McCormick County 4-H

05/26/2026

Good Afternoon Chiefs,

This is Dr. Hembree from McCormick County School District with an important update regarding McCormick High School’s upcoming graduation and other important items for seniors.

On Wednesday, May 27th, all seniors and junior marshals will need to meet at the Mims Center, located at 516 Mims Drive, in McCormick at 1 pm. Graduation logistics and instructions will be shared at this time. All senior students and junior marshals should also check their Google Classroom for important information/updates regarding graduation.

The graduation ceremony will be held at 10 am on Friday, May 29th at Emerald High School in Greenwood School District 50. The decision of the location was selected based on the seating capacity, proximity to McCormick, and the weather that is forecasted for Friday. The address for Emerald High School is 150 Bypass 225, Greenwood, South Carolina. The doors will open at 8:30 am, and will close promptly at 10 am. We are grateful for Greenwood 50 extending their hospitality and allowing us to use their facilities for this special occasion.

Thank you to all our families for your ongoing support and flexibility in the midst of this sudden change.

We cannot wait to celebrate with the amazing class of 2026! Please stay tuned in to our social media outlets and district website for any further updates.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Hembree

MCSD Superintendent

05/25/2026

Good Afternoon Chiefs,

This is Dr. Hembree from McCormick County School District with important updates regarding the fire at McCormick High School, as well as a few updates regarding the end of the school year.

First and foremost, we are so thankful to the swift response of multiple firefighter units that responded to the fire at McCormick High School Friday evening into Saturday morning. Over 75 firefighters across the state worked to contain and eventually put out the fire that originated in the roof of the high school gym. The fire is believed to have started from a strike of lightning. We are extremely grateful that no one was hurt or injured, and we have much to be thankful for.

A recovery team, assigned to us through our insurance company, arrived on site on Saturday afternoon to survey damage, and have started the clean up and recovery process. While it will take a few days to completely assess the level of damages, we do know the damage is substantial across pockets of our campus. Air quality and water damage are currently being assessed.

Due to these reasons, at this time, we do not think it will be possible for students to return to school for the last few days of the school year. If something should change, we will let you know as soon as possible. We will schedule a day for students to pick up any end-of-year items or personal items from their classrooms, as well as to turn in any items.

Additionally, due to the damage in both the MMS and MHS gym, the McCormick High School graduation will be moved to a different location. The ceremony is still expected to take place at 10 am on Friday, May 29th. We are expecting to be able to finalize location details by Tuesday afternoon, and will share these details with you as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support. As always, the safety of our students and staff is our number one priority.

We will be back in touch to share any updates as they become available.

We hope you continue to enjoy your weekend, and please stay safe.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Hembree

MCSD Superintendent

05/23/2026

Hello MCSD Family,

As I am sure you have heard, a fire started at McCormick HIgh School yesterday evening after 11 pm. We believe the fire began due to a lightning strike. Firefighters have worked tirelessly to contain the fire all through the evening, and we are extremely grateful for their service. Many firefighters and first responders are still on site. We know this information is difficult to hear, and we promise to keep you informed as updates become available. As we navigate logistics for the final week of school,including high school graduation, we will share those with you too. Please pray for our first responders and entire community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Hembree

05/03/2026

Get Dialed in for Canning Season! Pressure Canner Testing Friday May 8, 2026 and Friday June 12, 2026 10:00 am - 1:00 pm @ McCormick County Clemson Extension Office @ 610 South Mine Street.

05/01/2026

Awesome job Emily!

JDLH student, Emily S., is our very own South Carolina's state winner for the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees Essay Competition! What a well-deserved honor.
Patricia A. Whitener, Ph.D. (4-H Natural Resource Programs, Well-Being Council Ambassador, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension) had these nice things to say about Emily's work:
"Your essay, "The Power of Pollen," is really impressive, weaving together scientific research, environmental awareness, and your firsthand experience as a beekeeper into a cohesive and compelling document. The way you grounded the science in what you've actually observed in your own hives made the writing come alive. Connecting research to real-world practice is a skill that will serve you well far beyond this competition.

It's also worth noting that you accomplished all of this while pursuing your Journeyman's Beekeeper Certification, maintaining your SAE through FFA, and participating in the Bee Cause Project Observation Hive Grant. That's an extraordinary portfolio of engagement for a junior, and it speaks volumes about your commitment to this work.

Thank you for representing South Carolina 4-H with such excellence. The bees are lucky to have an advocate like you.

Well Done!"

Be sure to let Emily know how proud we are of her fine work under the guidance of Mrs. Jones

04/19/2026

Way to go!

04/16/2026

We’re egg-cited about this project!! 🥚🐣🐥

04/16/2026

TAKE A KID FISHING!

AUGUSTA BUILDING TRADES TAKE KIDS FISHING DAY

📍 J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Clarks Hill Lake) – Modoc Boat Ramp (Gilchrist Ferry Rd., Modoc, SC 29838)

📅 Saturday, May 23rd, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Free Lunch Included!

Get the kids outdoors for a fun day of fishing with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Union Sportsmen's Alliance, and the Augusta, GA Building & Construction Trades Council!

-FREE & Open to the Public
-First 150 registered youths get a FREE fishing rod & reel to keep!
-Volunteers on-site to provide instruction & help
-All participants must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone

Questions? Contact Union Sportsmen's Alliance
Register now: https://fishaugusta2026.eventbrite.com

Bring your sunscreen, your sense of adventure, and let’s make some memories on the banks of Thurmond Lake.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters I Union Sportsmen's Alliance

I I

04/01/2026

We're hiring a 4-H Agent for Greenwood County! The 4-H Agent is a member of the Extension staff of Clemson University. The agent is responsible for working cooperatively with other county and state staff to plan, implement, maintain and evaluate Extension education programs for adult and/or youth clientele. We serve South Carolina youth by providing quality experiential learning programs through youth-adult partnership and opportunities to build skills and promote behaviors for youth to become responsible, contributing members of society. Application deadline is April 9th.

03/26/2026

🐄🌾 What a fantastic day celebrating agriculture with our future agriculturalists! 🌱

We loved hosting the Abbeville/McCormick Farm City Day Event, where 3rd graders from both counties gathered at the dairy barn at the SC Governor’s School for Agriculture. Students rotated through 12 interactive stations, learning all about agriculture and natural resources—from farm to forest and everything in between!

It was a day full of hands-on learning, great questions, and lots of excitement about where our food and resources come from. 🌽🌳

A big thank you to all the presenters and volunteers who made this event possible and helped inspire the next generation! 👏