Tag Archive for: #vancecoschools

Vance County Schools Innovative School Options – Open House and Registration

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The Vance County Schools application process for the innovative school options is now underway, with several options to make sure the district’s students go to the school that fits their needs.

The non-traditional VCS schools are poised to share information with families and students about choosing one of the innovative options that might just work for them.

The innovative schools prospective family nights will be on February 11 from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. at each of the respective schools.  February 11 is the new date for all the innovative schools open house events because recent weather forced the original dates to be rescheduled.

VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin said, “I strongly encourage our community as a whole to take advantage of the school visits.” They provide an opportunity to not only meet the school principals, but also to see what the school building looks like and feels like – to really understand what the space is about.

“Delve into that,” she said, by going to see it for yourself to make sure this is a fit for your child.

The application period for STEM Early High School, Vance County Early College High School and Vance Virtual Village Academy opened on Monday, Feb. 2 and ends on Friday, Feb. 27. In addition, rising K-5th graders may apply to E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy.

Dr. Destiny Ross-Putney, VCS chief officer of instruction and innovation, said prospective applicants should plan to dedicate a good half hour to filling out the application, because they will be asked about particular courses they’re interested in taking and any special interests they may have.

The application went live on Feb. 2, according to Sandlin. Parents and students can find the application at the VCS website, www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Each school has videos and other information on their respective websites, and Ross-Putney said that’s a good way to learn more before attending one of the upcoming open house events.

Once the application window has ended, the selection process begins. Decisions will be mailed out by Mar. 23, Sandlin said.

Vance County Early College Interim Principal Dr. Tim Hall encourages parents with rising 9th graders to consider the Early College, located on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson.

“Don’t assume that this isn’t for your student,” Hall said. “We’re here to expand access,” Hall said. “The Early College is a life-changing, transformative experience.” Teachers and staff emphasize high expectations but also provide support students need in areas that include time management, study habits, effective communication and self-advocacy.

It’s a place for students who want a smaller high school environment, where they can forge stronger relationships and where they can earn college credits.

Early College students enter at 9th grade and can not only graduate high school but can earn up to two years’ college credit in four-to-five years’ time, depending on the individual student.

STEM Early High is located at the Center for Innovation on Charles Street.  The Charles Street location is still often thought of as the old Henderson High School building and the former Henderson Middle School building.  STEM Early High principal Jessica Austin said the sixth, seventh and eighth graders who attend this school have the opportunity to earn high school credit before setting foot on a high school campus.

The COGNIA-accredited school provides students access to curricula above their grade level, all in a fun and engaging atmosphere. Regular Club Days allow students to “dig into their passion projects,” Austin said, and expose students to career opportunities that involve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – STEM.

The middle and high-school students at Vance Virtual Village Academy find an online option best suits their needs, for a variety of reasons. Principal Dr. Jeff Batten said upperclassmen can take classes at Vance-Granville Community also, making college credits accessible to them as well.

Batten said his school has a wide variety of students who, for whatever reason, find a place at V3A. One student travels extensively with his parent. Virtual classes work. Another student wanted to graduate a whole year early and was able to double up on classes to achieve his goal. And there are opportunities for students to come to a physical location to get help a couple of times a week when they need it, Batten said.

Austin said the teachers at STEM Early High offer intentional STEM exposure and accelerated coursework to allow students to get real-world experiences to prepare them for future careers.

“Not all of our students come in ready,” Austin said. “They have gaps, just like all students. We pride ourselves on being able to reach students in our small setting and being able to help them grow.” By the time they finish eighth grade, the gaps are filled and, in some cases, they’re halfway to being a sophomore in high school.

Hall said he is most proud of the transformation he sees among the students at the Early College.

“Students come in unsure of themselves, (and) over time, they become the type of people who can manage college expectations, communicate with instructors, advocate for themselves and lead…this shift is powerful.”

Dr. Carnetta Thomas is the principal of E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, a modified year-round school. The school serves pre-K through 5th grade with a dynamic focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.  Thomas said, “Ready to launch your child’s future, E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy is the place where imaginations take flight and excellence is the destination.”

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TownTalk: Innovation Opportunities Open for All at VCS

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(Be sure to scroll down for information flyers.)

Families today have many choices when it comes to the type of school their children attend, and Vance County Schools offer several options to make sure the district’s students go to the school that fits their needs.

With National School Choice Week being observed Jan. 26-30, the principals of three non-traditional VCS schools are poised to share information with families and students about choosing one of the innovative options that might just work for them.

