Granville County Public Schools

2019-20 School Year Marks Big Changes for GCPS

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Another school year has come and gone, and a new one awaits for the students of Granville County!  We are open for business and accepting enrollments at all schools! We have so many different educational environments, programs and instructional models; any family can find the right fit with us.

In addition to the academic achievement of students, this year’s main focus for our Board of Education and Administration will continue to be on the safety, health and welfare of our children.

In partnership with our County Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Department and the Creedmoor Police Department, the strong School Resource Officer presence in our schools will continue. Efforts to improve the physical security of our campuses also continues with new video surveillance systems, new perimeter fencing, new locks and entryways, along with increased safety training for all staff.

Air quality monitoring continues, with every school being tested by an outside independent laboratory, with results posted to each school’s website for public review.

Anti-bullying and anti-drug, alcohol and tobacco campaigns will be in full effect this school year as well.

A new mobile app will provide students, parents and staff tools for communication concerns related to the well-being and emotional health of our school communities. We will continue to support the social-emotional learning of students through our social worker, counselors and our new Parent University.

You would be correct in thinking that school begins in August – but not for everyone!  In fact, three of our campuses have already started school!  They operate on a dual-calendar, offering both a traditional and ‘year-round’ option to families.

West Oxford Elementary, Butner-Stem Elementary and Butner-Stem Middle School all provide families a modified school calendar in which students avoid the long summer break. While the total number of school days doesn’t change, the vacation time is split up during the whole year, after every 9 weeks of school. More than 350 of our students had their first day back on Monday, July 15!  No summer slide for them!

There is lots in store at other schools across the district this year. Granville Academy is beginning its second year, offering a blended online and face-to-face model for students K-12. The first school of its kind in the state, these students physically attend school only two days a week and receive instruction virtually the other part of their schedule. This is a fantastic option for families who have unique situations, or for those parents who want to be intimately involved in their student’s schooling.

Many home school families, in both our county and surrounding counties, have been flocking to this innovative and non-traditional model.  Early indications show high levels of academic success for the students participating, and other school districts from across the state are inquiring how they can duplicate our home-grown model.

Three other schools are undergoing significant transformations as well. JF Webb High School is busy planning for the merger of the School of Health and Life Sciences in 2020-21. All of the current Biomedical Science courses offered through JFW HLS will continue, with plans for expanded offerings in Career and Technical Education programs, as well as college-level courses offered through VGCC.

Under the leadership of Principal Rice, not only are academics getting an overhaul, but the school itself is also receiving significant facility upgrades, which will go nicely with the improved mascot logo, boasting that Warrior Pride!

Northern Granville Middle School is full of activity in preparation for the merger with Mary Potter Middle School this fall.  The added enrollment helps boost the number and variety of elective course offerings for all students, which will now include Spanish, Art, Music, Chorus, Agriculture Education, Technology Education, and a NEW Minecraft Coding and Video Game Design class with a whole lot of other brain games wherein students would be encouraged to find out Wordscape answers.  Principal Williamson is also planning a wide range of clubs and other enrichment activities for students beyond the regular curriculum.  Exciting times to be a Knight!

Stovall Shaw Elementary is also buzzing with activity this summer in preparations for the merger of students from Joe Toler Oak Hill Elementary. In addition to the new classrooms, instructional programs and electives being planned by Principal McGhee, the school also continues its theme of “Healthy Active Students,” providing a focus on the physical and emotional well-being of students.

Also worth noting are improvements to the entire entrance/drive/parking area of the school, which is being completely redone.  This much-needed upgrade will help ease congestion and traffic concerns, providing a safer experience for all when visiting the school.

Lots of other exciting opportunities are expanding and evolving at schools across the district as well. Mt Energy is entering their second year as a “School of Character,” providing an environment that focuses on leadership and giving back to the community.

Wilton Elementary School continues to offer “The Leader in Me” program, for which they received statewide recognition last year.

West Oxford Elementary School offers the “Global Focus” program, giving students a taste of world cultures and experiences, expanding their perspectives of the world.

CG Credle Elementary offers the “Leadership and Wellness” program, and Granville Central High School continues to offer its focus on STEM-related electives for all students through advanced college-level coursework.

