For anyone passing by Cayce Elementary School earlier this week, your eyes were not playing tricks on you.
Yes, there was snow on the ground!
On Wednesday, thanks to the generosity of several of the school's community partners, Cayce Elementary’s 900-plus students were surprised with a Winter Wonderland when they arrived for the start of the school day. Among those partners: Dominion Energy, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, Cayce Police Department, CMC Steel, Starbucks, Creekside Restaurants, Sam’s Club-Harbison, Walmart Supercenter-Augusta Road, Amazon, CMC Steel, Martin Marietta, Sodexo Food Services, McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A West Columbia, and eight area churches.
The school’s large playground was transformed into a wintry landscape adorned with inflatable snowmen. Students marveled at flakes flying from a snow-blowing machine, tossed soft snowballs into buckets (and at each other), sat in front of a "fireplace" in the Kindness Cabin to listen to guest book readers, and listened to DJ BSam playing cool tunes.
But the day was not just about play. Dominion Energy brought a bucket truck to the playground and talked about electricity, power lines, repairs, and careers. In the cafeteria, the Lexington Two district coordinators for mathematics and science talked with students about where snow comes from — and made snow using a science kit — and discussed frozen fractals.
Community partners made the winter magic happen, including volunteers on hand from Dominion Energy, Mid-Carolina, Cayce Police, neighboring Brookland-Cayce High School and the Lexington Two Innovation Center, who led demonstrations, read books, help with games and activities, and served treats.
Another treat, and just in time for cold winter weather: Each Cayce student received a gift bag with a hat, gloves, and stuffy keychain donated by community partners.
Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, was in the middle of the fun Wednesday, tossing snowballs with students. He said Dominion Energy, whose South Carolina headquarters is just across the street from Cayce Elementary, was excited to support a neighboring school and education in the Palmetto State.
“Being a good neighbor means showing up — not just in times of need, but for times of joy as well,” Kissam said. “What started out as a plan to donate hats and gloves to help keep the children warm quickly snowballed in the most perfect way into spending fun-filled hours with them and giving them an opportunity to meet energy professionals they can grow up to be like – even the ones dressed like Jack Frost and Santa’s elves for the day. Our employee volunteers are still talking about how they can’t stop smiling after enjoying this experience with our friends and neighbors at Cayce Elementary School.”
Cayce Elementary School Principal Elaine Lundy said the event was the talk of the school for the rest of the day Wednesday, even as students loaded into buses and cars to go home.
“Cayce Winter Wonderland wasn’t just an event — it was pure joy for our kids,” Lundy said. “Seeing their smiles, the excitement in their eyes, and the way they felt celebrated meant everything to us.”
“As principal, it truly warms my heart to see so many community partners come together for our students,” Lundy added. “Their kindness shows our children that they’re surrounded by people who care about them and believe in them. That kind of support makes a lasting difference, and we are so grateful.”
