Starr-Iva Middle School

The #A3TeachingTeam is hitting all the right notes with Ms. Cassidy Clark! 🎤✨🎶

Cassidy is joining us as the Chorale Director / Music Teacher at Crescent High and Starr-Iva Middle!

A proud 2021 Crescent graduate, Ms. Clark is no stranger to Anderson 3. She grew up in Starr and recently earned her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education from Anderson University. While in college, she was the lead singer in a country music band, fueling her passion for performance.
When she’s not teaching, Cassidy enjoys traveling, concerts, and spending time with friends and loved ones. She’s thrilled to return home and inspire the next generation of Tiger musicians! 🐅🎼

Welcome back, Ms. Clark! 👋🤩

Welcome to the #A3TeachingTeam, Mrs. Carrie Caldwell! 📢🌱🐯

We're thrilled to announce that Mrs. Caldwell will be restarting the Agriculture Program at Starr-Iva Middle for the 2025-2026 school year! 🌾📚

Carrie is no stranger to Anderson 3 as she has been a paraprofessional at Iva Elementary since 2022. Carrie has a degree in Agricultural Education from Clemson University, has previously taught science and agriculture, and is a former 4-H Extension Agent. 🐮🚜

She's also part of a Tiger teaching duo, married to Mr. Brantley Caldwell, Agriculture Teacher at Crescent High. They have four awesome kids: Baylor, Hendrix, Cain, and Laurel.

We're excited to see how Mrs. Caldwell will grow the next generation of agricultural leaders at SIMS! 🌿👩‍🏫🐾

🐯 Calling All Future Tiger Substitutes!

Want to make a difference in Anderson 3 and have a flexible schedule? Join our amazing team of A3 subs! A representative from ESS will be on-site this week to walk you through the process and help you get started.

📍 Anderson 3 District Office – Admin Building
(203 West Cruette Street, Iva, SC 29655)
🗓️ Wednesday, July 30
⏰ Beginning at 9:00 AM

Please start the process now prior to joining ESS on site at 👉 https://bit.ly/A3SUBS
#TigerSubs #JoinA3 #Anderson3

Thanks to Chuck Nubern and some other gracious volunteers for creating and hanging our new school-spirited art in the gym this past week. It was handcrafted and is made up of acoustic foam which has dampening qualities to hopefully aid in the acoustics during our assemblies in the gym this year. Our community is amazing!

Huge congratulations to Mrs. Johnie Cape, PLTW instructor at Starr-Iva Middle School, for being named the 2024 South Carolina Boater Education State Instructor of the Year AND Region 1 Instructor of the Year by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources! 🎉🚤

From teaching life-saving skills to inspiring future innovators, Mrs. Cape continues to go above and beyond for her students. 🛟
We are so proud of you, Mrs. Cape! 👏

We hope you are enjoying your summer and time away, but we are already looking forward to next school year! It will be here before we know it. Please see our announcements and mark your calendars for New to District Registration, 6th Grade Tiger Camp, and 7th and 8th Grade Registration/Open House as it applies to you and your family!

🍽️☀️ FREE Summer Meals for ALL Kids & Teens! Anderson 3 families — you're invited! Bring your children to Flat Rock Elementary this summer for FREE breakfast & lunch as part of our Summer Meals Program. 📍 Flat Rock Elementary 📅 June 2–19 (Mon–Thu) 🍳 Breakfast: 7:30–8:15 AM 🥪 Lunch: 10:30 AM–12:00 PM ✅ Open to ALL children & teens 18 & under — no cost, no registration, and no residency requirements! ✅ Meals must be eaten on site.

🎓 Dr. Jamie Minto 🎓 Please join us in celebrating Dr. Jamie Minto, 6th Grade Teacher at Starr-Iva Middle, who has officially earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from Anderson University! 🎉📚 Her dissertation, “The Impact of Graduate Degrees on Teacher Retention: A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Educators,” highlights her passion for supporting and understanding the journey of educators. We are so proud of Jamie's dedication to lifelong learning and her continued commitment to making a difference in education. Congratulations, Dr. Minto! 🥳💛

Join Our Team! 🤩 Starr-Iva Middle is looking for an Intervention Services Facilitator for the 2025-2026 School Year! ➡️ For more information and to apply, visit https://www.bit.ly/A3Careers

