With Community Support, VGCC Plans to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

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-Press Release, VGCC 

During 2019, Vance-Granville Community College marks a half-century of excellence in education and training, and college officials are planning for events that tie into the celebration throughout the year.

These events include: the seventh annual VGCC Dinner Theater, set for April 25 and April 26; the 35th annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, on May 7; commencement exercises for VGCC’s 50th graduating class, on May 10; a formal inauguration of the college’s new president, Dr. Rachel Desmarais; and events at each campus on or around Sept. 4 – the date on the college’s original charter, which is traditionally observed as the college’s official birthday. A team of college faculty and staff are currently finalizing plans for additional events and activities.

“The 50th anniversary of VGCC provides numerous opportunities for us to celebrate the positive impact this institution has had on Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, while also renewing our commitment to our students and our communities,” Dr. Desmarais said.

Local citizens and businesses have stepped up to support the college’s anniversary celebration. The highest level of anniversary sponsorship is represented by the “Vanguard” sponsors. These include Bob Hubbard of Henderson, longtime vice-chair of the VGCC Endowment Fund Board of Directors; Mr. and Mrs. Hutson “Hut” Wester of Henderson, who are also supporters of the Endowment Fund; and Mr. and Mrs. John Nelms, Jr., of Raleigh, the son and daughter-in-law of the late John K. Nelms, who served on both the VGCC Board of Trustees and the Endowment Board. Four businesses are also Vanguard sponsors: Duke Energy, Altec Industries of Creedmoor, the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham, and Henderson Fruit and Produce.

Sponsors at the “Patron” level include Mr. and Mrs. Bob Nelson of Henderson; J.M. White Funeral Home of Henderson and Mr. and Mrs. Julius Banzet of Warren County.

“Benefactors” for the anniversary include Janet Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Tanner, Hicks and Wrenn, PLLC, the Honorable and Mrs. Randolph Baskerville, Mr. and Mrs. Josh Towne, Katharine Horner, Phillips Dorsey Thomas Waters & Brafford, P.A., CertainTeed, Ruth Brummitt, Nathan Fleming, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Crawford.

“We thank these steadfast friends of the college for their commitment to helping us celebrate Vance-Granville’s rich tradition of service to our region,” said VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson.

The four-county educational institution that is today VGCC began in 1969 as Vance County Technical Institute. After offering classes in various community locations, VCTI moved into renovated quarters of the former Maria Parham Hospital building near downtown Henderson in January 1970.

Soon, phenomenal growth in enrollment made it clear that the school needed larger, more permanent facilities. Granville County leaders then joined Vance County in supporting a united effort to construct and maintain a brand-new campus.

With the institution renamed Vance-Granville Technical Institute, the new campus was built midway between Henderson and Oxford. It opened in August 1976, just six weeks after the legislature granted community college status, meaning that the school could offer students the first two years of a four-year degree. Accordingly, its name was changed to Vance-Granville Community College.

Under the leadership of Dr. Ben Currin, VGCC’s longest-serving president, the college expanded by establishing additional campuses: South Campus, a facility in southern Granville County, in 1982; the Warren County Campus in 1988; and the Franklin County Campus in 1991. Throughout the years, the institution has benefited from the strong support of citizens in all four counties, in the form of donors’ endowed scholarships and in the form of voters’ approval of bonds to build facilities.

In more recent years, VGCC has been transformed through the addition of online programs that can extend educational opportunities to even more students and through the establishment of four Early College high schools — one at each VGCC campus — in partnership with local public school systems.

“In the short time I have been at Vance-Granville, I’ve heard from so many people in the four-county area about how much pride they take in their community college. They want to see it grow while maintaining a focus on accessibility and preparing students for great careers,” added Dr. Desmarais. “In fact, VGCC Vanguards are all around us in the community, demonstrating the college’s excellence over the past 50 years. Our alumni are leaders in business, in health care, in education, in law enforcement and so many other fields.”

