Private Independent school from PK through 12th grade.

Hammond News

2020

  • May

    Westward Ho!

    Not even a pandemic could stop the first grade from hosting their end of the year production of Westward Ho!  An annual favorite, Westward Ho is a culmination of the First Grade's study of pioneer life and the wild west.  We proudly present our first virtual production with all the foot-tapping, showstopping singing and acting you've come to enjoy. Way to go, First Graders!

    Watch the video here.
    Read More

  • Headmaster Chris Angel Named 10th Headmaster of Baylor School

    Chris Angel, a 1989 graduate of Baylor School, has been named Headmaster of Baylor beginning July 2021. Hammond’s Board of Trustees unanimously votes to name Hammond Middle School Head Andy North to replace Angel.  Angel has served as headmaster at Hammond since 2009, where he previously held the position of head of upper school from 2002. He began his career at his alma mater, Baylor School, where he held a teaching position and several leadership roles. During his tenure at Hammond, the school has seen unprecedented growth through the expansion of unique academic offerings, experiential education opportunities, national recognition among secondary schools, and an expanded footprint to include state-of-the-art facilities and co-curricular programs. Under his leadership, the athletic department was named three-time winner of South Carolina’s most prestigious athletic award, the arts developed an international repertoire, and community service offerings were expanded school-wide.  
     
    North joined Hammond as Head of Middle School in 2019, following 11 years at the Episcopal School of Acadiana, which included various teaching and administrative roles, progressing to Head of Upper School. The Hammond community has been impressed not only with his ability to inspire, but also with the rapport he has developed with faculty, students, and parents alike. His former colleagues at ESA similarly praise his collaborative leadership style, student-centered approach, and breadth of experience.  
     
    According to Angel, “Leaving Hammond in capable hands is very personal. We’ve worked hard to build a school that rivals the finest, and ensuring our mission and vision continue is critical. A year ago, we sought out Andy North, a champion of independent schools who has established himself as a thought leader in the industry.  Since July, he has capably led our Middle School. A native of South Carolina, and a product of independent schools, he is uniquely poised to step into the role of headmaster, and has received the unanimous support of our Board of Trustees.  The next 15 months will allow us to work side-by-side to ensure a seamless transition. Without reservation, I am confident he will lead and guide this school community to even greater success. More importantly, I know that Andy is the right fit for Hammond.”    
     
    According to Hammond Board Chairman Read Folline, “Hammond has been extremely fortunate to have a headmaster of Chris Angel’s caliber at the helm. His steadfast devotion to this school and community has been integral to the success we have experienced under his leadership. While we at Hammond will miss Chris, we consider his appointment a vote of confidence in our school and all that we have accomplished alongside Chris.”  
     
    Angel will continue to serve as headmaster at Hammond through the 2020-21 academic year as North transitions into his new role. The school will soon develop a search committee to replace North has Head of Middle School. 
    Read More

  • Hammond School Anticipates Return to Classroom Instruction for Fall 2020

    Hammond Headmaster Chris Angel announced today that the school is planning for an on-campus start in August 2020.  The school is working on a variety of different scenarios, with plans underway to phase in a campus opening over the summer months, including graduation for the Class of 2020 on June 20.
     
    According to Angel, “We anticipate a gradual re-opening over the summer months that includes a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020, held on our campus.  We place a premium on classroom time and the interaction that occurs between a teacher and student that no amount of quality virtual learning can replace.  The safety and wellbeing of our school community is paramount, so we will ensure that we have a safe and workable plan in place for the benefit of everyone.  While the situation is fluid, we will be working closely with different groups to help make this possible.”
    Read More

  • April

    Knock Out Red, a Pandemic, and the Hammond Family

    As most of us have discovered lately, we have more time on our hands.  We have time to walk and think and watch as life slows down.  Watch especially as those things that seemed so important only yesterday peel away to reveal the intangibles that are vastly more so.  We’ve rediscovered the power of a long walk, a good book, the sound of a friend’s voice, and the rhythm of nature that, with all its predictability, is oblivious to the disruption of our own cadence.
     
