Tag Archive for: #vancecountyschools

VCS Thanks Volunteers For Partnering With Schools During 2021-22

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Vance County Schools paid a special thank-you to a host of churches and other local individuals and organizations that have partnered with the district’s schools to enhance students’ learning experience.

And this year, Gang Free, Inc. was recognized for its ongoing work with Vance County Middle School.

Melissa Elliott, founder of Gang Free, Inc., was on hand at the partnership recognition ceremony Thursday, June 9 at 3 p.m. at the VCS Center for Innovation. In addition to providing basic necessities for students, their families and the community, Gang Free, Inc. – through a partnership with the N.C. Food Bank – established VCMS as a food bank satellite. Students can make weekly trips through the food bank to take home what their families may need. Community members can access the food bank as well.

Following is a list of volunteers and the schools they partnered with during the 2021-22 school year:

  • Craig Compton, Aycock Elementary 
  • New Life Baptist Church, Carver Elementary 
  • Alternative Learning Center & Community Engagement, Inc, Clarke Elementary
  • First United Methodist Church, Dabney Elementary 
  • Clearview Baptist Church,  E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy
  • Middleburg United Methodist Church, O. Young Elementary 
  • Henderson Optimist Club, B. Yancey Elementary 
  • Julie A. Booth, New Hope Elementary 
  • First United Methodist Church, Pinkston Street Elementary 
  • Plank Chapel United Methodist Church, Zeb Vance Elementary
  • TechTerra, STEM Early High School 
  • Fuerza Y Union Multiple Foundation, Vance County Early College High School T&T Laundry, Vance County High School 
  • Gang Free Inc., Vance County Middle School 
  • 4 Point 0 Mobile Clinic, Inc., Vance Virtual Village (V3) Academy 
Vance County High School

Noel Named AD For VCHS, Trades Panthers For Vipers

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Vance County Schools has named Raymond Noel, a lifelong resident of the area, as the new athletic director for Vance County High School. Noel is a 2002 graduate of J.F. Webb High School in Oxford, where he played football and ran track and field.

He continued his education at Averett University, where he played football and

served as a student assistant for the school’s basketball program.

In 2007, Noel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a minor in coaching.

Noel’s career immediately took off following graduation as he became the assistant football and basketball coach at Granville Central High School. He also served as the Driver’s Education

Instructor.

In 2015, he took on the head coaching position for the women’s basketball team and, in 2017, became the athletic director, during which time he led athletic teams to multiple-season victories through innovative training strategies. Noel earned his Certified Athletic Administrators Certificate through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

VCHS Principal Rey Horner said he welcomes Noel to the school and the district. “We are excited that Mr. Noel will be joining our district. We know his experience and dedication to athletics will continue to help our Viper programs flourish.”

Noel and his wife, Michelle, live in Granville County with their son, Blake.

Noel will start work in VCS on July 1, 2022.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead athletics at Vance County High School,” Noel said in a written statement.
“Thanks to Mr. Horner and the administration for this opportunity. GO VIPERS!”

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

VCS Virtual Job Fair Apr. 30

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Vance County Schools is hosting a virtual job fair on April 30  from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The school system has opening across the K-12 grades, as well as in the areas of physical education, special education, CTE, counselors, music and art.

Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us and click on the link for registration under the job fair announcement. According to the job fair announcement, there is a signing bonus for certified teachers in grades Pre-K-12.

 

“Vance County Schools is committed to finding amazing teachers and staff to support the ongoing vision of our district,” according to an information from Dr.  Dr. Jennifer Carraway, chief human resources officer. Contact Carraway at jcarraway@vcs.k12.nc.us.

BOOKS to Develop a Love of Reading and Learning

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— Story courtesy of Aarika Sandlin, Vance County Schools

Students at Dabney Elementary School have hundreds of new books on their library shelves, thanks to the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.

Dabney Elementary was one of 205 schools from 43 states across the country to receive a $5,000 grant in Spring 2021. “There are many students who don’t have books at home, so having access to a library at school is essential,” the former First Lady said in a press statement. “With the grants, school libraries across the nation can restock and update their collections providing opportunities for students for years to come.”

“The timing for the funding for our library was perfect”, said Joy Suther, assistant principal at Dabney Elementary. “Through the grant, our school added books that match the students’ interests, further engaging them in a love for reading.”

Dabney’s principal, Dr. Michael Putney, agreed. “I am so in awe of finally seeing the faces of happy readers again as they come from the media center with a book in their hands. Students have gotten accustomed to using laptops and other devices to read, so it is nice to see them with the new books. They are so quick to share the name of the book they have selected. I am appreciative of the effort that our reading intervention teacher, Sherry Frazier, put forth in securing this grant for our students.”

