Tag Archive for: #vancecountyschools

VCS Second Graders Learn Water Safety Through YMCA “Safety Around Water” Program

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– Information courtesy of VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin

Second-graders from all 10 elementary schools in Vance County Schools are participating in a five-day swim training program with staff at the Henderson Family YMCA. The Safety Around Water initiative is a national program that teaches young people basic safety techniques – using the buddy system and how to use life jackets, for example – when facing water rescue situations.

YMCA Director of Aquatics Kim Davis and staff help the children through three rounds of training: “Submerge!” helps to build comfort in the water; “Swim, Float, Swim!” teaches basic swimming skills; and “Jump, Push, Turn and Grab!”  teaches pool exit techniques.

“The hardest part is helping them to overcome their fear,” Davis said. “We care about these students, and this program helps to build trust and faith between the children

and our instructors. It is very exciting to see the progress from one day to the next.”

At the end of training, each student receives a certificate to celebrate their hard work.

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation partners with the YMCA to provide the training.

Students from Clarke Elementary participated in early February, and Principal Dr. C’monee’ Wilkins said she appreciates the partnership with the YMCA to provide the experience.

“The Safety Around Water program is a rich experience that opens our students up to embracing new things and stepping outside of their comfort zone,” she said.

“Each year there are drownings but lately the drownings have increased. We live in an area with large lakes and pools. The SAW program teaches safety skills to help the students to be able to help save themselves until help arrives.”

 

The Local Skinny! Vance County Schools Receive Blue Ribbon Awards

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For the fourth year in a row, Vance County Schools has been recognized by a statewide organization for excellence in communications. The district took four Blue Ribbon awards at a recent ceremony of the North Carolina School Public Relations Association, according to information from VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin.

Of the 344 awards given out during the ceremony, Vance County received two Gold level awards, one Silver and one Bronze level award.

The BlueRibbon Awards are the highest honor presented by t6he NCSPRA to school districts. The awards are given for outstanding communication in eight categories: marketing, digital media engagement, electronic media, excellence in writing, publications, image/graphic design, photography and special events/programs.

“This recognition is an honor for our entire district, as well as a testament to the hard work of our team,” Sandlin said in the press statement. “We are grateful for the ongoing collaboration between the Communications department and the Center For Innovation staff as we work together to provide opportunities and experience for our students and showcase our district’s story.”

Here’s a breakdown of the award-winning programs and projects:

VCS earned Gold level recognition in the Special Events and Programs category for its Engage, Inspire, Empower conference, held in April 2023 for young women in grades 7-12 and in the Digital Media Engagement category for its Alumni Roll Call 2023 social media campaign.

The district took Silver and Bronze in the category of Image/Graphic Design for its use of AI technology that turned each principal into a superhero during Principal Appreciation Month.

The Bronze award was given for a billboard campaign called Sharing Our Story at New Heights. The billboard is on Norlina Road across from the Food Lion Shopping Center.

The NCSPRA identified a “Best of the Best” for each category, and VCS was honored in the Special Events/Programs category.

Other school district winners were:

  • Digital Media Engagement: Guilford County Schools
  • Electronic Media: Guilford County Schools
  • Excellence in Writing: New Hanover County Schools
  • Image/Graphic Design: Chatham County Schools
  • Marketing: Rutherford County Schools
  • Photography: Durham Public Schools
  • Publications (Electronic & Print): Durham Public Schools

Visit www.ncspra.org to learn more about the organization.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Arts Alive 2024 Comes To McGregor Hall Mar. 16

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Arts Alive 2024 is gearing up to showcase the varied talents of students across Vance County.

This year’s event will take place Saturday, March 16 at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson and will include singers, artists, dancers, musicians and actors from across the school district who will share their creativity and talent with the community.

The Art Gallery will open at 3 p.m., followed by Heart of the Art at 3:30 p.m.  and the Talent Showcase will begin at 5 p.m., according to information from the Vance County Public School Foundation. The event is free.

Show your support by purchasing an Arts Alive  t-shirt and wearing it the day of the show- but hurry, you need to order by Saturday, Feb. 10 to receive it before the show.

Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us,  locate the box for K-12 Payment Center on the right side of the page and follow the prompts. You’re just a few clicks away from purchase.

