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News and Announcements

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12.13.24 PSA Friday Letter to Families

December 13, 2024

New Phone Policy Update - We will be making our school a phone-free space to improve teaching and learning using a program called Yondr. PSA’s  rollout of this program will commence on January 7, 2025, the first day back from winter break for students. A copy of the parent letter to students explaining the Yondr pouches is linked here.

Athletic Update - Congratulations to our JV and Varsity boys basketball teams for their wins on Thursday night over St. John's High School.  JV boys improve to 2-1 and Varsity boys 1-2.  Our JV girls are 1-1 going into our Holiday break.  

Thank you to ALL the volunteers that have helped with the start of our Basketball Season.  From the gate, concessions, clock, and books.  Please continue to support and use SignUpGenius to volunteer for the available positions/time slots.

Testing Updates - Makeup MAP tests will be completed next week for 6-8th grade students who were unable to complete testing this week.

Counselors Corner - Be sure to check the school counseling website regularly for important updates, upcoming events/opportunities,  and scholarship information.

Mark your calendars:  

December 17 - Monthly PSA Board Meeting

December 19 - Holiday Band Concert - remember to bring your Poinsettia!

December  23- January 6 - Winter Break for Students

January 6 - Teacher Workday and Seat Time Makeup Day

January 7 - Yondr pouch rollout day

February 15 - Intent to Return form Due date

PSA Parent/Student handbook. 

From the students, staff, and administration of PSA, “Thank you for all your support!”

Sincerely,

Dr. Kimberly Zerbst

Principal,

Palmetto Scholars Academy

 

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12.6.24 PSA Friday Letter to Families

December 6, 2024

Intent to Return - Intent to Return forms were sent this week and are due no later than February 15, 2025. This information is essential for us to understand how many seats we can offer to lottery applicants based on students not planning to return. If you have multiple students, you can list them all on a single form; there is no need to submit separate forms. 

Each time you click "Save" after entering a student's information, a new line will appear, allowing you to enter additional students. 

If you intend to return, completing this form is necessary to secure your child's seat. 

Please note that any current students who do not have a completed Intent to Return form by February 15, 2025, will be assumed not to be returning, and those seats may be offered to the next applicants on the waitlist.

If you have any questions, please contact Denora Brown, Registrar, at registration@psaschool.org

PSA Tours - We are excited to begin offering tours to prospective students and families in December and January. 

Tours will be 10-11am and dates include:

December 9, 10, 16, 17

January 9, 10 

If you know a fantastic student that should be here with us please encourage them to sign up for a tour at 24-25 PSA Tour Signup today! Seating is limited to the first 125 respondents for each tour.

Testing Updates - Winter NWEA testing for 6th - 8th grade students is scheduled for December 11-13. Your child will receive an email on December 10th with information on where/when they will test. Please have them open this email and read it. The email will be titled "REMINDER- NWEA Testing". Each student will be given an NWEA Goal Card that has a personalized goal for them to reach. Students who meet their personalized goal will be rewarded with a special treat! Ensure your child has enough rest and that they eat a nutritious meal prior to testing. Please email ivette.skonieczny@psaschool.org if you have any questions. 

Virtual SC Exams - Students testing on Monday, December 9th should have received an email this morning (12/6/24) with pertinent information regarding Virtual SC Exams. Those testing on December 10th will receive an email on 12/9/24. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Widener or Ms. Skonieczny.

Counselors Corner - Be sure to check the school counseling website regularly for important updates, upcoming events/opportunities,  and scholarship information.

Nurse’s Notes - Welcome Winter! With all this extra warmth both at home and school, we are more prone to getting dehydrated.  We can't really tell we are dehydrated, since we aren't sweating as much as during the summer. Not only the drying air but on the go holiday bustle and not drinking as much, are huge contributors to the dry lips, dry skin, chapped hands, headaches, dry eyes, general ill feeling and dark/foul smelling urine.  

Just by staying hydrated it really gives your body something to run off.  Fluids help carry things to and from the cells, delivering and hauling away.  Being hydrated helps keep joints and organs working properly. During a time of year when colds and flus are prone, staying hydrated helps regulate the body temperature also.

Everyone thinks of water when talking about hydration, but I hear EVERY day, "I don't like water."  So there are other options to just water. One is adding fruits/flavor to water.  Milk is a great alternative, because it also has calcium and other minerals.  Juice and smoothies offer electrolytes and sugar which we do need some to have our body run properly.  Coffee and tea both are hydrating.  

