McKissick Academy of Science and Technology

09/03/2026

SDPC is beginning the search for our next superintendent.

Following 13 years of leadership, Superintendent Dr. Danny Merck will conclude his service at the end of the 2026–2027 school year. With advance planning, the Board of Trustees is beginning the search process now to support a thoughtful and seamless transition.

The search will be guided by our Innovate ’28 Strategic Plan and shaped by input from the people who know and care about SDPC — our students, employees, families, and Pickens County community.

🗣️ Your voice matters.

The Board of Trustees, in partnership with the South Carolina School Boards Association, is gathering community input to help identify the qualities, experience, and leadership priorities that should guide the search for SDPC’s next superintendent.

The first opportunity to share your input:

📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026
📍 Liberty High School (124 Red Devil Drive, Liberty, SC 29657)
⏰ 6:00 PM

Additional opportunities for community input will be announced as the search progresses.

Learn more about the superintendent search and how you can participate: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/3112602

09/03/2026

💚🦈💙

We are excited to share that the United Way of Pickens County Education Council has awarded McKissick Academy of Science and Technology an Education Impact Grant to fund Read and Rise in Partnership, a family-centered early literacy program.

Through this program, McKissick will work primarily with 2nd grade students with an emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics, particularly for multilingual learners. Read and Rise in Partnership will strengthen the connection between classroom instruction and literacy learning at home through monthly hands-on family literacy workshops, take-home books and literacy materials, and targeted support for students with identified literacy needs.

We are thrilled to support McKissick Academy in this work which empowers families to play an active role in their children's reading development.

09/03/2026

What an AMAZING day at Lake Jocassee! 🛥️☀️💦 Half of our 4th grade crew—Mrs. Brown & Mrs. Kittrell’s classes—had a fantastic time today exploring Lake Jocassee with Wild Child Adventures!

Students embarked on a boat tour of the lake while learning about the history of Lake Jocassee and the surrounding area. Along the way, they spotted wildlife in their natural habitats and were able to connect our classroom learning to the real world! 🌿🐟🦋 They got a firsthand look at structures and functions in nature and even observed examples ofweathering and erosion—a little sneak peek at science learning that’s coming soon!

But some of the BEST learning happened through the adventures themselves! Our SHARK Expectations were on full display as students helped one another climb the trails, encouraged their classmates, and cheered each other on through many first-time experiences. 🦈💙 We loved watching them be brave, supportive, curious, and adventurous!

And what better way to end a SUPER hot day than with a refreshing dip in beautiful Lake Jocassee?! 💦☀️

What a fantastic day of learning, exploring, teamwork, and making memories! We can’t wait for the other half of our 4th grade crew to experience this amazing adventure next week! 🛥️🏞️🦈

09/02/2026

Mark your calendars, SDPC! There will be no school for students on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend!

📅 View the SDPC District Calendar for additional important dates throughout the school year:
https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/spdc-calendars

09/01/2026

🍎📚 Attendance Matters at MAST!🦈💚

Being at school every day makes a difference! This year, our Leadership Team will be popping up on random days to surprise ALL students who are present with a special treat! 🎉

☀️ Today was a hot one, so popsicles were the perfect way to cool off! 🍧

We know sickness happens, and when your child is sick, home is where they need to be. But when they’re healthy, we need them HERE, learning, growing, and making every day count!💙

You never know when the next attendance surprise might happen! 👀🎁

08/28/2026

🦈💙 **Friday Highlights at MAST!** 💙🦈

What a great way to wrap up the week!

📣 We started our Friday with the EHS Cheerleaders greeting our Sharks and bringing lots of school spirit!

⭐ We celebrated our first Sharks of the Month of the school year! We are so proud of these students for showing what it means to be a MAST Shark!

🏆 We also celebrated our amazing staff with our first staff-nominated monthly awards:
🍎 Teacher of the Month: Mrs. Stancil
💙 Staff Member of the Month: Mrs. Dyar

We love celebrating the students and staff who make MAST such a special place!

Have a wonderful weekend, Shark families! We’ll see you Monday! 🦈💙

08/28/2026

MAST Families! This week’s Fins Up Newsletter is ready! Take a few minutes to check out important updates, upcoming events, celebrations, and everything happening at MAST. Thank you for staying connected!

📲 Read it here:

Fins Up Newsletter- 8.28.2026

08/27/2026

What’s Up Wednesday, MAST?!

Another week, another chance to check in with our Sharks and see what’s happening around MAST!

From learning in our classrooms to the relationships being built throughout our halls, our students continue to show us what makes MAST such a special place.

Every week brings new opportunities to learn, grow, solve problems, and intentionally pursue excellence.

So…what’s up at MAST this week? 👀

Check out this week’s What’s Up Wednesday to find out! 🎬🦈💙

08/26/2026

EXPLORE: Digging Deeper 🔍🧲🦈
Last week, our 3rd graders focused on the ASK portion of the Engineering Design Process (EDP) as they wondered, “How can we use magnetic forces to open and close a dog’s door?”

This week, our Sharks moved into EXPLORE!
Students investigated how magnets work through hands-on exploration while building important vocabulary like attraction, repulsion, poles, and forces. They also collected and analyzed numeric and nonnumeric data to measure magnetic attraction.
Their discoveries will help them make informed decisions about which materials could help keep their dog’s door closed.

Next up: MODEL—using what they’ve learned to begin designing a magnetic system that can open and close the door!
Ask. Explore. Model. That’s engineering in action! 🦈💡