High School
Middle School
Elementary
.jpg)
Speaking to First Priority, our Christian club for middle school students, Mr. Chris Santos, a WH parent, encouraged students to face stress from exams, sports, friendships, and everyday life by leaning on their faith and the people who walk beside them. Using Psalm 62:3–7 as a foundation and referencing the Inside Out movies the students know well, he reminded them to pray for themselves and for others, to be vulnerable and ask for help, and to share their struggles rather than suppress them. Mr. Santos closed with practical action steps: commit to positive change, seek out trusted friends, use technology to lift each other up, and let their light shine as they love God and love people, remembering Proverbs 27:17 that we need a circle of support. The club is advised by Ms. Heather Eldridge.
Demonstrating Wilson Hall’s deep appreciation for our military community, the Key Club collected 280 dozen home-baked cookies for the Dorm Airmen Cookie Drive sponsored by the Shaw Spouses' Club, with more than 400 handmade cards from our art classes attached to every gift bag delivered. This annual effort reinforces the strong relationship between Wilson Hall and Shaw Air Force Base, giving students a meaningful way to show gratitude and support for the men and women who serve. Mrs. Stacey Reaves is the club's advisor.

Placing fourth out of 30 teams, the Chess Club proudly represented Wilson Hall at the S.C. Independent School Assoc. State Chess Tournament, also setting a SCISA record by bringing the largest team ever with 30 competitors. Winning individual silver medals in the competition were Noah Corrigan, Peyton Gilley and Tre Tran. One of the most popular clubs on campus, the group is led by Mr. David Tuders and reflects Wilson Hall’s commitment to offering diverse activities where students can challenge themselves, build camaraderie, and pursue their interests beyond the classroom.
.jpg)
Spreading thankfulness this holiday season, members of the Acts of Kindness Club used sidewalk chalk to cover the front walk with words of gratitude, creating a colorful welcome for high school students on the last day before Thanksgiving break. From simple joys to meaningful moments, their messages reminded everyone to pause, reflect, and appreciate the many blessings of the season.
Mrs. Meg Price Creech ’86 shared a Christ-centered message as the guest speaker for First Priority, the Christian club for middle school that meets every-other Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. Speaking on Zaccheus from Luke 19, she urged students to see others the way Jesus sees them, to lay aside judgment, and to keep their hearts open to hearing from Him just as Zaccheus did. Alumni like Mrs. Creech remain an important part of nurturing faith and community at Wilson Hall.

Meeting community needs with purpose, members of the Key Club collected over 35 frozen hams and turkeys as well as more than 100 non-perishable items to support Sumter United Ministries and its food pantry. Their service project will help provide well-stocked holiday meals for deserving families, reinforcing the club’s commitment to compassion and leadership.
.jpg)
Packing the 3D art studio during lunch, nearly 40 Middle & High School Art Club members welcomed renowned sculptor Grainger McKoy for an energizing presentation that encouraged young artists to think creatively. He shared insights into his artistic process, discussed current work, and generously answered students’ questions. The high school is advised by Mrs. Rachel Brown and the middle school is advised by Mrs. Renee Norton, whose leadership helps foster a vibrant, thriving arts community at WH.

By fostering a campus where faith is actively lived, Wilson Hall brought over 100 students in grades 8–12 to Spencer Field for Fields of Faith, sharing a message, prayer, and worship music before gathering for roasting marshmallows and fellowship around the fire pits. Mr. Jake Meyers ’18 spoke about David and Goliath and Peter and how God worked through their struggles and imperfect journeys to draw them into a deeper relationship with Him, while Mr. Caleb Yoder, the teaching and missions pastor of Christ Community Church, spoke about the mustard seed of faith and how even a small amount of faith has the potential for great growth. During the final song, students, if they felt led, signed a white board with something that may have been holding them back from committing to a stronger relationship with God. The evening was organized by Paige Sanders and sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Sacred Steps clubs.

