It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens, SC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Pickens, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“ABC helped me take care of my mother in her last few weeks. Trudy the”
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“ABC helped me take care of my mother in her last few weeks. Trudy the Caregiver was wonderful! Trudy was so gentle with mom, very compassionate and professional. You could tell she loves her job. she started helping in the evenings, then on weekends. Mom's health got really bad and she was hospitalized and Trudy changed her schedule so she could stay up at the hospital all night with my Mom. I never had to worry because I knew mom was in good hands and that Trudy would te… See more”
“I’ve been a employee for 3 years I love working here”
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Table Rock State Park in Pickens, SC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Porkette or visit Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Pickens, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Pickens, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Pickens, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Pickens County sheriff posted a video to social media addressing public concern about Flock Safety cameras.Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said his job is to protect both safety and freedom, calling the two “partners,” not enemies.“I like to think of America as traveling down the road of freedom, and on each side of that road are ditches. To one side is the ditch of tyranny, where the government has too much power and individual liberty is lost,” Blankenship said. &ldq...
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Pickens County sheriff posted a video to social media addressing public concern about Flock Safety cameras.
Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said his job is to protect both safety and freedom, calling the two “partners,” not enemies.
“I like to think of America as traveling down the road of freedom, and on each side of that road are ditches. To one side is the ditch of tyranny, where the government has too much power and individual liberty is lost,” Blankenship said. “But on the other side is the ditch of anarchy, where there are too few laws, criminals thrive, innocent people suffer, and liberty is lost.”
In the video, Blankenship said Flock Safety cameras can be a valuable tool for finding missing children, locating stolen vehicles, identifying violent criminals and helping intercept dangerous illicit drugs.
Blankenship also acknowledged that the cameras, like every tool available to law enforcement, can be misused. He said courts have continually placed limits on government power and that there must be real consequences when those limits are violated.
“I support legislation that clearly defines when systems like Flock are to be used, who can access them, how long the information can be retained, mandatory audits, transparency, and reasonable limits on the number of cameras that can be placed in a single area. And real consequences for anyone who abuses that system,” Blankenship said.
Blankenship said he and his command staff are working on a transparency tool that citizens can access through the sheriff’s office website.
According to Blankenship, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office currently has 81 personnel with access to Flock Safety, including six with administrative rights. He said 54% of those users have logged in during the last 30 days.
There are currently 16 cameras covering 466 square miles, or about 29 square miles per camera. Blankenship said the cameras are placed on private property throughout the county and face public roadways.
Blankenship said the cameras capture the make, model, license plate and color of passing vehicles. He said the data is deleted and unavailable to law enforcement after 30 days.
Blankenship said all searches require specific information from the user and are cataloged so they can be reviewed by those with administrative rights.
So far this year, Blankenship said the sheriff’s office has had about 4,700 searches. He said the top searches were for larceny and theft, drugs and narcotics, wanted persons and motor vehicle thefts.
Additionally, Blankenship said the system can integrate with national and state databases, such as NCIC, to automatically generate alerts to law enforcement for stolen vehicles, missing persons, wanted persons and AMBER Alerts.
Local law enforcement can also create custom hot lists for active investigations. Blankenship said the sheriff’s office has created about 330 custom hot lists, but alerts must be corroborated before law enforcement can act.
Blankenship said audits have shown no misuse of the system to date. He said the sheriff’s office has not been notified of any misuse by Flock, which has a tool that flags suspicious activity.
“We should not just take tools from deputies and punish our victims by abolishing our Flock program because of the misuse or overuse of Flock in another jurisdiction or other states,” Blankenship said. “And my pledge to you is that if at any time I am made aware of factual evidence that our federal government is misusing our cameras to infringe on the rights of innocent citizens, I’ll cut them down myself and destroy them.”
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Pendleton, SC, Oct. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The organization said fall foliage timing and location are among the most common travel questions it receives each October, as visitors from Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville, and beyond try to time a trip to catch the colorful leaves at their peak.Because Lake Hartwell Country spans elevations from the Blue Ridge Escarpment down to the shores of Lake Hartwell, color change does not happen all at once. Higher elevations near the mountains typically turn first, in early to mid-October, whil...
Pendleton, SC, Oct. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The organization said fall foliage timing and location are among the most common travel questions it receives each October, as visitors from Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville, and beyond try to time a trip to catch the colorful leaves at their peak.
Because Lake Hartwell Country spans elevations from the Blue Ridge Escarpment down to the shores of Lake Hartwell, color change does not happen all at once. Higher elevations near the mountains typically turn first, in early to mid-October, while color moves down toward the lake through late October and into November. Lake Hartwell Country said this elevation gradient means visitors can plan more than one trip to the region and see different stages of fall color depending on where they go rather than gambling on a single peak weekend.