The college is interested in hearing from alumni about how their education at VGCC prepared them for success. To share such a story, or to find out more about supporting the college, contact Eddie Ferguson at (252) 738-3264 or fergusone@vgcc.edu.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet April 1

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting Monday, April 1, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The board will also meet in a Closed Session for Personnel/Attorney-Client Privilege and Consultation with Board Attorney in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 on this evening.

To find a copy of the agenda for the meeting, please use the following link: https://www.boarddocs.com/nc/gcsd/Board.nsf/Public

Tar River Elementary Principal Completes Distinguished Leadership Program

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-Press Release, NCPAPA

Courtney Currin, principal of Tar River Elementary, recently completed the Distinguished Leadership Program (DLP), a year‐long leadership development program for practicing school principals designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association and sponsored by the American Express Foundation through the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD).

The Distinguished Leadership in Practice Program (DLP) uses a non‐traditional professional development model that is aligned to the performance evaluation standards adopted by the State Board of Education for North Carolina’s school leaders.

This unique cohort‐based program is designed to limit principals’ time away from their schools by allowing them to attend face‐to‐face sessions once every other month while accessing on‐line assignments, materials and coaching in between face‐to‐face sessions. Principals engage in a series of authentic activities throughout the year‐long experience that are designed to build the capacity of their schools and their own capacity as “Distinguished” school leaders.

“The leadership of the school principal is by far one of the most important factors in school quality. By completing this very rigorous program, our DLP graduates have demonstrated their commitment to continuous improvement by working to improve their leadership skills as they simultaneously improve their schools. We are proud to include them in the ranks of successful DLP completers,” said Dr. Shirley Prince, NCPAPA Executive Director.

This program is offered in Chapel Hill and serves principals in all eight regions of the state.

Tar River Elementary Principal Courtney Currin (pictured left with Granville Co. Schools Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean), recently completed the Distinguished Leadership Program (DLP), a year-long leadership development program for practicing school principals. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

VGCC to Offer Open House at All Four Campuses

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College will hold an Open House on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 9 a.m. until noon, at all four of its campuses.

VGCC staff members and faculty will be available during those hours to provide information on the enrollment process, academic programs and student support services. Visitors will also be able to take campus tours.

The Summer 2019 term begins May 20, while the Fall 2019 semester starts on August 19.

Prospective students are encouraged to pre-register for Open House (and select the campus they plan to visit) at www.vgcc.edu/openhouse.

VGCC’s Main Campus is located at 200 Community College Road, Henderson (Exit 209 on Interstate 85, about midway between Henderson and Oxford).

The Franklin County Campus is located at 8100 N.C. 56., Louisburg (just west of Louisburg).

South Campus is located at 1547 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor (off of N.C. 56, between Creedmoor and Butner).

The Warren County Campus is located at 210 West Ridgeway Street (U.S. 158 Business) in Warrenton.

For more information on enrolling, call (252) 738-3234 or visit any campus.

Oxford Preparatory School Announces 3rd Quarter Honor Roll for 6th Grade

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-Information courtesy Oxford Preparatory School

The third quarter for Oxford Preparatory School ended on Thursday, March 7, 2019. OPS is pleased to announce that the following 6th-grade students mastered their academic content with excellence and, as a result, have been named to either the A or A/B Honor Roll.

6th Grade A Honor Roll

James Allred, Cadence Hoyle, Elizabeth Jones, Jacquelin Jose, Brandy Ray, Marleigh Swanner, Hannah Twisdale and Hunter Woodlief.

6th Grade A/B Honor Roll

Andrew Adcox, Mary Bailey, Elizabeth Baker, Ayla Batchelor, Emily Dail, Davis Faulkner, Luke Harris, Gage Hobgood, Jetta Mangum, Ma’Kayla Neal, Sean Osborne, Ellie Stock, Caleb Watkins, Trevor Weary, Kennedy Wilkerson, Emily Wilkinson and Macie Wilkinson.

C.G. Credle Third Grader Wins Second Annual GCPS District Spelling Bee

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Joel Jiljo Jose, a third grader from C. G. Credle Elementary, won the Second Annual District Spelling Bee sponsored by Granville County Schools on March 14, 2019.

