Tag Archive for: #vancecountyschools

Third Annual Arts Alive! to Showcase Vance Co. Students’ Talent

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Terri Hedrick, public information officer for Vance County Schools, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the school systems’ upcoming Arts Alive! event. Arts Alive! is open to the public and will be held at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

The third annual Vance County Schools event will showcase the talents of students in a variety of art forms including painting, drawing, dancing, singing and performance. All grade levels – from Pre-K to 12th graders – will be represented.

Parents, students, family members, educators and the community at large are invited to view over 200 pieces of student artwork that will be displayed in the McGregor Hall Gallery.

Jordan Lewis (left) and Anna Ventura (right), both students at Vance County High School, are shown wearing their Arts Alive! 2019 t-shirts and their Arts Alive! buttons. Jordan designed the artwork for the buttons and Anna designed the artwork featured on the t-shirts. (Photo courtesy VCS)

Andrew Markoch, director of the arts program for Vance County Schools, said viewers and audience members are in for a treat. “We are encouraging students to submit their best work and pushing the phrase ‘gallery quality.’ Some of the things I’ve seen have been absolutely incredible.”

In addition to the art gallery, approximately 20 performing acts ranging from large to small groups of vocalists, musicians, dancers and more will entertain on McGregor Hall’s stage beginning at 7 p.m. on April 27.

Tickets are available for purchase at McGregor Hall’s box office beginning at 3 p.m. the day of the event. Tickets for adults and children are $5 each; all seating is general admission.

New this year will be a series of “master classes” offered the morning of the event by Hill’s Music Shoppe, Ballet Arts All Stars and Wolf Trap Education.

Master classes are free of charge and will either be offered at McGregor Hall or at nearby facilities.

For more information on each class or to register, please visit the Vance County Schools website by clicking here. Information regarding the master classes is located near the top of the VCS homepage.

To help support VCS’ art programs and to spread awareness of the Arts Alive! event, t-shirts are on sale now through April 3 at all Vance County schools for $10. The purple shirt features a colorful, inclusive design created by Vance County High School junior Anna Ventura.

Ventura, who was interviewed as part of the Town Talk segment, said she wanted to represent all forms of art in her design – including drawing, music and dancing. “Art helps me express myself; you get better with practice and over time.”

Fellow VCHS student, Jordan Lewis, was chosen as the Arts Alive! lapel button design winner and said he has always enjoyed drawing as a form of expression and creativity.

Ventura and Lewis were among the many Vance County students who submitted their original artwork ideas for the t-shirt and button contest.

Other students completed an audition process for the evening performance portion of the event.

According to Markoch, all 15 Vance County public schools were represented in auditions with judges narrowing the field down to the final acts, representing nine schools.

To hear the interview with Terri Hedrick, Andrew Markoch and the VCHS students in its entirety, click here. The VCS segment begins at the 11:30 mark.

Vance Co. Schools Announces Upcoming End-of-Year Activities

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Vance County schools have a variety of events planned as this school year enters its last two months of instruction and activities with our students.
More events are being planned, but below are a few that are currently scheduled:
  • April 10, 9-11:30 a.m. at Dabney Elementary – second-grade students attend presentations made by local firemen
  • April 12, 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Zeb Vance Elementary – Career Day event for students with representatives from several local businesses on hand
  • April 24, 5-6:30 p.m. at the Henderson Country Club – the school system’s annual Volunteer/Business Partner Recognition Reception
  • April 27, Arts Alive Talent Showcase at McGregor Hall – master classes for students from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; students’ artwork on display beginning at 3 p.m.; show featuring at least 20 performing groups or individuals, all students in our schools, begins at 7 p.m.
  • May 20, 6:30 p.m. – our school system honors our top high school graduates at our “Evening of Academic Excellence” in the Civic Center at VGCC
  • May 23, 6 p.m. – Class of 2019 graduation ceremony for Early College High School in Civic Center at VGCC
  • June 6, 6 p.m. – Class of 2019 graduation ceremony for AdVance Academy in McGregor Hall
  • June 8, 9 a.m. – Class of 2019 graduation ceremony for Vance County High School in the gymnasium at Vance County Middle School
  • June 12, 6 p.m. – our school system’s annual Retirement Banquet at the Henderson Country Club

Vance County Schools 03/25/19

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Vance Co. Schools Approves Calendars for 2019-2020 School Year

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-Information courtesy the Vance County School’s Facebook page

The Vance County Board of Education approved the calendars for the 2019-2020 school year during the board’s March 11, 2019, meeting.

School calendars include the year-round schedule for E.M. Rollins Elementary School; the early start calendar for both Vance County High School and the Vance County Early College High School and the traditional calendar for all other Vance County public schools.

For the upcoming school year, Vance County High School will follow the same early-start calendar as the Early College High School with classes beginning on August 5, 2019. This early-start allows first semester exams to be scheduled prior to the Christmas break. The last day of classes for the early-start calendar will be Thursday, May 21, 2020.