The region's foliage viewing is anchored by two scenic byways. The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, better known as Highway 11, runs along the base of the mountains and connects Table Rock State Park, Long Shoals Wayside Park, and Lake Hartwell State Park along a single route that many travelers use as an alternative to Interstate 85. Highway 178, known locally as The Mountain Highway, climbs through the Jocassee Gorges area of Pickens County and offers a side trip to Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in the state.
Recommended fall foliage destinations across the region include:
• Sassafras Mountain (Pickens County) – South Carolina's highest peak at more than 3,500 feet, with a 360-degree observation platform overlooking South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources with no admission fee.
• Table Rock State Park (Pickens, SC) – the 2-mile Lakeside Trail circles Lake Oolenoy and offers views of Table Rock Mountain reflected in the water, while the 3.6-mile Table Rock Trail and 4.2-mile Pinnacle Mountain Trail climb to higher overlooks for more experienced hikers.
• Wigington Overlook (Oconee County) – a roadside pull-off on State Highway 413 north of Salem with sweeping views across the mountains and lakes of Oconee and Pickens counties. Free to visit, with parking and room for a picnic.
• Devils Fork State Park (Salem, SC) – the only public access to Lake Jocassee, where fall color from the surrounding gorge walls reflects off the water. The 1.5-mile Oconee Bell Nature Trail is an easy loop through hardwood forest.
• Keowee-Toxaway State Park (Sunset, SC) – the gateway to the Jocassee Gorges, with the Raven Rock Loop trail offering elevated views over Lake Keowee.
• Lake Hartwell – by late October and into November, color reaches the lake's shoreline and can be viewed from Lake Hartwell State Park in Fair Play and Sadlers Creek State Park in Anderson.
Lake Hartwell Country reports that the region draws millions of visitors annually, with fall consistently ranking among the busiest travel periods for scenic drives, state parks, and waterfall trails. The organization noted that waterfalls such as Yellow Branch Falls near Walhalla and Waldrop Stone Falls in the Clemson Experimental Forest are often overlooked as foliage destinations, even though the surrounding hardwood canopy turns at the same time as the overlooks.
“People want to know two things: where to go and when to go, and the honest answer here is that it depends on elevation,” said Les McCall, Executive Director of Lake Hartwell Country. “We tell visitors to start up in the mountains around Sassafras and Table Rock in early to mid-October and follow the color down toward the lake over the following weeks. If they do that, they will almost never miss it.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see fall foliage in Upstate South Carolina?
Fall color in Lake Hartwell Country typically begins at the highest elevations near the Blue Ridge Escarpment in early to mid-October and progresses downhill through late October, reaching the Lake Hartwell shoreline in late October to early November. Exact timing shifts each year with rainfall and temperature, so visitors should check current conditions before traveling.
Where is the best place to see fall foliage near Clemson, SC?
The closest high-elevation foliage viewing to Clemson is at Table Rock State Park in Pickens County and along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (Highway 11), both roughly a 30- to 45-minute drive. Closer to town, the Clemson Experimental Forest and the shoreline of Lake Hartwell turn later in the season, typically late October into November.
What is the highest point in South Carolina, and can you see fall color from it?
Sassafras Mountain in Pickens County, at more than 3,500 feet tall, is the highest point in South Carolina. Its 360-degree observation platform overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains across three states and is one of the earliest places in the region to show fall color. There is no admission fee.
What is the best scenic drive for fall foliage in Upstate South Carolina?
The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (Highway 11) is the region's best-known fall drive, running along the base of the mountains past Table Rock State Park and Lake Hartwell State Park. Highway 178, The Mountain Highway, offers a steeper, more mountainous alternative through the Jocassee Gorges with access to Sassafras Mountain.
Are there easy hikes to see fall foliage in Upstate South Carolina?
Yes. The 2-mile Lakeside Trail at Table Rock State Park, the 1.5-mile Oconee Bell Nature Trail at Devils Fork State Park, and the 1-mile loop to Waldrop Stone Falls in the Clemson Experimental Forest are all rated easy to moderate and suitable for families.
Do state parks in Upstate South Carolina charge admission for fall foliage viewing?
Most South Carolina State Parks charge a per-person admission fee, with current rates posted on the South Carolina State Parks website. Sassafras Mountain, Wigington Overlook, and roadside stops along Highway 11 are free to visit.
A full list of scenic overlooks, scenic drives, and state parks across the region is available at lakehartwellcountry.com/state-parks-and-protected-areas. Lake Hartwell Country offers a visitor center at the historic village green in downtown Pendleton, South Carolina. They also house one of the largest archives of local historical artifacts in the Upstate, along with a public genealogy library, at the Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina.