Over 100 supporters crowded the multipurpose hall at Tar River Elementary School for the Bee. When the curtain opened at 6:30 p.m., nine School Spelling Bee winners were seated on stage ready to compete for the District Championship and a chance to attend the 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland.

GCS Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean warmly welcomed everyone, and Dr. Tonya Thomas, Director of Student Services for GCS, introduced the officials and the contestants. Dr. Michael Myrick, also from GCS, Diane Garrison, retired principal, and Cathy Frizzle, community volunteer, served as judges. Amy Lue, Student Data Manager, was the Moderator; and retired educator, Dana King, served as Word Master.

Joel Jiljo Jose (pictured in front with trophy), a third grader from C. G. Credle Elementary, won the Second Annual District Spelling Bee sponsored by Granville County Schools on March 14, 2019. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

One contestant, Cayden Middleton, was unable to be there to represent Butner-Stem. The other nine students stood while being introduced: Joel Jose, C. G. Credle; Lillyanne Johnson, Creedmoor; Alissa Kurtzke, Falls Lake Academy; Natalie Ollila, Granville Academy; Ethan Fleming Winfield, Mt. Energy; Maria Rigsbee, Stovall-Shaw; Addison Preddy, Tar River; Dacari Burrell, West Oxford; and Finn Jones, Wilton.

Mrs. Lue then reviewed the rules. Each round of the Bee consisted of students having a turn to spell different words. The Bee began with a practice round, in which an incorrect word was not counted. The official Bee started next with Round One. If a child missed a word he/she would leave the stage at the end of the round to sit in a designated section of the audience until it was time to return to the stage for the award ceremony.

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5, from public schools, charter schools, or home schools were eligible to compete this year if they or their school enrolled with the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The competitors had already won a spelling bee to qualify for this District Bee. They had six weeks to prepare for it by studying a list of 1,150 words from the Scripps guide called, “Spell It!” It was evident they had engaged in serious studying because everyone was still on stage at the end of Round One!

The randomly selected words increased in difficulty as the Bee progressed. Competitors missed such words as “crimson,” “electoral,” and “zenith.” By the time a stretch break was called at the end of Round Four, there were four students remaining. The audience was practically holding their breaths so as not to distract the concentration of the great minds on stage!

The winner of the Bee had to spell two words correctly in two consecutive rounds. Four students were still in the Bee in Round Six. Two missed the words, “grabble,” and “bambino.”  Now the contest was between Credle’s Joel and Wilton’s Finn. They went back and forth for several more rounds.

Joel’s winning words were “cummerbund,” and “sumo.”  He beamed in excitement as the audience broke into applause, and he was declared the District Bee Winner! In addition to the trophy, he received prizes from Merriam Webster, Encyclopedia Britannica, and a 2019 United States Mint Proof Set. Joel hopes to attend a state university and possibly become an engineer or a pharmacist in the future.

All the contestants returned to their stage seats, and their families had a chance to take pictures of them receiving a medal from Dr. McLean and Dr. Thomas. The group posed with their awards on the steps of the stage with the officials standing behind them and Joel in front holding the big trophy.

The students and their families enjoyed the chance to meet and greet their supporters at a formal reception afterward. The Beta Pi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, International, donated and served cake, punch, fruit, and cheese. The cake was decorated with alphabet letters written in icing, and goodie bags for the contestants contained alphabet-shaped cookies.

As the evening drew to a close, many comments were heard from both children and parents about how much they enjoyed the competition and hope to compete again next year – and that’s perhaps the best way to spell success for this annual event!

VGCC Presents 7th Annual Dinner Theater: ‘Company’ by Stephen Sondheim

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

“Company” by Stephen Sondheim

Tickets for Seventh Annual Dinner Theater will go on sale March 25!

Check out the details below of what promises to be an evening of fun, food and fellowship in the great Vance-Granville Drama and Culinary Arts tradition and get your tickets at www.vgcc.edu/dinnertheater. The event, once again involving the collaboration of the VGCC Drama and Culinary Arts departments, is scheduled for the evenings of Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26, 2019, in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. each evening.

