Viking Update January 30

Spring Valley/Discovery & Explorations Named a 2026 Magnet School of Excellence

Spring Valley High School, home of the Discovery and Explorations magnet programs, has been named a 2026 Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. The excellence demonstrated by Discovery and Explorations has earned the magnet programs a merit award every year since 2017.

The Discovery and Explorations magnet programs seek to provide our students with an innovative, academically challenging experience centered on rigorous mathematics and science education through unique, student-centered research and internship opportunities. Our educators strive to establish meaningful relationships with each student and family, set consistently high expectations for all learners, empower each student with the tools to reach his/her full potential, and continuously inspire exploration, discovery, and creativity in our students. Our vision is to develop a well-rounded scholar who has the ability to use scientific inquiry, mathematical tools, and twenty-first-century technology skills to succeed and solve problems in our rapidly changing world. Discovery and Explorations challenge students to embrace diversity and become culturally responsible, caring citizens in the global community.

Mr. Jeff Temoney and Dr. Michelle Wyatt will be recognized during an awards ceremony at Magnet Schools of America’s National Conference, April 14-17, 2026, in San Diego.

To receive a national merit award, members of Magnet Schools of America must submit a detailed application that is scored by a panel of educators. These schools are judged and scored on their demonstrated ability to raise student academic achievement, promote racial and socioeconomic diversity, provide integrated curricula and instruction, and create strong family and community partnerships that enhance the school’s magnet theme. Please see below for the award levels. To learn more about the national merit awards program, please visit www.magnet.edu.

Magnet Schools of Distinction: Schools that achieved a specific score threshold or ranked within a specific percentile of their reader group
Magnet Schools of Excellence: Schools that achieved a higher score threshold or ranked within a higher percentile of their reader group
Top Magnet Schools of Excellence: Schools that achieved the highest score threshold or ranked at the top of their reader group

Spring Valley Artists Shine in the 2025–26 Scholastic Art Awards! 🎨💚💛

We had another outstanding showing in the Scholastic Art Awards! Spring Valley students earned recognition in the 2025–26 competition, with artwork competing across the entire southeastern region, spanning multiple states.

This year, we are proud to celebrate 6 Gold Key award winners, including TWO Gold Keys for full portfolios—an incredible accomplishment. These Gold Key works will now advance to compete at the national level!

You can view some of their artwork in the photos above.

🏆 Scholastic Art Award Recipients

Jason Peay

Jamie — Painting, Gold Key
Smokey — Painting, Gold Key
Gbor — Painting, Gold Key
The Morning Star — Painting, Gold Key
Tzipporah — Painting, Honorable Mention
Essence — Portfolio (Art), Gold Key

Leola Kendall

Can We Go to Grandaddy’s Garden? — Drawing, Silver Key

Lucile Kendall

Double Sided — Drawing, Honorable Mention
Spotted Salamander — Printmaking, Honorable Mention

Oliver Davis

Getting the Right Angle — Drawing, Honorable Mention
Who? Hoo! — Printmaking, Honorable Mention

Rylee Cleare

A Miscellaneous Menagerie — Mixed Media, Honorable Mention

June Jenkins

June — Drawing, Honorable Mention

Savana-Lee Parrish

Layers of Being: Portraits of Contrast — Portfolio (Art), Gold Key

Congratulations to all of our student artists for their creativity, dedication, and excellence. We are so proud of how you continue to represent Spring Valley on a regional—and now national—stage! 💚💛

Spring Valley Quiz Team Wins the 2026 Aiken “Freeze Your Buzz Off” Tournament

Spring Valley High School’s Quiz Team kicked off their 2026 season on January 17^th with a dominant performance, securing first place at the 12-team Aiken “Freeze Your Buzz Off” Tournament and earning a spot in the National Championship. The Vikings went undefeated in preliminary round matches against Midland Valley, Heathwood Hall B, Ninety-Six, Dorman A, and Dutch Fork B.

After advancing to the championship bracket, Spring Valley maintained its perfect record by defeating the tournament’s other top-seeded teams—Heathwood Hall A, Dutch Fork A, and Southside Christian—with a final collective score of 1220-485. The Vikings led the individual leaderboards as well, with Sebastian Jones (9) finishing first and team members Zain Bhola (9), Ashish Maddipati (12), and Vedant Pinglikar (12) placing in the top 25 of the tournament’s 58 total players. Congratulations to these students and their coach, Dr. Michelle Wyatt, on an outstanding start to the NAQT season!

SVHS Orchestra Students Selected for Richland Two District Honor Orchestra 🎻💚💛

Congratulations to the following Spring Valley High School Orchestra students who were selected by audition to participate in the Richland Two District Honor Orchestra! This prestigious ensemble is made up of outstanding high school musicians from across the district.

We are especially proud to recognize that two of our Vikings earned Principal (1st Chair) positions in the orchestra—an exceptional accomplishment! The students represented Spring Valley with excellence at the District Honor Orchestra performance, which was held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Richland Two District Performing Arts Center.

