Tag Archive for: #vancecountyproud

E.M. Rollins Teachers Get CenturyLink Grant

Regina Hilliard and Faye Crawford, two second-grade teachers at E.M. Rollins Elementary School, today were awarded a $5,000 technology grant from CenturyLink.
Hilliard and Crawford submitted their grant request a couple of months ago through the CenturyLink technology grant program.
They plan to purchase a variety of technology devices, including iPads, and software for their students with the grant funding.
Several CenturyLink representatives were on hand at the school this morning to make the grant presentation. Derek Kelly, a legislative affairs manager with CenturyLink, and Larry Mathiot, area public relations representative for CenturyLink, led the presentation.
The forward photo shows Crawford, left, and Hilliard holding the large replica of the grant check at center. Joining them are E.M. Rollins Principal Stephanie Ayscue, standing to the right of Hilliard; Kelly, standing at far left; Mathiot, standing in back third from left; and other CenturyLink representatives.

Vance County Schools FRC to host “Senior Night” Info Session

The Vance County Schools Family Resource Center is hosting a free “Senior Night” information session on Tuesday, April 4, from 3 to 6 p.m. for high school students and their parents.

Students and parents can come at any time during the three hours to receive valuable information from high school counselors about the college application process, financial aid opportunities and educational services and programs provided through Vance-Granville Community College.

The session will be held in the Family Resource Center, located in the school system’s Administrative Services Center at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson.

Arts Alive Talent Showcase a Success for Vance County Schools

The Arts Alive Talent Showcase for Vance County Schools on Saturday, March 25, featured about 70 students from the school system who shared their amazing talents in singing, dancing, reciting dramatic readings and playing instruments on the stage at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.

The showcase also featured over 200 pieces of visual art work done by students from elementary to high school in Vance County Schools. Hundreds of local residents, family members, local educators and others came through McGregor Gallery throughout the afternoon to view the art work on Saturday. The showcase culminated with the two-hour show in the center’s auditorium that included an audience of over 600 people.

Student performers in the show were the Southern Vance High School Ensemble; Ciara Bundy of Henderson Middle School; Daniel Thorpe of Southern Vance High School; Elizabeth Black of Aycock Elementary School; the Dabney Royalty Show Choir of Dabney Elementary School; Miracle Chin and Sarah Burns of Southern Vance High School; Anna Watkins of Aycock Elementary School; the Clarke Elementary Praise Dance of Clarke Elementary School; Jadyn Jones of Northern Vance High School; My Brother’s Keeper, who are five brothers attending Southern Vance High, Henderson Middle and Aycock Elementary schools; the Shiloh Baptist Liturgical Dance with performers from Southern Vance High and Henderson Middle schools; Valentina Ortega- Mora of Aycock Elementary School; Jesse Peele of Carver Elementary School; Kaitlyn Tant of Southern Vance High School; the Southern Vance High School Step Team; Jose Gonzalez and Jordan Lewis of Southern Vance High School; Anterrahn Harris of Northern Vance High School; and the Southern Vance High School Drumline.

Arts Alive was presented by the Vance County Public School Foundation and Vance County Schools as a celebration of the arts in our public school system. It also served as a fundraiser for the foundation. Proceeds from Arts Alive will be used by the foundation to support educational initiatives in Vance County Schools.

Sponsors for the event included: Bob and Roxanne Fleming; Marion Perry for Tokens of Love; Rose Oil Company and Rose Propane; Archie B. Taylor Jr.; Tegarris Associates Realty Inc.; the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development; Dr. Anthony D. Jackson; Michael and Vanessa Jones; Maria Parham Health; Prim Residential Rentals Inc.; Margier White State Farm Insurance; Ronald and Dr. Cindy Bennett; Dr. Trixie J. Brooks; Talmadge and Michele Burgess; the San Souci Literary Club; the Twilight Gardeners; Edward B. Wilson; and Wayne and Susan Adcock.

Arts teachers in our schools played a major role in promoting Arts Alive and getting their students involved in submitting visual art work and in doing the performances. Art, drama, music and band teachers all played key roles in the success of the event.

The accompanying photos are from the Arts Alive art work displays and the showcase performances in McGregor Hall.

Fire and Public Safety Academy holds special training session for Youth Empowerment Academy

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 22, 2017

Francis Brown, Fire and Public Safety Academy instructor, hosted a special training session for students in the school system’s Youth Empowerment Academy on March 22.

Brown was assisted by several of his academy students in demonstrating how to properly use a fire extinguisher. He also shared with the middle school students basic fire safety practices and CPR techniques.

Henderson Middle School Nationally Recognized for Creative “Pi Day” celebration

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 22, 2017

Geraldo Banaag and his math students at Henderson Middle School have been recognized nationally for their celebration of National Pi Day on March 14.

Lisa Wise of Imagine Nation, the organization which organized Pi Day activities in schools across the United States, recognized Banaag and his efforts at HMS. The HMS celebration was the only one recognized at a school in North Carolina for Pi Day!

Wise stated, “We asked classrooms all across Imagine Nation to share their Pi Day celebrations and we were not disappointed!”

Banaag created a weeklong celebration for his math students. Activities included a Quiz Bee where groups of students answered math problems and math trivia. A pie-eating relay that entailed eating a piece of pie while going through obstacles and solving math problems and puzzles. A Pi memorization contest and a math art contest.

Banaag and his students have won a $50 pizza prize for their outstanding efforts.

STEM Early High School Applications Due Next Thursday

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 21, 2017

The deadline for completed applications for students to enroll in the STEM Early High School for the 2017-2018 school year is Thursday, March 30.

Current Vance County Schools students who want to apply should submit their completed applications to their school counselors by Wednesday, March 29.

