We’d like to invite you to come and meet our Celebrity Stars and the cast of this gala event on Thursday, Feb. 16th 7:30pm at the Towne Tavern on Highway 160 W. in Fort Mill. Our celebrities will be available to answer any questions you may have and conduct interviews.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Lisa McCarley

Dancing with the Stars – Fort Mill

(803) 487-0644

www.fortmillathletics.org/dancingwiththestars/

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:           Lisa McCarley

Fort Mill School District Athletic Board Chairman

fortmillathletics@gmail.com or (803) 487-0644

Fort Mill, SC – February 10, 2012

Have you ever watched Dancing with the Stars and wondered how much preparation it takes to learn to a professionally choreographed dance routine and perform it in front of hundreds of people?

Six local York County celebrities have signed up to face that challenge. Dancing with the Stars – Fort Mill has paired up six celebrities with eight dancing professionals to raise money for a very worthy cause – middle school athletes in Fort Mill. The event will be held at the Tega Cay Golf Club – Glennon Center on Saturday, April 28^th, doors opening at 6:00 pm.

Budget cuts have impacted our local school districts in many ways. For the Fort Mill School District, one of the most controversial cuts was to eliminate all middle school sports, over 50 teams.  While many people in the community didn’t agree with the decision, the school board did allow for a pilot program which gave the athletic booster clubs the opportunity to provide the funds to operate the sports program.

Today, over 1000 athletes participate in middle school sports in Fort Mill, but not without hard work from many parents and community members who raise $50,000 each year to keep the programs alive. “Our booster organizations have sponsored our share of donut sales, golf tournaments and school dances, but we’ve been looking for something a little different that the residents of Fort Mill and surrounding towns can participate in,” commented Jill Marr, School District Athletic Board Fundraising Chairman.

Dancers will compete in fundraising (sponsorships and ticket sales), two dance routines and crowd appeal. The goal – the mirror ball champion trophy and much needed funds to help our student athletes in Fort Mill.

Attention Media:

Dancing with the Stars – Fort Mill would like to run 10 stories about this event. The planned schedule for the stories:

Please contact Lisa McCarley, (803) 487-0644 or lemccarley@gmail.com, if you would like to include these stories in your publication or TV programming.

Download Press Release =>Dancing with the Stars – Fort Mill PRESS RELEASE

The Fort Mill School District Athletic Board (FMSDAB)  is proud to present Dancing with the Stars Fort Mill. The dance competition and fundraising event is Saturday April 28th at 6PM at the Tega Cay Glennon Center.

Local celebrity dancers along with their professional dance Instructors will performing a dance competition. Proceeds from each dancer donation votes, event sponsors, and ticket sales will benefit the Fort Mill Middle School Sports Programs.

The main website for the Dancing with the Stars Fort Mill Fundraising Event is http://www.fortmillathletics.org/dancingwiththestars/

Dancer and Partner/Instructor information and online dancer voting is at  Dancer online voting,

Buy the event tickets online at tickets sales.

Ready for download is our first middle school sports newsletter. Because of drastic budget cuts, middle school athletics in Fort Mill are self-funded. This means that it is up to our boosters to raise the necessary funds to support the programs. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep the Fort Mill community informed about the progress of the middle school athletic programs.

Our first payment for this year was made in August to the school district. The next payment, approximately $20,000, is due early January. Our yearly fundraising goal is $50,000 and this is just to maintain our programs!!!

We need you to make each fundraising event a success. Do your part – get involved. Our students and our boosters desperately need your assistance, no matter how big or small, each of us can make a difference!

Lisa McCarley—FMSD Athletic Board Chairman

Download Newsletter => FMSDAB_Fall_Newsletter_2011

Did you know…

 Over 1000 athletes participate in middle school sports in Fort Mill each year.

 Students that participate in athletic programs have better academic scores.

 Fort Mill currently has over 50 middle school teams.

 Without support from the community, parents and corporate sponsors, middle school sports may be cut from the school district.