Bringing students together in Christian fellowship, FCA welcomed Mr. Dickie Jones, a local attorney and a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Sumter, as the guest speaker for the lunch gathering. Drawing from personal experiences, he shared meaningful analogies about the importance of fellowship & discipleship, emphasizing both the joy and the challenges of living a Christian life. Mr. Jones is a WH grandparent & parent of alumni, highlighting the importance of generational involvement in our school community. Open to all students in grades 9–12, FCA meets every other week during lunch to encourage faith, connection & growth among peers.

Sharpening tactics for the upcoming tournament, members of the Chess Club, one of the most popular clubs on campus, gather after school for timed matches, openings practice, and friendly analysis. Led by Mr. David Tuders, the group includes 30 dedicated students who refine strategy, study endgames, and mentor newer players. Wilson Hall fosters involvement in a diverse array of activities, and that spirit shows here, where enthusiasm spills beyond official meetings as groups of students regularly play chess after school throughout the year.
.jpg)
Promoting a love of literature, students in grades 6-12 are diving deeper into reading through First Chapters, our new monthly book clubs held in the library. Students gather to read the opening chapter of a selected book, relax on bean bags, enjoy snacks, and engage in thoughtful conversation with their peers. In November, middle school students explored Tolkien’s The Hobbit while high school students discussed Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Coordinated by Mrs. Hayes Jones, librarian, First Chapters is part of the school’s Renaissance Reading Scholar Program, which encourages students to read rigorous, meaningful literature that prepares them for high school, college, and beyond. Students who participate choose from faculty-selected titles informed by award-winning literature, AP reading selections, and works considered essential for an educated life, then engage in discussion with a faculty sponsor to demonstrate understanding. At Wilson Hall, reading is intentionally cultivated, encouraged, and celebrated as a signature program aligned with our mission to challenge students academically and intellectually.
Meeting on campus before school so every student would find a treat at morning arrival, Acts of Kindness Club members spread Halloween cheer one locker at a time by placing candy and a handwritten card in each upper school locker. The student-led club is dedicated to promoting positivity and thoughtfulness, organizing small gestures throughout the year to brighten the WH community.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes welcomed Mrs. Adelaide Spencer, Dir. of Administration, as the guest speaker for this week’s lunch meeting. Drawing from Deuteronomy 28:47 and Nehemiah 8:10, she shared that real joy and strength come when we fix our eyes on God, not ourselves, and refuel daily in His Word. Mrs. Spencer reminded students that Jesus is our friend who offers abundant joy even in struggle, and she invited everyone to keep the conversation going about finding lasting joy in everyday life.
.jpg)
Highlighting how Jesus welcomes everyone, First Priority Christian Club welcomed guest speaker Mrs. Catherine Kelley Schwartz ’16 to share a message on Zacchaeus from Luke 19. She reminded students that with God there are no outsiders, Jesus excludes no one, and he notices you even when no one else seems to. The club, for middle school students, meets before school on alternating Tuesday mornings and is advised by Ms. Heather Eldridge.
Seeking fellowship and reflection in God’s creation, members of the Sacred Steps Outdoor Club kayaked down the Lynches River after launching from RiverRat’s Kayaking & Canoes in Scranton. The peaceful trip included prayer and a devotion amid the beauty of nature. Founded on the belief that quiet time outdoors helps us notice the “sacred steps” that bring us closer to Him, the club encourages faith, friendship, and reflection under the leadership of President Paige Sanders ‘26 and advisor Mr. Lee Gandy.

