Woodland Middle School’s very own John Donato took home the top prize at the Spellbound Spelling Bee on Thursday night in Goose Creek! Competing against 30 other finalists from across the Lowcountry, John stood out with his sharp focus and impressive spelling skills. With this big win, John will now advance to the National Competition in May, representing not just his school but the entire region. Way to go, John – we’re so proud of you! Best of luck at Nationals! 👏🐝📚 Awesome job, John!!!
Woodland Middle School’s very own John Donato took home the top prize at the Spellbound Spelling Bee on Thursday night in Goose Creek! Competing against 30 other finalists from across the Lowcountry, John stood out with his sharp focus and impressive spelling skills.
With this big win, John will now advance to the National Competition in May, representing not just his school but the entire region.
Way to go, John – we’re so proud of you! Best of luck at Nationals! 👏🐝📚
Awesome job, John!!!
It’s that special time of year when Dorchester School District 4 takes a moment to recognize the outstanding educators and staff members who go above and beyond for their students and school communities. Each year, employees are honored by their peers for their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence. This year’s honorees represent the best of DD4, showcasing passion, perseverance, and a deep love for education.
The district is proud to announce the Employees of the Year for each school:
Williams Memorial Elementary School
Support Staff of the Year: Jennifer Felder, Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
Rookie Teacher of the Year: Kory Montjoy, 1st Grade Teacher
Teacher of the Year: Jessica Rickborn, 4th Grade Math, Science, and GT Teacher
Harleyville Elementary School
Support Staff of the Year: Michelle Council, Teacher Assistant
Rookie Teacher of the Year: Ruthermae Randolph, 3rd Grade Teacher
Teacher of the Year: MaHalie Muckenfuss, 3rd Grade Teacher
Clay Hill Elementary School
Support Staff of the Year: Gail Pinkney, Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
Rookie Teacher of the Year: Elizabeth Huff, 5th Grade Teacher
Teacher of the Year: Denise Washington, 3rd Grade Teacher
Woodland Middle School
Support Staff of the Year: Kacy Britt, Cafeteria Manager
Rookie Teacher of the Year: Sheahan Smith, 8th Grade ELA Teacher
Teacher of the Year: Lacey Ayer, 6th Grade ELA Teacher
Woodland High School
Support Staff of the Year: Crystal McCormack, Attendance Clerk
Rookie Teacher of the Year: Markie Leonard, Agriculture Teacher
Teacher of the Year: Sara McClellan, Social Studies Teacher
Odyssey Education Center
Support Staff of the Year: Sandy Felder, Administrative Assistant
Rookie Teacher of the Year: Monica Carter, Career and Technology Teacher
Teacher of the Year: Dr. Jeffery Thompson, Science Teacher
Superintendent Beckwith, along with the entire DD4 staff, extends heartfelt congratulations to each of these exceptional educators and support staff members. Their dedication and hard work make a lasting impact on the lives of students every day.
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you for your commitment to shaping the future of education in Dorchester School District Four!
Saint Patrick's day at Woodland Middle school, March 17th, 2025!
Dorchester School District Four will hold a Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM, located at the SGMS - Administrative Office BoardRoom, 600 Minus Street, St. George, SC 29477.
~Parking will be located in the back paved parking lot adjacent to the St. George Diamond Youth Baseball Will Rickborn Field.
The agenda for the meeting is listed on BoardDocs, https://go.boarddocs.com/sc/dsd4/Board.nsf/vpublic?open
Also, the meeting will be live streamed via YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDNQHJ64vKTSfEh53k6rIfQ/live
Congratulations to the Dorchester School District Four March Everyday Heroes! Joni Whitlatch, D'Angela White and Melanie Smith!
The next discussion on the consolidation of our school district will be held Monday, March 31st at 6:00 PM in the Dorchester County Council chambers in Summerville. The address is 500 N. Main Street, Summerville, SC.
Join DD4 as we celebrate Unified Spirit Week next week! All schools will be participating!
There were some familiar DD4 faces at the Clay Hill Elementary School Blood Drive Last week! A huge thank you to all that were able to join us. Thank you to CHES School Nurse Weathers for organizing the event.