    As I find myself spending more time than usual in the yard, blooming flowers and budding trees have come into sharper focus.  I’ve stopped to smell the roses, if you will.  One rose in particular, a Knock Out Red, is putting on a spectacular show right now … in fact, it throws a party every day.  Far from shy, its siren call is the bold, brash red that all but screams at you to take notice.
     
    This rose is special to me.  During the gym renovation and Innovation Center construction, some of our landscaping was removed to make way for the new and newly-renovated.  One of a few, the rose bush was destined for the landfill when I brought it home to nurture and revive it.  Today, in the midst of the pandemic, it’s returning the favor.  
     
    This Hammond rose of mine serves as a daily reminder of how much the Hammond family has meant in my own life.  As a 13-year old, I watched my charming and gregarious mother rapidly succumb to ALS.  An anchor that gave my life a sense of normalcy, Hammond was there … in the families who brought meals and offered rides to school and ballgames and plays, and in the teachers who sensed my struggle to maintain good grades and were compassionate about my lack of focus. The Hammond family circled the wagons, and for me, it became a soft place to land.
     
    Over the years, other curve balls have come my way and the Hammond family has always been there.  That soft place to land has come in the form of Friday night ballgames, concerts, and school days spent with colleagues and volunteers.  Digging deep and telling the Hammond story is healing … not to mention I’ve acquired new skills and made lifelong friends along the way.
     
    Today, April 6, I mark the start of my 14th year at Hammond.  It comes as no surprise that after all these years, I’m still knocked out by red, I still love to tell the story, and while I find myself in the midst of yet another life-changing event, I know that Hammond is a soft place to land.  So together with you, I’ll continue to celebrate this amazing school and all it has meant to me and to so many others. 

    -Cissy Pope

    What's your Hammond story?  Who's your Hammond hero?  Email us at cpope@hammondschool.org.
    Read More

  • March

    Virtual Red Shirt Friday

    We've just completed our first full week of virtual learning!  What better way to cap it off than with a Virtual Red Shirt Friday.  We asked for photos and you delivered!  We were thrilled to see so many happy faces engaged and learning!  View the gallery.
    Read More

  • February

    Hammond's Dance Marathon Sets Fundraising Record

    One again, this year’s all-school fundraiser, the Miracle Network Dance Marathon, brought all three divisions together in support of Prisma’s Children’s Hospital.  A national movement benefitting Miracle Network Hospitals, the non-profit organization raises funds and awareness for over 170 pediatric hospitals.  One hundred percent of the funds raised stay at the local level to help fight pediatric illness or injury. Hammond students raised $60,168–a record for money raised by a mini-marathon.
    Read More

  • Skyhawk Wrestling: Back-to-Back State Championship Wins!

    Hammond's wrestling team, under the leadership of former Skyhawk wrestler, Mark Hood, clinched its second straight SCISA 3A title following a win over Ben Lippen. “Going back-to-back was hard,” Hammond coach Austin Hood said. “Hats off to Ben Lippen, Greenwood, Cardinal Newman, all the guys who were here today. It got really competitive, there’s a lot of parity.”
     
    “We were excited to be in the finals,” Hood said. “We have a very different team from last year, we had some young kids really step up. We had a sixth grader, seventh grader, freshman open the match and they really answered the bell.”

    Congratulations, Skyhawks!
    Read More

  • January

    Two in a Row: Tobi Ogunfowora wins USC Math Contest ... Again

    Senior Tobi Ogunfowora won first place in The University of South Carolina’s 34th annual math competition for high school students. The competition, open to students in grades 9-12, took place January 25. A total of 170 students representing 18 schools participated in the one-day event.  This marks the second consecutive year that Tobi has been named the top individual winner of the contest, a distinction accomplished by very few.  Tobi also recently won the SCISA math competition and Clemson's Calculus Challenge.  

