<em>Top photo: Holy Trinity students took first place in the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) One-Act Regional Drama Competition held Oct. 19. Performing an act of "The Pilgrim's Progress" written and adapted by Holy Trinity teacher, Elizabeth Booman, the team had a delightful experience and will represent Holy Trinity at the state competition in November. </em>

<b>Instructional materials </b><b>available for review</b>

The public is invited to review textbooks and instructional materials that have been proposed for use in South Carolina’s public schools.

The materials will be recommended to the State Board of Education for adoption on Dec. 13 by review panels appointed by the board.

The instructional materials will be on display at 20 colleges and universities throughout the state through Monday, Nov. 21.

In Beaufort County, they can be reviewed at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort Library, located at 8 East Campus Drive in Bluffton.

Instructions for submitting comments are available at USCB and the 19 other libraries, and State Board of Education members will review citizens’ comments before making a final decision on adopting the materials.

In addition to the display sites around the state, digital access is available online at: ed.sc.gov/finance/instructional-materials/instructional-materials-and-district-selections/instructional-materials-public-review.

<b>Junior leaders chosen </b><b>at Beaufort Middle</b>

Beaufort Middle School recently announced the 2016-2017 class of Junior Leadership Beaufort.

They are Austin Hannah, Colin Peterson, Danyelle Bethea, Elissa Hooper, Elizabeth Gray, Ellie Ashmore, Emma Weltz, Esasha Frazier, Trinity Myers, Summer Pozas, Sullivan Jordan, Shelby Rasmussen, Savannah Watson, Rylee Hill, Rowan Jones, Payton Miller, Myra Smith, Myca Bradley, Kristin Burke, Kevona Young, Hannah Merchant, Jaylen Bordeaux and Katelyn Ashmore.

The Junior Leadership Beaufort program at Beaufort Middle School introduces eighth-graders to the ways and means of their community.

Modeled after Beaufort’s Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program and sponsored by Sea Island Rotary Club, Junior Leadership Beaufort extends learning far beyond classroom walls.

Members learn firsthand and on-site about Beaufort’s environment, economy, military, government and hospital system and then they create a year-end presentation documenting their findings, from their perspective, to deliver to the Sea Island Rotary.

Teachers Holly Lambert and Jennifer Rentz serve as advisors for Junior Leadership Beaufort.

<b>Bridges Prep to send </b><b>13 students to China</b>

Even as 13 Bridges Prep students prepare to visit China in November, others are signing up to visit Greece during the next school year.

To add to the international study excitement at Bridges, other new teacher exchange partnerships have been inked for Italy and Scotland.

“All in all, it is critically important for our kids and staff to develop a deep understanding and appreciation for other cultures and regions of the world,” said Dr. Nick Ithomitis, head of school at Bridges Prep.

“Our kids and staff need to be global citizens, but they also need to understand and appreciate the advantages we have as Americans.”

Thirteen Bridges students, three Bridges teachers and Ithomitis will travel to Beijing, China, for a weeklong tour.

Ithomitis will be a key presenter on Core Values at a major educational forum. Meanwhile, the students and teachers will see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Olympic Stadium, visit a Chinese school and participate in cultural activities.

In November 2017, Ithomitis will lead another group of students and teachers on a two-week tour of Greece. The group will tour Athens, Thessaloniki and Metsovo.

Bridges Preparatory School was chartered by South Carolina in mid-2012 and opened at near capacity in August 2013. Since then, enrollment has grown steadily to this year’s 500-plus students. This year, Bridges Prep expanded to the ninth grade and will continue to grow the high school.

To learn more about Bridges Preparatory School, visit www.bridgesprep.org or call 843-982-7737.

<b>Local WVU alumni </b><b>award first scholarship</b>

The West Virginia University Palmetto Chapter of Alumni and Friends has awarded its first scholarship to a graduate student in WVU’s College of Business and Economics.

Daniel Moscar, of Hilton Head, is pursuing a degree in the executive Master of Business Administration program at WVU. He graduated from Walden University in 2015 with a degree in business administration, and is currently employed by the Heritage Golf Group as the general manager of Oyster Reef Golf Club and Palmetto Hall Plantation Club.

“I was extremely surprised and very grateful for the scholarship,” Moscar said. “I can’t thank the chapter enough.”

The Palmetto Chapter scholarship is a $1,000 award that benefits a student from Beaufort or Jasper counties who meets WVU’s guidelines for satisfactory academic progress.

Anyone interested in joining the chapter may visit www.palmettoeers.com for more information.

<b>M.C. Riley names </b><b>character ed student</b>

Elijah Hudson has been named the Character Education Student of the Month for September at M.C. Riley School.

Each grade level nominates its top representative and a school-wide representative is selected.

The character trait for the month of September was “Acceptance”.

When thinking of acceptance, Hudson comes to mind twofold.

“He models acceptance without barriers. He can easily and appropriately approach a familiar or unfamiliar student within the school and with his few words, can make his message clear. There have been many situations where Elijah escorts people into the special education classroom, eagerly wanting them to join,” according to a school release.

<b>Scott accepting applications for spring 2017 internships</b>

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC, is accepting congressional internship applications for available positions in his Washington D.C., North Charleston, Columbia and Greenville offices for the spring of 2017.

The internship program offers undergraduate and graduate students practical experience in constituent services, the legislative process, government policy and press.

The internship provides students with the ability to work with and learn from public service professionals. All internships are unpaid, but students will learn invaluable work experience and skills throughout their internship that will help them gain a better understanding of how their government functions.

Interested South Carolina students should contact the internship coordinator at internships@scott.senate.gov or call 202-224-6121.