Tag Archive for: #vancecountyschools

Crosson Named Principal of Pinkston Street Elementary

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Congratulations to Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor Crosson, who has been appointed as the new principal of Pinkston Elementary School.

Dr. Crosson most recently served as the assistant principal for Pinkston Street and L.B. Yancey elementary schools. She has over 20 years of experience in education with Vance County Schools.

She succeeds Heddie Somerville, who was named the new principal for Vance County Middle School for 2018-2019.

Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor Crosson is shown at right as she joins Superintendent Anthony Jackson in announcing her new appointment to Pinkston Street Elementary School staff members. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

AdVance Academy Graduates Record Number of Seniors

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

AdVance Academy graduated a record number of seniors in the Class of 2018 during the school’s Commencement Exercises held during the evening of June 8, at McGregor Hall in Henderson.

A total of 95 graduates from AdVance Academy received their high school diplomas during the exercises.

AdVance Academy graduates stand as Kaitlyn Tant sings the “National Anthem.” (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

McGregor Hall had an audience of over 700 people gathered in the facility’s auditorium to watch the event and cheer on their graduates.

Principal Stephanie Ayscue presided at the event.

The Northern Vance High School Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors and Kaitlyn Tant, a senior at Southern Vance High School, sang the “National Anthem.”

Melissa Elliott of Graduation Alliance led the portion of the exercises that involved all of the graduates presenting red roses to their parents.

Que Tucker, commissioner of the N.C. High School Athletic Association, was the featured speaker. She encouraged the graduates to follow their “ABCs,” which she said stand for attitude, believing in yourself and courage. Tucker urged all of the seniors to go out into the world and not let anything or anyone stand in their way of accomplishing their goals in life.

The presentation of diplomas to each of the graduates was led by Ayscue, Elliott, Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson. Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine, and Assistant Superintendents Trixie Brooks, Cindy Bennett and Jennifer Bennett.

The graduates will now go on to attend a community college, four-year college or university, join the military or go into the workforce.

Last Graduates of Northern Vance High School Take the Stage

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Members of the Class of 2018 at Northern Vance High School received deserved recognitions during their Commencement Exercises held in the afternoon of June 9 at McGregor Hall in Henderson.

Assistant Principal Mark Lawhorne welcomes everyone to the Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2018 at Northern Vance High School. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

Every seat was filled in the almost 1,000 seat auditorium as family members, friends, educators and school system officials joined in paying tribute to the last graduating class of Northern Vance High. An overflow crowd of about 300 watched via live stream on large screens set up in the McGregor Hall Gallery.

There were 177 members of the graduating class. They were awarded $4.9 million in scholarships to attend college and further their educations. The vast majority will go on to attend a community college or a four-year college or university. Some graduates have chosen to join the military and some will move directly into the workforce.

Assistant Principal Mark Lawhorne led the Commencement Exercises.

The seniors, all wearing their dark blue caps and gowns with a white, collar sash trimmed in gold, processed into the auditorium as the audience stood in recognition of their achievements.

Once the graduates were in position on the stage, members of the Vance County Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors. Graduating senior Jadyn Jones sang the “National Anthem.”

Clara Bobbitt, who finished number one in the graduating class academically, provided the valedictory address for her classmates. She spoke about their four years of hard work and accomplishments at Northern Vance and their hopes for going on to continued success in college and their future careers. Erin McAllister delivered the salutatorian address in recognition of her completion as the second highest academic achiever in the class.

Northern Vance graduating senior Erin McAllister receives her high school diploma. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

Markoch led the presentation of diplomas to each of the graduates. The seniors lined up to the left of the stage and walked across to receive their high school diplomas. Joining Markoch with the presentations were Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine and Assistant Superintendents, Jennifer Bennett, Trixie Brooks and Cindy Bennett.

In addition to Bobbitt and McAllister, those students who completed their senior year in the top 10 percent academically for the class were Briana Coleman, Akyvia Alston, La’Niayah Bates, Kwaji Bullock, Jordan Burnette, Diamond Durham, Jamon Glover, Destini Hargrove, Madison Hetrick, Makayla Jefferys, Jadyn Jones, Autumn Julian, Laneka Littlejohn, Manaya Perry, Shyanne Robertson, Christopher Stainback, Cody Stainback and Jonthan Vu.

