
In Our Classrooms: In Mrs. Ayer’s English Language Arts class at Woodland Middle School- DD4, students explored figurative language! The day’s lesson focused on identifying and explaining similes, metaphors, personification, and more; helping students see how creative language brings writing to life.










Dorchester School District Four will hold a Regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM, located at the Administrative Office Board Room, 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 off of Behling Street.
Listed is the link for the board meeting: https://dorchester4-k12-sc.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=320
Parking will be located in the back paved parking lot adjacent to the St. George Diamond Youth Baseball Will Rickborn Field off of Behling Street.
Listed is the link for the board meeting: https://dorchester4-k12-sc.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=320


Good afternoon DD4 Families!
The 2025-2026 Quarter 2 Parent & Family Engagement Newsletter is now available.
Click here to view the letter. https://5il.co/3rcer


DD4 Youth Soccer starts tomorrow night!


🚌 It’s School Bus Safety Week!
Safety starts at the bus stop:
🚏 Stand 5 giant steps from the curb
👁️ Always make eye contact with the driver
🛑 Wait for the signal before boarding
Drivers:
🟡 Slow down for flashing yellow lights
🛑 Stop when the stop-arm is out
🏫 Watch for children near bus stops
Let’s work together to keep our students safe!
#SchoolBusSafetyWeek #DD4Safety #BusStopTips
Safety starts at the bus stop:
🚏 Stand 5 giant steps from the curb
👁️ Always make eye contact with the driver
🛑 Wait for the signal before boarding
Drivers:
🟡 Slow down for flashing yellow lights
🛑 Stop when the stop-arm is out
🏫 Watch for children near bus stops
Let’s work together to keep our students safe!
#SchoolBusSafetyWeek #DD4Safety #BusStopTips


Williams Memorial Elementary School wrapped up September with another exciting Club Day! Students explored their interests and discovered new passions through a variety of engaging activities.
From building creative designs with Legos and experimenting with robotics to expressing themselves through art, dance, and cooking, every club offered a unique hands-on experience. Students also enjoyed working with computers right in their classrooms, learning new skills and having fun along the way.
And to finish the day on a calm note, one group participated in yoga, a peaceful and unexpected highlight that showed just how diverse and enjoyable Club Day can be at WMES!
From building creative designs with Legos and experimenting with robotics to expressing themselves through art, dance, and cooking, every club offered a unique hands-on experience. Students also enjoyed working with computers right in their classrooms, learning new skills and having fun along the way.
And to finish the day on a calm note, one group participated in yoga, a peaceful and unexpected highlight that showed just how diverse and enjoyable Club Day can be at WMES!











Join the Dorchester County Library for PJ Picnic Storytime at the St. George Branch on Tuesday, October 21 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Families with 3- and 4-year-olds are invited to come in their pajamas, enjoy songs and stories, and share a free meal together.
This special event is part of the DCL Reads Kindergarten Readiness program in collaboration with Save the Children.
No registration required — everyone is welcome!
📍 St. George Branch | 506 N Parler Ave, St. George, SC
This special event is part of the DCL Reads Kindergarten Readiness program in collaboration with Save the Children.
No registration required — everyone is welcome!
📍 St. George Branch | 506 N Parler Ave, St. George, SC



Woodland High School Spanish teachers Ms. Dionis and Ms. Pernia led engaging projects that brought culture, language, and tradition to life.
In Ms. Dionis’ Spanish 3 class, students researched Hispanic celebrities, learning about their home countries and careers, then answered questions in Spanish about their presentations. Principal Michael White joined in the discussion and even sampled authentic Hispanic cuisine prepared by students.
In Ms. Pernia’s class, students explored Hispanic countries, sharing facts about each nation’s history, culture, famous people, music, and flag. Her students also enjoyed tasting traditional dishes that highlighted the diversity of Hispanic heritage.
It was a meaningful way to close out Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate the many cultures that enrich our schools and community.
In Ms. Dionis’ Spanish 3 class, students researched Hispanic celebrities, learning about their home countries and careers, then answered questions in Spanish about their presentations. Principal Michael White joined in the discussion and even sampled authentic Hispanic cuisine prepared by students.
In Ms. Pernia’s class, students explored Hispanic countries, sharing facts about each nation’s history, culture, famous people, music, and flag. Her students also enjoyed tasting traditional dishes that highlighted the diversity of Hispanic heritage.
It was a meaningful way to close out Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate the many cultures that enrich our schools and community.











Happy Columbus Day!


