Tag Archive for: #VanceCountyMiddleSchool

Vance Co. High School & Middle School Principals Reflect on Upcoming School Year

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Vance County High School Principal Rey Horner and Vance County Middle School Principal Heddie Somerville were the guests of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.

Horner and Somerville, who are both set to welcome students on Monday, August 27 for the start of the 2018-19 traditional calendar year, engaged in a general discussion on the recent high school and middle school consolidation process and their hopes for the future.

Vance County High School

Occupying the former Southern Vance High School building on Garrett Road in Henderson, the new Vance County High School is set to welcome approximately 1,350 former Southern Vance Raiders and Northern Vance Vikings.

“There were some concerns about bringing the schools together because we have been rivals for so long,” said Horner. “I think what helped the process is that we still have members of the community that can remember when we only had one high school.”

Horner himself was a graduate of the last class of Vance Senior High School before it split into Southern Vance and Northern Vance and said he looks forward to the combined high school being the center of the community again.

He also referred back to his own experience with transitioning from middle to high school to explain that he expects any concerns regarding former rivals merging to be largely unfounded.

“I can remember when I was at Henderson Junior High and about to go to Vance Senior High. Our biggest rival was Eaton Johnson and everyone was worried about how we’d mix, but once we got to high school, we became one family.”

Horner said he looks forward to witnessing the Vipers become one team but admits the entire process will not happen overnight. “I’m seeing this consolidation as a three-year process; you won’t see all of the changes immediately. It’s going to be a couple of years before we’re where we want to be.”

During that time, Horner said the high school will be focusing on building up their performing arts offerings – including band and theater.

Building the athletic program has already been a full speed ahead process and Horner reported that the number of athletes who tried out for fall sports has grown exponentially.

While Horner is excited for the athletic program and the hard work of the coaches, he asks that the community set realistic expectations for the first year of the program. “We have extraordinary talent in Vance County and I’m glad we can showcase it. Everyone is assuming because we merged the two schools it is a no-brainer that we will sweep the conference, but there is a little adjustment period.”

Vance County Middle School

Located in the former Northern Vance High School building on Warrenton Road in Henderson, Vance County Middle School will welcome approximately 840 sixth through eighth-grade students this school year.

“We have a strategic plan to enforce a model of creating a culture of unity with the mindset of excellence,” said Somerville. “Sixth graders coming into middle school are combining with students from 10 elementary schools.”

In addition to getting to know new classmates, Vance County Middle School students will also have to acclimate to wearing required school uniforms.

For girls, the uniforms will include white or navy blue collared shirts and blouses and navy blue or khaki uniform pants, skirts or jumpers. Boys’ uniforms include white or navy blue collared or dress shirts, as well as navy blue or khaki uniform pants.

Though there has been some pushback from the community, Somerville, the former principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School, said she has seen firsthand how positive uniforms can be for learning and student behavior. “When we implemented uniforms at Pinkston Street, I saw the difference in the mindset of the children. It levels the playing field and it allows them to come in with the mindset of academics.”

Somerville expressed her appreciation and admiration for how well staff members have worked together to prepare the building for opening day. “There is still some construction work to be done and we are moving quickly to be ready on time. Teachers are coming in to assist with moving furniture and setting up classrooms.”

This camaraderie adds to the “one family” feel that the school hopes to nurture and has Somerville looking forward to being “the new cats in town.”

* Vance County High School will hold an Open House on Thursday, August 23, 2018, from 3 – 7 p.m. at the school – 925 Garrett Rd, Henderson. In addition to students and parents, the entire community is invited to attend. Food trucks will be available on site.

New Vance Co. Middle School to Require Uniforms

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Students who will attend Vance County Middle School in 2018-2019 will be required to wear school uniforms.

The school uniforms will include white or navy blue tops and navy blue or khaki bottoms.

For girls, the uniforms will include white or navy blue collared shirts and blouses and navy blue or khaki uniform pants, skirts or jumpers. Boys’ uniforms must include white or navy blue collared or dress shirts, as well as navy blue or khaki uniform pants.

Khaki or navy blue jeans and sweat pants are not allowed. Shorts are not allowed. Shirts must be tucked in at all times and pants must be worn at the waist. No hats will be allowed.