Contact VCS Director of Fine Arts and Physical Education Andrew Markoch at amarkoch@vcs.k12.nc.us or 252.739.7110 to learn more.

Follow updates to the annual arts showcase at https://sites.google.com/vcs.k12.nc.us/artsalive2024/home?authuser=0

The foundation also is seeking sponsors for the event, and all donations support the foundation’s work within the county to provide students and staff enriching experiences as they grow in their educational journey.

Sponsorship levels range from $25 to $2,000. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support this annual event by Mar. 1. All sponsors will be listed in the Arts Alive  program.

Here’s a breakdown of the sponsorship levels:

Friend – $25-$50

Bronze – $51-$150

Silver – $151-$250

Gold – $251-$499

Platinum – $500-$999

Diamond – $1,000-$1,999

Pinnacle – $2,000+

TownTalk: Applications For VCS Innovative Schools Due By Feb. 29

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Parents of students in Vance County Schools have until Feb. 29 to submit applications for their children to attend any of five Innovative Schools in the district.

VCS Communication & Innovative Support liaison Aarika Sandlin and Rey Horner, chief officer for Student Services, were guests on TownTalk Wednesday to provide details about the programs each school offers as well as the process for applying.

The application is available at the district website, https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/

and Sandlin said registration can be completed entirely online for parents’ convenience. If, however, a parent needs to access the application another way, please contact Horner at rhorner@vcs.k12.nc.us or phone 252.492.2127.

The five schools cover PK through high school, Sandlin said. The five schools are E.M. Rollins STEAM, STEM Early High School (grades 6-8), Vance County Early College High School, AdVance Academy and Vance Virtual Village.

Horner said each site offers something a bit different for its students, but they all focus on student-centered and student-driven learning. Applicants to STEM Early High School, AdVance and Vance County Early College must include an essay along with their applications, he noted.

The STEM Early High School will accept 100 students for next year; the Early College will cap its incoming class at 60, Horner said.

There is no cap for E.M. Rollins, so whoever applies most likely will be accepted to the program, which operates on a modified year-round schedule.

Sandlin said the goal is to provide education in an innovative way, “meeting kids where they are, to get them where they need to be.”

Families will get notification by mail on Mar. 28.

Visit https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/to download the application and to learn more about the Innovative Schools.

CLICK PLAY!

 

 

“Innovative Schools Night” Set For Wednesday, Jan. 31 At Center For Innovation

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Information courtesy of VCS Chief Communications Officer Aarika Sandlin

Parents of school-age children are invited to attend an Innovative Schools Night for Vance County Public Schools to learn more about the district’s five innovative schools.

The information session will be held Wednesday, Jan. 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Center for Innovation, 219 Charles St., Henderson.

Applications for the five schools – E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, STEM Early High, Vance County Early College, Advance Academy, and Vance Virtual Village Academy – will be accepted through Feb. 29 and decisions will be mailed out on Mar. 28, according to information on the district website.

Find the application at vcs.k12.nc.us or click the link “Innovative Schools Application” to download the form.

Vance County Schools Get $300,000 From DPI ‘s Center For Safer Schools

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Vance County Schools is among more than 200 school districts and charter schools across the state to get part of $35 million to address school safety by the Department of Public Instruction’s Center for Safer Schools.

Vance County Schools will get $300,000, as will Franklin County Schools, according to a press release from CFSS Executive Director Karen W. Fairley.

Granville County Public Schools and Warren County Schools each will receive $150,000. In addition, two Granville County charter schools also will get funding – Falls Lake Academy will get $53,874 and Oxford Preparatory School will get $40,000.

Districts and schools had to submit applications for the grant funding, which will be used for safety equipment, training and services for students in crisis.

Safety equipment covered by this grant includes items such as cameras, vape detectors, radios, and weapons detection systems. Training can include professional development for school leaders to assist students who are experiencing anxiety, trauma and/or conduct problems. Services made available through this grant can include school-based mental health services.

“It is part of the center’s mandate and mission to give public-school units the tools they need to help keep their schools safer – that includes grant funding,” she said. “We thank the General Assembly for its generous appropriation that enables us to support North Carolina public schools.”

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said the need for school safety funding is crucial in ensuring students’ well-being throughout their educational journey.