Answering the call to community service, Wilson Hall’s Key Club powered the Walk for Life by welcoming participants at check-in and handling both setup and cleanup for the event hosted on the Watson Family Track by the Prisma Health Tuomey Foundation. Their work helped the fundraiser run smoothly, advancing support for life-saving initiatives at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital and critical breast cancer services. Guided by advisor Mrs. Stacey Reaves and led by Co-Presidents Andrew Howle and Bowen Zitzke, the club showed how student leadership turns compassion into action.
.jpg)
Grounded in faith and fellowship, Sacred Steps hosted a Picnic with a Purpose on Spencer Field, where students joined together for prayer and reflection led by President Paige Sanders. The club continues to nurture spiritual growth through outdoor gatherings that strengthen community and inspire students to walk boldly in their faith.
More than one hundred students, faculty, and parents gathered reverently around the flagpole for See You at the Pole, a global day of student prayer. What began in 1990 with ten students praying at their school has, over three decades later, become a movement where millions unite in prayer on campuses during the fourth week of September. This simple yet profound rally is a time for students to lift up their friends, families, teachers, schools, and nation to God. Sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, advised by Mrs. Molly Simpson Matthews ‘93, and the First Priority Christian Club, advised by Ms. Heather Eldridge ‘93, the gathering served as a powerful reminder of the enduring call to seek God’s presence at the heart of our community.

During a Fellowship of Christian Athletes lunch meeting (held during Spirit Week) which had over 100 students in attendance, an English teacher and WH alumna, Mrs. Liza Lowder Meyers ‘18, delivered a message titled “Satisfying the Crowd” from Mark 15:1–15. She shared the example of Pontius Pilate, who knew Jesus was innocent yet gave in to pressure from the crowd, reminding students that the crowd will always pull us away from Christ. Mrs. Meyers encouraged students to choose Jesus daily, because only He truly satisfies, and challenged them to consider: “Whose voice is prevailing in your life—Jesus’ or the crowd’s? And who is your crowd?” The club, advised by Mrs. Molly Simpson Matthews ‘93, is open to all high school students.

Sacred Steps, a new club, held its first early morning gathering at the serene Swan Lake gardens. For high school students, the club was founded on the belief that when we pause to walk quietly in God’s creation, we notice small but meaningful “Sacred Steps” that bring us closer to Him, moments that might otherwise pass us by. Together, members explore the outdoors, encourage one another in faith, and seek these sacred encounters as a community. At the inaugural meeting, Pres. Paige Sanders shared a devotion and presented each participant with a handcrafted wooden clutch cross as a reminder of their walk with God. Club advisor Mr. Lee Gandy then offered his own devotion and led the group in prayer before everyone enjoyed breakfast and fellowship.

Mr. Caleb Yoder, a pastor at Christ Community Church, delivered an inspiring message to launch the year for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Using the story of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, he challenged students with the question, “Where does your confidence lie?” Mr. Yoder reminded them that the things in which we often place our confidence, such as athletic ability, appearance, talent, intelligence, or humor, are temporary and will eventually fade, but confidence placed in Christ will never fail. FCA meets every other Wednesday during high school lunch, with Paige Sanders serving as president and Mrs. Molly Matthews as advisor.
.jpg)
The Acts of Kindness Club kicked off the school year with a sweet surprise, serving over 30 dozen Murray’s Donuts to students in grades 6–12 during break. This student-led club is dedicated to spreading positivity and thoughtfulness, organizing kind acts and special gestures throughout the year to brighten the school community.

Logan Mims, a member of the Acts of Kindness (AOK) Club, and McKenzie Gray Mills, the club’s president, helped spread a little joy ahead of the break by placing bags of candy in every student’s locker, each with a cheerful note reading “Have a Nice Spring Break.” The AOK Club, a completely student-led organization of high school students, is dedicated to performing thoughtful gestures like this throughout the year, fostering a culture of kindness and community at Wilson Hall.

Key Club members recently spent several weeks reading to our youngest students as part of a heartwarming service project—creating joyful moments, building connections across age groups, and setting a powerful example of service leadership. Key Club is a student-led school and community service organization sponsored by Kiwanis International, and it encourages high schoolers to lead by serving others. Under the guidance of advisor Mrs. Stacey Reaves, our members continue to make a positive impact—one story, one smile, and one act of kindness at a time!