More information will be shared at a later time with students and parents.

The school uniforms will be available for purchase at a variety of local stores including Rose’s Stores at the Henderson Mall and on North Garnett Street in Henderson; Dollar General stores in Henderson; Walmart Supercenter in Henderson; JCPenney at Henderson Square in Henderson; and Burlington Coat Factory on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh.

Vance Co. Middle and High School Announce Mascots and School Colors

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The mascots and school colors for Vance County High School and Vance County Middle School were revealed on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at school assemblies for the students who will be attending the schools in 2018-2019.

The high school mascot is the Vipers and the school colors are green, black and white.

The middle school mascot is the Jaguars and the school colors are black and gold.

Let’s go Vipers and Jaguars!!!

Athletic Appointments Announced for Vance County Middle & High School

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Athletic directors and head football coaches were appointed for Vance County High School and Vance County Middle School for 2018-2019 with action taken by the Vance County Board of Education at its May 14 meeting.

Joseph Sharrow will be the athletic director and Darry Ragland will be the head football coach for Vance County High School for the new school year.

Len Manley has been named athletic director and Michael Rice has been named the head football coach for Vance County Middle School for the upcoming year.
Sharrow is currently the athletic director at Southern Vance High School, where Ragland has served as the head football coach. Manley is the athletic director at Henderson Middle School now. Rice is a physical education teacher at E.M. Rollins Elementary School.

Consolidated Schools Named; Principals Named

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— information obtained by press release from Vance County Schools

The Vance County Board of Education has approved naming the newly combined middle and high schools for the 2018-2019 school year Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School.

The board members took the action during their regular monthly meeting held on Monday, April 16.

Also at the meeting, the board approved Rey Horner as the principal for the new Vance County High School and Heddie Somerville as the principal for the new Vance County Middle School for the 2018-2019 school year.

Horner currently serves as the principal of Southern Vance High School and Somerville is the principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School.

Horner has worked with Vance County Schools since August of 1997 when he began work as a science teacher at Southern Vance High School. He served as a teacher at the school until he was named an assistant principal/lead teacher in August of 2012. Horner became principal of the new STEM Early High School in July of 2014 when the school was located on the campus of Northern Vance High School. He remained in that position until becoming the Southern Vance principal in January of 2017. Horner was a finalist for the district’s Principal of the Year award for the 2017-2018 school year.

Somerville has worked in the school system since August of 1994. She began her career as a fifth-grade teacher at Pinkston Street Elementary School. She also became a lead teacher at the school in July of 2004. Somerville became the assistant principal at Pinkston Street Elementary School in November of 2011. She also has served as an interim principal at Pinkston Street Elementary. She became the principal of the school in July of 2012. In 2015-2016, Somerville was selected as the Vance County Schools Principal of the Year.

Horner and Somerville will now lead efforts to establish the new schools. They will be working collaboratively with their staffs to develop comprehensive school programs.

“I am excited that we have such talented leaders who are proven educational leaders at successful schools,” said Superintendent Anthony Jackson. “I’m extremely excited about the future of our new Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School.”

Vance County Middle School will be housed in the facility currently known as Northern Vance High School and will serve students who now attend Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools.

Vance County High School will be located in the building now known as Southern Vance High School and will serve students who now attend Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools.

Operations at all 10 of the district’s elementary schools will be unchanged for the new school year. The STEM Early High School will continue to serve students in grades 6-8 on the current campus of Southern Vance High. The Vance County Early College High School will remain in operation on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College near Henderson and the district’s alternative school, AdVance Academy, will remain in operation next door to the current Henderson Middle School on Charles Street in Henderson.

With combining the middle schools and high schools next school year, the Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle school buildings will no longer be used by the school system.

Board members took action in naming the schools following a presentation by Superintendent Anthony Jackson who proposed several names for the new schools. Among the potential names offered for the middle school were: Vance Henderson, Vance Central, Vance Community and Vance County Preparatory. These names also were proposed for the high school in addition to Henderson High and Henderson Preparatory.

(The above information is a blending of two press releases written by Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer, with Vance County Schools.)