Northern Vance High students serving as commencement marshals included: Billy Zheng (lead marshal), Destinee Bullock, Tiera Bullock, Anterrahn Harris, Tomesha Jefferson, Brittney Kersey, Jaida Lewis, Alex Machado, Matthew Munn, Ryan Stainback, Briana Sulyans and Breana Williams.

Southern Vance High School Graduates Final Class

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

The final graduating class of Southern Vance High School, with 169 seniors, received high school diplomas on June 9 during the school’s Graduation and Commencement Exercises held in the morning at McGregor Hall in Henderson.

Principal Rey Horner led the proceedings as he watched his graduates march into the auditorium, which was packed with almost 1,000 parents, siblings, other family members, school staff members, school system officials and community residents. Horner congratulated the seniors for their achievements and urged each of them to go out into the world and make a real difference.

Itzy Chavarin Contreras delivers the valedictory address on behalf of her fellow graduates. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

Itzy Chavarin Contreras was the class valedictorian. She gave a very emotional speech to her classmates and those in the audience. She took the time to especially thank her father for his influence and work in helping her to achieve what she has achieved so far in life.

The class salutatorian was Crystal Marrow.

After all of the graduates processed into the auditorium, the Vance County Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors. Jykira Benson, a graduating senior, sang the “National Anthem.”

Six members of the graduating class sang a special song they wrote as the “Class Song.” Those graduates providing the excellent rendition were Timothy Massenburg, Jordan Alston, Kevon Perry, Desmond Mills, Justus Baldwin and Shamond Lyons.

Each graduate’s name was announced and they walked across the stage to receive their diploma. The diplomas were presented by Horner, Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine, and Assistant Superintendents Cindy Bennett, Trixie Brooks and Jennifer Bennett.

The Class of 2018 at Southern Vance has accepted a total of over $2 million in scholarship funds to attend colleges and universities in the fall. Most of the graduates will go on to further their education in a community college or two-year or four-year college and university. Some of the graduates plan to enter the military and a few will go directly into the workforce.

Principal Rey Horner stands at the podium as he addresses the Class of 2018 at Southern Vance High School and the audience at the Graduation and Commencement Exercises. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

Those seniors in the graduating class who completed their high school careers in the top 10 percent academically were Itzy Chavarin Contreras (ranked #1), Crystal Marrow (ranked #2), Kailee Ball, Reina Banda Orozco, Cody Edwards, Adriana Evans, Cynthia Hernandez, Walter Hernandez, Emily Isidro, Perla Lopez, Brandon Loyd, Ashley Mosley, Litzy Renteria, Onjahlaya Robinson, Karen Sandoval, Kaitlyn Tant, Antoinette Watson, Destiny Williams and Aliyah Wright.

Students in the Southern Vance High junior class who served as graduation marshals included: Madonna Baselios (lead marshal); Wendy Portillo (lead marshal); Eleodoro Aldana; Dylan Allgood; Sarah Burns; Miracle Chin; Shel’Nyia Hargrove; Deana Hawkins; Mya McKnight; April Pendergrass; John Pendergrass; Shannon Riggan; Aaliyah Simril; Robert Susewell; Tar’Naja Thorpe; and Gabriela Ventura.

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

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!!!

Early College High School Class of 2018 Graduates

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

A total of 38 members of the Class of 2018 at the Vance County Early College High School received their high school diplomas and most also received at least one college associate degree during their Commencement Exercises held during the evening of May 24.

The commencement was held in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College before an audience of about 900 parents, family members, friends and school staff members.

Principal Debbie Hite offered opening remarks and presided over the ceremony.

Seven of the graduates received both an associate degree in the arts and an associate degree in science from Vance-Granville Community College. An additional 23 of the graduates received just an associate degree in the arts. In total, 30 of the 38 graduates received a college associate degree.

The college associate degrees indicate that they have received credit for completing two years of college-level coursework. They may now use those credits to enter a four-year college or university as a junior.

Seth Moody delivers his valedictorian address at the commencement exercises for the Class of 2018 at Early College High School. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.)

The diplomas and degrees were presented to each graduate by Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools, and Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of Vance-Granville Community College.

