**UPDATE ON FRIDAY, JAN 8** As you know, no snow fell last night, and schools will open on time today!

With nary a raindrop falling from the sky, the Fort Mill School District is already putting out the notice that they’ll announce by 6 a.m. whether schools will be open tomorrow, Friday January 8. I was joking earlier today that, given the district propensity to close school when it snows in Atlanta (or even anywhere within an hour’s drive, to be honest), then it’s highly likely schools will be closed tomorrow.

But that’s just me. I could be wrong. And it could always snow tonight, too, justifying the possibility of cancelling school. We’ll see. We’ll be sure to post the info here on ScoopMill if school is cancelled. Sleep well!

Back in October two local restaurants (Big View and Moe’s Grill) began taking part in a program to help Indian Land Middle School raise money.

On Monday nights, Big View donates 10% of their Monday night proceeds to Indian Land schools. All you need do is inform your wait staff that you are from Indian Land, and the money will be donated. Please note, this is ONLY on Monday evenings – which is a great night to eat out because who wants to cook after the weekend? Not me!

A little further away, Moe’s Grill at Kensington in Waxhaw has agreed to donate 10% of their proceeds one night a month from now through the end of the school year. If you go to Moe’s at Kensington on 12/22, 1/26, 2/23, 3/23, 4/27, and/or 5/25, that location will make the 10% donation to ILMS, again by just informing the wait staff you are Indian Land Middle School.

See – I told you this was an easy way to support Indian Land Middle School! AND you get good food to boot!

Two plays start their 2-weekend run today. First up, the Fort Mill Playhouse is featuring “The Dixie Swim Club” which begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. The show runs this weekend and next weekend and looks to be a lot of fun. It stars a few locals – Carol Weiner, Jennifer Hubbard, Elyse Williams, Constance Collins and Karen Lee. For more information about tickets or showtimes, call (803) 548-8102.

For one weekend only, Fort Mill High Chorus Department is presenting the musical “The Wedding Singer,” based on the funny Adam Sandler movie that co-starred Drew Barrymore. The musical originated on Broadway and had decent reviews, so I’m sure the FMHS chorus is going to have a great time putting on this production. For more information you are welcome to call Michael Dove at (803) 548-8288.

Whenever I hear about bomb threats at high schools I envision two sophomores thinking it would be fun to get out of that Spanish test they didn’t study for, hovering around a phone, attempting to sound manly while claiming they planted a bomb.

Not cool, guys.

Fortunately, smarter heads than mine prevail at FMHS, and as of just over an hour ago police were still searching the building, and most students were off campus by 2:30 p.m. Since buses were used to keep students out of the rain at the stadium (which is where the students go when evacuated from the school), the potential for a major delay around town was significant – the same buses used to hold the FMHS students are the same ones that pick up elementary school students at 2:30 p.m. to take them home. However, elementary school buses mostly ran on time despite the events at FMHS.

When the search is done and the school declared safe, law enforcement will allow students and faculty to return to collect their belongings.

Update: The police have completed their search (nothing was found) and so school will open on schedule tomorrow morning.

Indian Land Middle School is opening a “Warrior Parenting Center” next Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be located in the school’s media center and will feature a sitting area, a computer station, and work space. Parents are invited to use these resources to do such things as look for employment; complete and submit online college and employment applications; complete and submit financial aid information;
check their child’s e-Chalk pages; and read and check-out parenting magazines and handbooks.

For more information, you are welcome to contact Sherri Alston, the Indian Land Media Specialist, at salston [at] lcsd [dot] k12 [dot] sc [dot] us or 803-578-2526.

I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad that school is in session. I feel like I have gotten more done in the past five school days than I did the entire summer! I also feel like the days go by much faster without my children constantly hovering, asking what we’re going to do next.

One of the things that has frustrated me, however, is the bus schedule. Not the schedule itself (although – OUCH to having to get the kids to the bus stop before 7 a.m.!!), but the kinks involved in working out the schedule.

This morning I read this news story about young children being left off at the wrong bus stop in Charlotte and it scares me a bit. My children are very young, and twice in the past week they have gotten off at the wrong stop. Granted, they got off within 1-2 blocks of our house – but they still got off at the wrong stop, despite the bus driver knowing my children get ON the bus in the mornings at a different stop. I give the driver the benefit of the doubt though – a good portion of kids get off at that stop and I’m sure mine just got lost in the shuffle. But it’s still disconcerting to be standing at your bus stop and NOT have your children get off the bus like they are supposed to, only to see them walk over the hill a few moments later from the earlier bus stop. This morning as they boarded the bus I sternly reminded them, “Get off at THIS stop from now on!”

How have your first few days of school been? Have you had any problems – whether it’s not liking the teacher (if you comment, please don’t name names since others may LOVE your child’s teacher), bus problems, or anything else? If you are a stay-at-home parent, do you find your days to go by faster or slower? If you are a working parent, do you find your commute is longer now that school buses are back on the roads?

Fortunately, bus issues notwithstanding, my kids are already enjoying themselves tremendously at school, and have shared enthusiastic stories upon arriving home each afternoon.

Still in need of some last minute school supplies? Don’t worry – Century 21® First Choice is here to help! Tomorrow morning (Monday, August 17) at their offices (at the corner of Hwy 160 and Gold Hill (206 Rockmont Dr. Fort Mill, SC 29708)), they will be giving away school supplies to anyone that comes in between 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. with a coupon that was printed in the Fort Mill Times (hint: the link above has another link directly to the ad, which you can print out and take with you).

What’s being given away is called a “school supplies starter kit” – no idea what that entails, but if you have waited until the last minute to get your kid’s school supplies, anything is good at this point, right?. Quantities are limited and offer is good only while supplies last, so make sure you head over there early enough to get something!