 The 2011-2012 middle school athletic budget is over $175,000!!!

 Sports at the middle school level are a great building block for successful high school athletics and higher college scholarships.

 Piedmont Medical Center donated $3000 to our sports program. THANK YOU!!

Thank you to all of those that have volunteered and supported our middle school athletic programs. Without your countless hours, our student-athletes wouldn’t have the opportunity to participate and learn many of life’s lessons.

How can you help our Middle School Student Athletes?

 Get a Comporium Wireless Phone Contract—They have AT&T products, including the iPhone and iPad!

 Become involved with your school’s booster club

 Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to your school’s booster club

 Sit in the Spirit Booth at Beef O’Brady’s (Oct. 10th—Oct 16th)

 VOLUNTEER! Get involved at your school. Most events only require an hour or two of your time!

 There is now an Upper and Lower middle school athletic conference in York County. All Fort Mill teams are in the Upper with Clover teams.

As you all may know, we lost a very special member of our community on Sept. 13th, Clifton Carter (a 15 year old student at Fort Mill HS). Clifton was an avid soccer player and participated in the middle school athletic program playing football, basketball and soccer while at FMMS. The funeral is scheduled to take place on Friday. It just does not feel right having a tournament on a day that most of the community will be in mourning.

We have made the decision to reschedule the middle school athletic golf tournament for Friday, October 21st, 10:00 shotgun start at Regent Park. Refunds are available to the sponsors and registered golfers if they request one. Otherwise, we will proceed with planning for the new date and assume that the sponsorships and golfers will move to the new date.

Thank you for understanding our decision in regards to this difficult situation.

VOLLEYBALL – changed all games originally scheduled between Oakridge and our 4 schools for Monday nights to the next day – Tuesday:

• From Mon, Sept 12 to Tues, Sept 13 – OAKRIDGE @ BANKS TRAIL
• From Mon, Sept 19 to Tues, Sept 20 – GOLD HILL @ OAKRIDGE
• From Mon, Sept 26to Tues, Sept 27 – OAKRIDGE @ FORT MILL
• From Mon, Oct 3 to Tues, Oct 4 – OAKRIDGE @ SPRINGFIELD

See schedule at Volleyball

FOOTBALL – Changes made to doubleheaders for our games against each other for the 3 teams that field both 7th & 8th grade teams. (5PM start for 7th grade – with 8th to follow immediately after):

7th Grade Football

• 9/7 Springfield is at Castle Heights.
• Wed, Sept 28th FORT MILL @ SPRINGFIELD – DH
• Wed, Oct 5th SPRINGFIELD @ GOLD HILL – DH

8th Grade Football – Wed, Oct 19th GOLD HILL @ FORT MILL – DH

See the schedules at  Football 7th & 8th grade

For $6 per box you can help out middle school athletics.

Donuts will be available in the car rider lines at the Fort Mill Middle Schools.

Cash or checks (made out to your school’s booster club). Take a couple boxes to the office!

Buy Donuts this Friday and Help Support Fort Mill Middle School Athletics including Banks Trail, Gold Hill, Springfield, and Fort Mill Middle Schools!

We are excited to announce the details for the Annual FM Middle Schools Golf Tournament for the 2011-2012 school year. It is Friday, Sept. 16th  October 21st (see post about rescheduling) with a 10:00 shotgun, Captain’s Choice format at Regent Park Golf Club. Last year’s tournament was a full field and we are anticipating the same for this year, so register early. Several improvements have been implemented to decrease the playtime and increase the amount of fun. And don’t forget, proceeds help ALL middle school athletics in Fort Mill and the District Cup is looking for a new home!

Please help us to spread the word and register teams, get sponsorships and place volunteers to make this even a success. Attached are the forms needed for the team registrations and the sponsorship opportunities. In addition, Regent Park has extended coupons for people to use anytime between now and the tournament. A percentage of each coupon will be given to our tournament as a credit, so even if you can’t play in the tournament, you can still help out by using the coupons or sponsoring a hole.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mark Pinckney at (843) 729-4708, mpinckney@horizonlines.com or Lisa McCarley at (803) 487-0644, lemccarley@gmail.com.

