GCPS Spring Showcase 2018

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— WIZS has been asked to announce the following information which was supplied by GCPS

The GCPS Spring Showcase 2018 allows you to experience a customized guided tour, by appointment only, of all Granville County Public Schools.

Who?

  • All residents of Granville County are invited to attend daytime custom tours of each of our school facilities.  Come visit our schools while they are in session!
  • Experience teaching, learning and all the fun and excitement our schools have to offer FIRST HAND!
  • Principals, Teachers and school staff will be on hand to answer any and all questions!

When?

  • ALL High Schools – February 6
  • ALL Middle Schools – February 20
  • ALL Elementary Schools – February 27

How & Where?

  • BY APPOINTMENT ONLY…Please call any school to schedule a special daytime tour of the facilities and see the school day IN ACTION!

Feb 1 and Feb 6, 2018 Full Days

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This is an important message about calendar changes due to inclement weather. The Board of Education will finalize official changes to make up lost instructional time at their regular meeting on February 5. However, we can plan for three changes to our schedule as of today. Last Monday January 22 was changed from a teacher workday to a full day for all students. Thursday, February 1 was scheduled as an early release day for all schools, but will now be a full day for all students. And Tuesday, February 6 was scheduled for an early release day for elementary schools, but will now be a full day for all students. These three changes will help make up some of the lost instructional time, but additional changes will be proposed and announced following the February 5 Board of Education meeting. Thank you.

—
Dr. Stan Winborne
Executive Director of Operations, Human Resources,
Communications, and Safety
Public Information Officer
Granville County Public Schools

VGCC hosts lecture series on the brain

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— courtesy VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College will offer a series of free, engaging lectures on the human brain, and the community is invited to attend.

Phil Dixon, a resident of Oxford, will present the series, entitled “Using Your Brain for a Change,” starting with the first session on Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, in the small auditorium in Building 2 on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. In this introductory lecture, Dixon will take a look at how the brain works generally and what it is made of.

In his later talks, Dixon will focus on “Your Brain on its Own” on Tuesday, Feb. 27, and “Your Brain with Another Person” on Tuesday, March 27. These sessions will also begin at 10:30 a.m. in the small auditorium.

Dixon describes himself as being “passionate about the brain – everyone’s brain!” He spends much of his time reading the latest research about the neuroscience of the brain, and determining how that research can be translated into practical application in our daily lives. In particular, Dixon is deeply involved in the application of neuroscience to leadership and management issues such as Executive Coaching, Leadership and Management Development, Change Planning & Management, Culture Change, Recruitment and On-Boarding.

Before he began studying and teaching others about the brain in 2002, Dixon worked in the information technology field – including a stint at Apple – worked in organization development and management consulting, and was the CEO of a commercial real estate firm. He has worked in the private and public sectors, has established and grown a number of consulting firms and has lived, worked and/or taught in over 20 countries.

In 2009, he had the opportunity to study for a master’s degree in Consulting and Coaching for Change in England at a program run jointly by HEC Paris and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He has published several articles about the brain, and is a frequent and international speaker on the topic of brain-based leadership.

The series of three sessions is presented by VGCC’s Office of the Endowment. “We were excited to be introduced to this gentleman who has this expertise and vast experience and to discover that he is now living in the local area,” explained VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson. “Our Endowment Office sees this as another great opportunity for the college to be a valuable resource to the community we serve. We invite our students, our faculty and the community at large to join us for Phil’s fun, informative presentations.”

In the past, the Endowment Office has sponsored two series with Bill Barker portraying Thomas Jefferson.

For more information on this series, call Eddie Ferguson at (252) 738-3264.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

N.C. Community College President of the Year Dr. Stelfanie Williams

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— courtesy VGCC

Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, has been named President of the Year for 2018 by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. She is the first leader in VGCC history to receive the honor.

The President of the Year Award, sponsored by Wells Fargo, was established by the State Board in 2001. This award encourages, identifies, and rewards outstanding leadership and commitment to the community college mission among the presidents of the 58 institutions of the North Carolina Community College System.

