Video: See how Anderson School District 3 celebrated start of a new school year

Three cheers for teachers, some say. Many things come in threes. Anderson County School District Three, like schools around the county have their elementary, middle, and high school starting Aug. 1. School district staff met at Crescent High School in Iva Friday to give their best celebration send-off. The new school year, with a "Day One" theme, emphasizes treating each day like it's the first of the year.

The opening portion of the 90-minute event to celebrate staff in the district, whether it be employees behind the scenes or teachers, was almost like a U.S. Olympics opening ceremony, with flags, and dancers representing each school. To the excitement of the 375 in attendance, special needs teacher Mike McCoy of Crescent High School dressed in a party costume suit reminiscent of John Travolta in the 1970s Saturday Night Fever movie, strutting his way in the gym and dancing to James Brown's 1985 Rocky IV song, "Living in America." Bursts of confetti followed.

The show started, but it was not over. A few relay races, and an inflated plastic oversized pencil toss kept the adrenaline going into the award portion.

Kathy Hipp, Anderson School District 3 superintendent, the 2022 South Carolina superintendent of the year, with staff, introduced service awards, school staff of the year, and district support staff of the year Heather Dickerson and teacher of the year Terri Ivester, reading specialist, at Starr Elementary.

Hipp asked the crowd, "We saw we had a good budget year. What would make August 1st better?" The crowd started chattering. Hipp looked at the crowd and repeated what the crowd was starting to guess "Don't disappoint me now," she said.

"What can we do to say, if you've been here one year or 37 or 38 years, thank you for being with us," Hipp asked. The television monitors behind Hipp flashed $1,500 and the crowd erupted. McCoy came back out and danced The Worm.

"You deserve it," Hipp added and said it should be in their account by August 1.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Video: See how Anderson School District 3 celebrated start of a new school year