• Thursday, Dec. 15, Lady’s Island Elementary School presents its Annual Performing Arts Road-Show. The choir and Fun-E clowns will be spreading holiday cheer throughout the community.
• Thursday, Dec. 15, Beaufort Elementary School’s Tail Waggin’ Tutor dogs will gather in the Learning Commons for four presentations, 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 15, Beaufort Academy students who participated in an internship during Interim will present their experience, beginning at 8:15 a.m. Internships during the 2011 W.A.L.L. Approach Interim included Beaufort Memorial Hospital, MUSC Speech Therapy, Arkansas University Bio Research, Sea Island Cancer Center, HealthLink, Lowcountry Physical Therapy, Dr. Salzer’s Office, Animal Medical Center, Naval Hospital, Naval Air Station, Andrews &amp; Burgess Engineering, Straw Covering/Small Business, Construction Management, Earl’s Body Shop, Habitat for Humanity, USCB Performing Arts, Telfair Museum, Judge Marvin Dukes Office, Crave (Baking &amp; Decorating), and Assistant Teaching.  Community invited to attend, please RSVP to MJ Simmons at 843-524-3393 by Dec. 14.
• Thursday, Dec. 15, don’t forget it’s
Riverview Charter School’s deadline for the Twilight Run T-shirt Design Contest. Also, ballots for the 2012 Board of Directors will be counted at a public meeting at Riverview at 6 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 16, Beaufort Academy’s Preschool and Glee Club Lower School Christmas Musical, 10:30 a.m.
• Friday, Dec. 16, is Free Uniform and Box Top collection at Riverview Charter School.
• Monday, Dec. 19, 2011-Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, public schools are out on Winter Break. School resumes Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. Have a very merry holiday break!

School district’s bond sale saves taxpayers $2.4 million
The Beaufort County School District’s $28.77 million bond sale last week included a refinancing component that will save taxpayers about $2.4 million because of the low .83 percent interest rate, the district’s
financial advisers say. Superintendent Valerie Truesdale said the new portion of the funding — about $11 million — is part of the district’s multi-year capital improvement plan and would be used for a variety of school building maintenance projects all over the county. “The strong stewardship and financial management of our school board and district team are making it possible to do much-needed maintenance work on our 32 schools and to do that in extremely cost-effective ways,” Truesdale said.

Congrats to Beaufort High School’s wresting teams
Congratulations to the Varsity and JV wrestling teams of Beaufort High School on their tournament victories! Varsity won the Silver Fox Invitational at Dutch Fork with seven champions: Jake Sharp, Forrest Kimbrell, Clayton Wynn, Trey Arant, Thyrik Legree, Codrian Smalls and Tyler Wilson. Also, Clint Wright took second-place, and Tommy Collins, William Valentin and Michael Holmes took third-place at the tournament. The JV squad took no prisoners at the James Island Christmas Tournament as they brought home the Team Championship! Coach Bill Damude would also like to recognize Clint Wright as last week’s “Wrestler of the Week” for finishing up as a runner-up out of 37 teams in the Southern Slam Tournament on December 3. Way to go Beaufort High wrestling team!

Mossy Oaks Science Fair winners
Fourth and fifth graders at Mossy Oaks Elementary school (MOES) participated in a Science Fair on December 1. The Overall Winner was Alex James’s science project titled, “Does Water Have the Power to Lift.” Alex will receive a savings bond from the MOES PTO. In 5th grade Lauren Angus won first place, Josh Osborne won second and Nicholas Cenci won third. In 4th grade Graham Weller won first place, Marsha Prekop won second and Sydney Lawrence won third. Honorable mentions were awarded to Brittney Hiers, Madison Mindermann, Isabella Page, Aiden Clark, Evan Dadson, Gabriela O’Quinn and Will Scheper.

[caption id="attachment_4692" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Mayor Billy Keyserling with his book “The Pink Dolphin” and two teachers at Lady’s Island Elementary School."]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mayor-visits-3.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-4692" title="mayor visits 3" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mayor-visits-3-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

Mayor Keyserling visits Lady’s Island Elementary School
Mayor Billy Keyserling paid a visit to Lady’s Island Elementary School this week to share his book “The Pink Dolphin.” The Mayor collaborated with author Thomas McDermott-Post, who was 8-years-old when the book was written. Local artist Bill Dula created the beautiful illustrations. The students at Lady’s Island enjoyed the moving story of a dolphin that is a little bit different and the strong message it sends about working together to make our community a better place.

Beaufort Academy Festival of the Trees top finishers
Congratulations to BA’s Festival of the Trees top finishers. First Place for Student 1 Category, Lower School Tree, Naturally Beaufort. Third Place for Student 1 Category, PreK and Kinder Tree, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Third Place for Student 2 Category, Middle School History Class Tree, 300 Years In Beautiful Beaufort.