Get ready for some Halloween fun at Davis Bailey Park! 🎃
Join Dorchester County Parks & Recreation for Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 24, from 5–7 PM!
Enjoy treats, costumes, and fun for the whole family — plus an electric train, food truck, and Sweet Southern Chill!
📍 Davis Bailey Park
5190 E Jim Bilton Blvd, St. George, SC
Come out for a safe, family-friendly evening of fall fun! 👻🍬
Join Dorchester County Parks & Recreation for Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 24, from 5–7 PM!
Enjoy treats, costumes, and fun for the whole family — plus an electric train, food truck, and Sweet Southern Chill!
📍 Davis Bailey Park
5190 E Jim Bilton Blvd, St. George, SC
Come out for a safe, family-friendly evening of fall fun! 👻🍬


In Our Classrooms: Woodland High School’s JROTC program, led by Chaplain MAJ (USA Retired) John Logan Jr. and Sergeant (Ret.) Kevin Simpson, took learning outdoors for a student-led PT session on the back lawn. Cadets demonstrated teamwork, discipline, and leadership as they guided their peers through physical training exercises.
It’s all part of building strong minds, strong bodies, and strong leaders at Woodland High!
It’s all part of building strong minds, strong bodies, and strong leaders at Woodland High!









In Mrs. Gina Sawicki’s 4th grade class at Harleyville Elementary, students were all in during a hands-on science lesson about energy. Through call and response, they broke down how energy cannot be created or destroyed, it just changes form. From note taking to lively discussion, the class stayed locked in and learning together.











In Our Classrooms:
We caught up with Mrs. Davis’ 3rd grade class at Williams Memorial Elementary School as they explored the library! With help from Mrs. Davis and school librarian Mrs. Stephenson, students identified books that matched their reading levels and had a chance to browse the shelves for stories that sparked their interest.
We caught up with Mrs. Davis’ 3rd grade class at Williams Memorial Elementary School as they explored the library! With help from Mrs. Davis and school librarian Mrs. Stephenson, students identified books that matched their reading levels and had a chance to browse the shelves for stories that sparked their interest.











🍂 Fall Break Reminder:
Dorchester School District Four schools and offices will be closed October 13–15 for Fall Break.
Enjoy the break and we’ll see you back soon!


In Our Classrooms at Clay Hill Elementary School
Music teacher Mr. Mansilla is helping students find the rhythm in both sound and numbers! During a Math + Music Challenge, students used their ears and math skills to group beats into patterns of 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s. The activity combined melody and mathematics, showing how rhythm and counting go hand in hand.
It’s learning that hits all the right notes—fun, creative, and full of energy! 🎵🎶
Music teacher Mr. Mansilla is helping students find the rhythm in both sound and numbers! During a Math + Music Challenge, students used their ears and math skills to group beats into patterns of 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s. The activity combined melody and mathematics, showing how rhythm and counting go hand in hand.
It’s learning that hits all the right notes—fun, creative, and full of energy! 🎵🎶











In our classrooms at Harleyville Elementary, 4th-grade teacher Patrice Anderson guided students through a lively compare-and-contrast lesson based on a story about a grandfather asking his grandson to give up his room. Students worked in small groups, weighing the pros and cons from both perspectives and sharing their insights through thoughtful discussion.







📢 Reminder: Dorchester School District Four will operate on a half day schedule on Friday, October 10th.
• Elementary dismisses at 11:15 AM
• Middle & High Schools dismiss at 12:40 PM


On behalf of Dorchester School District Four, we say thank you to our outstanding Academic and Instructional Coaches.
Your support, guidance, and leadership play a vital role in student success. We appreciate the energy, expertise, and care you bring to our schools every single day.
Happy Academic and Instructional Coaches Day!
#DD4 #InstructionalCoaches #AcademicCoaches #ThankYou #DorchesterFour


Pizza, bingo, and a whole lot of family fun! Woodland Middle School was packed Wednesday night for DD4’s Pizza & Bingo Night, hosted by our Office of Federal Programs and Student Services. Even with I-95 traffic diverted through St. George after a hazardous spill, our community showed up in a big way!
The evening started with helpful info for families about attendance, truancy, PowerSchool, and district resources. After that, it was all about the games! Families played bingo for prizes (the gift cards went fast) and then enjoyed pizza, chips, and cookies together.
A special thank you to our volunteer servers for helping make the night a huge success. What an incredible evening of learning, family time, and community spirit in DD4!
The evening started with helpful info for families about attendance, truancy, PowerSchool, and district resources. After that, it was all about the games! Families played bingo for prizes (the gift cards went fast) and then enjoyed pizza, chips, and cookies together.
A special thank you to our volunteer servers for helping make the night a huge success. What an incredible evening of learning, family time, and community spirit in DD4!











Today, October 2, 2025, Dorchester School District Four celebrates our outstanding school custodians. They keep our schools clean, safe, and welcoming every day. Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed. We appreciate you and thank you for making a difference in our schools!
