Tag Archive for: #VANCECoProud

Vance County High School

Aaron Elliott Announced as the Vance County High School Head Football Coach

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— press release courtesy of Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools welcomes Jacob “Aaron” Elliott, a native of Vance County, as the Head Football Coach at Vance County High School. A graduate of Southern Vance High School, Elliott went on to attend Liberty University. He began his career in public safety, serving in both Emergency Medical Services and Fire Services.

Elliott joined the football coaching staff at Louisburg High from 2010-2014, coaching the offensive and defensive lineman, achieving a record of 38-19 and a conference record of 17-3. The team had an undefeated conference season in 2013 and he later became the Defensive
Coordinator in 2015 with the team placing as the 1A Eastern Regional Runner Up in 2021. In 2021, Elliott accepted a position with Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools as a Fire Technology Instructor at the Nash Central High School Fire Academy. His coaching continued while at Nash Central, where he contributed to the Bulldogs playoff run which ended in the third round.

Coach Elliott is excited to return to Vance County to serve as an educator and Head Football Coach sharing, “I look forward to continuing the opportunity to coach and lead young men to further their football and academic careers at the collegiate level, while also encouraging their growth as individuals and success in life itself. He will begin his coaching duties effective immediately and will serve as one of the Fire Academy and Public Safety instructors at Vance County High School, beginning in August.

Vance County High School

VCHS Viper Graduation Moved Inside, Will Air Live on WIZS

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We have an important message for the Class of 2022 graduates at Vance County High School. The large amount of rain over the last 24-hours has greatly impacted the field conditions of the high school stadium field. After careful consideration, the decision has been made to move the Vance County High School graduation indoors into the VCHS gymnasium. Each graduate received 4 tickets for the rain location. We also want to let you know that the VCHS graduation will be livestreamed on the VCS website tomorrow, May 25, at 9am and aired live on WIZS.
—

Aarika Sandlin

Director of Communication and Marketing
Vance County Schools | www.vcs.k12.nc.us

Vance County Schools Announces Partnership with Boys and Girls Club

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— press release courtesy of Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools is excited to announce a partnership with the North Central North Carolina Boys and Girls Club through a 21st Century Grant. This partnership will provide an afterschool program for students in grades 3-5 at Carver Elementary and New Hope Elementary.

Dr. Bennett, VCS Superintendent, shared, “The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Central North Carolina are so supportive of our students. Many of our students attend the local Boys and Girls Club here in Henderson, but to have two school-based afterschool programs is an added
blessing.”

The programming will include academic support as well as enhanced experiences for our participating students. Additionally, dinner will be provided each day of programming at their respective school. As part of the grant, these students will also be afforded the opportunity to
participate in a summer program at their elementary school for several weeks.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for New Hope Elementary’s Boys and Girls Club program will take place at the school on Friday, October 1 at 4pm. Principal Letitia Fields shared, “An onsite program gives our scholars the opportunity to receive additional academic support, as well as
participate in real world enrichment activities that promote social emotional well being and career readiness. We are elated to have this opportunity for our students at New Hope Elementary.”

Carver Elementary’s ribbon cutting will take place on Wednesday, October 6 at 4pm at the school. Stephanie Alston, Principal at Carver, shared, “I am overjoyed to have this opportunity at our school knowing that it is satisfying so many needs for our students, our parents, and
helping us to provide an additional way to close gaps created during the pandemic. Families that have returned back to work now have support to assist students with homework while they may work after school-hour jobs. We are truly grateful and ecstatic to have this opportunity now within our Eagles’ Nest!”

Bennett shared, “Students and families at New Hope and Carver Elementary are so excited to have this opportunity in their community. I look forward to a continued partnership with the Boys and Girls club as we seek to enhance the experiences available to our students. This is truly another win for our community!”

VCS Literacy Specialist Part of Statewide ‘Rethink Education’ Team To Promote Blended Instruction

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Vance County Schools has announced that Amber Hines, district K-5 literacy specialist, is a member of the first cohort of Rethink Education, a statewide initiative created to help teachers tailor blended instruction targeted at rural and under-resourced communities.

Made possible by $17.6 million from the U.S. Department of Education, Rethink Education provides training by facilitators like Hines to help educators design their instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners during short-term or long-term disruptions.

Hines, representing VCS, joins other educators from 50 other school districts, 28 charter schools and one lab school from across the state that make up the initial cohort of facilitators.

Their job will be to strengthen remote and in-person instruction with a blended model of delivery, and “reinvent school and community preparedness for new models of blended learning for grades K-8,” according to a press release from NC DPI.

As facilitators, they will serve to prepare teacher from across the state “to deliver high-quality instruction in a variety of settings and situations.”

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said the state must continue to build capacity and provide resources to meet the needs of students using blended instruction. “This dedicated group of educators will lead the way to ensure that no matter where learning takes place, our students are fully prepared for a globally competitive job market,” she stated.