View all of the approved calendars on the Vance County School’s website by clicking here.

Vance Co. Schools: Raven Burns Named New Family & Parent Liaison

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-Information and photo courtesy Vance County Schools’ Facebook page

Raven Burns is Vance County Schools’ new family and parent liaison advisor working with parents, educators and the community. She can be contacted in the Family Resource Center in our Administrative Services Center in Henderson.

Her main focus is to support parents of students in our 15 public schools. She can provide valuable resources to parents through the school system’s Family Resource Center and also serves as a line of communication for parents with school administrators, teachers, additional education professionals and more.

Mrs. Burns can offer resources from the Family Resource Center ranging from academic support for students, information about school programs and services, written and online materials about educational opportunities and even career information for parents.

Mrs. Burns can be contacted by telephone at (252) 492-2127 or by email at rburns@vcs.k12.nc.us.

Raven Burns has been named Vance County Schools’ new family and parent liaison advisor. She provides valuable resources to parents through the school system’s Family Resource Center and also serves as a line of communication for parents with school administrators, teachers and education professionals. (Photo courtesy VCS)

Vance County Schools 03/18/19

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E.M. Rollins to Hold a Paint Night for Parents & Students

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-Information and flyer courtesy the Vance County School’s Facebook page

E.M. Rollins Elementary School will hold a “Parent Paint Night” for parents and students on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cost is $25 for parent/student. Come out and paint a masterpiece with your child.

The event is hosted by Building Successful Men and Eric Cheek.

For more information, please call or text (252) 425-3614.

 

Vance County Schools 03/11/19

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Vance Co. High School Students Display Their Talent in ‘Art of Protest’ Event

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Twelve students at Vance County High School shared their artwork and their important voices in the school’s “Art of Protest” event held in the school’s Music Room during the evening of March 5, 2019.

The “Art of Protest” event was a joint effort between the English Department and Art Department at the school to enable the very talented students to show through their artwork their focus on societal issues about which they share a passion.

Marsha Harvey of the English Department, and Amy Simpson of the Art Department, coordinated plans for the event. They wanted the students to speak through their art and be able to share their opinions about issues they feel are important and need special attention.

Students who participated in the “Art of Protest” and their work included:

  • Jose Gonzalez, “Sweet Relief” painting, focusing on the lack of awareness for mental health issues
  • DeAndre Johnson, “The Color of Piece” painting, focusing on racism issues
  • Madonna Baselios, “(I’m)migrant” painting, focusing on American politics and the treatment of immigrants
  • Christian Green, “Silent Revolt” painting, focusing on the dictatorship in government
  • Samej Brown, “Not My Hero” charcoal drawing, focusing on youth brainwashing
  • Qe’Shaun Hargrove, “Relic” painting, focusing on the inherited legacy of African Americans from their white forefathers
  • Anterrahn Harris, “Of Body & Mind” painting, focusing on the lack of recognition of African Americans in the arts
  • Stephanie Salazar, “Free Yourself” painting, focusing on society’s treatment of the LGBT community
  • Edgar Trejo, “Rise” painting, focusing on the courage of immigrants in the current political climate
  • Susanna Hernandez, “Illusion v Reality” painting and art rendering, focusing on homelessness for military veterans
  • Jordan Lewis, “Voices” painting, focusing on lack of freedom of speech in America
  • Kintochia Barnes, “Silent Traffic” painting, focusing on the problem of sex trafficking

All of the students’ artworks were excellent. Members of the audience, who included educators, parents and community members, were able to view each piece of art and speak with the student artists about their message conveyed through their art. A silent auction for the artwork also was held and several art pieces received purchase bids.

Miracle Chin, a senior at Vance County High School, also recited a powerful poem that stressed a person’s true beauty comes from within and should not be determined by the person’s outward appearance.

Dr. Ellen McLarney, a professor at Duke University, presented the featured lecture at the event. She showed several pieces of national and international photos and paintings, both historical and present day, that are widely acclaimed for their depiction of people concerning key societal issues today throughout the world. She noted that art throughout time has always been an expression of the artist’s opinions on all types of issues. She encouraged the students to continue to pursue their passion for art and to continue to voice their opinions through their work.

Anterrahn Harris talks with an “Art of Protest” attendee about his painting, “Of Body & Mind,” and how it depicts the lack of recognition of African Americans in the arts. (Photo courtesy VCS)

“Art of Protest” work done by, from left, Madonna Baselios, Semaj Brown and DeAndre Johnson are displayed for the silent auction. (Photo courtesy VCS)

Early College High School Accepting Applications for Rising Sophomores/Juniors

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-Information courtesy the Vance County Schools’ Facebook page

Vance County Early College High School is now accepting applications for rising 10th and 11th graders for the 2019-2020 school year. The application deadline is Monday, April 1, 2019.

Applications are available on the school’s website (click here).