Celebrating 40 Years of LEAF!

cLOVEr Cuisine 2026
Save the Date

Our Culinary Arts students prepared an exceptional menu utilizing locally sourced ingredients in international recipes. Some featured items on the menu for the evening included: pulled pork egg rolls, shrimp and grits, grilled Caesar salad, quinoa salad with microgreens, tiramisu, strawberry hand pies, and much more. The evening also included raffles and live entertainment by the CHS Jazz Band.

Thank you for supporting Clover LEAF and its mission to enrich opportunities for teachers and students across the Clover School District. Hope to see you at the 2027 Clover Cuisine!

Photographs provided by Kimberly Cauble Photography

Grant Updates

Breakout Blitz

Recipient: Natalie Dawne Houck, Clover High

I have been thrilled with the BreakoutEdu kits I purchased with the Clover LEAF Grant funds. In the fall, one of my colleagues used the kits with her students and said that they loved the hands-on aspect of the critical thinking puzzles. Some of the students had done virtual breakout activities before, but none had done the actual breakout using real puzzles and locks.

In the spring, I used the kits with a breakout I created on the 1920s as an intro to teaching the novel The Great Gatsby. In solving the puzzles, students gained knowledge about F. Scott Fitzgerald, flappers, prohibition, organized crime, and the economy of the 1920’s. Then, they had to use their critical thinking skills to determine how to use the information to find the combination for the locks.

One of the most common questions I received was, “But how do we use this information to find the combination?” or “This gives us letters but we need numbers.” I provided some slight guidance but mostly let students wrestle with figuring it out. Students experienced a certain level of frustration, but they worked together, pushed through, and found the solution. Their feeling of triumph when they tried a lock and it opened was amazing to watch.

The aspect of these kits that most excites me is the versatility. The 1920’s breakout is just one way the kits can be used. Any teacher can use the kits for any topic they need. Teachers can also find puzzles online if they don’t want to create their own, and puzzles are available for purchase as well. Personally, I really enjoyed the challenge of creating the puzzles. It did take some time, but I can now reuse these puzzles for years to come.

Students need more of this type of thinking–outside the box, multi-level, problem solving type thinking. It challenges them in ways they rarely get to experience in our normal classroom setting.

So, thank you to the Clover LEAF Foundation for providing this opportunity for my students and for many other students in the district as well!

Every Voice Counts: Portable AAC Boards for Inclusive Play

Recipient: Hali Porter, Blue Eagle Academy

The funds provided by the Clover LEAF grant facilitated the purchase of four portable communication boards that have been used across Clover School District preschool playgrounds. These boards have allowed students to engage meaningfully with peers and express their needs to educators during play.

The feedback from preschool directors and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive as the project has been shared amongst Speech Pathologist and administrators across Clover School District. By bridging the gap in early communication, this grant has supported the pre-academic, social, and emotional foundations vital for our youngest learners’ success.

What's the Buzz On Innovative Learning

Recipient: 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 across Clover School District. Our class’s grant was to purchase a set of Bee Bots to create more innovative and creative lessons for our classroom and school. For our first project, my students used coding to vote for their favorite President’s Day book! They were able to code the robot to make the robot move to their favorite story! This was such a fun and creative way to end our President’s Unit! We are excited to use the robots again during our plants and insects science unit! We truly appreciate the support from Clover LEAF! Thank you, Clover LEAF! ❤

Create US Open Robotics Championship

Recipient: Virginia Mayberry, Clover Middle

We are proud to share the results of CMS Robotics Team 1660B, "Triple Trouble," following their recent participation in the CREATE U.S. Open Robotics Championship held in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Over the course of three intensive days, Triple Trouble represented Clover Middle School with technical skill and professional resolve. The team performed admirably during the qualifying rounds, securing several key victories that allowed them to advance into the highly competitive elimination bracket.

While the team was ultimately eliminated in the first round of bracket play, the experience proved to be an invaluable professional development opportunity. Our students engaged with elite teams from across the United States, China, Australia, and Canada, exchanging engineering insights and strategic perspectives.

Students had the following key achievements and growth:

● Adaptive Engineering: Students demonstrated exceptional agility by making real-time programming adjustments to resolve technical failures during match play.

● Strategic Collaboration: The team navigated the complexities of alliance selections with maturity, building productive partnerships with international peers.

● Global Networking: By observing global design standards, the team has returned with a broader understanding of advanced robotics architecture.

The dedication shown by Triple Trouble this season has set a high standard for our STEM program. With the conclusion of this year’s championship, the team is already shifting focus toward the upcoming season's game reveal, eager to apply their new knowledge to the next generation of Clover Robotics.
Please join us in congratulating Team 1660B for their hard work, resilience, and exemplary representation of our school on the international stage.

