Richland One Announces Upcoming Events

* Fathers, uncles and granddads, get out your dancing shoes. Youth Voices of Lower Richland and Lower Richland High School will be hosting a father-daughter dinner dance on Friday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Tickets are $10 per person and include dinner, a family portrait and a gift. To make a reservation, contact Karen Dukes at 695-3041 or Sallie Lakin at 695-3063. Lower Richland High is located at 2615 Lower Richland Boulevard.

* Marketing students will model the hottest new clothing trends as they present "Fierce and Fabulous," a student fashion show on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. at Heyward Career and Technology Center, 3560 Lynhaven Drive. Students also have designed one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry that will be for sale during a silent auction. Admission is $5.

* The Richland County Sheriff’s Department will hold a Public Safety and Awareness Fair April 4-6 at Keenan High School, 361 Pisgah Church Road. Activities will include a motorcycle rally, K-9 demonstrations, basketball tournament, choir festival and child ID fingerprinting. Proceeds from the fair will benefit the American Heart Association. For more information go to the Sheriff’s Department’s Web site at www.rcsd.net.

* Several talented Richland One students will entertain the crowd at the Kids Day Columbia celebration on Saturday, April 5 at Finlay Park. The Richland One Elementary Festival Choir will perform on the main stage at 11:30 a.m. Over on the Island (Karaoke) Stage, the Caughman Road Elementary step team will perform at 11 a.m., the E.E. Taylor dance team will take the stage at noon and the Knock Out Shorties from Hyatt Park will perform at 1 p.m. Saturday’s Kids Day celebration begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m.

* Caughman Road Elementary will be hosting a Health Fair and Physical Education Showcase on Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. in the school gym. This event is free and open to the public. Medical staff will be on hand to perform vision and blood pressure checks and provide vital information on a variety of health topics including asthma and dental care. Would you like your child to get a kid fingerprint ID? The Richland County Sheriff Department will create child IDs and present information on gang awareness and bike safety. Caughman Road Elementary is located at 7725 Caughman Road.

* WIS-TV news anchor Judi Gatson will be the guest speaker at the awards day program at the Olympia Learning Center on Wednesday, April 9. The public is invited to attend the event which begins at 9:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria. Olympia is located at 621 Bluff Road.

* On Thursday, April 10 A.C. Flora celebrates International Day with a flurry of events to honor its students’ diversity and to raise money for international charities. At 9:45 a.m. a parade of flags, songs, dances and music from around the world will fill the school gym at the morning assembly which also includes an international fashion show and recognition of students from around the globe. From 10:30 a.m. to noon, the school will hold a Mayfest-style fair with music, dancing and the sale of international foods. Proceeds will benefit several international charities including Heifer International, UNICEF’s clean water campaign and Save Darfur. Flora is located at 1 Flora Drive.

* Lower Richland High School invites the community to attend its Diamond Day Celebration on Saturday, April 12, from noon to 9 p.m. Events will be held in the school’s front parking area, auditorium and stadium. Look forward to a day of great food and fun activities, including rock climbing, inflatable rides, step shows, gospel concerts and much, much more. Think you’ve got talent? Sign up for the talent show which will award cash prizes to the winners ranging from $50-$150. There is a $10 application fee and a $3 talent show admission fee. Talent show applicants should contact Geralon Boyles at 695-3000, extension 2101. For more information about the other events contact Sallie Lakin at 695-3063.

* Columbia High School will be hosting its 2008 Cluster Spirit Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 on the school’s football field. Everyone in the community is invited to enjoy a day of games, prizes, free food, music, step shows and lots of other fun activities. Admission is free. Angenitta Bounds, the contact person for the event, can be reached at 731-8950. Columbia High is located at 1701 Westchester Drive.

* Gibbes Middle School will host a Community Day Festival on Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults can check out the educational displays, register to vote or get their blood pressure checked while the youngsters play games or get their faces painted. Music from praise teams, drum lines, gospel choirs and bands will fill the air to everyone’s delight. Student projects, essays and academic achievements also will be on display. Parents or neighbors who would like more information about the festival should contact Johnny Bartley at 343-2942, ext. 2414. Gibbes is located at 500 Summerlea Drive.

Questions from the media about any of these events should be directed to the Richland One Office of Communications at 231-7504 or 231-7510.