Hard Work Takes Students to New Heights at Carowinds!

August 15, 2026 - There were plenty of smiles, thrills, and reasons to celebrate Friday as a group of BES and GBMS students enjoyed a well-earned trip to Carowinds!

But this wasn’t just a fun day away from school. These students earned the opportunity through hard work, growth, and determination.

The Carowinds experience was a Barnwell Elementary School initiative developed as part of the school’s strategic plan, with a focus on motivating students to demonstrate academic growth, perseverance, and their best effort on SC READY. The trip was made possible through the school’s many fundraising efforts, allowing students to celebrate their accomplishments with a memorable experience outside the classroom.

Throughout SC READY testing, students were encouraged to show that success is about more than a score. They arrived on time and prepared, brought fully charged Chromebooks, demonstrated perseverance and determination, used appropriate test-taking strategies, and displayed positive behavior throughout the testing experience.

To qualify for the Carowinds drawing, students also had to show growth on SC READY compared with their previous year’s performance and meet the established testing criteria. From the students who qualified, two students from each homeroom class were selected through a drawing to attend the trip.

And on Friday, August 14, it was time to celebrate! 

Students traded the classroom for roller coasters, rides, and a day of fun at Carowinds—a reward that represented much more than a trip to an amusement park. It celebrated students who worked to improve, stayed focused, and gave their best effort.

For some students, the trip also provided an opportunity to experience Carowinds for the very first time. Watching their excitement made the day especially meaningful for the parents and adults who joined them.

One parent who attended summed up the experience with a little humor:

“It was hot, I was sweaty, and I realized I’m not a young chicken anymore!  But it was awesome seeing the kids’ faces who had never experienced it before!”

Those smiles captured what made the day so special.

Academic success doesn’t always mean being the student with the highest score. Sometimes, success means growing, improving, persevering, and doing better than you did before. These students demonstrated exactly that.

The experience also reflects the purpose behind Barnwell Elementary School’s strategic planning—turning goals for student achievement into meaningful opportunities that motivate students and celebrate their progress. Through the support of families, staff, and the community and the success of the school’s fundraising efforts, BES was able to turn that goal into an experience these students will remember for years to come.

We are proud to celebrate these students, their growth, and the effort that helped them get there. We are also grateful to the teachers, staff members, parents, families, and supporters who helped make this opportunity possible.

Congratulations to our students on an achievement—and an adventure—worth celebrating!

You worked hard. You showed growth. You ROCKED the test. And you earned the ride!

Every Student Matters. Every Moment Counts.

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Hard Work Takes Students to New Heights at Carowinds!

For more information, contact:

Barnwell County School District Superintendent Office
Phone: (803) 541-3590
Email: BCSDNews@bcsd.net