Area's Newest School Set to Open
Built in part to alleviate crowding at Mauldin Elementary, Simpsonville's Monarch Elementary is all set to open Aug. 22.
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Monarch Elementary, located at 224 Five Forks Road in Simpsonville, will open on Aug. 22 as Greenville County Schools’ newest elementary school.
Serving approximately 700 students in four-year kindergarten through fifth grade, the inquiry-based curriculum will provide an early emphasis on Health Sciences infused with technology-rich experiences. Students will explore four categories of Health Sciences: medical, research, environmental, along with healthy movement and nutrition.
In addition, the school cafeteria will feature healthy lunch choices with minimally processed items, made-from-scratch foods along with a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
Monarch Elementary, which is an energy efficient, LEED certified facility, was built to ease overcrowding at Oakview, Bell’s Crossing, Bethel, and Mauldin elementary schools.
Some other notable aspects of Monarch: The Monarch Summer Reading Program, "Exercise Your Brain," was designed with the brain in mind, school officials said. More information can be found on the school's Web site.
Pennies for OUR Playground, is a PTA initiative that gives every child in the Monarch Elementary community the opportunity to be a part of expanding the school playground. Throughout the rest of the summer, students are being asked to collect pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and even dollars for additional playground equipment.
Mount Monarch, the Monarch Spirit Rock, is a unique way for families to showcase special events. Cutting-edge technology includes iPads for upper grades, ActivEngage Promethean boards in all classrooms, and Promethean ActivTables in the Technology Lab.
And here's a nice perk: Endorsed by the Children’s Pediatric Network, all students will enjoy the benefits of Zuma rocking chairs.
Note: For new Monarch students and parents, there will be a meet-the-teacher drop-in on Monday Aug. 20 from 4:30-6 p.m.
The Monarch Web site contains a wealth of information for the school community. Monarch can be found on Facebook and followed on Twitter. For more information, contact Vaughan Overman, Principal, at voverman@greenville.k12.sc.us or call the school office at 452-0600.
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Melissa Jones
12:02 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Wow. Must be nice to live in Simpsonville. Perhaps Greenville needs to look at updating ALL Greenville schools, especially up north, say like Travelers Rest.
Karen
3:23 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I agree, Melissa! Update all Greenville County Schools, and giving iPads to young kids is a bad idea.
Colleen
11:51 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
iPads to kids is a GREAT idea... it will introduce many students to technology they may not have previously been exposed to while also enhancing students experiences who have had previous opportunity with the technology.
George
11:16 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Per iPads are a great idea, what protections have been put in place to prevent cyberbullying, sexual predators, pornography, viruses, phishing, id theft, and damaged reputations?
ReadIt
12:05 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Easy to do in a school setting, with school networks and school property. Social Media sites will most likely be blocked on school's servers (as they are elsewhere in the county). Schools can block any website they wish. Apple also works with schools to help them adjust iPad settings to ensure they are appropriate for children.