Let's think outside the drinks and think of hydrating foods too! Broth-based soups for this cold weather.  Whole fruits and vegetables like watermelon, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, celery, really any fruit and veggie are great.  I would suggest avoiding dried fruits since the word is right in the name "dried/dehydrated."  

Enjoy this time of year as we transition into the colder months and holiday season.  

Stay healthy!

Drop off clarification - The gymnasium exterior doors will close at 8:25 to ensure supervision and enable teachers time to get to their classes. Any student dropped off after 8:25am will need to enter PSA through the main entrance located at the front of the school. 

Mark your calendars:  

December 9-12 - Semester 1 Virtual SC Exams

December 11-13 - NWEA (MAP) testing for all 6-8th grade students

December 17 - Monthly PSA Board Meeting

December 19 - Holiday Band Concert

December  23- January 6 - Winter Break for Students

January 6 - Teacher Workday and Seat Time Makeup Day

February 15 - Intent to Return form Due date

 

PSA Parent/Student handbook. 

 

From the students, staff, and administration of PSA, “Thank you for all your support!”

Sincerely,

Dr. Kimberly Zerbst

Dr. Kimberly Zerbst

Principal, Palmetto Scholars Academy

 

December Events
December Events

Events in December.

Remember, Monday House Points will be earned for the number of people dressing up.

Giving Tuesday QR code
Support PSA

Support Palmetto Scholars Academy by Donating Today!

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Interested in PSA? Join Us for a Tour!

Tour Palmetto Scholars Academy!

Save the Dates: Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, 2024

January  9,10 2025

All tours will run promptly from 10 to 11 a.m.

Tours are by appointment only and have a maximum size of 125 attendees. 

Sign up HERE.

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12.12.24 Basketball Game

Due to a situation with St. John's High School our JV girls basketball game has been cancelled for today.  The JV boys game will tip off at 5:00 pm followed by the Varsity boys game at 6:15 pm.  If you signed up to volunteer through SignupGenius and can't attend please email Coach Keefe at philip.keefe@psaschool.org.

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11.22.24 PSA Note To Families

November 22, 2024

In reflecting on this season of gratitude I find myself feeling thankful each and every day for the staff, students, families, and board members at PSA. Our school is such a warm and unique community and it is an honor to get the opportunity to learn and work with each of you. Happy Thanksgiving PSA! 

School day extension survey - The PSA board is considering extending the school day for the 25-26 school year and is seeking stakeholder input regarding the potential change. 

Any potential time added to the day will be used to extend lunch periods with the goal of providing enhanced opportunities for students to engage more fully in clubs, socialization, eating and recreation in the middle of their scheduled day. 

Thank you for completing the 25-26 PSA Time Survey form by December 13th! We appreciate your input.

PSA Tours - We are excited to begin offering tours to prospective students and families in December and January. 

Tours will be 10-11am and dates include:

December 9, 10, 16, 17

January 9, 10 

If you know a fantastic student that should be here with us please encourage them to sign up for a tour at 24-25 PSA Tour Signup today! Seating is limited to the first 125 respondents for each tour.

8th grade IGP’s - Eighth grade IGP meetings will begin on December 2nd. Please check your email for details on how to schedule your appointment. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Washington (ayriel.washington@psaschool.org).

December Cheer -  STUCO is sponsoring our December cheer calendar. Details on specifics for each day will be displayed on the TV’s throughout the school. We encourage all students to join in the fun and help us celebrate December together!

Virtual SC Testing Update - Fall Virtual SC Reminders: Just a reminder to any students who are taking a Fall semester Virtual SC course that courses are scheduled to end the week we return from break on December 5.  Any students who are behind should be sure to spend some time over the break working to ensure your course is completed in time.

All Fall Virtual SC courses also have a required exam that must be proctored by a certified staff member.  Semester 1 Virtual SC Final exams will take place Monday, December 9 - Thursday, December 12.  Students will need to report to the PSA campus to take these exams in person on their assigned date and time.  If a student chooses, they are able to take their final exam from home using the Monitor EDU service.  This is a third-party company and students/parents are responsible for registering and paying a $15 fee.  If you are taking a Fall Virtual SC course, please complete the following survey to let us know how you will be taking your final exam.  Please complete this as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, December 2 at 3:00 PM.

Athletic Academics Letter to families - If your student plays a JV or Varsity sport please sign and return the Athletic Academic letter to signify your understanding of the new procedure for grades. Letters should be returned by 12/4/24 to the student’s coach. For questions please contact philip.keefe@psaschool.org 

Progress Reports - Quarter 2 progress report cards will be sent home on Wednesday December 4, 2024. Please direct any questions regarding grades to your student’s individual teacher. PSA Directory

Instructional Materials Review - The SC Department of Education invites the public to participate in a public review of textbooks and instructional materials. 