The graduates are Hunter Antel, Danielle Ayscue, Nancy Bonilla, Andrew Brame, Anaya Brown, Mercedes Brust, Cameron Bullock, Brittany Burroughs, Ke’Moni Champion, Brooklyn Davis, Zairea Davis, Zenee Davis, Hong Dong, Malcolm Elam Jr., Nealee Fisher, Lehman Ford, Alayna Gallagher, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Courtney Herndon, Brandon Hughes, Rosalinda Ibarra, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff, Jade Lewis, Seth Moody, Brandy Patterson, Brittney Patterson, Jimmy Ponce, Hannah Roberson, Jordan Rooker, Alexis San Juan, Ty’Ayala Shearin, Evan Stinson, McKenzie Taylor, Latia Thomas, Matthew White, Kaela Williams and Suzanne Williams.

Valedictorian for the class was Seth Moody. The salutatorian was Victoria Inscoe.

Those graduates honored as finishing in the top 10 percent academically of the class were Seth Moody, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff, Nancy Bonilla, Lehman Ford and Ke’Moni Champion.

Early College students serving as graduation marshals were Matthew Denton, Jessica Grissom, Kaitlyn Harris, Samantha Hines, Joseph Penny, Ethan Roberson, Jessica Steed, Alexia Watson and Kianna Wills.

Student’s Artwork Selected for N.C. Display

The sunflower painting of Nia Branch, a fifth-grade student at Clarke Elementary School, has been selected to represent Vance County Schools in a display of student artwork from across the state at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh.

The sunflower painting, which Nia is holding in the accompanying photo, will actually hang outside the office of N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson.

Clarke Elementary School Principal Crystal Richardson, left, Nia Branch, center, and art teacher, Alexa Molden, right. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

It will be included among the 115 pieces of student artwork in the display, with one student’s work from each of the public school districts in North Carolina. 

Shown in the photo with Nia as she learned of her deserved honor are Clarke Elementary School Principal Crystal Richardson, left, and her art teacher, Alexa Molden. They also are shown with two certificates of recognition which Nia has received for her painting’s selection.

Student Spotlight Award Winners Honored

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

A total of 17 Vance County Schools students, who everyday display good character and compassion for others and who are committed to making the most of their educational opportunities, were honored during the evening of May 21 at the “Student Spotlight” banquet held at the Henderson Country Club.

Approximately 150 family members, school system administrators, local educators and local community leaders, attended the event to honor each of the award-winning students.

Jason Brown, a graduate of Northern Vance High School who went on to star in the National Football League, was the featured speaker for the event. He gave a passionate address to the students and guests that focused on overcoming personal obstacles and working hard to achieve your goals.

The banquet was presented by the staff of The Daily Dispatch, the newspaper in Henderson. Nancy Wykle, publisher of the newspaper, led the proceedings. The Daily Dispatch is the leading sponsor of the “Student Spotlight” recognition program, along with Vance County Schools. Additional sponsors for the program include: the Vance County Public School Foundation; Prim Development and Residential Rentals; Mako Medical Laboratories; and the Henderson Kiwanis Club.

Those who helped to fund the banquet are Duke Energy, Greystone Concrete Products Inc., H.G. Reynolds Inc., Judge Randolph Baskerville and Vance-Granville Community College.

Those students honored as “Student Spotlight” award winners for 2017-2018 included:

“Student Spotlight” award winners are shown and include, first row from left, Omar Saleh, Tanner Abbott, Jordan Glover, Jeremiah Williams, Catherine Cruz-Ochoa, Carley Walthall and Angela Ponce. On the second row from left, are LaKaiyah Miller, Jordon Hester, Christian Castillo, Eyana Hargrove, Emani Foster, Ja’Quavious Harris, La’Tina Crute, Kwaji Bullock and Madonna Baselios. (Photo: CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN / The Daily Dispatch staff)