We appreciate all of the support to save our middle school sports programs and for REFUSING TO LOSE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS!

FMSDAB Regent Park Discounts Coupons

2011 Golf Sponsorships

2011 Golf Registration

FMSDAB Sponsor Letter 070111

Lisa McCarley

http://www.fortmillathletics.org/game-schedules/football/

http://www.fortmillathletics.org/game-schedules/volleyball/

Comporium presented a $5,000 check to the Fort Mill Middle School Athletic Boosters at Monday’s School board meeting last week.

In addition, Comporium will be implementing a donation program for wireless customers. This program is scheduled to start in August and will donate $100 for new wireless contracts and $50 for each additional user on a wireless account. More details to follow.

Thank You Comporium Communications

Lisa McCarley

Location – The booth area is set up near Stage 2 (Country Music Showdown) and near the Kids Zone, Calhoun Street.

The Boosters will

• Sell T-shirts (Festival shirts and Refuse to Lose shirts) WRHI is allowing middle school sports to keep 100% of the money received for the sell of the festival shirts.
• Inform attendees about the self-funded program and upcoming events
• (physicals, elections/committees)
• Solicit donations and memberships
• Cornhole play for children (donation to play)

On Feb. 19th, the boosters will be hosting a Cabin Fever Night at the ASC Greenway – Field Trail Barn. We’ll have a DJ, dancing, food, fellowship and a great time! This is an adult only event. Feel free to dress casual and bring your own cooler. The music will start at 7:00 and will be going strong until midnight. A limited amount of tickets are available – $40/couple, $25/single. Contact Lisa McCarley 704-622-4932 lemccarley@gmail.com or Jill Marr 803-322-8443 marr@comporium.net. Fundraising goal $3000

We have just received approval from the Town of Fort Mill on our latest fundraising opportunity. The Middle School Boosters will be sponsoring a Cornhole Tournament during the Strawberry Festival, May 6th and 7th!! We’ll have an adult tournament Friday night, Middle School and High School tournaments on Saturday and a second adult tournament on Saturday evening. Registration forms will be on the website www.scstrawberryfestival.com or www.fortmillathletics.org . Fundraising goal $3000

Fort Mill Family Practice has once again stepped up to support our middle school athletic program. On May 17-19 from 4:00-5:00 pm, students interested in participating in sports for the 2011-2012 school year can obtain the mandatory sports physicals for a $20 donation. The doctors, nurses and office staff are volunteering their time, so 100% off the fees will be given to the athletic program. Forms are available on the school websites as well as at www.fortmillathletics.org Fundraising goal $6000

Booster clubs at all four middle schools are gearing up for elections for next year. If you are interested in volunteering or working with a dedicated group of athletic parents, faculty and students, please visit your school’s booster website to find out more about the next meeting and the group’s needs. The only way for our program to be successful is to have the support of our communities, our schools and the district’s families. All of those involved with the athletic program are expected to volunteer to keep the program strong.

We appreciate all the hard work from our community to make this first year with a self-funded athletic program such a success!!

Please join the Middle School Boosters as we Shake off the Winter Blues with an old-fashion Cabin Fever party.

DJ Dave Frank will rock the Field Trial Barn starting at 7 pm and keep us moving all night long.

Dress is casual, BYOC (bring your own cooler).

Tickets are $40/couple, $25 single ticket. All proceeds go to support all middle school sports in Fort Mill.

Tickets are limited, so don’t delay. Contact your booster club or lemccarley@gmail.com or marr@comporium.net for tickets or further information.

Hosted by the Middle School Boosters & FMSD Athletic Board

Proceeds to benefit all middle school sports in Fort Mill.