GC Hawley Middle School marches forward with an impressive offering of elective and advanced courses for their students, and Early College keeps pushing the bar higher each year by offering DUAL degrees (high school diplomas AND an Associate’s Degree) to their students.

South Granville High School receives much-needed facility upgrades and delivers that special “Viking” experience to students, leading the way in athletic championships and club activities.

Creedmoor Elementary School of the Arts and Tar River Elementary School round out the offerings with special instructional programs to foster creativity and leadership respectively, meeting the needs and interests of diverse learners.

For all of our newest elementary students, be sure to mark your calendars for an all-day, special Kindergarten Kick-Off at the Granville Athletic Park on July 30. Lots of fun planned for families, along with helpful information and registration forms available!

Finally, efforts continue district-wide to ensure we have the best possible staff in every classroom and in every position across the district. Professional development for all staff will continue to focus on personalized learning and student engagement, making sure that students are invested in their schooling, and are motivated and see value in what they learn.

Recruiting talent also remains a top priority, and the district looks forward to the warm welcome given to our new teachers in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce this August.

Superintendent Alisa McLean offered her thoughts on the direction of the school district, explaining, “Our commitment to the whole child and their quality of educational experience in GCPS – from the environment in which they learn to the individuals from whom they learn; it is ALL important. As such, there is a great deal of work occurring this summer to train, align, clean up, fix, repair, install and simply do what is necessary to ensure Granville County Public Schools is not one of the best but is THE best academic choice for families in our community. Options are contemporary and available; and moreover, our educators are second to none. The Board of Education and I are truly devoted to our motto of being ‘Committed to Excellence and Achievement for All!’”

‘Music on Main’ Series to Continue With ‘Carolina Soul’

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-Information courtesy Oxford NC, Historic Downtown’s Facebook page

Downtown Oxford’s “Music on Main” series will continue with a performance by “Carolina Soul” beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Streets around downtown will begin to close at 2 p.m.

There will be a kid-friendly food vendor and Kona Ice. Families are invited to come out and enjoy time together.

Make sure to bring a lawn chair and your dancing shoes!

St. Andrews Christian Church Invites All to VBS

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-Information courtesy St. Andrews Christian Church

St. Andrews Christian Church, 203 Mulberry St. in Henderson, is holding Vacation Bible School July 15 – 19, 2019, from 5:45 – 8 p.m. The theme is Kingdom Safari where kids learn that love H.E.L.P.S.

Activities for all ages. Come join us nightly!

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 07/16/19

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News 07/16/19

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Two Arrested in Murder of Adonious Hawkins Jr., Warrants for Two Others

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-Press Release, Henderson Police Department

On July 14, 2019, at approximately 8 p.m., Officers of the Henderson Police Department arrested a 15-year-old juvenile for the murder of Adonious Hawkins Jr. and obtained warrants for three others.

As of today at noon, Officers of the Henderson Police Department have also arrested Clysaveon Fields, B/M age 16 of Henderson.

Outstanding warrants remain on Tyleak Hargrove, B/M age 26 of Vance County, and Tyshon DeAndre Stokes, B/M age 20 of Warren County.

We are greatly appreciative of all the cooperation we have received from the public during this investigation. The case still remains open while we continue to search for more evidence.

Please contact Crime Stoppers (252) 492-1925, the Henderson Police Department (252) 438-4141, and the State Bureau of Investigations at (919) 779-8188 (day) or 1-800-334-3000 (nights and weekends) if you have information that can lead to the arrest of these individuals or if you have further information on the incident. You can also contact us by using the P3 mobile app.

On July 15, 2019, Officers of the Henderson Police Department arrested Clysaveon Fields, B/M age 16 of Henderson, for the murder of Adonious Hawkins Jr. (HPD photo)

Town Talk: Garrison Discusses DHHS Move, Medicaid – 07/15/19

Town Talk 11 a.m., M-F, 100.1 FM / 1450 AM

In the continuing discussion about the proposed move of The Department of Health and Human Services administrative offices to the Triangle North Corporate Park in Granville and Vance Counties, NC House 32 Representative Terry Garrison says, “If we can get true bi-partisan support on the relocation, I think that provides the greatest opportunity for sustainability.”