Vance County Schools Announces Changes in Leadership

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— courtesy of Vance County Schools; by Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin; Online at vcs.k12.nc.us in original format with pictures as Sept 2021 Board Briefs

Vance County Schools is excited to announce John Suther as the new Chief Finance Officer. Suther earned his degree from North Carolina State University and has served as the Assistant Finance Officer for Vance County Schools the last 8 years. Suther comes to the position with 17 years of accounting experience and was certified by the North Carolina Association of School Business Management Academy in 2016 as a Certified School Business Director. Suther resides in Henderson with his wife Joy and their two children.

Cathy Kidd, the current Payroll Supervisor for VCS, will move into the Assistant Finance Officer position, having worked over 25 years in finance, with 19 years being in public education. She is a graduate of Wesleyan College and earned her Masters from the University of Phoenix. She resides in Weldon with her daughter, who is currently a student at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The current Chief Finance Officer, Jennifer Bennett, is taking a position with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Suther and Kidd will begin their new positions effective October 15, 2021.

Dr. Jennifer Carraway, the current Director of Student Services, will now serve as the Executive Director of Human Resources. Carraway has been with the district for 4 years, with a total of 27 years in education. She is a graduate of Barton College and earned her Masters and Doctorate from North Carolina State University. She resides in Henderson with her husband and two children and is a proud alumna of Vance County Schools. Carraway will begin her new position effective immediately.

Detrius Jones is our new Assistant Director of Human Resources. She has 13 year of experience in licensure and human resources. She is a graduate of KendPersall University in Chicago and earned her Masters from Concordia University in Oregon. She resides in Raleigh, NC with her two children and began her position in August.

Vance County Schools is excited to announce Mr. Cyrus Waters as the new principal for Advance Academy. Mr. Waters has been in the field of education since 2003, having served as a CTE Teacher, Special Populations Coordinator, Assistant Principal and most recently Principal at Gaston Middle School in North Hampton County. He is a graduate of Shaw University and earned two graduate degrees with one being from Gardner Webb University and the other from Andersonville Theological Seminary. Waters will begin following the upcoming retirement of Interim Principal, Mark Lawhorne.

LEAP Grants Awarded for the 2021-2022 Year; Funded by VCPSF & Mako Medical

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— submitted by Vance County Schools

Learning Extending Actual Performance, also known as Leap Grants, were established through the Vance County Public School Foundation as a way to assist teachers in goal oriented projects to extend and enrich the lives of our students.

This year, we were fortunate to have Mako Medical match the $5,000 that the Vance County Public School Foundation earmarked for the LEAP grants, extending the ability to provide $10,000 in LEAP grants. A committee was formed to evaluate the applications, with all names and schools redacted. Each application was reviewed carefully and looked over with fidelity to ensure that those being awarded met all of the criteria and goals. After careful evaluation, 5 projects were selected to receive a 2021-2022 LEAP Grant.

Vance County Schools is extremely grateful for both the Vance County Public School Foundation and Mako Medical for making this possible!

Our first educator honored is for a project entitled, Operation Ukulele! Operation: Ukulele! is a project for a class set of twenty-five ukuleles that involves the entire student population of Aycock Elementary (K-5). A class set of ukuleles will not only increase the knowledge, wealth, and importance of learning an instrument but it will also strengthen sight-reading and rhythmic skills week after week! My classroom instruction not only enhances because of them, but as a result, music classes immerse themselves in collaborative music ukulele ensembles! Congratulations to Mr. Matt Moore of Aycock Elementary.

The second educator being awarded is for a project known as Fitness Drumming. Fitness Drumming is a highly engaging, non-traditional fitness activity. Students use rhythm sticks or drumsticks to drum out beats and patterns on stability balls while also performing exercises. It is a great way to get student’s heart rates up while also having fun improving coordination with musical beat and rhythm development. The cross curricular activity incorporates music and physical education. Congratulations to Mr. Dan Sandlin of Dabney Elementary.

The next educator awarded is for the Angelfish Bloggers project. Angelfish Bloggers welcome writers “under the sea” to learn the process of writing as a vital part of communicating. This theme will promote the joy of organizing topics and information to develop digital platforms to communicate clearly and coherently as 21st Century learners. Blogging will be a primary publishing platform along with emails, Google docs, and Google slides. The Simplify Writing Comprehensive Writing Program will be the primary tool of assessment and daily instruction along with a few mentor texts splashed in to keep students engaged and “swimming with the flow”! Congratulations to Mrs. Rachel Brown of Aycock Elementary!

Our next awardee is for a project entitled Modern Spaces, which is the alignment of researched based best practices and innovative technological tools in the classroom, maximizing student achievement. This project will foster an environment of inquiry and ultimately improve students’ achievement in English Language as they prepare for college & career in the 21st century. Ultimately, as a modern teacher, teaching has to be about helping students make connections to the real world and there is no better way to help them to do that than through the use of instructional technology. Congratulations to Ms. Marsha Harvey of Vance County High School.