  • Tanner Abbott, a third grader at Aycock Elementary School
  • Madonna Baselios, an 11th grader at Southern Vance High School
  • Kwaji Bullock, a 12th grader at Northern Vance High School
  • Christian Castillo, a seventh grader at Henderson Middle School
  • La’Tina Crute, a fifth grader at Pinkston Street Elementary School
  • Catherine Cruz-Ochoa, a fourth grader at Carver Elementary School
  • Emani Foster, a 10th grader at Early College High School
  • Jordan Glover, a sixth grader at Eaton-Johnson Middle School
  • Eyana Hargrove, a 12th grader at AdVance Academy
  • Ja’Quavious Harris, a fourth grader at Zeb Vance Elementary School
  • Jordon Hester, a third grader at Clarke Elementary School
  • LaKaiyah Miller, a fourth grader at New Hope Elementary School
  • Angela Ponce, a third grader at E.O. Young, Jr. Elementary School
  • Omar Saleh, a fourth grader at E.M. Rollins Elementary School
  • Isreal Terry, a seventh grader at STEM Early High School
  • Carley Walthall, a fourth grader at Dabney Elementary School
  • Jeremiah Williams, a fourth grader at L.B. Yancey Elementary School

Top Graduates in Class of 2018 Honored

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools hosted the annual “Honoring Academic Success” banquet for the top graduating seniors in the Class of 2018 during the evening of Wednesday, May 16, at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson.

Approximately 60 Class of 2018 members from AdVance Academy, Early College High, Southern Vance High and Northern Vance High were honored and presented with medallions. They are all among the top 10 percent academically in their senior classes. Their medallions were presented to them by Superintendent Anthony Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine and Vance County Public School Foundation President Archie B. Taylor, Jr.

Over 200 parents, friends, community leaders and school system administrators were in the audience to join in the recognitions for the graduates.

Jordan Thomas, a 2017 graduate of Southern Vance High School and now a student leader at N.C. Central University, was the featured speaker for the evening. Thomas did an amazing job with his keynote address. He talked about his own experiences in completing his first year of college and he urged all of the successful graduates to continue to be leaders, work hard to achieve their goals and to never give up even in the face of adversity.

Those students honored included from AdVance Academy: Timothy Batts, Jr., Alexander Cooper, Quandarious Greene, Samuel Gupton, III, Germon Hawthorne, Shay’Daza Harrison, Nathan Martin, Zi’yon Price, Nicole Dominguez and Aljanea Robinson.

Top graduates honored from Early College High School were Nancy Bonilla, Ke’Moni Champion, Lehman Ford, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff and Seth Moody.

The top 10 percent in academic achievers in the Class of 2018 at Southern Vance High School were honored and included: Kailee Ball, Reina Banda Orozco, Itzy Chavarin Contreas, Cody Edwards, Adriana Evans, Cynthia Hernandez, Walter Hernandez, Emily Isidro, Perla Lopez, Brandon Loyd, Crystal Marrow, Ashley Mosley, Litzy Renteria, Onjahlaya Robinson, Karen Sandoval, Kaitlyn Tant, Antoinette Watson, Destiny Williams and Aliyah Wright.

At Northern Vance High School, the top 10 percent of 2018 graduates include: Akyvia Alston, La’Niayah Bates, Clara Bobbitt, Kwaji Bullock, Jordan Burnette, Briana Coleman, Diamond Durham, Jamon Glover, Destini Hargrove, Madison Hetrick, Makayla Jefferys, Jadyn Jones, Autumn Julian, Laneka Littlejohn, Erin McAllister, Manaya Perry, Shyanne Robertson, Christopher Stainback, Cody Stainback and Jonathan Vu.

Top 10 Percent Students for AdVance Academy. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

Top 10 Percent Students for Early College High School. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

Top 10 Percent Students for Southern Vance High School. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

 

Top 10 Percent Students for Northern Vance High School. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

Vance County Schools Bus Driver Training

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools will host bus driver training Tuesday, June 19 through Thursday, June 21,at what is currently Northern Vance High School in room I-103.

Interested persons must attend the training on all three days to receive certification. The training will be only for individuals to drive school buses for our school system. Participants will be given applications for VCS school bus drivers to be completed by the third day of the class.

Participants who use a VCS yellow bus to complete the driving part of the class must commit to drive for our school system for one year as a part-time or substitute driver. Those who fail to meet this commitment to drive will be charged for the use of the bus during road training and the background check completed by Vance County Schools.

The training sessions will begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at approximately 3:15 p.m. each day.

Those persons interested in participating in the training sessions must register five days prior to the sessions with the school system’s Transportation Department, located at 226 Welcome Avenue off Raleigh Road south of Henderson. For additional information, please call the Transportation Department at 438-5012.