Wayne Lynch of the May Day Project presented a check to CSD lead Social Worker Courtney Jones on Tuesday to complete the funding for one of the members of The Pride of Clover Marching Band to make the trip to Pasadena, California, over winter break to participate in the 137th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
In addition to marching in the parade on New Year’s Day, CHS band members will make memories at Disneyland, perform for other bands and try the ever-popular In-N-Out burgers.
Thank you to the May Day Project for their ongoing support of Clover School District and for helping to close opportunity gaps for our students.
The Clover School District (CSD) Board of Education met in a special called meeting this morning to approve the hiring of the Chargers’ first football coach.
Nicholas Pelham was appointed to be the first football coach at Lake Wylie High School. He is currently the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director of White Knoll High School in Lexington, SC.
During his tenure at White Knoll, Pelham was named the 2023 SCACA Football Coach of the Year and was a 2024 nominee for the NHSASA National Football Coach of the Year. Pelham’s Timberwolves were the State 5A Runner Up in 2023, capping off an undefeated regular season.
Prior to working at White Knoll High School, Pelham served as the Defensive Coordinator for Dutch Fork High School in Irmo; Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach for Westwood High School in Blythewood; Defensive Coordinator for Richland Northeast High School in Columbia; Assistant Coach at Dutch Fork High School; Defensive Coordinator for Owosso High School in Owosso, MI; Defensive Coordinator for Tecumseh High School in Tecumseh, MI; and Assistant Football Coach for Onsted High School in Onsted, MI.
“We were clear from the start- Lake Wylie football is going to be tough, disciplined, and built to compete. Nick Pelham is the coach to make that happen. He demands accountability, brings a physical brand of football, and isn’t afraid to set high standards from day one. Coach Pelham knows how to build a program the right way, and he will establish a culture of physicality, toughness, and pride that our players and community can stand behind,” said Lake Wylie High School Athletic Director Steven Peeler.
Pelham holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Adrian College in Adrian, MI; and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from Capella University.
A press conference introducing Coach Pelham will be held Tuesday, January 13, at 5 p.m. in the Clover School District Auditorium.
Each year, the VFW selects an elementary, middle or high school teacher to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program.
MSgt Clemens not only won at the post-level, but he also won at VFW District Five and will go on to compete at the state level.
Good luck, MSgt Clemens! This is well-deserved.
Clover School District (CSD) sends a BIG THANK YOU to the Clover/Lake Wylie community for your support of our Holiday Assistance program!
The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze us. Your kindness means that 246 families will have presents for their children this holiday season.From warm clothing and cash donations to dolls and even bicycles, your contributions have made a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of our students.
A special shout out to the district's social work team--the elves who coordinate all this Christmas magic. With the assistance of numerous volunteers, the dedicated staff behind the scenes made this season brighter for many CSD families.
Bethel Elementary hosted its holiday concert last Thursday evening. The concert featured performances by both the GT Arts students and the 5th Grade Choir.
Michael Jenkins is the music teacher at Bethel.
Mrs. Cody was recently been elected as the Region 13 Director for the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) and was featured in the latest edition of their newsletter. Congratulations, Mrs. Cody!
Turner currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands at Clover High School. She’s held this role since April 2023. Prior to that appointment, she worked with the Bands of Clover in an adjunct role dating back to 2007, serving as Assistant Percussion Director and Front Ensemble Director.
Previously, she served as the Director of Bands at Great Falls High School and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Winthrop University. Turner has been deeply involved with Civitas Independent in Rock Hill since 2014, serving as the Ensemble Coordinator, Front Ensemble Caption Head and Front Ensemble Supervisor. Additionally, Turner is a private music instructor.
Turner holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education and two Master’s Degrees–one in Music in Wind Conducting and one in Percussion Performance, all from Winthrop University.
We welcome Mrs. Turner to the Charger Family!
Thanks so much to our Clover community for bundling up and coming out to Memorial Stadium last night for The Pride of Clover Marching Band's Send Off to the Rose Bowl Parade.
The band performed an excerpt of their field show that they will share at Band Fest with the other marching bands taking part in the Rose Bowl Parade. They performed a medley of holiday music and paused to accept the traveling trophy from Western Carolina University, where The Pride of Clover won the Grand Champion award earlier this fall.
The group of 270 musicians then demonstrated the parade maneuvers they will perform in Pasadena on January 1 by circling the football field.
Be sure to tune into the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade on Thursday, January 1, at 11 a.m. eastern time to see the marching band shine in the international spotlight!
Representatives of SCASA surprised Stefanov during a special assembly at Bethany on Wednesday morning.
Stefanov has been the Assistant Principal of Bethany since 2020. Prior to beginning her administrative career with CSD, Stefanov worked as a teacher and reading specialist with the Lancaster School District for 13 years. During her tenure in Lancaster, she was named the District Teacher of the Year.
Stefanov holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a Master of Science degree in curriculum and instruction from Winthrop University. She holds a second Master of Science in educational leadership and administration from Capella University.
Congratulations, Mrs. Stefanov!
