Volume 3, Issue 3
Board of Directors Message
Reflecting on a Year of Impact and Growth
As we close another incredible year at Clover LEAF, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the passion, generosity, and unwavering support of our community. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones and laid the groundwork for an even brighter future. Our mission, to support the educational advancement of students in the Clover School District, has been the driving force behind everything we accomplished this year. We are proud to have enriched the lives of countless students through our grants.
Two standout events this year highlighted the power of community and collaboration. Our Annual Gala was a resounding success, raising over $30,000 to support our grants program. The evening brought together friends, supporters, and champions of education to celebrate our shared goal. Another unforgettable highlight was the Clover Cuisine event, a culinary showcase prepared by the incredibly talented students of the Clover High School Culinary Arts Program. This gathering, highlighted below, not only celebrated the artistry of cuisine but also demonstrated the vast potential of our local students.
We are proud to have enriched the lives of countless students through our grants. This past year Clover LEAF received an unprecedented 62 grant proposals, a testament to the creativity, innovation, and determination of our educators. Of these, we proudly funded 27 proposals, investing over $23,000 to empower students and educators in their pursuit of academic excellence. Scroll down to see some of these amazing projects!
Looking ahead, we will work to reinvigorate donations to the LEAF Donor Tree, located in the CSD Auditorium. It is a metal tree with multicolored leaves representing donations to LEAF given in honor or in memory of people such as special teachers, students and members of the community. The funds from these donations will go to our grant program.
Moreover, we will continue working with the Western York County Agricultural Arena in partnership with the York School District, YSD Educational Foundation, and Clover School District. This initiative represents a significant investment in our community and its future, providing a space where students can engage in agricultural education, hone essential skills, and cultivate a deeper connection to the region’s rich agricultural heritage. Clover LEAF is proud to support a project that will serve as a hub for learning, innovation, and collaboration.
Additionally, Clover LEAF is excited to continue supporting Classroom Central in partnership with the CSD Teacher Forum, ensuring teachers have access to a variety of donated materials for their classrooms.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers and supporters like YOU. Your commitment inspires us to continue striving toward our vision of empowering the educators and students of CSD.
With gratitude,
Board of Directors
Clover Leaders for Educational Advancement Foundation
Clover Cuisine
Featuring The Clover High School Culinary Arts Program
On April 10, the community was treated to a Fiesta of Flavors prepared by the CHS Culinary Arts program students with lively entertainment by the CHS Jazz Band. Clover Cuisine supports LEAF's mission by providing a real-life culinary experience and preparing students to be leaders in the Hospitality industry. Led by Chef Scott Michaw, students can gain industry-ready certifications like ServSafe Foodhandler, ServSafe Food Safety Manager, and the Prostart COA. The Clover High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Courtney Wyatt, is an ensemble showcasing its young musicians’ talent and dedication. Their versatility is displayed through a diverse repertoire from swing and funk to Latin and salsa music, allowing them to bring joy to a wide audience.
Update on Grants
Green Energy Grant
Virginia Mayberry: CMS PLTW Gateway Teacher
Snap Circuit kits are already used in my PLTW Classroom as a way for students to safely build an array of electrical circuits in our Electrical Energy Unit. In this unit students learn about how the energy travels from one place to another once it is made. I wanted to incorporate the use of the Green Energy Snap kits to allow students to learn about solar and wind energy. Students were able to follow a lab procedure to build a few different circuits to see how much “wind” it actually takes to power an LED light and how much solar power is needed to power the same LED light along with a fan.
Solar Power Lab
Students were to build a solar circuit to power an LED Light. In the solar circuit you can see a voltmeter, a solar panel, and two LED lights. Each light will work depending on how much energy is being generated by the sun. Students went outside once they had their solar circuit built to observe what happened.
Solar Circuit Testing
This group of students got to experience what happens when there is not enough sunlight to generate enough power. The students are trying to pivot the solar panel into direct sunlight, but had no luck. They needed at least 3 volts of power to turn on 1LED light in the circuit. Students are testing out different types of light bulbs to see what happens. Students had three types of bulbs: LED, fluorescent, and Incandescent.
Wind Power Circuit
Students building and testing a wind power circuit. Student then had to blow on the wind turbine to see how much energy was being created.
Empowering Students Through 3D Printing
Laura Falls: Bethany Elementary
Dear Clover LEAF Grant Committee,
Thank you for your generous donation to fund our “Empowering students through 3D printing”. The purchase of a 3D printer has allowed students to tackle challenges by creating tangible solutions. For instance, students have designed and printed prototypes of tools and structures to solve problems. This iterative process—designing, testing, and refining their models—has taught them the value of persistence and critical thinking. Students are also learning the design elements of 3D art and can now design a piece of art in a digital design space and print it out with the 3D printer.
Most importantly, the grant has inspired students to think beyond the confines of the classroom. They are no longer passive learners but active creators, experimenting with ideas and technologies that will shape the future. Whether they pursue careers in engineering, architecture, art, or business, the experience of using a 3D printer has given them a competitive edge and a sense of possibility.