The application period for one of these three schools – STEM Early High School, Vance County Early College High School and Vance Virtual Village Academy – opens on Monday, Feb. 2 and ends on Friday, Feb. 27. Dr. Destiny Ross-Putney, VCS chief officer of instruction and innovation, said prospective applicants should plan to dedicate a good half hour to filling out the application, because they will be asked about particular courses they’re interested in taking and any special interests they may have. There may be a request to submit some written responses to questions as well.

The application goes live on Feb. 2, said VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin. Parents and students can find the application at the VCS website, https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/.

Once the application window has ended, the selection process begins. Decisions will be mailed out by Mar. 23, Sandlin said.

Vance County Early College Interim Principal Dr. Tim Hall encourages parents with rising 9th graders to consider the Early College, located on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson.

“Don’t assume that this isn’t for your student,” Hall said. “We’re here to expand access,” Hall said. “The Early College is a life-changing, transformative experience.” Teachers and staff emphasize high expectations but also provide support students need in areas that include time management, study habits, effective communication and self-advocacy.

It’s a place for students who want a smaller high school environment, where they can forge stronger relationships and where they can earn college credits.

Early College students enter at 9th grade and can not only graduate high school but can earn up to two years’ college credit in five years’ time.

The Early College open house is scheduled for (Feb. 4 because of weather delays). (Edited from original post.)

The open houses for the two other innovative options also take place on Feb. 4, both at the Center for Innovation from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

That’s where STEM Early High is located, and principal Jessica Austin said the sixth, seventh and eighth graders who attend this school have the opportunity to earn high school credit before setting foot on a high school campus.

The COGNIA-accredited school provides students access to curricula above their grade level, all in a fun and engaging atmosphere. Regular Club Days allow students to “dig into their passion projects,” Austin said, and expose students to career opportunities that involve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – STEM.

The middle and high-school students at Vance Virtual Village Academy find an online option best suits their needs, for a variety of reasons. Principal Dr. Jeff Batten said upperclassmen can take classes at Vance-Granville Community also, making college credits accessible to them as well.

Each school has videos and other information on their respective websites, and Ross-Putney said that’s a good way to learn more before attending one of the upcoming open house events.

Sandlin said, “I strongly encourage our community as a whole to take advantage of the school visits.” They provide an opportunity to not only meet the school principals, but also to see what the school building looks like and feels like – to really understand what the space is about.

“Delve into that,” she said, “(by) going to see it for themselves to make sure this is a fit for your child.”

Batten said his school has a wide variety of students who, for whatever reason, find a place at V3A. One student travels extensively with his parent. Virtual classes work. Another student wanted to graduate a whole year early and was able to double up on classes to achieve his goal. And there are opportunities for students to come to a physical location to get help a couple of times a week when they need it, Batten said.

Austin said the teachers at STEM Early High offer intentional STEM exposure and accelerated coursework to allow students to get real-world experiences to prepare them for future careers.

“Not all of our students come in ready,” Austin said. “They have gaps, just like all students. We pride ourselves on being able to reach students in our small setting and being able to help them grow.” By the time they finish eighth grade, the gaps are filled and, in some cases, they’re halfway to being a sophomore in high school.

Hall said he is most proud of the transformation he sees among the students at the Early College.

“Students come in unsure of themselves, (and) over time, they become the type of people who can manage college expectations, communicate with instructors, advocate for themselves and lead…this shift is powerful.”

(This information and audio was originally broadcast and posted Thursday, January 22, 2026.  Please look below for an updated flyers from Vance County Schools as of 01-27-26.)

CLICK PLAY!

COVID-19 Vaccine Q & A On June 2, Followed by June 8 Clinic For Anyone 12 And Older

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Vance County Schools is partnering with local health experts to present a virtual information session next week designed to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, especially for those with questions about vaccinating children.

Join Dr. Cornelius Cathcart and Granville Vance Public Health on June 2 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about the vaccination, according to a press release issued by Aarika Sandlin, VCS public information officer.

A vaccine clinic will be held on Tuesday, June 8 at Vance County Middle School from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The clinic is open to anyone ages 12 and up who wants a shot. “We are committed to ensuring that everyone who wants a shot has a spot,” the VCS statement read.

In advance of the information session, the public is invited to complete a short survey, which can be found on the VCS website and social media accounts, Sandlin said. “Our district continues to make calls, encouraging families to complete the survey,” she said.

A link to the survey is listed below:

Vaccination Survey

Click the link below to join the June 2 webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/93693883860

Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us for information on how to join by telephone.