    “We are extremely proud of Tobi and the hard work he has put into winning this competition for two straight years, something few high school students have achieved,” said Chris Angel, headmaster of Hammond. "“We take pride in identifying our students’ interests and talents and supporting them in every way possible to help cultivate and nurture those talents.”

    As a school, Hammond was in the top division designed for the best teams at the contest. The team of Laurence Zhang, Walker Barrett, Karry Zheng, Doga Ozmen, Vincent Huang, Vicki Li, Elsa Saine, John Li, and Tobi Ogunfowora took second place in the competition, with Elsa Saine, John Li, and Tobi Ogunfowora making the tournament's top 16. 
     
     
    Read More

  • 12 Inducted to Athletics Hall of Fame

    Skyhawk pride took on new meaning as the Skyhawk Nation announced its inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame induction, enshrining one coach and eleven student-athletes who helped blaze the way for hundreds of Hammond athletes who have followed in their footsteps. 
     
    The Hammond Athletics Hall of Fame was established to recognize the school’s finest student-athletes, coaches, and supporters who have excelled in their service to Hammond, either on the field of competition or behind the scenes, enriching and strengthening Hammond’s athletic program.
     
    With 150 state championship trophies garnered in just over 50 years, Hammond students have been successful at the art of competition, many experiencing equal success at the collegiate or professional level.
     
    The inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame class represents five decades, five sports, one coach, and twelve individuals who have positively impacted Hammond athletics. 
     
    Criteria for nomination to the Athletics Hall of Fame include: 
     
    • the student-athlete’s success at Hammond and beyond;
    • the impact of a coach on student-athletes, both on and off the playing field; or,
    • positive contributions made to Hammond athletics.  
    An induction ceremony and banquet was held January 24, 2020 to recognize this first class of inductees nominated by the Athletics Hall of Fame Committee.  Inductees included: Coach Charles McAlister, Bill Gause '75, Marsi McAlister '81, Martha Parker Hester '85, Jason Bradley '92, Michael Edens '94, Brian Ellis '95, Jody Lumpkin '96, Liz Price Brewer '98, Zeb Cope '00, Braeden Troyer '11, and BJ Bennett '12.
     
    Read More

  • Hammond Hosts Performers from Wicked

    The Christopher Gadsden Wells Endowment for the Arts made possible the opportunity for Hammond students to work with three performers from the Broadway musical, Wicked.  Students worked with Wicked cast members in sessions on dance, vocals, and improv.  In addition to honing their skills, students participated in a question and answer session moderated by Pearson Fowler ’11. 
     
    The Christopher Gadsden Wells Endowment for the Arts annually hosts visiting artists, providing exemplary opportunities to help develop and nurture artistic talent in Hammond students.
    Read More

  • HAMMOND Mathletes Take SCISA Top Awards

    Hammond Mathletes had another outstanding showing at the 2020 SCISA Math Competition. Impressively, Hammond took four of the top five individual awards. Elsa Saine took Fifth Place, Vicki Li took Third Place, John Li took Second Place, and Tobi Ogunfowora took top honors for the second consecutive year. Out of 39 teams, Amelia Gandhi and Karry Zheng of Hammond Team 2 won awards for the highest score. Hammond Team 1, Vincent Huang, Vicki Li, Elsa Saine, John Li, and Team Captain Tobi Ogunfowora, took First Place by earning 218 points, a 67-point lead. According to Faculty Advisor Patrick Rybarczyk, "Our next big contest is at the University of South Carolina. I am so proud of these kids not only for their accomplishments, but for what they are doing to help Middle and Lower School students. I could not ask for better students to coach."  Way to go, Skyhawks!
    Read More

Choose a Date

< 2020

Choose a Category

Select All Clear All Refresh
854 Galway Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
803.776.0295 • Email