“Nothing is more important than making our schools safer and more secure, and these grants will continue to play a vital role,” Truitt said. “This funding will help improve school security in many ways, including, updating technology and training to prevent future emergencies. I applaud state lawmakers for making this a priority and look forward to working with them to deliver more safety funding in the future.”

Funding for the hiring and training of school resource officers (SROs) was a continuation of the $33 million in SRO funding awarded in October 2022 for the 2022-23 school year.

Awards are subject to all administrative and financial requirements, including timely submission of all financial and programmatic reports; resolution of all interim audit findings; and adherence to allowable expenses.

A list of public-school units that were awarded 2023-24 School Safety Grant funding can be found here.

In 2018, the General Assembly worked with the Department of Public Instruction to launch a new School Safety Grant Program to improve safety in public school units by providing grants for school resource officers, services for students in crisis, training to increase school safety, safety equipment in schools and additional school mental health support personnel.

Since then, more than $150 million has been awarded to public-school units across North Carolina.

 

Ayana Lewis Appointed To Fill School Board District 4 Seat

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The Vance County Board of Education has appointed Ayana Lewis to serve in the District 4 Board seat after the recent resignation of Edward Wilson, who had served since 2012.

Lewis, a Henderson native, will be sworn in at the board’s next meeting on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m., according to information from VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin.

Lewis, a Democrat, had filed for the District 4 seat and would have been on the ballot in November. Wilson did not file for re-election.

Lewis has close to 20 years of education experience, having previously served in Vance County Schools as Gear Up’s assistant coordinator, as well as bookkeeper and first grade teacher.

She and her husband are co-founders of the Abria Chase Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to the memories of two of their children who lost their lives in a house fire.

Lewis helps other parents who have lost children and she and her husband received the Community Excellence Award from the Full Effect Church of North Carolina in 2023.

Lewis received her bachelor’s degree from N.C. Central University and a Master of Art in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health from Wake Forest University.

Vance County Schools 2-Hour Delay 01/17/2024

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From Vance County Schools:

“As we prioritize the safety of our students and staff, we would like to inform you that Vance County Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

“This decision has been made in consideration of the potential for black ice on roadways and the forecasted wind chill. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during weather-related adjustments.”

Vance County Schools Adds Two To District Leadership Roles

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Vance County Schools has added to its leadership staff with the recent hiring of a Career and Technical Education director as well as a Safety Coordinator.

Dr. Aretha Garr is the new CTE director, according to information from VCS spokesperson Aarika Sandlin. Milton Thomas is the district’s new safety coordinator.

Garr brings to her new role at VCS more than two decades of experience of guiding students towards fulfilling and successful careers. She most recently was career development coordinator and principal designee at the Academy at Smith’s Signature Career Academy of Biomedical Sciences in Guilford County.

She also was CTE Department Chair at Parkland IB Magnet High School and Carver High School, both in Winston-Salem.

“I am excited to work towards increasing program enrollment and retention, and forging powerful community partnerships to ensure students have all the tools they need to make informed career decisions,” Garr said in a press statement.

Garr has Bachelor of Business Administration from High Point University, a Master of Healthcare Administration from Pfeiffer University and the School Administrator credential through the Master of School Administration Licensure Program at N.C. A&T State University. She graduated with an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from High Point University.

As the VCS Safety Coordinator, Thomas brings vast experience in the areas of security, investigations and emergency management to his new role. With more than 30 years’ experience in the field, Thomas has been a Marine MP, criminal investigator and drill instructor, as well as additional experience as a law enforcement officer and  For the last 18 years of his time with the USMC, he was a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defense Officer. In this role, Thomas focused on emergency and consequence management. Upon retirement from the service, Thomas joined Vance County Schools at Clarke Elementary as the Media and Technology Assistant.

Thomas earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and his Master of Science in Performance Improvement from the University of Arkansas Grantham.

VCS Announces Early Dismissal Tuesday, Jan. 9

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-information courtesy of Vance County Schools spokesperson Aarika Sandlin

 

Given the possibility of severe weather forecast for tomorrow, Vance County Schools has announced that schools will dismiss early.

Elementary schools will close at 12 noon and secondary schools will close at 12:30 p.m., according to information from VCS spokesperson Aarika Sandlin.