Grassy Pond Elementary was among seven schools statewide honored Thursday as 2006 Flagship Schools of Promise.

The School of Promise award recognizes schools for their efforts to form community partnerships promoting the values of family, culture and good health as they become centers of their communities. Each school selected by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators has made a promise to mentor, protect, nurture, prepare and serve their students in an effort to increase student achievement.

Teachers Kim McCall and Charlene Key chaired the committee that wrote the

School of Promise application and held meetings with community members to meet the award's objectives.

Limestone College basketball team members and Cherokee County Sheriff's Office deputies are among the community members who have mentored students this school year. Mentors eat lunch, read and form relationships with students during school visits.

The school has added more after-school activities for students over the past year, including the Gator Chorus, Art Club, and a YMCA Good News Bible Club.

"Much appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Grassy Pond Elementary and the School Improvement Council, Mark Hazle president, for helping to achieve this prestigious award," Grassy Pond Elementary Principal Mark Bunch said.

Previous awards presented to Grassy Pond Elementary include the Red Carpet Award (2002), a Palmetto Silver Award (2003) for test score improvement, Exemplary Writing Award (2004), and Healthy School Award (2005).