“My fellow trustees and I are delighted that the State Board of Community Colleges has recognized Dr. Williams for her visionary leadership,” said Danny Wright, chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees. “Our entire region has been blessed to have Dr. Williams lead Vance-Granville Community College to new heights of excellence by embracing innovation and fostering strong partnerships. She serves our institution, our community and the state of North Carolina with warmth, humility and a passion for student success. This award is a well-deserved honor for Dr. Williams and reflects positively on the entire Vance-Granville team.”

College leaders nominated Williams as part of a competitive selection process in which an eight-page narrative is submitted and candidates are interviewed by an awards committee. The awards process emphasizes accomplishments that presidents have led in the past three years at their institutions – demonstrating broad community partnerships, improving services through technology, workforce education, economic development, advocacy at the local and state levels, long-range planning, innovation in program development and supporting professional development for college employees, among other criteria.

Williams became the sixth president of VGCC in 2012. Since then, she has focused the college on a “Vanguard Vision” strategic plan that addresses educational excellence, continuous improvement, employee and student engagement in college life, and institutional stewardship. Under her leadership, the college has added seven curriculum degree programs, including Mechatronics Engineering Technology, which provides training for advanced manufacturing careers. That program has been supported by some of the largest grants in the college’s history — part of the $40 million in grant funding (including a record-setting, in-kind donation from Siemens PLM Software) secured since 2013. Williams also helped initiate the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Training Alliance (AMSTA) with the Career & Technical Education high school programs from the four public school systems in the college’s service area.

Her tenure has seen the second-largest private donor gift in VGCC history, as well as six consecutive highest-yielding annual golf tournaments for scholarships. With a focus on student success, the institution has improved completion rates, graduating the largest classes ever in 2015 and 2016. The most recent graduating class (2017) featured the largest number of associate’s degrees awarded in the history of the college.

She collaborated with North Carolina Central University to establish the “Eagle Voyage” partnership that now allows students with associate degrees to complete one of three bachelor’s degree programs without having to leave the VGCC campus. Meanwhile, the college has also partnered with North Carolina A&T State University through a program called “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN), in which students simultaneously enroll at VGCC and the university to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

In addition, Williams introduced a private donor-funded college promise program called the “VanGuarantee” in an effort to make college more accessible for students with the greatest financial need. The scholarship program has garnered national attention and was highlighted by the White House in 2016.

Williams has championed Vance-Granville’s embrace of technology to provide greater academic offerings and support to students. The “Vanguard Online Learning through Technology” (VOLT) initiative has made six degree programs available completely online.

Prior to leading VGCC, Williams served as faculty and in several administrative capacities at other North Carolina community colleges. She also currently serves as adjunct faculty for the North Carolina State University College of Education.

Williams earned baccalaureate degrees in public policy and Spanish at Duke University, a master’s degree in project management from Western Carolina University, and her doctorate in adult and higher education from N.C. State University.

Williams has served on a number of boards and is the current secretary of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents. In 2014, she was awarded the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award by North Carolina State University. In late 2017, Williams was appointed to a pair of statewide panels that are focused on education issues: the “My Future NC” Commission and the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound, Basic Education.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

Granville Co. Public Schools Info Jan 20, 2018

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— courtesy Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools were cancelled for all students and staff on Friday, January 19.

Please remember that Saturday is still scheduled to be a school day with an early release bell schedule. If we do have school on Saturday, all high schools students on traditional calendar will take final exams for 2nd period. Be on the lookout for communications from your school’s principal with more information.

We will also be communicating soon how these instructional days will be made up on future dates.

Please be safe, stay warm, and stay tuned for more updates.

Thank you!

—
Dr. Stan Winborne
Executive Director of Operations, Human Resources,
Communications, and Safety
Public Information Officer
Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools Board of Ed Work Session Jan 22

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There will be a Board of Education Work Session on Monday, January 22 at 5:30 pm at the Masonic Home for Children Cobb Center building located at 600 College St, Oxford, NC.