Mark your calendars:  

November 25-29 - PSA is on fall break - No School!

December 4 - printed progress reports go home

December 9-12 - Semester 1 Virtual SC Exams

PSA Parent/Student handbook. 

From the students, staff, and administration of PSA, “Thank you for all your support!”

Sincerely,

Dr. Kimberly Zerbst

Principal, Palmetto Scholars Academy

 

Palmetto Scholars Academy
PSA Opt-Out of Media

Please fill out the following form and submit it no later than November 18, 2024, if you do NOT want your child or children to be included in any photographs, videos, or sound recordings made during school-sponsored activities, learning experiences, and/or media events. Be aware that in some cases this may prevent the student from being able to participate in some events such as band performances.

You do not have to complete this form unless you want to opt-out.

OPT-OUT FORM

Blood Drives at PSA

PSA will be hosting several Blood Drives with the American Red Cross this year. Check out the schedule HERE.

PSA Gear
PSA Gear

Looking for a PSA T-shirt or jacket? Look no more. Check out all of the wonderful items available at the PSA store site HERE.

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PSA Athletic Events Cancelled

Good afternoon,

 ALL Athletic events scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have been cancelled due to Tropical Storm Debby.  Please continue to follow the Athletic Web page for further updates for Thursday, August 8th.  Any questions please don't hesitate to contact me by email at philip.keefe@psaschool.org. 

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Student Dashboard

The PSA staff is working on several new initiatives to improve communication and processes for our students. One of those is our Student Dashboard - a one stop communication link for all sorts of information that PSA students need. We will continually update as new information becomes available. 

Take a look and thank you in advance for your feedback on this new resource!

Dr. Z

Yearbook Addition
Yearbook Addition

PSA's Yearbook team created an addition to the 23-24 yearbook with events that happened after our early March deadline. Here it is for you to enjoy. YEARBOOK ADDITION

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Jazz Cafe

Palmetto Scholars Academy presents a lively performance of Jazz standards, Blues, Funk, and Latin Jams for your entertainment at Coastal Coffee Roasters, on Saturday, June 1, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Please come out to enjoy coffee, snacks, and the beautiful sounds of music and to support PSA's wonderful band!

Graduation 2024

We marked the graduation of the Class of 2024 with a celebration on the evening of Friday, May 24. We are thrilled to share these photos with you. GRADUATION PHOTOS

Poster shows PSA Logo and QR code
PCA Board Members Needed

Palmetto Scholars Academy's Parent Community Association needs your help. Please consider serving on its board. For more information, use this LINK, see the QR code or link on the image, or email pcapresident@psaschool.org.

First Robotics Open House
First Robotics Open House

FRC will hold an open house May 30 from 6-8 p.m. for anyone interested in joining or even just learning more about the team. Scan QR code for more information.

Important Reminder
Important Reminder

Tomorrow is the first day of our important middle school testing events. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to capture a snapshot of all they have learned!

There are a few things you can do to make sure tomorrow is an optimal experience for your child.

  • Send them with their fully charged Chromebook and charger.
  • Make sure they get a good night's rest.
  • Ensure they eat a healthy breakfast.
  • Arrive at school on time.

Middle school testing will occur on May 14, 15, 20, 21, and 24. We appreciate your partnership in making each of these events rewarding experiences for your child! 

 

Thank you!

Dr. Zerbst

Principal - PSA

PSA Student Selected for Boys State
PSA Student Selected for Boys State

PSA proudly announces the selection of junior Ian Mathis to participate in the esteemed Palmetto Boys State Program, slated to take place on the campus of Anderson University this summer.

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Teacher Cadet Interest Meeting

Interested in joining Teacher Cadets next year? Come to an interest meeting to get all the answers to your questions. The meeting is on Wednesday, April 24, in Ms. Hudgens' room, 188, during High School Lunch. You can pick up the application packet, chat with current cadets, and ask any questions!

Spring Festival
Spring Festival

PSA's Beta Club will be hosting a Spring Market during Town Hall on April 26. Students or clubs can sign up to have a booth to sell their products by using the QR code before April 12.

Portraits of three girls and their names.
PSA Students to attend Girls State

Three PSA students were chosen for the American Legion Auxiliary Palmetto Girls State program this year. Lorelei LaRue, Khadidiatu Sec, and Marissa Blunt were chosen for their leadership skills in their schools and communities.