Tag Archive for: #vancecountyschools

Student’s Artwork Selected for N.C. Display

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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

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-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

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-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

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-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.

Early College Graduates Honored at Class Night

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Members of the Class of 2018 at Vance County Early College High School were honored during the evening of May 15 at their Class Night.

A total of 38 seniors are in the graduating class.

During the Class Night celebration, they received accolades for their accomplishments in high school and many of them were presented with thousands of dollars in scholarship funds to further their education at four-year colleges and universities in the fall.

The 38 seniors in the Class of 2018 at Vance County Early College High School listen to speakers during their Class Night celebration. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.

An audience of over 400 parents, other family members and friends attended the event in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.

Members of the Class of 2018 include: 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, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff, Jade Lewis, Seth Moody, Brandy Patterson, Britney Patterson, Jimmy Ponce, Hannah Roberson, Jordan Rooker, Alexis San Juan, Ty’Ayala Shearin, Evan Stinson, McKenzie Taylor, Latia Thomas, Rosalinda Vazquez, Matthew White, Kaela Williams and Suzanne Williams.

Vance Co. Educators Take Part in Tech Expo at Clarke Elementary

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Over 200 Vance County Schools educators attended the school system’s Tech Expo held at Clarke Elementary School during the afternoon of May 15.

Members of the “We Inspire” technology cohort groups, who all work in our schools, led the collaborative event over its approximately two-hour period. Educators shared strategies to use technology to enhance daily classroom instruction and to offer students experiences in using cutting-edge innovations. Educators moved from table to table to see and discuss new technology and strategies with colleagues.

Vance County Schools educators collaborate as they move through different blended learning stations at the school system’s Tech Expo on May 15. Photo courtesy Vance Co. Schools.

Innovations such as the zSpace digital learning stations were on display for educators to experiment and learn more about exposing their students to three-dimensional learning. Dozens of the stations will be used next school year by students in our middle and high schools.

The Tech Expo was attended by classroom teachers, school administrators, teacher assistants, media specialists and support personnel from the Administrative Services Center.

“Meet and Greet” Events Scheduled for New Vance Co. Middle and High School Principals

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools will host “Meet and Greet” events for our new principals at Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School.

The events are designed to provide opportunities for everyone in our community to meet and talk with the principals who will lead these new schools for the 2018-2019 school year.

A “Meet and Greet” is scheduled with new Vance County Middle School Principal Heddie Somerville on Wednesday, May 23, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the media center at Northern Vance High School, which will be the site for the new school. Mrs. Somerville will be on hand to talk with all parents, students and community members.

A “Meet and Greet” with new Vance County High School Principal Rey Horner is scheduled for Wednesday, May 30, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Southern Vance High School, the site of the new school. Parents, students and community members are urged to attend to meet Mr. Horner.

These events are open to all members of the local community.

Vance Co. Schools Designates May 16 as an Optional Teacher Workday

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

The Vance County Board of Education approved designating Wednesday, May 16, as an optional teacher workday with no school for students in all Vance County Schools.

The change for the day is because a large number of teachers from our school district are expected to attend a public education advocacy rally on May 16 in Raleigh.

We want parents to know that meals will be available to students at the following schools: Pinkston Street Elementary, L.B. Yancey Elementary, Henderson Middle, Eaton-Johnson Middle and E.M. Rollins Elementary on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parents must provide transportation for students to the schools. The meals must be consumed on school grounds.

We want to thank our cafeteria staff and School Nutrition Services staff for putting in the extra work to take care of the nutritional needs of our students, even when school is not in session.

Vance Co. Board of Education Approves Administrative Changes for 2018-2019

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools
The Vance County Board of Education at its meeting on Monday, May 14, approved several administrative changes in Vance County Schools for the 2018-2019 school year.

The changes involve new assignments for several principals and assistant principals in the school district.

New appointments for principals include:

  • Debbie Hite, current principal of Early College High School, to district administrator for Student Support Services in the Administrative Services Center
  • Andrew Markoch, current principal of Northern Vance High School, to administrator on special assignment at Vance County High School
  • Crystal Richardson, current principal of Clarke Elementary School, to principal on special assignment at Vance County Middle School
  • Travis Taylor, current principal at Eaton-Johnson Middle School, to principal of Early College High School
  • Kristian Herring, current principal of Zeb Vance Elementary School, to principal of STEM Early High School
  • Dr. John Hargrove, current principal of Henderson Middle School, to principal of Zeb Vance Elementary School
Administrative appointments for assistant principals approved by the board include:
  • Cassandra Evans to assistant principal at E.O. Young, Jr. Elementary School
  • Lemondre Watson to assistant principal at Vance County Middle School
  • Sandra Byrd to assistant principal at Vance County Middle School
  • Angela Pugh to assistant principal at Vance County Middle School
  • Kevin Ross to assistant principal at Vance County Middle School
  • Desmond Thompson to assistant principal at Vance County High School
  • McShell Edmonds to assistant principal at Vance County High School
  • Cyrus Waters to assistant principal at Vance County High School
  • Alice Hinson to assistant principal at Vance County High School
  • Mark Lawhorne to assistant principal at AdVance Academy/Youth Empowerment Academy
  • Edward Ortega to assistant principal intern at E.M. Rollins Elementary School
  • Melonee Hunter to assistant principal intern at Vance County High School and STEM Early College High School
  • Shannon Bullock to assistant principal at Vance County Middle School
All of the appointments are effective July 1, with the exception of the intern appointments which are effective August 1.

“With these administrative appointments, I am very pleased that we can utilize the outstanding talents of our district’s administrators to lead our schools,” said Superintendent Anthony Jackson. “We are fortunate to have talented leaders who will work well with our educators and our students in the coming school year to provide quality educational opportunities.”

Vance Co. Board of Education Expected to Approve May 16 School Closing

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

After meeting with the officers and representatives of the Vance County Association of Educators and reviewing staff request leave data, Superintendent Anthony Jackson will recommend to the Board of Education on Monday evening that Vance County Schools convert Wednesday, May 16, to a student holiday and an optional teacher workday.

A majority of the Board of Education has indicated their support of the request and plans to approve the superintendent’s recommendation at their meeting on Monday evening.

The recommendation and expected board decision are the result of a planned teacher advocacy rally that is scheduled for May 16 in Raleigh. The event, sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Educators, is expected to draw thousands of educators from across the state.

The current request from Vance County Schools’ staff exceeds the district’s ability to provide coverage with available substitutes.

The administration is making this recommendation to support our teachers’ desire to advocate for better pay and benefits while balancing it with the needs of our schools and students.

The recommendation to the board will be to:

  • Designate May 16 as an optional teacher workday
  • High school Advanced Placement testing continues as planned
  • The “Honoring Academic Success” banquet to recognize the top 10 percent of the Class of 2018 graduates will be held as planned on May 16, at 6:30 p.m. in McGregor Hall in Henderson and students should report to McGregor Hall as directed by their teachers and counselors
  • To recapture the lost instructional time, all schools will add 15 minutes to the instructional day from May 29 – June 8

This schedule will allow the school system to maintain the current exam and commencement schedules.

“I strongly believe that this recommendation is in the best interest of our schools and the best path for us at this time,” Jackson said. “The lack of available substitutes to cover our anticipated absences could potentially place us at-risk next Wednesday if we remain open. We will be stretched to provide the necessary supervision and standard of care our parents expect. This recommendation, while not perfect, will allow us to support both teachers and students.”