Driving Directions to the Field Trial Barn:

From I-77

Take I-77 exit 88 / Gold Hill Road exit heading East toward Fort Mill. Road changes to Springfield Parkway. Travel 3.1 miles from I-77. You will see a sign for the Anne Springs Close Greenway on the right across from the Springfield development. Turn in and proceed to red Field Trial Barn.

Download the Party Flyer, email to friends to help promote our fundraiser =>Cabin Fever

Athletic Physical Nights at Fort Mill Family Practice – May 17, 18 and 19 from 4:00-4:45

All student athletes are required to have a current physical prior to participating in all middle school sports. If you are planning to participate in middle school sports for the 2011-2012 school year and haven’t had a physical since April 2011, this is a great chance to get your physical for only a $20 donation to the Booster Clubs. No insurance will be filed.

Only cash or checks made out to FMSDAB will be accepted, no credit, debit or flex spending.

Please contact Fort Mill Family Practice (803) 547-7541 to schedule your appointment. Space is limited. Please download and complete this form to keep the wait time to a minimal. http://www.schsl.org/2008%20forms/ppe_form.pdf

Feel free to forward this to other athletes or parents. Thank you for your support of our Middle School Athletic Program.

For those donating $2.00, the Town Tavern will give you a coupon good for a FREE kids fried ice cream dessert. Anyone donating $5.00 will receive a coupon good for a FREE chicken wing or chicken finger basket.100% of all donations go directly to all of our middle school sports programs in Fort Mill. Please visit Town Tavern and donate today.

We are very appreciative of all of the support from the Fort Mill community.

From all of the student athletes at Fort Mill, Gold Hill, and Springfield Middle Schools thank you and please help us REFUSE TO LOSE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS!

Town Tavern Facebook Page

http://www.fortmillathletics.org/game-schedules/soccer-baseball/

I’m not sure if you were able to see the parade on Saturday, but 70 middle school athletes were in the parade on our Refuse To Lose our Middle School Sports float. We had banners with our new campaign logo and mascots greeting the crowd. A short video is on our website.

On the fundraising side, we are beginning a promotion on Friday, Dec. 10th with the Towne Tavern. Anyone donating $5 to the Middle School Boosters will receive a coupon for free Chicken Wings or a Chicken Finger Basket. Donations of $2 will receive a Kids Fried Ice Cream. The campaign will be going until the end of January. The staff will wear t-shirts that have our new slogan and will have a banner on display. We feel this is a great way of having the community partner with our schools.

We will also have a Cabin Fever adult evening on Saturday, Feb. 12th for adults. If you have access to Facebook, we’d love for you to be a friend so you’ll see the updates.

Thank you all for your support through this transition!! May your families have a very blessed and Merry Christmas!

Over 70 athletes from all the Fort Mill middle schools participated in Fort Mill Christmas parade Saturday December 4th . The middle school athletic boosters rolled out their mew marketing slogan “Refuse to Lose our Middle School Sports” Thank you for supporting our student-athletes and REFUSING TO LOSE our MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS!!

And watch the parade video trailer

The key to the success of this event was largely in part to volunteers from each middle school and the community’s support. Without the support of the entire community, Fort Mill would not have middle school sports. Many of those involved as volunteers or as players do not have students in the middle school program. However, everyone involved has the same belief that middle school sports is a necessity for students. Along with the obvious health benefits, sports offer so many life lessons that aren’t taught in the classroom.

As part of the drastic budget cuts for the 2010-2011 school year, the FM school board cut middle school sports. The booster clubs from the three schools presented the district with a proposal to make middle school sports self funded and still affiliated with the school district. This venture is a first of its kind in the area. The majority of the funds will come from athletic fees for each athlete, gate receipts and fund raising events from the booster clubs.

In addition to a self-funded program, the district also formed an Athletic Board to strengthen the middle school athletic program. By sharing success and failures from each of the three schools, the board has been able to provide a strong, cohesive and efficient middle school athletic program that many other schools are considering implementing.

Lisa McCarley

Chairman – FMSD Athletic Board