Our last awardee is for a Modern Physical Learning Environment project. The goal of this project is to transform a classroom from an old-fashioned, teacher-centric space to a versatile, functional, modern learning environment by replacing student desks with a set of tables and chairs that connect and separate to adapt to varied learning tasks and modalities. Congratulations to Peter Hasselberg of Vance County High School.

We are excited for each of our awardees and how their projects will make a difference in the lives of our students!

Home Credit Corp Donates to New Hope Elementary

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Of the many positive things Vance County Schools does, one of them is the effort that is placed in building relationships between VCS and the business, faith and civic community.

Friday at New Hope Elementary School, between Williamsboro and Townsville, Home Credit Corporation’s Bryan Yount presented Principal Letitia Fields with a check for $500.  The two are former classmates at North Vance High School, and Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin stated in a release on behalf of Vance County Schools, “We are proud to see our alumni supporting one another through partnerships within our schools.”

Sandlin indicated in the statement that Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett joined the presentation, and Yount challenged “other businesses and civic groups to partner with our district’s schools to help make a difference.”

Vance County Schools Logo

For Now, Vance County Schools Maintains Face Covering Requirements

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Vance County Schools resumes this week and so a statement on masks was needed now, before the scheduled August 9 board of education meeting.

That statement online at vcs.k12.nc.us reads:

“Vance County Schools will maintain our current face covering requirements for all students and adults in all buildings with students. The Board of Education will revisit this at the August 9th Board of Education meeting.”

As Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin reminded WIZS News Tuesday afternoon, the VCS Early Start School Calendar shows open house for Wednesday, August 4 and the first day of school as Thursday, August 5.  Vance County Early College High School uses the early start calendar.

The VCS Year-Round Calendar lists the first day of school as Monday, August 9.  EM Rollins STEAM Academy is the only year-round school but is in session, in person before the board of education meeting.

The VCS online statement also says:

“Vance County Schools would like to remind all of our families that we will be back to school face-to-face 5 days a week for the 2021-2022 school year. Should your child wish to participate in virtual learning, they may do so by transferring to our virtual school, Vance Virtual Village Academy, which does require a one-year commitment.”

VCS Traditional Calendar Schools start Monday, August 23.

Nearby to the west, all Granville County Public Schools students and staff will be required to wear face coverings on all school property when school starts later this month, following a board of education decision made during its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 2.

The Granville decision came following a presentation from Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison and GVHD Medical Director Dr. Shauna Guthrie about the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Vance County Schools officials also rely of Harrison and Guthrie and GVPH, and the VCS board is likely to be provided much of the same information as was presented in Granville County.

The Local Skinny! VCS Recognizes School-Community Partnerships For 2021

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Vance County Schools gave special thanks to the community partners of the schools in the district during end-of-year recognitions.

Each school in the district identified a particular partner – business, church or individual – that has made contributions to support the school.

A district committee reviews all the partnerships and awards one as the district partnership of the year. This year’s partnership award goes to TechTerra for its support of STEM Early High School.

TechTerra founder Susan Wells worked with STEM and donated a class set of 3D doodler pens, along with project kits. “This generous contribution allows for students to be afforded innovative opportunities and learning experiences,” VCS public information officer Aarika Sandlin said.

Students can extend their knowledge through use and application with the items from TechTerra.

STEM Principal Gradesa Lockhart expressed her gratitude to TechTerra for “the ongoing efforts in providing our students with innovative equipment and experiences.” The partnership makes an impact on the students and the school, Lockhart said.

District leaders expressed gratitude not only to the partners of the individual schools, but also the support that comes from civic organizations, churches, businesses and the Vance County Public School Foundation.

“We are grateful for each and every partnership, as they find ways to support our students and staff through impact, innovation and outreach,” according to a press release from Sandlin.

Below is a list of schools and the community partners that were recognized:

Advance Academy – Melissa Elliott

Aycock Elementary – Lowe’s of Henderson

Carver Elementary – Cokesbury United Methodist Church

Clarke Elementary – First Baptist Church of Henderson

Dabney Elementary – First United Methodist Church

Early College High – AIS Carolinas

E.M. Rollins Elementary – First Baptist Church

E.O. Young Elementary – Middleburg United Methodist Church

L.B. Yancey Elementary – Rowland Chapel Christian Church

New Hope Elementary – Rock Spring Baptist Church

Pinkston St. Elementary – First United Methodist Church

STEM Early High – TechTerra Education

Vance County High – Gill Clopton

Vance County Middle – Sean Alston

Vance Virtual Village – Poe Center for Health Education

Zeb Vance Elementary – Clearview Baptist