Frazier continues to work with students on improving their comprehension and reading skills. Improving literacy is the key to ensuring students continue to grow and learn in all subject areas. “The library additions have been instrumental in increasing engagement”, shared Frazier. “The books are a mix of fiction, biographies and other nonfiction, which supports content area knowledge. Reading is one of the fastest ways to build vocabulary, which supports comprehension.”

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries supports school libraries with the greatest needs with the goal of encouraging all students to develop a love of reading and learning. Since its inception in 2002, it has awarded more than $16 million to more than 2,800 schools across the country.

Gargoyle Garden Offers Students An Outdoor Musical Classroom

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Vance County Schools held a ribbon cutting Tuesday for Gargoyle Garden, a musical garden located at the Center for Innovation (CFI), located at 219 Charles St. The garden is filled with musical instruments that provide experiences for students to learn about beats, music, echo, reverberation and more.

The garden is named after the gargoyles positioned across the facade as part of the 1930’s construction of the building.

The ribbon cutting featured Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess, Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington, VCS Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett, Director of Fine Arts and Physical Education Andrew Markoch and the Center for Innovation Director, Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney.

The district began the planning of Gargoyle Garden during the summer of 2021. The first students were able to experience the excitement of the instruments in mid-March when the installation was completed, giving student an opportunity to learn beyond the classroom walls.

The Center for Innovation campus is home to more than 50 z-Space computers in three labs, providing virtual and augmented reality experiences. Additionally, a 600-seat auditorium, video lab, MindSphere MakerSpace lab, Simulated Lab for Interactive Career Exploration (SLICE), as well as other learning spaces are available for students to participate in facilitated, inter-district field trips. The campus is also home to three of our innovative schools, Vance Virtual Village Academy (K-12), Advance Academy (6-12) and STEM Early High School (6-8).

Schools Survey Seeks Input From Community As Part Of Strategic Planning

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There’s still one day left to help Vance County Schools as school officials plan for the next few years.

Members of the community are being asked to complete a survey to share opinions and information as they begin creating a strategic roadmap for 2022-2025, according to information from VCS Director of Communication and Marketing Aarika Sandlin.

The information from the surveys will help guide school officials with the planning  process, Sandlin said.

The survey will be open until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 22.

There’s a link to the survey on the Vance County Schools website, https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/ or find the link here:

https://forms.gle/LQuo7s5TW7dzpk4a8

TownTalk: The Importance Of Arts Alive For Children

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It’s still a few weeks away, but Andrew Markoch said this year’s Arts Alive 2022 is on track to provide some wonderful entertainment – all courtesy of more than 200 students of Vance County Schools.

Markoch is director of fine arts and physical education for VCS and he said the 6th annual event is set for Saturday, April 9 at McGregor Hall and the Center for Innovation. Markoch spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk about Arts Alive and the positive effects of arts education in other areas of study.

The last in-person Arts Alive performance was in 2019; the annual show was all set for auditions in 2020 when COVID-19 shut everything down. “We had to do the safe and smart thing at that time,” Markoch recalled.

This year, artists’ creations will be displayed at McGregor Hall, musical and stage performances will take place there as well, beginning at 7 p.m. The gallery opens at 4 p.m. and that’s when tickets also will be available for purchase. Tickets are $5.

Markoch said he encourages anyone who wants to come out and enjoy visual arts or performing arts to join the VCS family on April 9. “You will not be able to not smile and enjoy yourself,” he said. “These are our kids that are doing this,” Markoch said. “They’ve put time into this artwork and the performers have worked hard for this moment on stage.”

Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us and click on the Arts Alive link to learn more.

Markoch said to expect artwork in various media – from crayons and markers to digital media 3-D formats.

He predicted between 70 and 75 stage performers and another 80-90 different student artists’ work on display in the art gallery.

Markoch said he is happy to be able to use the Center for Innovation to host the various master classes that will be available during Arts Alive – a wide variety of providers are scheduled to be on hand to conduct classes that range from introduction to band and orchestra to dance, among others. Durham-based KidzNotes will be on hand with music sessions for the youngest learners, he said.

“Pretty much name it and we have a provider providing it on that day,” Markoch said.

Whether it’s music, art or theatre, the arts helps children to develop and strengthen in other academic areas.

“The arts affects everything,” he said. Vance County school officials, as well as the school board, continue to make the arts a priority, which he greatly appreciates.

“Even throughout the pandemic, the emphasis on arts education in our county wasn’t going to suffer – because it’s good for our kids,” Markoch said.

Arts educators teach other subjects through their curriculum, and support development of social emotional character as well. “In order to create art, there has to be a discipline that goes with it – a type of focus and energy, and almost single-mindedness,” Markoch said. Those traits transfer to other areas of academic life, he said.