Sandhills Middle School

We had such a fun time celebrating our Spring Fling Spirit Week! 🎉💜 From creative outfits to school spirit, our students and staff showed up and made it a great week at Sandhills Middle!

Now it’s time for a well-deserved break! 🌸
Spring Break will be April 3–April 13, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on April 14.

Enjoy the break, rest up, and we’ll see you soon, Tigers! 🐾

Congratulations to the Sandhills Middle School Choir for earning a Superior with Distinction at last week's Choral Performance Assessment! 🎶💜💛 A huge shoutout to Mr. Chesnutt and all of the students for their hard work, dedication, and determination. Your commitment truly paid off—we are incredibly proud of you!

Today, our 8th grade CAMP (College Admissions Made Possible) students visited Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College to experience a variety of college and career programs. Students explored hands-on opportunities and gained a better understanding of pathways available after high school. Thank you to USC GEAR UP for sponsoring this experience and continuing to invest in our students’ futures!

Congratulations to the Sandhills Middle School Gold Band on earning a Superior rating at SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment today! They represented our school and district in such a positive way on and off the stage. Congratulations to Ms. Randall and all of the students for their hard work, collaboration and determination! We are so proud of you! 💜🎶💛

We’re celebrating one of our very own today! Ms. Julia Johnson, our incredible custodian, was honored by Representative Ryan McCabe for being named Support Staff of the Year for 2024-2025. Ms. Johnson goes above and beyond every single day to take care of our school, our students, and our staff. This recognition is so well deserved, and we are grateful to have her as part of our Tiger family! 💜🐾

📊 i-Ready Spring Testing is Coming!

Our students will soon take the Spring i-Ready Diagnostic, which helps us measure the growth they’ve made this year and identify the next steps for learning. This assessment gives teachers valuable information to support each student’s progress and celebrate how far they’ve come.

Testing Schedule
📚 Reading: March 18 & 19 (during ELA classes)
➗ Math: March 24 & 25 (during Math classes)

Students can help themselves succeed by:
✔ Getting a good night’s sleep
✔ Charging their devices
✔ Taking their time and doing their best

We are excited to see the growth our Tigers have made this year! 🐯

Our 8th grade Tigers were thinking deeply in ELA this week! Students used Hexagonal Thinking to explore the concept of dystopia, working together to connect ideas and explain how different themes and concepts relate to one another. This strategy pushes students to analyze, discuss, and justify their thinking—exactly the kind of work that helps build strong readers and thinkers. Great work, Tigers! 🐯

🐯 Congratulations to Our Teacher of the Year! 🐯

Sandhills Middle School is proud to recognize Mr. Marcus Barefield, our 2026–2027 Teacher of the Year!

Mr. Barefield is a dedicated 7th grade science teacher who leads, learns, serves and excels in his classroom every day. We are grateful for the impact he makes on our students and our school community.

Congratulations, Mr. Barefield, and thank you for all you do for our Tigers!

📷 Smile, Tigers! Spring Picture Day is Almost Here!

Spring Picture Day will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026!

📣 Interested in cheerleading? This is a great opportunity to learn basic skills and get ready for May tryouts!

Don’t miss this chance to cheer, dance, and shine while building your skills and confidence!

For questions, email Coach Wilder at swilder@lexington4.net

Lexington 4 is offering FREE sports physicals for all students in grades 6–11! This is a great opportunity to get everything taken care of early and be ready for the upcoming athletic seasons! If you have questions, please reach out to Molly Ryan at mollyryan@lexington4.net

February 15 was National SRO Appreciation Day! That means we had the opportunity to recognize someone who makes a difference in our halls every single day — Deputy Durco! Deputy Durco serves the Sandhills Middle School community with dedication and professionalism. He plays an important role in keeping our school safe while also building positive relationships with our students and staff. His steady presence and commitment to our Tigers do not go unnoticed. We are thankful for all he does to support Sandhills Middle School! 🐾💜💛

🚌🐾 Rolling with Tiger Pride! 🐾🚌 Last week, Sandhills Middle School took time to recognize the drivers who do far more than provide transportation — they help ensure our students arrive safely, consistently, and ready for the day ahead. Thank you for being such an important part of the Sandhills community! 💜

❄️💜 Freezin’ for a Reason! 💜❄️ Shout out to the Sandhills Middle School Jr. Beta Club for their incredible effort today at the Lake Murray Special Olympics Polar Plunge! Our Betas braved the freezing water for a cause bigger than themselves. Thanks to their leadership and the generosity of our community, they raised over $1,000! These funds directly support our school while promoting inclusion, service, and opportunity for all. Thank you to everyone who donated, supported, and cheered them on!

📘 Don’t Miss the Memories — Order Your Yearbook Today!

The school year is flying by, and the yearbook is the perfect way for your Tiger to remember the friendships, milestones, and moments that made this year special.

✅ Order online: ybpay.lifetouch.com
📅 Deadline: April 3rd

Secure your copy now so your student can look back on an unforgettable year at Sandhills Middle School!

Interim reports were sent home with students today, February 6. This is a great opportunity to review your child’s progress, celebrate successes, and identify any areas where additional support may be needed. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers. Let’s keep working together to support our Tigers! 🐾

This National School Counseling Week, we’re celebrating Ms. Harris for the difference she makes in the lives of our students each day! Thank you for helping our Tigers navigate challenges, plan for their futures, and grow both academically and personally. We are grateful to have you as part of the Sandhills family. Your impact is felt across our entire school community! 💜💛

All Lexington Four schools will operate on a 2-hour delay for Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

District officials continue to monitor road conditions across the district and have identified isolated issues on several secondary and dirt roads. In addition, the National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures well below freezing again tomorrow morning.

As a result, schools will operate on a two-hour delay to allow buses, parents, staff, and students to travel during daylight hours for increased visibility of road conditions.

All school operations will be delayed by two hours, including transportation services. Students and staff should report to their schools two hours later than their usual start time. All schools will follow a normal schedule for the remainder of the day.