Carnetta Thomas Earns Doctorate #VANCECoProud
Congratulations to Carnetta Thomas, principal of L.B. Yancey Elementary School! She has successfully completed work for her doctoral degree.
Thomas learned in early January that she had met all requirements to earn her doctorate in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She received her degree through the University of Phoenix with most work done online.
“I am really happy about this,” Thomas said. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It was not easy at all.”
Like most educators who seek their doctorate, Thomas was working full time when she began work for the degree in January of 2011. During the almost five-year period to complete the required work, Thomas became assistant principal for a year at Pinkston Street and was then assistant principal at Zeb Vance Elementary for two years before becoming the principal at L.B. Yancey this school year.
Her dissertation was about parent involvement in public schools with a focus on the need to develop partnerships with parents. Thomas interviewed 10 parents at Zeb Vance Elementary to do her research.
“I focused mostly on low-performing Title 1 schools and learned that we have to inform our parents,” Thomas added. “We have to look at our parents as a partnership for our schools. We have to communicate with one another. Many of our parents really don’t know what to do. We also have to make them feel warm and welcomed!”
Thomas also stated she received lots of support from colleagues, including Valerie Hairston, counselor at Zeb Vance, who was “a great reader,” and Dr. Jacqueline Crosson at Pinkston Street, who went through the doctoral process at the same time.
“I received so much positive support,” she noted.
(WIZS News received this information in a press release dated February 5, 2016. While it was broadcast at that time on 1450 AM, this is the first time it has been published on wizs.com.)
April Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Vance County Schools are offering parents a variety of opportunities to register their children for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes for the 2016-2017 school year.
Children who will be four years old on or before August 31, 2016, may apply for pre-kindergarten and children who will be five years old on or before the same date should register for kindergarten for next year.
For the convenience of parents, the school system will announce soon public locations for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration for next school year.
In addition, special registration events will be held at each elementary school in April. At each school, the registration sessions will be from 1 to 6 p.m. in a central location of the school. Parents who come to register their child or children are asked to bring: proof of the child’s age (birth certificate, medical record, baptismal record); immunization record; proof of Social Security number (Social Security card, official records); and proof of residence (utility bill, rental lease or mortgage statement). Parents who don’t have these documents can still begin the registration process.
The schedule for the special pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration events at the elementary schools includes:
- Aycock Elementary: Tuesday, April 12
- Carver Elementary: Monday, April 11
- Clarke Elementary: Tuesday, April 12
- Dabney Elementary: Wednesday, April 13
- E.M. Rollins Elementary: Thursday, April 14
- E.O. Young Jr. Elementary: Monday, April 11
- L.B. Yancey Elementary: Tuesday, April 12
- New Hope Elementary: Wednesday, April 13
- Pinkston Street Elementary: Thursday, April 14
- Zeb Vance Elementary: Monday, April 11
Parents also may go to the school located in the district where they live and register their children for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten at any time. All parents are urged to register their children as early as possible.
(VCS Press Release)
Southern Vance National Beta Club
The National Beta Club chapter at Southern Vance High School has inducted 39 new members into the prestigious, academic organization.
Each new inductee was recognized during a special ceremony held in the school’s gymnasium on March 24.
They each were presented certificates and lapel pins by Principal Stephanie Ayscue and senior members of the National Beta Club chapter.
New members include: Hakeem Agbele, Zachariah Alexander, Jordan Alston, Nigoria Alston, Allison Ayscue, Carlos Barajas, Samaria Carter, Viridiana Chavez, Christian Clark, Katie Currin, Krystal Daye, Alyssa Dickerson, Christopher Dominquez, Chermella Durham, Cody Edwards, Adriana Evans, Lorenz Evans, Malayia Glover, Jemari Hargrove, Shatonii Hayes, Walter Hernandez, Janiy’er Hester, Destiny Hill, Jason Lowman, Brandon Loyd, Shamond Lyons, William Massenburg, Lizeth Nieto-Mata, Yahnae’ Quinn, Karen Sandoval, Bryanna Simril, Keyunia Smith, Jordan Thomas, DeSean Thorpe, Tiara Walker, Antoinette Watson, Brittany West, Destiny Williams and Joshua Williams.
(Press Release from Vance County Schools)
Health Wellness Fair Saturday
Big Ruin Creek Missionary Baptist Church is having a Health and Wellness Fair this Saturday, April 2, 2016 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event will take place at Northern Vance High School, located at 293 Warrenton Road.
Keasha Richardson told WIZS News, “There will be several medical doctors, several nurses, several UNC dental students, a couple of psychologists, one or two financial planners, at least one attorney, school counselors, a personal trainer, a Zumba instructor, several of our church members, and several other vendors there to share tips about total wellness.”
The hope is to encompass every area of need. There will be some on-site health screenings.
“We hope to have something for everyone, including children. The event is free and open to the public/community at large. We are also collecting water to send to Flint, Michigan and are accepting water donations from anyone who is willing to donate,” Richardson said.
