Four Pickens High School seniors signed recently to continue their athletic careers in college. Accompanied by his sister Morgan, mom Sue and dad Randy, Ryan Ross inked to play baseball at Limestone College. Makalyn Higgins, pictured with her parents Sharon and Ken, signed to run cross-country at Newberry College. Taylor Ownby, seated with her parents Greg and Christie, signed with Southern Wesleyan University to play softball. Laura Page, pictured with her parents Maria and Dan, also inked with SWU to play softball. (Rocky Nimmons/Courier)

EASLEY — MountainView OB-GYN, a physician practice of Baptist Easley, has been officially certified as a centering pregnancy site.

According to the Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI), “CHI follows a site approval process that helps to assure that a site has implemented all 13 essential elements. Sites that have gone through the approval process and met the criteria have been designated as an approved centering site. Centering sites receive the approval with pride and a sense of accomplishment for adopting and maintaining a high quality approach to health care delivery.”

Centering pregnancy is an innovative approach to prenatal care. In this unique model of care, women are empowered to make their own healthy behavior choices. CHI’s mission is to improve maternal health by transforming care through centering groups. The program was made possible by an initial grant from the Duke Endowment through the Baptist Easley Foundation.

Spread out over 10 sessions, an expectant mother will go through the course with a group of women who have due dates close to hers. Group members are able to discuss questions, share concerns, and find solutions in a friendly group setting. Meetings are monthly initially and then change to every two weeks as the due date approaches. There is also private time with a physician for individual care. Expectant mothers learn how to take their own blood pressure, fill in their own charts, and enjoy the support of others, all without ever having to sit alone in a room waiting on an appointment.

MountainView OB-GYN is located at 1351 Crestview Road in Easley. For more information about the centering program, visit https://www.centeringhealthcare.org or call MountainView OB-GYN at 855-5006.

PICKENS — Pickens Middle School is hosting its annual summer science camp from June 24 through 28.

The camp is open to all rising 6th, 7th and 8th graders. It will be held on the middle school’s new campus, at the site of the old Pickens High School, from 9 a.m. until noon each day.

Campers will have a chance to learn about many different science disciplines including anatomy, astronomy, chemistry, biology and geology. They will participate in hands-on science activities such as dissecting an animal, using microscopes to view microorganisms, building a rocket, and making fossils.

The summer science camp is hosted by Pickens Middle School’s Science Club.

The club meets once a month to learn about science in a fun, exciting and relaxed way with no pressure of homework or tests.

The science camp is a way to introduce science in the same fun and relaxed way to students outside of the science club, and even outside of the middle school. It also serves as a fundraiser to help pay for the science club’s materials and field trips.

The club members have been on some incredible science adventures including a trip to swim with the manatees in Crystal River, Fla., an overnight stay and behind-the-scenes tour at the Atlanta Aquarium, and a trip to Patriot’s Point and Bull Island in Charleston.

The fee for the science camp is $70, which includes admission to the camp, materials required for the week, a drink to be provided each day (students are encouraged to bring their own snack), and lunch to be provided on Friday.

There are only 120 spots available on a first come, first served basis. A $35 deposit upon registration will reserve a spot.

For more information about the camp, or for registration information, visit the Pickens Middle School website at pms.pickens.k12.sc.us. You can also contact Laura Anderson at lauraanderson@pickens.k12.sc.us, or call the school at 397-4100.