Sincerely,
Laura Falls
Astronomy Club
Ta'China Williams: Clover Middle School
They are aiming for the stars at Clover Middle School by launching an Astronomy Club. This grant provides telescopes, binoculars, star charts and other materials to open a new frontier for CMS students.
High In Plain Sight
Elizabeth Gibson: Ninth Grade Campus
The signs of drug use and abuse are often in plain sight, yet students and their parents may not be aware of them. The Ninth Grade Campus has created a space that looks like the typical teenager’s bedroom at home to demonstrate how typical household items related to drug and tobacco use can be easily overlooked. This space will be available during parent engagement activities and be used as a counseling tool when students are in the disciplinary process.
Lazer Focused on Cutting Edge Innovative Learning
Jacquelyn George: Crowders Creek Elementary
My kindergarten class at Crowders Creek Elementary, had the incredible opportunity to receive a grant to participate in innovative instruction that impacts many students, faculty, and staff across Clover School District. Our class’ grant was to purchase a Laser Cutter/Engraver to create manipulatives, signs, puzzles, and much more for our classroom and school. Since I am very involved in the Teacher Forum, Clover LEAF, and Clover School District initiative, Classroom Central, our class decided to create a sign to show CSD staff the location of Clover School District’s Classroom Central for our very first project! I am very proud of my innovative kindergarten kiddos for their first project that impacts so many people and students across our district!
Design, Print, Inspire
Natalie Randolph: Crowders Creek Elementary
This year marks my first as an innovation coach, and it’s also the inaugural year for our Innovation Club here at Crowders Creek! We have an enthusiastic group of 30 students from grades 3-5 who meet on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, and we even have an after-school session on Wednesdays until 4 PM. These talented students were selected from a total of 75 applicants based on their out-of-the-box thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Currently, our Innovation Club is diving into a Shark Tank project where they are tasked with creating new inventions that solve real-world problems. They are using the Tinkercad App to design their projects, and thanks to the grant, we now have a Flashforge Adventurer Pro 5 3D Printer along with 25 rolls of colorful filament! The excitement in the room is contagious as we all learn how to utilize the 3D printer together. The students are absolutely thrilled to be leading the way in this new and innovative learning experience!
I can't wait to see the final projects come to life in May. The creativity of these young minds is boundless, and the possibilities are truly endless! Thank you for everything you do for students and teachers in the Clover School District. Your support is making a difference, and we are all so appreciative!
Why Fact Fluency Matters Reflex
Randi Sullivan, Blair Jackson, Abigail Cameron, Dornetta Smith, Brooke Maxwell: Griggs Road
Why Fact Fluency Matters Reflex has truly been a game-changer in our classrooms at Griggs Road. Students are actively engaged with the program each day to build their fluency skills. Our younger students are improving their addition and subtraction facts, while the upper grades are strengthening their multiplication and division skills. We are so thankful for the CloverLEAF Grant, which has made such a difference in our students' progress. We really appreciate everyone who helped make this possible for our students!
Dairy Cattle Show Team
Cheyenne Bell: Applied Technology Center
Thanks to the Clover LEAF Grant, our Clover Dairy Cattle Show Team was able to purchase much needed equipment and supplies for our students to utilize when preparing dairy cattle for the show ring. Students Emma Brown and Marli Penninger were able to first use the supplies this Spring when preparing their livestock for the Clemson Spring Dairy Show which was held on March 22nd, 2025. These supplies will continue to be used in the 2025-2026 school year for students to exhibit dairy cattle in the York County Fall Livestock Show, and Clemson Spring Dairy Show.
Bands of Clover: Rose Bowl Bound
Clover LEAF’s mission is supporting the Clover School District in achieving and maintaining educational excellence. When we see excellence, we want to support it! That’s why we went BIG tonight in presenting the Bands of Clover $4,000 toward their trip to the Rose Parade in December! We are proud to bring our total support of the Bands of Clover to $5,000 as the band prepares to perform on the biggest stage of them all!
Donate Today!
Please join us in our exciting and worthwhile endeavor, where each individual, including YOU, becomes a valuable gem in our ever-growing treasure chest – the Clover LEAF. Throughout the school year, our dedicated officers and committees will be actively disseminating newsletters and event updates, providing you with insights into our integrity, ongoing initiatives, and the ways in which you can contribute to Clover LEAF's mission of bolstering educators and students within the Clover School District. Your participation and support are essential to our collective success, and we look forward to sharing this inspiring path with you.
Your generous donation to Clover LEAF will support academic excellence by making a meaningful difference for educators and students. Please make checks, corporate matches or other gifts payable to Clover LEAF and mail them to:
Clover LEAF, Inc
604 Bethel Street
Clover, SC 29710
You may send your donation via Zeffy by clicking the button below. Thank you for your support!
Contact Us:
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/CloverLEAFSC
Email: cloverleafsc@gmail.com
Website: www.cloverleafsc.org
Clover LEAF is a 501 (c) (3) organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent the law allows. The Foundation does not provide financial support for programs regularly funded by the Clover School District operating budget. Strict management of fiduciary responsibility is a basic tenet of the Foundation.
This newsletter is published by the Communications Committee and approved by the Board of Directors of the Leaders for Educational Advancement Foundation.
Clover LEAF