*Clover High School;
*Lake Wylie High School;
*Center for Career Innovation; and
*Academies of Clover School District.
Join The Pride of Clover Marching Band at Memorial Stadium tonight at 6 p.m. as the whole Clover community turns out to send them off to the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2026.
See you there!
*The Clover High School State Champion Girls Cross Country Team;
*Individual Girls Cross Country Team State Champion Ella Nighbor;
*Shrine Bowl Run Team Members Ella Nighbor and Ava Jagielski;
*Women’s 5A Cross Country Coach of the Year Ben Clark;
*The Center for Career Innovation’s Agronomy Team that finished second in state FFA competition;
*Oakridge Middle School’s Sophia Policastro for winning the Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest; and
*Students from the Center for Career Innovation who placed in the DECA Region 5 competition.
We are so proud of you all!
Students presented their work to local business owners. Those business owners rated each business and provided students with valuable feedback.
Guests who attended the Expo were able to pre-order goods and services from the student businesses.
The Expo emphasized several key business practices, including production, market research, branding, advertising and cash flow analysis.
This week, we’re celebrating the creativity, problem-solving, and innovation that computer science brings to our classrooms. From coding and robotics to digital design and critical thinking, our students are building skills that will power the future.
A huge thank-you to our dedicated teachers and staff who inspire curiosity and confidence as they introduce students to the world of technology. 🌟
Let’s keep exploring, creating, and discovering together!
#CSEdWeek #CSforAll #FutureReadyLearners
On this Giving Tuesday, the Clover School District offers heartfelt thanks to all who share their time, talents, and resources with our students, staff, and community throughout the year. From Clover LEAF teacher grants to the steady dedication of PTO and parent volunteers, to the Clover Schools Alumni Association and many others who invest in our students through scholarships and internships, our town truly has “LOVE” at its center.
As a reminder, here are just a few of the many ways you can make a meaningful contribution:
- Volunteer with your school PTO and support their activities. Each school maintains a Facebook page with updates and opportunities to get involved.
- Donate to the district’s Good Samaritan Fund, which equips our social workers to meet immediate student and family needs such as clothing, food, and essential supplies. For more information, contact Courtney Jones, Social Work Supervisor, at courtney.jones@clover.k12.sc.us.
- Support the Bands of Clover https://www.facebook.com/bandsofclover as they travel to Pasadena to the Tournament of Roses Parade. You’re also invited to join their official sendoff at 6 p.m. on December 9 at Memorial Stadium.
- Attend holiday concerts by the Choraliers https://www.facebook.com/CloverChoraliers/ and other school performing arts groups. Dance, art, music, and theatre events are a wonderful way to put you in the holiday spirit.
- Cheer on our middle and high school student athletes. Visit the CHS Athletics schedule online at https://www.clovereaglesathletics.com for upcoming games for the Blue Eagles..
- Have a group who needs a service project or a special talent you can share? Contact Ginger Marr, Director of Community Engagement, at ginger.marr@clover.k12.sc.us and she can connect you with schools or programs who could possibly use assistance.
- And much more!
As we continue through this holiday season, please know how deeply grateful we are for all who are ALL IN for our students and schools. Your support strengthens our entire community.
Let's turn out and show them some LOVE at their Rose Bowl Send Off Celebration. The Send Off event will be at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, December 9, at 6 p.m. The band will perform songs they will share at the parade, along with a sampling of their award-winning field show and holiday favorites.
You don't want to miss this special moment for our community!
Clover School District’s Montessori Program will enter its tenth year in the fall of 2026. For those interested in enrolling, the district will host two parent meetings. Those interested must register for a meeting by Friday, January 30th at 3:00 p.m.
Griggs Road Elementary School is home to the district’s Montessori program, which hosts two classes of three-, four- and five-year-old students.
The Montessori method promotes classrooms that are made up of a mixed age group of students, therefore, forming communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones. Montessori also enables children to explore a variety of materials with differing levels of difficulty and fosters leadership skills. Montessori represents a different approach to education that has successfully developed motivated and self-disciplined learners.
This year, Clover School District will host two virtual meetings.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026, virtually from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026, virtually from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.
To register for the program, parents must attend one of the two meetings. Parents can register for the parent information meetings via this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqOr-LyUapJUeuwLGizxK-yZblE02CuH6RhGjB9V9jut4y6A/viewform
To receive the meeting link, parents must register for a meeting by Friday, January 30th, at 3:00 p.m. The program will be open to students throughout the entire district, not just those who live within the Griggs Road zone. The registration form and all required documentation must be submitted by Tuesday, February 24, 2026, by 3:00 p.m.
The district will hold a lottery on Wednesday, February 25, to select the students who will be eligible to enroll in the Montessori classes for the 2026-2027 school year.
Shortly following the lottery, families will be notified. Families who are not placed within the Montessori program will have the option to be added to a waiting list for any opening that may occur. They will also have the option to be screened for the district’s pre-kindergarten program.
For more information about our Montessori program, visit the Early Childhood Education Section on the website--https://www.clover.k12.sc.us/page/early-childhood-education --to access the answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
