning opportunities and career pathways towards which our students are striving and shining.
As a newly designated Title I school in 2022–23, PHS had opportunities to serve our student population in new ways and with additional resources. We hired a parent liaison to build and strengthen the relationships between families and the school. In addition, we hired a part-time English language learner teacher to meet the unique instructional needs of our students who are learning English. We also offered an extended-day learning opportunity to provide remediation for students with academic deficiencies in English or math.
Academically, our students challenged themselves to be well-equipped for life following high school. Sixty-eight percent of the senior class qualified for LIFE scholarships, with three students meeting the high standards for Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. Our graduates earned more than $7.5 million in scholarships. We had 47 career and technical education completers, and we had ten students enlist in the military. Our dual enrollment students earned 96 credits for a total of 288 college credit hours.
Our career clusters brought home certifications, awards and recognitions this year. Each of our health science clinical students passed their CNA exams. We had a top ten finalist in the Quick Service Restaurant Management Series for DECA. In our agriculture cluster, the state FFA president for our state was one of our students. Our teams placed in state and national competitions in the following categories: Soils Evaluation Team (first at state, third at nationals); Poultry Evaluation Team (second at state with top individual score); and Ag Mechanics (third at state). Overall, PHS was named FFA Gold Emblem Chapter for being one of the top 10% of FFA chapters throughout the state.
Athletics powered up with 54 All-Region Players. We had five Region Championship teams and three Region Coaches of the Year. We had one collegiate signee, one student achieved All-State in Track and Field, and one won “Conference Champion” in Girls Cross Country. Overall, participation in athletics has jumped 20%, leaving the COVID years behind.
Our performing arts students also excelled. In chorus, we had seven students in the inaugural Lexington One District Honor Choir, eight students in the Midlands Region Choir, two students accepted to the South Carolina Music Educators Association All-State Choir, and one student in the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association High School Honor Choir. One student received a Superior Rating in the SCMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival, and the entire choir earned a Superior Rating at Choral Performance Assessment. Four seniors graduated having earned the South Carolina Arts Specialization Seal of Distinction for their participation in Chorus.
In orchestra, both ensembles earned a Superior with Distinction at CPA. Seven Pelion students were represented in the Lexington One District Honor Orchestra, five students were accepted to South Carolina Music Educators Association Region 3 Orchestra and two students made the SCMEA All-State Orchestra. Four seniors earned the Arts Specialization Seal of Distinction for their participation in Orchestra and two are going on to study music at the college level.
Our students have risen above the challenges of the pandemic to shine in many areas. They are well-equipped with knowledge and skills for life after high school. I appreciate our faculty, families and community that have supported our students along the way.
“Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, ALWAYS show your Pelion Pride.”
W. Bryan Hearn, Principal
Randall Cooper, SIC Chair