Garrison says the majority of the people in the House 32 district have asked him to “vote against the veto on the one hand, but on the other hand, those persons who have been my staunch allies and those who have been in the trenches and have been my front-line workers and sergeants for the campaign of a democratic party, each one of them has strongly advised me to sustain the Governor’s veto, not to override the Governor’s veto.”

Garrison has been told to his face, he said, that his allies plan to run someone against him if he does help override the Governor’s veto.

That type of pressure speaks to the level of pressure Garrison is under, both locally and from Raleigh. And from his Town Talk interview (listed in full below), one conclusion you could draw is that he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

Garrison is under a lot of pressure with this, and he said, “I want these jobs to come here as much as anyone, perhaps more than anyone.”

Another conclusion and Garrison agrees, the DHHS move is being used as a pawn in a chess game. So much so, Garrison indicated he thought if it were back to the days in North Carolina that the Governor did not have veto power that the State would already have an approved budget and much of this DHHS move may have never come about.

Along those lines, politics got us here and politics is the only way out.

As the Town Talk interview begins, the first two questions are:

WHY NOT JUST VOTE TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR’S VETO OF THE BUDGET, WHICH IS THE GUARANTEED WAY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO LOCATE IT’S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES IN GRANVILLE COUNTY?
YOU’VE SAID YOU WANTED TO NEGOTIATE THE MATTER OF MEDICAID EXPANSION SOME. WHAT WILL MEDICAID EXPANSION DO FOR THIS AREA THAT THE JOBS AND GROWTH OF DHHS MOVING TO THE TRIANGLE NORTH PARK WILL NOT DO?
Vance County NC

Privately Organized Event to Offer Children FREE Lunch – July 16

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Mr. Jesse Williams and Carolyn Bullock reported to WIZS News that they will be serving a free lunch to the community.

This will take place at 327 Whitten Avenue in Henderson on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 12 p.m.

This is an event to help feed children who are out of school for the summer. Lunch includes hot dog, chip and drink.

Lunch is available to parents for $2.

This is a privately organized event to help children and to perform a good deed for the community. The event will continue while food lasts.

Children’s Theater Camp to Perform ‘The Lion King, Jr.’ at McGregor Hall

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PART OF THE ROSEMYR CORPORATION HENDERSON REC PLAYERS 2019 SUMMER SEASON:

The Henderson Rec Players’ first-ever summer theater camp for children and youth will culminate in performances of Disney’s “The Lion King, Jr” at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.

Three Performances: July 26, 27 at 8 p.m., July 28 at 2 p.m.

Featuring songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, the show tells the story of a young lion, Simba, and the rocky road to inheriting his father’s kingdom.

Tickets may be purchased by:

DROP IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

August ‘Alive After Five’ Set for Downtown Creedmoor; Volunteers Needed

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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s second Alive After Five event of 2019 will be held Thursday evening, August 15, from 5:30 until 8:30 pm in the parking lot at VanNess Chevrolet, downtown Creedmoor.

Join the Chamber as we celebrate our 16th year of AA5 events with incredible entertainment and concessions provided by Chamber members – Chick-fil-A, Williamson’s Country Store and Grill, Coca-Cola and Long Beverage.

Music will be provided by the popular “The Attractions Band,” which originally formed in 1965 when “a group of teenagers from Burlington formed a local band in the basement of a music store.”

The band went on to  “open for and were the backup band for well-known performers such as ‘The Tams,’ Clifford Curry, Jimmy Ruffin, ‘The Fifth Dimension’ and ‘The Platters.’”

As the group’s members headed off to college and to the Vietnam War, the original band fell apart.

During the summer of 1999, and after 30 years, a reunion of the band was organized and once again, “The Attractions” were all together.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Chamber staff Toni Anne Wheeler and Wanda Garrett are recruiting volunteers to assist in several capacities for the AA5 event – check-in table, Coca-Cola wagon and beverage stations. Volunteer times are 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 until 9 p.m. A free t-shirt to be worn while volunteering is “yours to keep.”

Please contact a Chamber office to volunteer – Toni Anne Wheeler @ 919.528.4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com or Wanda Garrett @ 919.693.6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com.

The Chamber looks forward to seeing everyone August 15!