Sondheim’s musical is a sophisticated and honest look at modern adult relationships.

From musical theatre’s most renowned composer, “Company” is largely regarded as a trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics and Best Book.

On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends – “those good and crazy people [his] married friends” – explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.

“Company” features a brilliantly brisk and energetic score containing many of Stephen Sondheim’s best-known songs. The strength of the piece lies in its vivid yet real characters, meaning impressive technical aspects aren’t necessary to convey the story. It can be told as effectively with a cavalcade of automated set pieces as it can with a chair or two. Every audience member will see reflections of themselves in at least one of the characters onstage.

Betsy Henderson, VGCC’s Department Chair/Instructor of Humanities and Fine Arts, is the director of the play.

Tickets are $30 and are scheduled to go on sale on March 25. Audience members will be able to choose the table and specific seats they want at the same time that they buy their tickets online. Patrons are encouraged to purchase their tickets early in order to have the best chance of getting the seats they want for this year’s show.

For more information, visit www.vgcc.edu/dinnertheater.

Granville Board of Education Approves Changes to Elementary Attendance Zones

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019, the Granville County Board of Education approved changes to the attendance zones of the northern area elementary schools. The changes impact school assignments for students living in the Joe Toler Oak Hill, West Oxford, and Stovall Shaw Elementary School attendance zones. This action became necessary after the Board decided to close Joe Toler Oak Hill Elementary School (JTOH) at their January 2019 meeting.

The Board reviewed three different options that were drafted by staff. Ultimately, the Board chose the option that will potentially best minimize route times for students, and be most efficient for the bus fleet serving that area. These new boundaries will go into effect beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

Dr. Stan Winborne, Executive Director of Operations, Human Resources, Communications and Safety, presented maps, charts and a hypothetical route analysis to Board Members in an effort to provide as much information as possible about ride times and pick-up and drop-off times for students. Also included was information pertaining to the number of buses needed and total miles covered, all of which can impact the efficiency of the transportation department, which in turn impacts the department’s budget.

“Ultimately, the Board chose the option which was best for students.  While we cannot completely forecast the exact times and bus routes for next year with the information we have currently, we can plan for new attendance boundaries which have the least likelihood for long routes for students early in the morning, and late in the evening”, explained Dr. Winborne.

The approved new boundaries assign the majority of students in the current JTOH attendance zone to Stovall Shaw Elementary School. The remaining current south-west portion of the JTOH attendance zone will now be assigned to West Oxford Elementary School, which is closer in proximity to that school. (see map below)

Superintendent McLean offered her perspective on the matter, stating, “We want the shortest bus rides possible for our young students. With a county as large geographically as Granville, this poses a challenge for our transportation department. I believe the option approved by our Board will work well given our resources. However, one thing that is important to remember for our families living in the current JOTH attendance zone is that for next school year, they really do have a choice to attend whichever elementary school best suits their child. Our choice programs allow for this, and we plan to provide bus shuttle services based on the enrollment needs in our schools.”

Under the Choice Program, families may choose to have their children attend any elementary school in the district. Currently, each elementary school has its own theme or academic focus which designates it as a “choice” school. Door to door bus transportation is only provided to families within the designated attendance zone, however, the district does offer a series of bus shuttle services to assist with transportation in different parts of the county for families taking advantage of the choice program.

Parents, guardians, family members and members of the community may review detailed maps, and lists of addresses in the new attendance zones on the district website under the Transportation Department page.  If you have questions about a specific address, you may contact your child’s school or contact the Transportation Department at (919) 693-6412 or contact Ms. Cindy Fain by email at fainc@gcs.k12.nc.us.

Granville Co. Board of Education Member Toney Smith Resigns

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019.  After the conclusion of official business items on the agenda, Board Member Toney Smith announced his retirement effective immediately, stating,  “After careful consideration and much thought, I have decided to relinquish my position as Board of Education member effective immediately. The demands of my professional career simply prevent me from participating to the extent that is needed. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve the children of this district, and I appreciate all of the hard work of our talented educators. I wish everyone the very best.”

