[caption id="attachment_29552" align="aligncenter" width="2130"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/backtoschool.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29552"><img class="size-full wp-image-29552" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/backtoschool.jpg" alt="Corey Hollis, left, and Ty Page, 7, great each other for the first time during Port Royal Elementary School’s meet-and-greet Aug. 12. With Ty is his mother, Jessica Lawson. Aug. 15 marked the first day of public school throughout Beaufort County. Photo by Bob Sofaly." width="2130" height="2023" /></a> Corey Hollis, left, and Ty Page, 7, great each other for the first time during Port Royal Elementary School’s meet-and-greet Aug. 12. With Ty is his mother, Jessica Lawson. Aug. 15 marked the first day of public school throughout Beaufort County. Photo by Bob Sofaly.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_29554" align="aligncenter" width="2439"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/rotary-e1471535787861.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29554"><img class="size-full wp-image-29554" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/rotary-e1471535787861.jpg" alt="As one of it major programs, the Rotary Club of Beaufort supports exchange students attending Beaufort schools. The first of two exchange students for school year 2016-17 are Karolina Struharova, right, from the Czech Republic. Here, she exchanges the banner from her home Rotary, Klatovy, Czech Republic, with Rotary Club of Beaufort President Willie Mack Stansell. Struharova will be a junior at Beaufort Academy. Photo by Lisa Harrington." width="2439" height="2207" /></a> As one of it major programs, the Rotary Club of Beaufort supports exchange students attending Beaufort schools. The first of two exchange students for school year 2016-17 are Karolina Struharova, right, from the Czech Republic. Here, she exchanges the banner from her home Rotary, Klatovy, Czech Republic, with Rotary Club of Beaufort President Willie Mack Stansell. Struharova will be a junior at Beaufort Academy. Photo by Lisa Harrington.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_29553" align="aligncenter" width="665"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/child.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29553"><img class="size-full wp-image-29553" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/child.jpg" alt="An early care and education student reads aloud to children at a local elementary school." width="665" height="480" /></a> An early care and education student reads aloud to children at a local elementary school.[/caption]

<b>TCL is re-accredited </b><b>by the NEAYC</b>

The Technical College of the Lowcountry early care and education program recently received re-accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

“NAEYC accreditation affirms that we are offering the highest level of educational experience for our students,” said Kelli Boniecki, early care and education program director.

NAEYC is the most respected national early childhood association and seeks to foster high-quality programs through its accreditation. This extensive process includes the submission of hundreds of pages of documents and a three-day examination of the instructors, courses and facilities by a committee selected by NAEYC.

“Employers recognize and value NAEYC accreditation. They know that when they hire our graduates, they are getting a highly-qualified early childhood professional,” Boniecki said.

TCL’s early care and education associate degree program can be completed in six semesters. Coursework ranges from guidance and classroom management to science and math concepts.

Other courses offer hands-on laboratory field experiences providing students the opportunity to observe children in early childhood settings. General education courses such as English, algebra and public speaking round out the curriculum.

The program culminates with a semester-long supervised field experience course that provides students with real-world, hands-on experience in child care settings across the Lowcountry. Four specialty certificate and diploma programs are also offered.

For more information, visit www.tcl.edu/earlycare.

<b>Bluffton students graduate from CCU</b>

Coastal Carolina University held commencement ceremonies for an estimated 360 candidates on Aug. 5 at the HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center on campus.

Speaker Robert Young congratulated the class for being the “first CCU students ever to graduate from the No.1 university in the nation,” referencing the national College World Series baseball title CCU won on June 30. Young is professor of marine science and director of undergraduate research at CCU.

Graduation candidates are William Ball, Patrick Briody and Clark Sinclair, all of Bluffton.

<b>River Ridge Academy holds service day</b>

River Ridge Academy recently held a Community Service Day where about 75 teachers hit the Bluffton community with random acts of service and kindness at over 50 businesses.

They went to various businesses and other organizations and were tasked with completing a list of  "acts of service” that included things like picking up 20 pieces of trash, holding the door (with a smile) for 25 customers, helping to unload groceries and donating books to doctor’s offices.

“Our school prides itself on the character development of our students,” said Principal Gary McCulloch. “We afford our students many learning opportunities through huddle and morning meeting to identify character practices and practice them in our school. The soft skills developed will help our students become a productive and impactful citizen.

“We are giving back to our generous school community in ways of kindness that will let people know that we appreciate them.”