🎼 District Honor Orchestra Selections

1st Violin Section

Gabrielle Stewart
Christopher Frazier
Norah Peters

2nd Violin Section

Jonah Robinson
Oscar Vargas-Gomez

Viola Section

Christopher Galdo
Nawal Smali
Christian Williams
Jamie Campbell

Cello Section

Tyler Williams – Principal (1st Chair)

Bass Section

Henry Holton – Principal (1st Chair)
Ashlyn Nelson

Thank you for your continued support of the SVHS Orchestra Program. We are so proud of our student musicians and their dedication to excellence! 💚💛

Cupcakes for Success 🧁🎉

The Freshman Academy of Spring Valley proudly presented its Cupcakes for Success program, celebrating academic achievement and hard work. All freshmen who earned a 77% or higher in all their courses on their first quarter report card received a free cupcake as a sweet reward for their success. 🍰

A big thank you to the Spring Valley Education Foundation for sponsoring this celebration of student achievement

Congratulations to William Alexander! 🏊‍♂️💚💛

Congratulations to Spring Valley senior William Alexander on his decision to stay in-state and continue his academic and swimming career at the University of South Carolina!

William’s commitment is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and excellence both in the classroom and in the pool. We are incredibly proud to see him represent The Valley at the next level.

👉 Click here to read the article by SwimSwam on William’s decision and to view his swim stats.

Way to go, William—Viking Nation is cheering you on! 💚💛

Upcoming Spring Testing Dates

Junior Privilege Application Now Available 🟢📄

The Junior Privilege Application for second-semester juniors is now available. Eligible juniors may apply for off-campus lunch privileges if they meet all required qualifications and remain in good standing with school policies under the Responsibilities Earns Privileges Program.

📌 CLICK THE LINK BELOW to print your application.

JUNIOR PRIVILEGE APPLICATION

Eligibility and Qualifications

Only students who have earned the required units to be classified as a junior for the current school year may apply.

Issuance of a Junior Privilege ID is dependent on maintaining all of the following:

A 70 average in each class
No suspensions or referrals
No seat time deficiencies (all seat time must be completed)
No detention hour deficiencies
No outstanding fees

Important Rules and Expectations

Students must have a valid Junior Privilege ID card to leave campus during lunch.
Students with junior privileges may not take off-campus any student who is not authorized to leave (including juniors without a valid Junior Privilege ID).
Students are not allowed to lend, share, or pass their Junior Privilege ID card to anyone. Doing so will result in students involved losing the privilege permanently and may lead to additional disciplinary action.
Students with junior privileges must maintain acceptable conduct in accordance with Spring Valley High School policies.
Students are responsible for returning to school on time for 5th period. After the third tardy, students will lose Junior Privilege status.
Students who do not meet the qualifications for 3rd quarter may apply for Junior Privilege for the 4th nine weeks if they become eligible.

ID Card Information

Students must turn in their old ID or pay $5 to receive a Junior Privilege ID.
If a Junior Privilege ID is lost, students must email Mr. Kelly to request a replacement.

Save the Date: Spring Open House

Please save the date for Spring Valley High School’s Spring Open House on Tuesday, February 4th, at 5:00 PM in the Commons.

This is a great opportunity for families to meet your student’s teachers, counselors, and administrators, ask questions, and stay connected as we move through the spring semester.

We look forward to welcoming our Viking families and seeing you there! 💚💛

Help Us Reach 50% on Beanstack, Vikings! 📚💚💛

We’re almost there! 49% of our school has logged reading minutes on Beanstack, and with your help, we can reach 50%!

Stop by the library to pick up a new book and log your reading today. Remember—log minutes, earn rewards, and win prizes!

🎉 Congratulations to the 23 students who completed the December Beanstack Reading Challenge! Your dedication to reading is inspiring.

⭐ Top 10 Readers – December Challenge

Minutes ranged from 4,620 to 1,899—amazing work!

Aiden Douglas
Kenya McDaniel
James Pearson
Ariana Eads
Sierra Marken
Makaiyla Martin
Saige Teeter
Leola Kendall
Cyan Johnson
Farrah Thompson

Keep reading, Vikings—every minute counts! 📖✨

Lunch & Learn: Career Pathways with Husqvarna 💚💛

Today, Spring Valley students participated in a Lunch & Learn with Husqvarna, gaining valuable insight into careers in warehousing, logistics, and supply chain management.

We were especially proud to welcome Chris Berry, a Spring Valley alumnus who now serves as HR Talent Acquisition Manager at Husqvarna. Mr. Berry spoke with students about the wide range of career opportunities available and how they can begin preparing now for their future career paths.

