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Round Top Named Palmetto's Finest

The entire Round Top Elementary School student body, faculty and staff erupted in cheers and applause when the school was announced as a 2017 Palmetto's Finest School. Everyone had gathered in Round Top's multi-purpose room first for a brief ceremony to recognize the school's finalist status. Then, the lights went down and everyone quietly watched the livestream from SCETV. Nancy Gregory, Richland Two Chief Instructional Officer and Chairman of the Palmetto’s Finest Committee, announced the elementary school winners.

After running around the room giving her teachers, administrators, students and parents hugs and high fives, Round Top Principal Jeaneen Tucker thanked them all for their hard work. She thanked past teachers and administrators, some of whom were in attendance.

"We didn't become Palmetto's Finest today," Ms. Tucker said. "We became Palmetto's Finest on the first day we opened the doors."

Round Top was one of five schools across the state to earn the recognition. Each had progressed through an intensive application process requiring self-evaluation, peer review, and two on-site examinations. The application and visits verified evidence of exceptional student achievement, instructional programs, professional learning communities and school culture.

Round Top serves 565 students in Pre-K through 5th grade and is a National School of Character. The first elementary school in the district to become an Arts in the Basic Curriculum site, Round Top provides many interactive and enriched learning experiences through a unique related arts integration program. As a Leader in Me school, students understand the value of lifelong learning and responsible citizenship and are empowered to practice leadership within the school, community, and beyond. A Palmetto Gold Award recipient for the past five years, Round Top Elementary educates the “whole child,” teaching critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills through collaborative learning experiences.

See photos from the event in Round Top's Flickr album.

3/21/2017