Mini Golf Masters

Recipient: Kelly Nellums and Kim Nordin, Larne Elementary

An event that took place before break was our 4th grade GT students took their math skills to the next level by designing and building their very own mini golf course! From measuring angles and calculating distances to problem solving and teamwork, these students put their learning into action in a BIG way.

The best part? They invited some of our PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students to come test out the course! Our youngest learners had a blast playing, while our 4th graders showed off their creativity and leadership. What an awesome example of learning, leading, and having fun together! Mrs. Nellums and Ms. Nordin would like to thank Clover LEAF - South Carolina for the grant to make this possible!

Cultivating Passion

Recipient: Keisha Robinson, Clover Middle

Before the break students, parents, advisory members, and family friends helped bring our Clover Leaf Grant vision alive! The Clover LEAF Grant provided funds for us to extend our existing pig structure so that we have an additional space for summer/fall pigs. This will provide much needed relief from hot summer temps in a ‘dirt’ space with shade!

A special thank you to…Allen and Hunter Robinson who helped mark the space and Ken Farris for bringing his tractor to dig holes. In addition, all the extra hands for all the things - Joe and Sarah Dover, Susie and Rob Leatherwood, Hadley Rissel’s family, Archer Newendyke’s family, Kenneth McFarin’s family, and Rory’s family.

Finally, the biggest thank you to my husband, Allen Robinson, for his patience and willingness to always help me turn dreams into reality!

Polishing a Broadcast with a Purpose

Recipient: Deanna Pauley, Clover Middle

We have so enjoyed using our new equipment, and we cannot thank you enough for your contributions to our students' learning opportunities this year! I'm going to attach a CANVA show and additionally share some photos. I'm not sure what platforms may be easier for you to view. Again, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to watch these students grow and learn!

More Grant Updates Coming in the June Newsletter

Donor Tree

Honor a Favorite Teacher, Coach, Staff Member, Parent, Student

Clover LEAF's “Donor Tree,” located in the lobby of the Clover School District Auditorium, features a metal tree with multicolored leaves. These leaves represent donations given to LEAF in honor or in memory of people who donors would like to recognize. To honor someone with a leaf, please send an email to cloverleafsc@gmail.com, requesting that a leaf be purchased for your honoree with your donation. Donations must be designated for a Donor Tree leaf and may be made via our website at www.cloverleafsc.org, the QR code below or mailed to Clover LEAF, 604 Bethel St, Clover, SC 29710. The leaf will include the honoree’s name and year of purchase.

The funds from these donations will go to our teacher grant program. The Foundation’s mission revolves around these grants, which empower educators to bring creativity and innovation into the classroom through new teaching methodologies, acquisition of cutting-edge resources, and development of inventive curricula that engage and inspire students in previously unattainable ways. These grants enrich the educational experience for students in the CSD by fostering an environment where learning becomes an exciting, dynamic, and transformative journey, preparing students to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

The idea for a donor tree was jump started with the bequest of funds from the estate of Joe Killian (March 16, 1939-August 1, 2018) and Dolly Killian (March 1, 1948-October 22, 2019}. Joe Killian was on the original Clover LEAF board of directors and a loyal supporter. The Donor Tree is an effort to acknowledge the Killians’ gift and encourage others to donate to Clover LEAF as a way to honor and remember special teachers, coaches, staff members, family or friends.

The Clover LEAF Donor tree became a reality from the idea of Jessica Cody and others at a meeting of the Foundation board. Then President Jackie Hicks, along with Windy Bartee talked to Clover teachers who helped design and build the tree that grows on the wall. Wayne Williams, industrial arts teacher, involved his students in designing the tree with leaves from their scrap metal. Chris Davis, the art director, guided his students in painting and placing the various colors for the levels of giving.

To continue the growth of the tree, you may purchase a leaf on the Donor Tree in honor or memory of someone by sending a check, contact by email or scanning the QR code.

The tree and leaves are the products of the CHS Engineering and Art department students.

Leaf color by donation:

$1000 - Green
$500 - Gold
$250 - Silver
$100 - Rose Gold
$50 - Bronze

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.

This past year we received a record number of grant proposals – 72. Due to your generosity, the Grants Committee elected to fund 24 of those totaling over $20,186. Pictures of the grant winners receiving their Big Checks and an abstract of their projects are under Grants on our website, www.cloverleafsc.org, on our Facebook page, Clover LEAF – South Carolina and in Volume 3 Issue 5 of Clover LEAF newsletter.

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!

Donate to LEAF via Zeffy

Volume 4, Issue 5