Husqvarna shared that they typically look for individuals who:

Have an interest in warehouse operations such as picking, packing, receiving, shipping, and inventory control
Enjoy cross-department collaboration in fast-paced environments
Are willing to learn forklift operation and other material-handling skills
Are detail-oriented and comfortable with hands-on work

These opportunities are ideal for students interested in gaining experience in distribution, logistics, supply chain, and warehouse management.

Thank you to Husqvarna and Mr. Berry for investing in our students and showing our Vikings what is possible after graduation. Seeing alumni return to The Valley to inspire the next generation is always meaningful! 💚💛

Upcoming Fuel Your Future Sessions

Lunch & Learn Sessions Are Back!

Spring Valley Vikings, get ready to fuel your future with exciting career opportunities!

Upcoming Lunch & Learn Sessions:

Friday, January 9:
Husqvarna – Learn about careers in distribution, supply chain, and warehouse management.
USC School of Medicine Genetics Counseling Department – Discover opportunities in genetics counseling and related fields.

Wednesday, February 19:

Central Carolina Beauty College – Future cosmetology students, explore the opportunities and programs available in beauty and cosmetology.

Don’t miss these chances to gain insight, ask questions, and explore careers while enjoying lunch!

Mark your calendars and come ready to learn!

Presidential 1776 Award: National Civics Scholarship Competition 📚

Spring Valley students are invited to participate in the Presidential 1776 Award, a nationwide competition that recognizes exceptional student knowledge of American civics and the principles that shaped the United States. This program serves as a national scholarship contest, evaluating students’ understanding of the founding and the civic framework of our nation.

The competition includes three rounds of multiple-choice and verbal examinations developed independently by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. Three national winners will receive scholarships totaling $250,000, with the National Finals held in Washington, D.C. in June 2026.

Competition Rounds

Round One: The Impossible Civics Test (February 22–28, 2026)

Students will complete an online, timed, electronically proctored multiple-choice exam.

90 minutes total
Up to 4,000 randomized questions on civics and founding history
Divided into three 30-minute sections of increasing difficulty
Scored using a weighted system based on correctness and question difficulty

This is the qualifying round, and four finalists from each state will be selected.

Round Two: Regional Semifinals (May 2026)

State finalists advance to one of five regional semifinals, consisting of short-answer verbal competitions held simultaneously across the country.

The top four students from each region move on to the national final.

Round Three: National Final (Late June 2026 — Washington, D.C.)

Students will answer short-answer verbal questions and earn a point for each correct response.

The top three winners receive scholarships of up to $150,000.

📌 Click the link below to view the Presidential 1776 Award Rules, Regulations, and Overview:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YM3HxWCD6kfM85lgklYStWjeP-BB5GeC/view?usp=sh

BUY A CARNATION

DECA

Attention Soccer Alumni

Cheerleading

SOCCER SCHEDULES

Workouts begin on January 12th at 6 PM at Stern Field — open to boys in grades 7-12.

Must be approved on Big Teams

Athletes should bring cleats & water

*Any changes to the daily schedule will be shared on the Team App & socials*

Lacrosse Schedule

Boys Basketball Schedule

Ladies JV & Varsity Basketball Schedule

Introducing the Lightspeed Parent Portal 📱👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

We’re excited to share a new tool designed to keep you connected to your child’s digital learning — the Lightspeed Parent Portal!

With so many new technologies and online learning resources, your involvement in your child’s education is more important than ever. Through our partnership with Lightspeed Systems®, you can now gain visibility and control over your child’s internet usage on school-issued devices at home and after school hours.

With the Lightspeed Parent Portal, you’ll have access to:

📊 Weekly Student Online Activity Reports – Delivered straight to your email, these reports summarize your child’s browsing activity for the week.
🔍 Full Web-Based Portal – Gain in-depth visibility into your child’s online activity in real time. See when and what sites are accessed, pause screens, or manage app usage as needed.

📎 CLICK THE LINK BELOW to access the Parent Guide and get started with Lightspeed Parent Portal today:
👉 Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide

Stay informed, stay connected, and partner with us in supporting your child’s learning journey!

Bell Schedule

ID Sales

Ways to Serve Detention

STUDENT PRIVILEGE

Only Seniors may leave for Lunch
Seniors must have a Senior ID (navy blue with number 12) to leave campus. No ID, No Senior Privilege that day
Seniors returning late from lunch may have Senior Privileges revoked
The gym parking lot is not for student parking during the school day. Cars will be ticketed
No lunch deliveries for any students

ATTENDANCE

TUTORING

We will offer both on-campus and virtual tutoring options. Offering both platforms allows us to provide more options for students to get academic assistance after school. Please visit the SVHS Tutoring website for a complete schedule of tutoring opportunities.

A special thank you goes out to the Spring Valley Education Foundation for funding this important initiative.

STAY CONNECTED

PARKING

*TO PARK ON CAMPUS READ BELOW

To purchase a current SV parking tag, students must complete the parking agreement form, take Alive @25, purchase a $35 parking tag, and pay all school fees.

SVHS 2025-2026 PARKING AGREEMENT FORM