—
Dr. Stan Winborne
Executive Director of Operations, Human Resources,
Communications, and Safety
Public Information Officer
Granville County Public Schools

VGCC – All Campuses Closed Jan 19, 2018

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All campuses of Vance-Granville Community College will be closed on Friday, January 19, 2018, due to inclement weather.

Thank you.

Andrew Beal
Public Information Officer
Vance-Granville Community College

FGV Smart Start to Enroll Kids in Dolly Parton Imagination Library

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Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership For Children will soon begin enrolling kids in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.  F-G-V Development Coordinator Garry Daeke told WIZS News that the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) is distributing $10.5 million statewide over two years.

Daeke said, “The NC Legislature during its last biennial budget allocated $3.5 million in fiscal year 17-18, and $7 million for fiscal year 18-19, for Dolly Parton Imagination Library program expansion throughout NC…Each local partnership then applies for funds to serve the number of children they believe they can enroll.

“We are in process of setting up our contract with the Dolly Parton Foundation, and will be announcing where and how to enroll very shortly. Initially, we will set up an announced enrollment day in each county, probably at local libraries, where parents can enroll children.”

You should look for enrollment forms at convenient locations like the hospital, health department and in pediatricians’ offices.

Daeke said, “Once we are up and running, there will also be on-line enrollment link for us on Dolly Parton’s web page, as well as our local webpage, www.fgvsmartstart.org.”

He said, “With the increased recognition that an important part of brain development occurs within the first three years of a child’s life, and that reading to children enhances vocabulary and other important communication skills, the American Academy of Pediatrics, which represents 62,000 pediatricians across the country, is asking its members to become powerful advocates for reading aloud, every time a baby visits the doctor.”

Daeke quoted Dr. Pamela High, who wrote the new policy.  He said, “It should be there each time we touch bases with children.”  The policy recommends that doctors tell parents they should be “reading together as a daily fun family activity” from infancy.

Oxford Preparatory School Readies for 2018/2019 Enrollment and 6th Grade Expansion

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— press release courtesy of Oxford Prep

Applications for new 6th – 12th grade student enrollments for the 2018 – 2019 school year have been available at oxfordprep.org and available in the school office when Open Enrollment began in November. Oxford Preparatory School (OPS) is an independent and tuition-free public charter school that is designed to mold students into future leaders through completion of a rigorous curriculum while focusing on community service and developing an appreciation of the arts. OPS offers a college preparatory curriculum, a variety of competitive middle school and varsity athletic teams, and is located in a permanent facility at 6041 Landis Rd. in Oxford.

To be considered for a potential lottery, all applications must be turned in to the office or postmarked by Friday, February 2, 2018. If more applications are received than available seats in the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade a blind public lottery will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018. All students choosing to attend OPS will need to confirm enrollment by completing and sending in an enrollment packet by Friday, March 16, 2018. After February 2, applications will continue to be accepted, and processed in the order they are received.

Oxford Preparatory School invites families of prospective students to learn more about the unique offerings of the school. The final of three information sessions will be held on Thursday 1/18 at 6:00. Afterwards, tours will be conducted that will allow the opportunity to meet faculty. In addition, prospective students are invited to spend time visiting the school on the final of three Shadow Days so they can experience our unique school program firsthand. Visiting students accompany OPS student guides through their classes during a four-hour visit. It’s a chance to meet the staff and the students and to get a snapshot view of our engaging college preparatory classes. The final shadow day will take place on Monday 1/22 from 8:30 – 12:30. Please call the Oxford Preparatory School office at (919)690-0360, or email our Office Manager, Kate Reetz at Reetzk@oxfordprep.org to make an appointment.

Board Of Ed Meeting Jan 8, 2018

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a special called meeting on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at the Board of Education Administrative Offices, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina for a closed session to consider confidential student information protected under G.S. 115C-402 and the Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and to consult with the Board attorney and preserve the attorney-client privilege as provided in G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(3).

The Granville County Board of Education will meet in Regular Session on Monday, January 8th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on February 5th, 2018.