Join us in celebrating Starr-Iva Middle's 2025–2026 Teacher and Support Staff of the Year! 🥳🎉 🍎 Mrs. Martina Zinn is the Teacher of the Year! With 16 years of experience and five years as SIMS' art teacher, Mrs. Zinn brings unmatched creativity, energy, and positivity to the classroom. She’s known not only for inspiring her students through art but also for her willingness to serve wherever she’s needed. Graceful, hardworking, and dynamic, Mrs. Zinn is truly a masterpiece in motion! 🎨💛 🧡 Mrs. Angie Frith is the Support Staff of the Year! Now in her 3rd year at SIMS, Mrs. Frith is a dedicated special education paraprofessional who leads with a servant's heart and a joyful spirit. She works hard to support students in every way, encouraging growth, building confidence, and being a steady source of positivity for everyone around her. SIMS is better because of her! 🌟🙌 We’re proud of these two amazing women who help make Starr-Iva Middle a great place to learn and grow!

Today, Mrs. Bowen was awarded with $1,000 for SIMS based on our participation in MUSC Boeing Center for Children's Wellness School-Based Wellness Initiative. Mrs. Bowen has initiated, promoted, encouraged and recorded our school's engagement in improved nutrition, increased physical activity, and enhanced social emotional wellness for students and staff alike. She's helped us create a healthy learning environment along with all of the other hats she wears at SIMS. Congratulations, and THANK YOU, Mrs. Bowen, for making our school a better place to work and learn!

Check out our May Edition of Tiger Times for info on what's happening at SIMS this month! Let's finish the 24-25 school year STRONG. Go Tigers! https://tinyurl.com/427c8vsm

🎺🎶We are SO proud of our kiddos who crushed their SCBDA Solo and Ensemble Wind Assessment! These students scored 29/30 points for a SUPERIOR rating. It was a WONDERFUL way to start the weekend. Congratulations to Pelham Nubern, Evan Diedrick, Charlie Clay, Caysen Whitfield, and Marbella Reyes-Wilson (pictured left to right). We appreciate all of the hard work that these students have put in along with all of the time and guidance that Mr. Vickery has provided them with. CONGRATULATIONS!🎼🎉

He keeps us laughing and makes SIMS a wonderful place to be! Happy Belated National Principals' Day, Mr. Coats. Every day around here is Principals' Day, and we are forever grateful for your leadership! As always, GO TIGERS! 🐅

⛽️ Fueling Our Minds: Q4 Healthy Habits Recap🧠 In our final Healthy Habits Assembly, Mrs. Upton shared how our actions reflect what’s going on inside us—reminding students that our thoughts and emotions always come out in some way.😁😭😏 Students took part in powerful demonstrations, like a shaken soda bottle to show how it takes 20 minutes to deescalate when emotions rise, and Mentos in Diet Coke to illustrate how what’s poured into us can trigger strong, sometimes traumatic, reactions. 💥 Mrs. Upton wrapped up by comparing thoughts to balls or balloons and how some need to be released before they lead to explosive responses. 🤯 Students were challenged to be mindful of what they take in, knowing it will eventually shape how they respond to the world.🌎 ❤️ We are thankful for Mrs. Upton and the lessons learned this year through our Healthy Habits Assemblies. Taking care of our mental health is important, and we hope that our students can apply these lessons as they encounter challenges in their adolescent years. 🏔️ Go Tigers! 🐅

***Also***Any questions about the Color Guard Audition, please contact Travis Waters at waterst@acsd3.org

Crescent Color Guard Auditions for the 2025 season will be held on May 8th from 3:45 -5:45 pm in the CHS band room. SIMS students are allowed to ride the transport buses to CHS for auditions. No experience is needed to audition. Students will need to wear a fitted shirt, leggings, and tennis shoes (no loose clothing). Bring a good attitude and be ready to learn.

What makes ELA more fun on a Thursday before a holiday? How about a grammar egg hunt on the front lawn 🐣📚 and a surprise visit from a special guest 🎉!? Laughter, learning, and a little egg-citement made for the perfect kickoff to a long weekend. Have a great one, SIMS family!

📣 The deadline for our annual Parent Survey FRIDAY, APRIL 11! This survey impacts our school report cards. 🔗 You may access the survey on Parent Portal here: https://bit.ly/A3ParentPortal or on the Parent Portal App. 💛 Please get in touch with us if you need assistance.