Granville County Board of Education member Toney Smith announced his resignation at the Board’s March 4 meeting. Smith has served the constituents of District 1 for 11 years as a member of the Board of Education, having been re-elected for the position in 2014. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

Mr. Toney Smith has served the constituents of District 1 for 11 years as a member of the Board of Education, having been re-elected for the position in 2014.  Mr. Smith’s tenure as a Board Member can be characterized as student-focused, with an emphasis on the equitable distribution of resources throughout the district.

Fellow Board Members, Superintendent McLean, and Senior Staff all praised Mr. Smith for his service, citing his love and compassion for students and public education. Dr. McLean shared her thoughts, stating, “During my tenure as Superintendent, Mr. Smith has always demonstrated sincere concern about issues around equity and fairness for all (both with students and adults) in the district – and I, not only respected but genuinely appreciated that.  It has been a joy working with him.”

Fellow Board Members also expressed their gratitude. Mr. David Richardson, Vice Chairman, presided over the meeting in the absence of Chairman Tom Houlihan. Mr. Richardson offered these thoughts, “Granville County Public Schools’ students have benefited from Mr. Smith’s service. We as a board have also benefited from his candor and common-sense approach to making decisions on behalf of the district. We wish him well and hope he continues to stay involved on behalf of our community.”

The Board will continue with six members until a replacement for District 1 is appointed. The replacement will serve until the next scheduled election for his seat, which will begin serving for the term of 2020. The Board will begin discussing the appointment process at their next regular meeting on April 1, 2019.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools on the Move…Literally!

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-Information courtesy Dr. Stan Winborne, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools

GCPS IS ON THE MOVE – LITERALLY!

You probably see our school buses just about every day at some point on our roads. Chances are, you’ve probably ridden a school bus at some point in your life. But I bet you didn’t know some statistics behind our transportation department, so check this out:

Granville County Public Schools transports an average of 3,662 students per day on 103 buses. Our drivers cover more than 7,600 miles and work more than 298 hours each day.  This works out to a grand total of more than 1,218,200 miles per school year!  YES, that is 1.2 million miles – just in our county!  And, it took more than 182,150 gallons of diesel fuel to do this!  That’s is enough fuel to fill TEN average-sized swimming pools!  Not to mention all of the other fluids, tires, wipers, lights and other stuff that need replacing – just imagine the maintenance required! Our 8 full-time mechanics do an amazing job!

From a safety standpoint, our fleet of buses is constantly being upgraded and modernized. We now have 14 buses equipped with Stop Arm Cameras, designed to catch drivers on video who pass stopped school buses (a big no-no!). Also, all of our buses are equipped with Global Positioning Systems (GPS). GPS systems allow us to monitor the locations of our buses at all times. We can tell the speed of a bus, when it applies the brakes, and even when it deploys a stop arm. It also allows us to monitor time and attendance of our drivers, which allows for a very accurate account of bus driver hours for payroll.

The GPS system also has a feature called “Comparative Analysis”. This allows us to monitor and maximize the efficiency of our routes as designed by our routing program and compare to what our buses are actually doing. It also lets us offer the “Here Comes the Bus,” a mobile app made available to our parents. Using this app, parents and students are able to view real-time location of their bus. It has meant fewer missed pick-ups, preventing children to not have to wait in the dark, freezing temperatures, or pouring rain. Parents also no longer need to call the school to check the status of the bus.

Finally, did we mention our recent state safety inspection?  We received the best score EVER and beat the regional average score and had NO buses with serious safety infractions.

All in all, we have a pretty amazing Transportation Department full of talented staff, led by Mr. Harry Wilkins. We hope the next time you see one of our buses on the road, you will have a newfound respect and appreciation for the job we do of carrying the most precious cargo on the road – OUR STUDENTS!

#GCPSONTHEMOVE