Table Rock Falls in Pickens County, South Carolina
About Lake Hartwell Country
Lake Hartwell Country is one of 11 regional tourism offices in the state of South Carolina. These offices are called SCATR, or the South Carolina Association of Tourism Regions. Why are we called Lake Hartwell Country? We cover Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties, and Lake Hartwell touches all three of these counties. Lake Hartwell is also a major draw for tourism to the area, bringing in millions of visitors every year. In addition to tourism promotion, we also strive to preserve the history and culture of our region. Our Visitor Center is located on the historic Village Green in downtown Pendleton, SC. We also house one of the largest archive collections of local, historical artifacts, which can be found just down the street at the Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina. Additionally, we have an extensive genealogy library that is open to the public with information about the families who once lived in our region. Stop by to say hello!
Press Inquiries
Les McCall les [at] lakehartwellcountry.com (864) 646-3782https://www.lakehartwellcountry.com 120 History Lane
Pendleton, SC 29670
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Nine years ago, Liberty Middle School in Pickens County had so many kids held back year after year that some of them had started driving to school.Then Lisa Cassidy was hired as principal.Liberty was, she recalls, “a hot mess.”“We had some of the lowest test scores and the lowest attendance rates in the district. On our state report cards we were ‘average,’ but very close to becoming ‘below average.’”And this past year? “We made ‘excellent,’” ...
Nine years ago, Liberty Middle School in Pickens County had so many kids held back year after year that some of them had started driving to school.
Then Lisa Cassidy was hired as principal.
Liberty was, she recalls, “a hot mess.”
“We had some of the lowest test scores and the lowest attendance rates in the district. On our state report cards we were ‘average,’ but very close to becoming ‘below average.’”
And this past year? “We made ‘excellent,’” Cassidy says.
How’d she work that miracle? It was child’s play — literally.
Cassidy had been a teacher, assistant principal and administrator. When she stepped into Liberty Middle, a school that serves a mostly poor, white, rural population, she had one goal: “Making the school a place that students wanted to be.”
“We know that they don't come to school to learn,” she says. “I mean, that's not why they're showing up, right? We get to teach them while they're here, but they're not showing up to get the math and ELA standards.”
They’re showing up for each other. For friendship, and a feeling of belonging.
So the first thing Cassidy did was end the school’s silent lunches. “I had silent lunches as a child, and that is miserable,” she says.
Then she instituted recess.
The middle school schedule is dictated by the district, so she couldn’t replace class time. But she told the kids: You have half an hour for lunch. Eat fast, and the rest can be for play.
“The kids absolutely love it,” Cassidy says. One time she asked the 6th graders what they were doing, “And they said, ‘Oh, we’re pretending to have a wedding.’ It made my heart so happy.” Such a sophisticated scene. “And meanwhile there might be another group with a traffic cone, and they’re trying to flip to see if it can land on their head.”
To Cassidy, it was all good. “If nobody’s getting harmed, just stand back and let them do what they need to do.”
To expand the students’ options even more, she flooded the cafeteria with games: Uno. Chess. Connect 4. Scrabble. Soon Cassidy started opening the library and a maker space during recess too.
Still, she knew her students needed more than just half an hour of freedom. So, last year, she started opening the school an hour early for hang out and play time.
Now every day starting at 7:30 the cafeteria is full of kids eating breakfast, chatting with friends — and playing those board games. No technology is allowed. The goal is real-life interacting.
Two of those mornings, the school offers intramural sports, since most kids can’t stay after school. (They need buses to get them home, and the school can’t afford a late bus.)
The impact of this extra play time? “Attendance has increased significantly,” Cassidy says. In fact, chronic absences have dropped 11 percent, which is huge.
District spokesman Darian Bryd calls the turnaround “foundational.” By building in more play, Cassidy “made Liberty Middle a place where students feel connected.”
And while other middle schools in the district also showed some attendance improvement last year, Liberty’s leap outpaced the next closest school by more than 4 percentage points.
Subject proficiency levels are up too — in part simply because the kids are coming to school. “I can’t teach them if they’re not here,” Cassidy says. “So we get them here,.” Discipline problems have dropped, too.
Now Liberty is one of just two Title 1 middle schools in South Carolina to achieve a rating of “excellent.”
“While many factors have contributed to this growth,” Cassidy wrote in a report on her school’s achievements —she’s leaving Liberty Middle to run Liberty Elementary school this fall — “we began intentionally incorporating play opportunities during my first year. Each year since, we have expanded those opportunities. Increased play has positively impacted school climate, student engagement and attendance.”
