Spartanburg Day School
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| Spartanburg Day School | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Spartanburg, South Carolina |
|
| Information | |
| Head of school | Christopher A. Dorrance |
| Enrollment |
500 |
| Faculty | 85 |
| Type | Private School |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Athletics conference | NCISSA |
| Mascot | Griffin |
| Color(s) | Red, White, and Blue |
| Established | September 12, 1957 |
| Information | (864) 582-7539 |
| Student Body President | John David Ike |
| Student Body Vice President | Richard Lacoste |
| Homepage | http://www.spartanburgdayschool.org |
Spartanburg Day School is a private K-12 school, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It consists of a lower school for 4-year-old kindergarteners-4th graders, a middle school for 5th-8th graders, and an upper school for 9th-12th graders. A pre-school program was added in 1967 for five-year olds, and a readiness program in 1974 for four-year olds. The school is located directly across the street from Mary Black Memorial Hospital. It calls the grades 9-12 "upper school" as opposed to the more common term high school.
Contents |
[edit] History
Spartanburg Day School was established on September 12th, 1957 at the Drayton Mill Community Building, with 35 students in 1st-5th grades. As more upper-level grades were needed, a new location for SDS was established on Skylyn Drive, where the school is currently located. In October 1962, the new campus was officially opened.
[edit] Athletics
Each student from grades 7-12 is required to participate in one athletic team each academic year. SDS offers cross country, soccer, physical education, field hockey, tennis, basketball, swimming, cheerleading, baseball, lacrosse, volleyball, golf, and track and field [1]. The school does not deny students from participating in its athletic programs due to inexperience or ability.[2] SDS has enjoyed much athletic success in recent years, including back-to-back baseball state championships in 2001 and 2002 as well as state championship teams in men's and women's tennis.
[edit] School Events
Spartanburg Day School provides students with a number of exciting after-school programs throughout the year.
[edit] Fall Festival
The activities at the Fall Festival are aimed towards lower school students, however all students are welcome to attend. Games and Prizes motivate the students to come. Juniors are required to attend Fall Festival because they help setup and organize the event.
[edit] Homecoming and Hall Night
The major athletic rival of SDS is Carolina Day School, and is usually the opponent in Homecoming games. The day before the games, upper-school students decorate their halls according to a specific theme to support the Griffins in a day called Hall-Night. Students also create a banner and a skit to support SDS. Seniors typically poke fun at the faculty during their skit.
[edit] Special Studies
One week out of every year since 1996, students are able to "engage in a non-traditional learning activity." Examples of special studies activities include trips to Puerto Rico, Italy, Toronto, and working with Habitat for Humanity. Each student is required to either attend a special studies activity or come up with their own.
[edit] Clubs
Spartanburg Day School provides various clubs that students can join. Some are more educational in nature, while others do not require anything but the student's interest.
Upper School:
- The Griffin (school's literary magazine)
- Writer's Club
- Chess Club
- Sci-Fi Club
- The Delta (the yearbook)
- Youth in Government
- French Club
- Spanish Club
- Latin Club
- ASTRA (girls service club)
- Interact (boys service club)
Middle School:
- Robotics Club (This was in the 2005-2006 school year.)
- Need-to-Read Book Club
[edit] Bands
Spartanburg Day School currently has five bands, all directed by James Barnes. He also teaches ballroom dance and jazz history to sixth and seventh grades, while also remaining busy with teaching the 5th grade to play the recorder. The bands are the Middle School Concert Band, the Middle School Honor Band, the Middle School Jazz Band, the Upper School Band, the Upper School Jazz Band. Several of these bands do require an audition, but not all. The bands have done consistently well at all State Festivals. The bands consistently score excellent to superior at festivals and competitions. On March 3rd, 2007, the Middle School Jazz Band made a Superior at the State Jazz festival. This was the first time the school had ever made a Superior at any State Festival. The SDS Middle School Honors Band was awarded the Outstanding Performance Award in the spring of 2007 after receiving enough Superiors at the state Solo and Ensemble festival.
[edit] Seniors
Seniors at Spartanburg Day School have special privileges, which include a special room that only seniors can enter, called The Senior room. Seniors are also the only students who may leave the campus, and seniors are not required to attend their study halls. Collectively, these are called Senior Privileges. Senior Privileges can be revoked at any time, by any faculty member.
100% of seniors in the past 10 years have been accepted into a 4-year college or university[3].
[edit] School Songs
[edit] Alma Mater
We with zeal pursue our studies
Toward a happy mind fulfilled
Recognizing sound achievement
As the rock on which we build.
Finis Coronat Opus
The end crowns the work
Is our steadfast rule.
Finis Coronat Opus
The motto of the Spartanburg Day School.
For our goal we build a spirit
Great in power and clear in form
Bending not to moral whirlwind
Standing fast in every storm.
Finis Coronat Opus
The end crowns the work
Is our steadfast rule.
Finis Coronat Opus
The motto of the Spartanburg Day School.[4]
[edit] Fight Song
SDS is marching on
We are proud and we are strong
Let us wave our colors red and blue
Let us cheer for students brave and true
We will fight and we will win
Never ever giving in
No matter where you go
You will always know
Our SDS team is marching on![5]