Other students should submit their completed applications by March 30 to the STEM Early High School on the campus of Northern Vance High School on Warrenton Road or the school system’s Administrative Services Center on Graham Avenue in Henderson.

No late applications will be accepted.

Fifteen Vance County Early College High School Students recognized for academic success

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 17, 2017

A total of 15 students who attend the Vance County Early College High School, located on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College near Henderson, have been recognized for their outstanding academic achievements in the five-year program.

The students include: Hunter Antel, Nancy Bonilla, Andrew Brame, Cameron Bullock, Brooklyn Davis, Malcolm Elam, Lehman Ford, Luke Frazier, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff, Seth Moody, Brittney Patterson, Hannah Roberson, McKenzie Taylor and Matthew White.

Administrators and staff at the Early College High School, whose mascot is a wolf, joined special guests and family members in honoring all of the students at a “Leading the Pack” celebration ceremony on February 23. The celebration was held at the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.

The students were recognized for leading their classmates with the highest grade point averages and with outstanding progress towards earning their high school diploma and at least one associate’s degree from Vance-Granville Community College. Several of the students are expected to graduate with multiple associate’s degrees.

The Early College program provides opportunities for students to complete their high school career and at least two years of college course credits at no cost to them. Upon graduation, most of the students go on to complete their post-secondary education at a four-year college or university.

The WOW starts NOW!

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

Parents of children who are pre-kindergarten and kindergarten age are urged to visit Vance County Schools‘ elementary schools this coming week, March 13-17, to tour the school, visit with teachers and administrators and register their children for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year.

Special pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration activities are planned for Tuesday, March 14, and Thursday, March 16, from 1 to 6 p.m. each day at the schools. Aycock, Carver, Dabney, E.M. Rollins, E.O. Young, L.B. Yancey, Pinkston Street and Zeb Vance have special events planned for Tuesday, March 14. Special events will be held at Clarke and New Hope on Thursday, March 16.

All children who register for kindergarten will receive a colorful, new backpack. Refreshments and special children’s activities also will be available.

For those parents who cannot attend the school events during the week, a special registration event will be held at the Vance County Schools Administrative Services Center at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson on Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers will be on hand to talk with parents and to lead children in special activities. Parents of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children can also register them for the 2017-2018 school year at this event. Refreshments and backpacks will be provided. All activities and items are free.

“The WOW Starts NOW!” is the slogan this year for the school system’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration campaign.

To register for the 2017-2018 school year, all pre-kindergarten children must be four years of age on or before August 31, 2017, and all kindergarten children must be five years of age on or before August 31, 2017.

Applications Now Being Accepted for STEM Early High School

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 3, 2017

 

Applications are now being accepted for enrollment in the STEM Early High School for the 2017-2018 school year.

This grades 6-8 middle school has a focus on project based learning with instructional emphasis in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

The STEM Early High School is located on the campus of Northern Vance High School.

Information sessions are now being held by STEM Early High administrators in local elementary schools. Applications for the school are available during these sessions. They also are available through the school counselor at each elementary school. Applications and additional information also can be obtained on the Vance County Schools website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Completed applications to the STEM Early High School must include two recommendations from educators or adult mentors and must be received by the elementary school counselors or at the STEM school by March 30.

Vance County Schools Empowerment Academy Students create local garden

Administrators and students at the Vance County Schools Empowerment Academy have created a garden outside of the facility’s main entrance with funding from a special grant program.

The grant funding, totaling about $170, came from the Karma for Cara Foundation which funds youth volunteer projects.

Brian Schlessinger, a teacher at the Empowerment Academy, led efforts to apply for the grant and create the garden. He worked with his students and administrators at the academy to seek the grant funding and follow through on building the garden that is beside the facility’s main entrance.

The garden was completed by early February after students and their teachers worked to prepare the soil, install landscaping timbers for borders for the garden and had soil brought in to fill the space. They then worked to plant tulip bulbs, two evergreen shrubs and a cedar tree in the garden. Schlessinger and students are shown in the first two photos as they work on the garden.

Antavius Turner, a seventh grader who was attending the Empowerment Academy and is now a student at Eaton-Johnson Middle School, was one of the students involved in the project. Turner is shown with Schlessinger in the third photo as they work online to complete paperwork for the grant funding.

“Building the garden was a really good experience,” Turner said. “All of us in the academy worked together to get it done. We wanted to give the area outside the building life and make it look nice. We really like how it turned out and I think the project helped to show when you give us another chance we can do good things.”

The four female students and 10 male students who attend the Empowerment Academy are all on long-term suspension from their home schools because of behavior issues. Girls attend classes at the academy in the mornings and the boys attend their classes in the afternoons each day. Schlessinger and other teachers, along with Dr. Ralphel Holloman, coordinator of the academy, work with the students in online course work as well as teacher led math and language arts classes on a daily basis. Turner spent the first semester of this school year in the Empowerment Academy. He was able to return to Eaton-Johnson for the beginning of the second semester in late January after he completed necessary course work and met attendance and behavior requirements.

“All of the Empowerment students pitched in to help with the garden project,” Schlessinger said. “It made them feel good to have a role in creating it. We hope to do more with the garden at a later time and continue to improve the appearance of the areas outside of the building.”

Schlessinger pointed out that the funding from the Karma for Cara Foundation was a perfect fit for the academy’s project. The foundation was established in memory of Cara Becker, who lived in Maryland and at the age of 21 was diagnosed with leukemia. She battled the disease for four months, but died of complications from her treatments in December of 2012. Her family has carried on her legacy through the foundation. Becker throughout most of her short life was involved in volunteer work and community service. She had a special interest in helping children who were experiencing tough times and promoted community involvement with those her age and beyond. The foundation regularly awards small grants for community projects involving youth groups and also recognizes the efforts