Join Us for the Area 6 Special Olympics Spring Games & Unified Sports Day!
Families, come out and cheer on your amazing athletes as they showcase their skills and teamwork at this exciting event!
🌟 Elementary athletes and partners will compete in softball, pickleball, cheer, and track events.
🏅 Middle and High School athletes and partners will participate in a traditional Track & Field competition.
📅 Date: March 14th
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Woodland High School
Please note: A clear bag policy will be in effect for this event. Only clear bags or small clutch purses will be permitted for entry.
This is a day of celebration, sportsmanship, and fun—don’t miss it! We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉
Reminder. This Wednesday, March 12th is an Early Release.
Though not everyone is pictured, Dorchester School District 4 sends a heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all our amazing Faculty and Staff with FEBRUARY birthdays! We love and appreciate each of you and hope your special day was filled with joy and excitement! #dd4family #happybirthday
🎤✨ Hands-On Learning in DD4! 🎬🎶
At Dorchester School District 4, we know that real-world experiences are key to preparing our students for the future! 💼🚀
Last Friday, Luca Sarb, a student at Woodland Middle School- DD4 had the exciting opportunity to job shadow Mr. Seth Phillips, music teacher at Williams Memorial Elementary School, where he assisted in preparing for the Black History Month Assembly that morning. 🎥🔊 Together, they ensured the audio-visual setup was on point, making sure every presentation, video, and sound cue was perfectly timed for the event.
Experiences like these allow students to build valuable technical skills, gain confidence, and explore career paths they’re passionate about. 💡👏 A huge shoutout to Mr. Phillips for mentoring Luca and to all the DD4 staff who support student growth through hands-on learning!
#DD4CareerReady #FutureLeaders #JobShadowing #RealWorldLearning 🎶📽️
Dorchester School District 4 2025-2026 Academic Calendar
After further discussion and advice from Dorchester County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, all Dorchester School District 4 schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5th, due to extreme weather conditions, including high winds. While canceling school is never our first choice, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority.
We appreciate your understanding and will provide further information regarding the make-up day as soon as possible. No schedule changes have been made for this afternoon.
Stay safe and take care!
Dorchester School District 4 is actively monitoring the weather conditions for tomorrow Wednesday, March 5th. At this time, all schools and offices will operate on a regular schedule.
Please stay tuned to our official media outlets for the latest updates. As always, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority.
🎉✨ Black History Month Celebrations Across Dorchester 4! ✨🎉
On Friday, elementary schools across Dorchester District 4 honored Black History Month with special assemblies at their respective schools! 🖤💛💚❤️
Students took center stage, sharing research projects, singing inspiring songs, showcasing creative dances, and more—all in tribute to the incredible contributions of Black leaders past and present. 🎶📚💃🏾
Each school’s celebration was unique, but the message was the same: Black history is a vital part of our past, present, and future! 🙌🏾👏🏾
📸 Share your favorite moments from the celebrations in the comments! ⬇️ #BlackHistoryMonth #WeAreDorchester4 #HonoringHistory #StudentVoices
Dorchester School District 4 would like to take a moment to thank the incredible staff in our Department of Student Services. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly every day to ensure that every student in DD4 receives the support they need. Their efforts often go unrecognized, but the impact they make is invaluable.
Dr. Britt-Stevens, Mrs. Haynes, Mrs. Bryant, and Mrs. Baptista are true pillars of our community, demonstrating an exceptional understanding of the students and families they serve. Thank you for all that you do, especially the work that goes unseen. Your dedication does not go unnoticed!
Last Thursday, our WMES Tigers enjoyed a truly special experience! Mrs. Chaquilla Green, our Coordinator of Parent and Family Engagement, and Mrs. Tricia Delice, our Coordinator of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, visited classrooms to share their favorite books celebrating Black History Month. The students’ curiosity and thoughtful questions made the day even more memorable. Moments like these highlight the power of storytelling in connecting us to our rich heritage and inspiring our future.
#BlackHistoryMonth #WMESTigers #InspiringReaders #CelebratingHeritage