AddWorld/USA/South Carolina/PickensAir quality in PickensData attribution2 stations from 2 contributors17US AQI?GoodMain pollutant:PM2.53 µg/m³19°11 km/h99 %Hourly forecastPickens air quality index (AQI?) forecastNow1719°11km/h 99%03:001730%19°6km/h 100%04:001780...
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99 %
Pickens air quality index (AQI?) forecast
Now 17 19° 11 km/h 99% | 03:00 17 30% 19° 6 km/h 100% | 04:00 17 80% 20° 3 km/h 100% | 05:00 18 80% 19° 4 km/h 100% | 06:00 18 19° 10 km/h 100% | 07:00 18 70% 18° 6 km/h 100% | 08:00 23 18° 8 km/h 100% | 09:00 24 18° 10 km/h 100% | 10:00 25 70% 17° 18 km/h 90% | 11:00 31 17° 18 km/h 92% | 12:00 32 17° 19 km/h 91% | 13:00 33 18° 20 km/h 86% | 14:00 29 19° 21 km/h 84% | 15:00 29 19° 21 km/h 84% | 16:00 29 19° 21 km/h 83% | 17:00 29 19° 20 km/h 85% | 18:00 29 19° 19 km/h 86% | 19:00 29 19° 19 km/h 90% | 20:00 37 18° 18 km/h 90% | 21:00 37 18° 15 km/h 85% | 22:00 37 17° 13 km/h 92% | 23:00 55 17° 11 km/h 92% Mon | 00:00 55 16° 10 km/h 90% | 01:00 55 16° 10 km/h 89% | 02:00 61 16° 8 km/h 89% | 03:00 61 15° 8 km/h 89% | 04:00 61 15° 6 km/h 89% | 05:00 64 15° 7 km/h 88% | 06:00 64 15° 8 km/h 86% | 07:00 64 15° 8 km/h 84% | 08:00 67 15° 7 km/h 85% | 09:00 67 17° 7 km/h 84% | 10:00 67 20° 8 km/h 74% | 11:00 65 22° 7 km/h 69% | 12:00 65 23° 4 km/h 66% | 13:00 65 25° 3 km/h 64% | 14:00 60 25° 2 km/h 63% | 15:00 60 26° 1 km/h 62% | 16:00 60 27° 6 km/h 57% | 17:00 54 27° 9 km/h 44% | 18:00 54 26° 7 km/h 42% | 19:00 54 24° 6 km/h 42% | 20:00 58 23° 6 km/h 42% | 21:00 58 22° 6 km/h 43% | 22:00 58 21° 5 km/h 54% | 23:00 53 19° 4 km/h 69% Tue | 00:00 53 18° 3 km/h 68% | 01:00 53 18° 4 km/h 56% | 02:00 38 17° 4 km/h 47% | 03:00 38 17° 5 km/h 41% | 04:00 38 17° 5 km/h 37% | 05:00 34 17° 5 km/h 37% | 06:00 34 16° 5 km/h 38% | 07:00 34 16° 5 km/h 39% | 08:00 36 16° 5 km/h 40% | 09:00 36 18° 2 km/h 61% | 10:00 36 21° 1 km/h 52% | 11:00 45 24° 4 km/h 46% | 12:00 45 26° 7 km/h 42% | 13:00 45 27° 7 km/h 38% | 14:00 30 28° 7 km/h 36% | 15:00 30 29° 8 km/h 35% | 16:00 30 29° 7 km/h 36% | 17:00 56 28° 7 km/h 38% | 18:00 56 26° 6 km/h 51% | 19:00 56 22° 4 km/h 57% | 20:00 59 21° 1 km/h 60% | 21:00 59 20° 4 km/h 65% | 22:00 59 19° 4 km/h 68% | 23:00 64 19° 4 km/h 70% Wed | 00:00 64 19° 4 km/h 72% | 01:00 64 18° 4 km/h 74% |
Pickens air quality index (AQI?) forecast
| Today | 22 | 19° 17° | 21 km/h | 90% | |
| Mon | 58 | 27° 15° | 9 km/h | 62% | |
| Tue | 44 | 29° 16° | 8 km/h | 47% |
What is the current air quality in Pickens?
| PM2.5Fine particles (≤ 2.5 µm)3µg/m³ |
PM2.5 concentration currently meets the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline.
Health recommendations
Enjoy outdoor activities |
Open your windows to bring clean, fresh air indoors Get a monitor |
What is the pollen count in Pickens today?
Index
Low
Tree None | 0% |
Grass None | 0% |
Weed Low | 25% |
Source:
wetter.com
Pollen forecast in Pickens
Worldwide AQI? ranking
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