Students graduate from VGCC Tea class

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Vance-Granville Community College recently celebrated the graduation of students from a class called “Tea and Etiquette.”

The class held its final meeting and graduation ceremony on April 4 with an afternoon tea party planned and carried out by the students at the First Presbyterian Church of Henderson. Several different types of tea, as well as savories, scones and sweets were on the menu. Graduates included Barbara Paro of Butner; Sue Eckard of Creedmoor; Kishia Jones and Pat Miller, both of Henderson; Susan Cox, Dawn Lemons and Lynn Patiky, all of Oxford; and Kaydee Karns of Stem. The instructor was Dr. B.K. McCloud of Oxford. This was the seventeenth time that VGCC has offered the class, since it was founded by the late Constance Lue in 2006.

McCloud reported at the party that three of the eight graduates enrolled in the class after reading about it in a letter to the editor of the national “TeaTime” magazine.

In the course, students learn about the history of tea; the difference between an afternoon tea party, a royal tea party and “High Tea”; and the proper way to make the best pot of tea. They have tastings of a wide variety of teas (black, white, green, Oolongs and herbal) at each class meeting. Beyond the specifics of teas, students study grace, civility and etiquette.

For information about future tea classes, contact Gail Clark at (252) 738-3385 or ped@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

Friends of the Perry Memorial Library to hold book sale

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The Friends of the Perry Memorial Library will hold a book sale:

 

Thursday, May 4th, 4:30 – 7:30 pm (Friends Members Only)

Memberships Available at the door

Friday, May 5th, Noon – 5:30 pm

Saturday, May 6th, 1:00 – 4:30 pm

Sunday, May 7th, 1:00 – 4:30 pm

 

Location:  Perry Memorial Library

205 Breckenridge Street

Henderson, NC 27536

Kerr Tar Council of Government 04/12/17

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Home and Garden Show 04/11/17

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Southern Vance Symphonic Band rated “Excellent”

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Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

April 11, 2017

The Southern Vance High School Symphonic Band earned an “Excellent” rating during competition at the Music Performance Adjudication (MPA) for North Carolina in late March.

The band attended the stringent high school band judging process at Apex Friendship School in Apex.

This is the first time a band from Vance County has earned an “Excellent” rating in the MPA. The rating is the second highest possible rating, behind the “Superior” rating.

The Southern Vance bands are under the direction of Michael Lewis.

Northern Vance High School Achieves AdvancED Accreditation

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Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

April 11, 2017

Northern Vance High School administrators, staff and students completed two thorough days of examination by a team of educators from the AdvancED accreditation agency and received the prestigious accreditation!

The five-year accreditation was granted after an external review team met with Principal Andrew Markoch and his staff over the two-day review and visited classrooms throughout the school during their review time.

The AdvancED team looked at governance, facilities, academic programs and outlying programs at the school before awarding the accreditation.

They looked closely at teaching and learning impact, leadership capacity and resource utilization.

The team rated Northern Vance highly in equitable learning environment, high expectations environment, supportive learning environment, active learning environment, progress monitoring and feedback environment, well-managed learning environment and digital learning environment.

The team’s conclusions for the Index of Education Quality focused on: the impact of teaching and learning on student performance; the capacity of leadership to guide and ensure effectiveness in carrying out the strategic direction of the institution; the use as a tool for formative analysis and continuous improvement; and the connection for the conditions, processes and practices to evidence including student performance.

Vance County Schools Free College Info Session Wrap up

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High school students and parents involved in Vance County Schools took advantage of a free college information session offered on April 4 through the school system’s Family Resource Center.
The session was held from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Family Resource Center, located on Graham Avenue in Henderson in the school system’s Administrative Services Center.
High school counselors from Northern Vance, Southern Vance, Early College and the AdVance Academy at Western Vance high schools were on hand to talk with students and parents about the college application process, applications for student scholarships and loans and available financial aid for college. They also shared information about the services and programs available through Vance-Granville Community College.
The counselors included Jameka Floyd of Northern Vance, Carol Simmons of Southern Vance, Tannis Jenkins of Early College, and Marsha Harris of the AdVance Academy.
They provided written information on college applications and financial aid and assisted students with online services and applications for a variety of colleges and universities throughout North Carolina and beyond.
The information session was designed mostly to provide a wealth of information to high school seniors who have not yet made a decision about the college they will attend.
Cassandra Evans, director of Federal Programs for the school system and the coordinator for the Family Resource Center, planned the college information session with assistance from the counselors.
In the accompanying photo, counselors Marsha Harris, left, and Jameka Floyd, right, work with students in the Family Resource Center during the college information sessions.

Retired judge, wife endow scholarship at VGCC

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Henry Banks, who recently retired as chief judge of the North Carolina Ninth Judicial District Court bench, and his wife, Mamie B. Banks, recently established a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College.

Residents of Henderson, Judge Banks held court in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties as a district judge for almost 21 years, while Mrs. Banks is a longtime educator, currently teaching in the Exceptional Children’s department at Northern Vance High School. She actually started her own higher education at VGCC, taking general education courses at the college before transferring to North Carolina Central University to complete a bachelor’s degree in education and, later, a master’s degree in special education.

Judge Banks also received both his undergraduate and law degrees from NCCU. He practiced law for many years in Henderson and served on the Henderson City Council for 13 years.

In awarding the new J. Henry and Mamie Banks Academic Achievement Scholarship, preference will be given first to students in the VGCC Paralegal Technology degree program, and secondly to students preparing to become teachers, either in the Early Childhood Education program or in the College Transfer program.

Judge Banks said that in addition to his wife’s experience in the teaching profession, he has always had a passion for education, as well. “We’re endowing this scholarship to provide financial support to help people pursue their dreams,” he said. “Because of my career, I know there is a particular need for qualified paralegals in our area.” Mrs. Banks added that she and her husband hope their contributions will encourage others to donate to the community college and help area residents gain education and training.

“We are so grateful to Judge and Mrs. Banks for their support of VGCC students,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “Their examples of public service, both in the law and in education, will inspire students who receive the scholarship in their name for years to come. Not only the scholarship recipients, but also their families, their employers and their communities will benefit from the Banks family’s generosity.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

–VGCC–

E.M. Rollins Teachers Get CenturyLink Grant

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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.

VGCC registering students for summer Science Camp

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Vance-Granville Community College will offer a Science Camp for local middle school students this summer at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The camp will be held Monday-Friday, June 12-16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Rising sixth, seventh and eighth-graders from Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties are invited to participate in the week-long camp.

Sessions will be taught by faculty members from the VGCC Science Department and other college programs. The VGCC Science Camp is now in its seventh year. “We will have fun, hands-on activities that involve various sciences and allow campers to explore STEM career fields like electronics, pharmacy and biotechnology,” said VGCC Science Department Chair Steve McGrady. “Our outstanding VGCC faculty members collaborate each year to make this a learning experience that is unlike anything available in our four-county area.”

The cost to attend the camp is $125, which includes lunch each day and a camp T-shirt.

The deadline to register for Science Camp is May 12. Parents can now register their campers online at www.vgcc.edu/camps.

For more information, contact Steve McGrady at (252) 738-3339 or mcgradys@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–