News and Updates

Johnston, SC – The Johnston Edgefield Trenton Middle School advanced chorus classes welcomed veteran music producer, programmer and keyboardist, Gabriel Carter, for a very special and productive March music community workshop.

Carter serves as a music producer, programmer and keyboardist for the popular group Atlantic Starr of Detroit, Michigan.

He has also produced music for J-E-T Middle School chorus teacher, Imelda Shoffner, herself a gospel recording artist with Christian Sounds Entertainment. Her single "Never be Defeated" (produced by Carter) has been a consistent top 10 hit on the Mediabase Internet Gospel Radio charts.

During the recent workshop, Carter taught the advanced chorus classes how a song is recorded and produced. The students then recorded a cover of Stevie Wonder's classic hit "As" and watched as Carter produced the track in real time.

“It was such a pleasure to work with J-E-T Middle School and the choral program where Ms. Shoffner had a blast, the students sounded amazing, and it was just great watching them experience something most middle school students don’t normally experience,” stated Carter. “They were a bit nervous at first, but they really stepped it up.”

Johnston, SC – Through six and a half innings of Tuesday’s (4/15) home varsity softball game it appeared as though the Strom Thurmond High School Lady Rebels would simply need to acknowledge a fine performance on the part of the North Augusta Lady Jackets and move on to the next game.

Calling the situation bleak heading into the team’s final turn at the plate would be overstating the obvious. However, it was not hopeless. Momentum shifts in softball can be dramatic and the bottom of the seventh inning proved cataclysmic.

Trailing 8-0 with three outs remaining, the Lady Rebels stormed back to score eight runs and tie the game before Addy Harrison’s game-winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth sealed a 9-8 victory for Strom Thurmond.

The Lady Rebels moved to 10-5 overall with the win and head into this week’s important region schedule with that momentum firmly on their side. Micah Kennedy was the game’s winning pitcher and also had a 3-RBI triple. Leigh Anne Strock added two hits, with one coming on a ground rule double in the crucial eighth inning.

Lady Rebels’ head coach, Drake Dunlap, praised his team for giving their very best effort throughout the entire ballgame.

“I’m extremely proud of the girls,” stated Dunlap. “They didn’t give up when we were in a hole. We are tough to beat when we have momentum on our side and the win is all about those girls.”

“The girls came together and fought for that win and I’m very proud,” he added.

The Lady Rebels are back in action this week with three home games starting today (4/21) versus American Leadership Academy, then Tuesday (4/22) versus rival Saluda and finally on Friday (4/25) versus Ninety Six.

Trenton, SC – “Career Day” at Douglas Elementary School (DES) was held on Friday, March 28, 2025, and the Panthers learned a lot about what a community helper does, what a job or occupation is, and what their future profession could look like thanks to community professionals and students from the Strom Thurmond Career & Technology Center (STCTC).

Stations were set up across the school, allowing students to move around and meet different people and learn about a wide variety of jobs available in the future within our local, statewide, regional and even national and international communities.

Some of the community occupations students learned about during “Career Day” included how to take care of animals (veterinarian), how to build things like houses (construction), how to keep people healthy and safe (public health and law enforcement), how to help people feel good about how they look (cosmetologist), how to use and save money (financial assistant) and many more.

Meanwhile, STCTC students with the building construction, agriculture, health sciences and welding programs showed DES students some of the career pathways they could explore once they reach high school.

Thank you to all of our community professionals and STCTC students who supported “Career Day” with our Panthers.

Johnston, SC – If one were able to capture and later count the number of smiles on the Strom Thurmond High School Stadium football field during the Edgefield County School District (ECSD) Office of Exceptional Children’s (OEC) Spring Games, the games were held in March, and you would most likely still be looking for a sum total.

That’s how special the event is for each exceptional athlete, their student buddies and community and District partners.

Checking out the soccer station or football tire toss? Smiles. What about the bouncy castles and super slides? More smiles. Can you hear the echo of the beat and the voice of the deejay summoning all line dancers to their feet? Even more smiles.

Bridgestone America’s Chris Barden, who serves as plant manager for both the passenger and off-road tire plants just down Highway 25 in Graniteville, South Carolina, says those smiles keep he and his staff coming back year after year.

“Our favorite part is seeing the smiles on the faces of all the kids,” stated Barden. “We bring medals every year and when we put those medals on them, they light up and it’s just so encouraging. Our philosophy at Bridgestone is we don’t want to just be in the community, but we want to be a part of the community. This is one of our favorite events all year.”

Additional community supporters included Mrs. Bridget Clark, Jumping Jitterbugs, the S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Kona Ice, S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department and Calvin Henderson.

OEC Director Jerrilyn Johnson says the department serves nearly 380 students across the school district.

“Every one of those students are invited and all of our schools are represented here today,” commented Johnson during the event. “I just love seeing the children be free and find their place here because there are so many activities and things to do. I love watching them dance and then the races. Those are my favorite events.”

District support included staff members with the child nutrition, transportation, and maintenance departments, our School Resource Officers and Derrick Willams and Rebel Printing, Mrs. Michelle Smith, Dr. Alan Gray, and Dr. Jacqueline Kennion who represented the Strom Thurmond Career & Technology Center (STCTC).

A very special thanks also goes out to the Strom Thurmond High School (STHS) administrative team, faculty, staff and students for allowing the use of the school’s beautiful facilities.

Johnston, SC - We hope you have enjoyed your spring break. We will welcome back students, faculty and staff for instruction on Monday, April 14, 2025.

At this time, we ask that you please continue to keep the Wash and Smith families close to your hearts and in your prayers following the sudden passing of our beloved teacher, colleague and friend, Michelle Smith, on Sunday, April 6, 2025. We will have additional counselors on campus tomorrow at the Strom Thurmond Career & Technology Center and Strom Thurmond High School to support students and staff.

Thank you for your continued support of the Edgefield County School District.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow (4/14).