TownTalk 12-22-20; Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson On Return From Covid

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Vance County Schools developed and last week adopted a plan for the return to face-to-face learning.  But when?

The plan itself calls for two days of face-to-face instruction and a staggered entry.  The entry would begin with PreK then K and 6 grades followed by grades 1 and 2 and finally grades 3-5.  Self-contained EC students in grades PreK-12 begin re-entry as well, and remote options remain available.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson told WIZS TownTalk, “One of the reasons we wanted to go ahead and get the plan approved was so parents would understand the format and understand, if you look at it closely, it really looks at the ramp up.  So, each group would be brought in for a period of time, maybe a week, to get it stable, so it would take us about three to four weeks to completely implement the full plan and get all the students back in on that full schedule.”  (To hear the interview with Dr. Jackson click here or the TownTalk logo to the right.)

The total format and all the safety protocols, so the teachers and students have a chance to understand, is important as well.  It can’t happen all at once.

As to the remote learning participation so far, Dr. Jackson said 91 to 92 percent of students are engaged every single day.  In terms of grades, he said, “We had some students do better than they would in the classroom, but we’ve also had some students who have struggled in this environment that we are going to have to do some work to help recapture and recoup the time lost and instruction they’ve missed.”

He said overall students are doing well.

The Vance County School board has operated with caution.  Jackson said he believed that when all the data indicated its safe for kids and adults as well, and when the board is told it’s safe for both kids and adults, that it will be the signal the board needs to implement the plans for face-to-face learning.

Part of the puzzle is not only keeping folks healthy but also knowing there are enough healthy teachers and staff so the schools can operate effectively.  Vance County has avoided flip flopping between open and closed and being forced to stop again after in-person learning resumes.

When asked about requiring teachers and staff to be vaccinated for covid, he said, “We follow state statute that governs our local policies, and once that’s cleared up, we will act accordingly.  The truth is, we can’t get schools back open until people have a comfort level that we are safe.”

Eaton-Johnson Students Attend First Ever Camp Discovery

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This year, rising sixth, seventh and eighth graders had the opportunity to experience the first ever Camp Discovery at Eaton-Johnson Middle School.

Partnering with the Henderson chapter of Triangle Literacy Council, Eaton-Johnson was able to offer a new and exciting summer bridge camp opportunity for students. Over the course of three weeks, campers participated in reading and literacy activities, created hands-on math, science and technology projects, and took a Character Education Course designed specifically for middle school students. Campers also participated in several sports and recreation mini-blocks throughout the camp session, including a trip to the movie theater to see animation in action.

The inaugural Camp Discovery season concluded with a very special awards ceremony on July 13. At the ceremony, parents and other family members shared in recognizing the incredible accomplishments of EJMS campers. Each camper received a Certificate of Program Completion and many campers also won individual awards. As part of Eaton-Johnson’s ongoing collaboration with Triangle Literacy Council, every camper was given a new personal computer. The summer program represents the third segment of a year-long collaboration between Eaton-Johnson Middle School, Henderson Middle School and Triangle Literacy Council. To date, the program has served over 200 middle school students in Vance County and awarded more than $50,000 worth of new computers to students. Most of the students received their new computers in June, following their completion of academic work in the second semester of last school year.

Hunter to attend first Board of Education Meeting Tonight

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Clementine Hunter will attend her first meeting as a new member of the Vance County Board of Education on Monday, December 12, in the Vance County Schools’ Administrative Services Center.

Hunter was officially sworn in to office on December 5, by the Honorable Judge Henry Banks, who also administered the oath to Dorothy Gooche and Ed Wilson. Gooche and Wilson were re-elected in November to their seats on the board of education.

Hunter replaces Emeron J. Cash Sr. on the board. Cash chose not to seek re-election in the November 2016 election and is retiring from the board after 24 years of service to Vance County Schools’ students and educators.

A resident of Henderson, Hunter has experience as a teacher assistant and substitute teacher with the Morris School District in New Jersey. She also has worked as a substitute teacher with Vance, Granville and Warren county schools. Her volunteer work in this area includes: Free Clinic Board member; Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS); Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); and participation in local theater.

She has a master’s degree in education and training and is continuing studies in pursuit of a doctorate degree in education.

Hunter says as a board of education member she wants to help maintain and develop quality education through programs of inclusivity, diversity and the challenges of global education readiness for present and future generations of learners in Vance County. She sees her role as a board member as a way to help advance the organization of education while partnering with learners, parents, educators, school staff, business leaders, civic leaders, religious leaders and law enforcement officials.