Tag Archive for: #vancecountyschools

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.

 

 

 

Pre-K, Kindergarten Registration Event Mar. 22 At L.B. Yancey

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Parents with children ready to enter kindergarten or pre-kindergarten in the 2022-23 school year have an opportunity to complete the registration process next week at L.B. Yancey Elementary School.

The registration event will be held on Tuesday, Mar. 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Perry Memorial Library Pop-Up Library will be on site as well, providing stories about the lovable Pet the Cat, according to information from Vance County Schools’ Director of Communication and Marketing Aarika Sandlin.

Children will enjoy listening to some of Pete the Cat’s stories, and there will be free hotdogs, chips and juice for all, plus karaoke, parachute games and much more.

The rain date is Tuesday, Mar. 29, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

MAKO Medical Kicks in $10K To Help Fund Vance Ed Foundation Grants For Teachers

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MAKO Medical has donated $10,000 to the Vance County Public School Foundation to support a grant program for funding in 2022-23.  But the North Carolina-based medical lab has taken it one step further and issued a challenge to the community: They will match dollar-for-dollar all future donations from area businesses and individuals up to $10,000.

The grant is called Learning that Extends Actual Performance – or LEAP, for short.

Teachers in Vance County Public Schools can submit project applications beginning Mar. 25. A committee will evaluate the applications and award the grants to recipients at the August teacher Convocation, according to a press statement from VCS Director of Communication and Marketing Aarika Sandlin.

Josh Arant, MAKO Medical’s chief operating officer, said helping classroom teachers is a great way to invest in the community.

“The past two years have been hard on students, teachers and their families,” Arant said in a press statement. “We want to help support our educators and inspire innovation in Vance County. I hope other individuals and companies will join us.”

Five educators received grants in 2021 to support projects aimed at enriching students’ classroom experience, Sandlin stated.

VCS Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett praised MAKO for its generosity. “We are so grateful for the financial support and the confidence that MAKO has in the work we are doing in Vance County Schools,” Bennett said.

“Every dollar donated will support the experiences and engaging opportunities our teachers will design and share with our students. MAKO has again demonstrated their amazing support for this community,” she continued.

The foundation will provide an additional $10,000, bringing the total – so far – to $20,000 to fund the grants for next year.

Donations as part of the MAKO Match challenge – with “MAKO Match” in the memo line – can be sent to the following address:

Vance County Schools Public School Foundation

P.O. Box 2956

Henderson, NC 27536

Area Schools Participate In National Program Focused On Reducing Social Isolation

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School cafeterias usually are abuzz with activity at lunch time – there’s usually a lot of chatter as students take a few minutes to decompress from the rigors of the classroom. But cafeterias also can be a place where students can experience social isolation. Conjure up an image of a student eating alone in a cafeteria and you get the picture.

In an effort to raise awareness about the negative effect social isolation can have on young people’s mental health – and academic performance – WellCare of North Carolina is bringing No One Eats Alone Day to a couple of area schools.

Clarke Elementary in Henderson was scheduled to participate today (Friday, Mar. 4) and G.C. Hawley Middle School in Creedmoor is slated to participate on Mar. 10, according to information from WellCare. Henderson YMCA will be the third site in the area to participate, scheduled for Mar. 24.

Billed as “a positive prevention initiative designed to promote inclusion and a culture of belonging in middle schools,” No One Eats Alone Day was created by the nonprofit Beyond Differences.

According to a press statement, students “will learn about social isolation and the negative impact it can have on mental health and academic performance, while also being encouraged to create new friendships. Mental health is especially important now as students experience the growing stressors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its social isolation effects.”

The area schools and the YMCA join thousands of schools across the country that will celebrate No One Eats Alone Day. The initiative will reach more than a million students in all 50 U.S. states. No One Eats Alone Day is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation.

WellCare of North Carolina provides government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex needs primarily through Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans across the state. WellCare of North Carolina is one of the state’s Medicaid Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs). Visit www.wellcare.com/nc to learn more.

Masks Optional In Vance County Schools Starting Feb. 28

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The Vance County Board of Education voted on Monday to lift the mask mandate for students and staff beginning Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.

The board held a special called meeting this morning (Feb. 21) to discuss the use of face coverings and the board voted unanimously to begin optional masking next week.

The vote comes on the heels of Gov. Roy Cooper’s update last week, during which he discussed guidance from DHHS and on passage of Senate Bill 173.

“The district will continue to encourage students and staff to become vaccinated as well as participate in weekly COVID-19 testing provided by a partnership with Mako Labs,” according to a written statement from VCS.

“The Board of Education recognizes that COVID-19 is still present in the community and will continue to offer optional layers of protection for students and staff,” the statement continued.

Temperature checks will be optional and the district will maintain nurses in schools. Schools also will continue the increased cleaning protocols. Staff will continue to ask students to respect personal space and to bring reusable water bottles for the touchless water fountains.

At their scheduled work session held on Monday, Feb.21, the Granville County Board of Education voted unanimously to make masks optional, except as required by law, for students and staff effective February 28, 2022.

The Board heard a summary of recent action at the state level, including a recent report made by the Governor which encouraged all school districts to make masks optional by March 7, 2022.  In addition, Senate Bill 173 (the “Free the Smiles Act”) was passed by the General Assembly yesterday and sent to the governor.  If the governor signs the bill or lets it stand without a veto, then it will become law in no less than 10 days.  Finally, specifics of the newly updated NC Strong Schools Toolkit were also shared.

While masks will be optional in school beginning next Monday, there are some settings and instances where they will still be required. Currently, there is still a federal CDC order in place requiring masks for drivers and passengers on school buses.  Masks are also still required on days 6-10 for individuals after they have tested positive or have been identified as a close contact to someone with COVID-19.  These specific instances will be reviewed by our school nurses in consultation with the local health department.

Franklin County Schools has made the decision to make masks optional beginning immediately.

The Local Skinny! VCS Grabs 10 Blue Ribbon Awards For Excellence In Multimedia Communications

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Vance County Schools Director of Communication Aarika Sandlin accepted 10 Blue Ribbon Awards during a virtual ceremony last week, and Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett called Sandlin’s creativity and commitment to sharing the accomplishments of students and staff is to be commended.

During the awards ceremony on Feb. 11, 2022, the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) recognized VCS  for outstanding and effective communication across several categories, from graphic design to digital and electronic media.

VCS received three Gold level awards for outstanding work in Image and Graphic Design (2) and Special Events, three Silver level awards for work in Digital Media and Special Events (2) and four  Bronze level awards given in Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing and Publications (2).

The judges praised the work, sharing it was “superb work from start to finish!” This is another strong finish for Vance County Schools, having earned nine Blue Ribbon awards in 2020.

In a written statement to WIZS News, Bennett said Sandlin “works diligently to ensure that publications, social media posts and presentations tell the story of the innovative spirit of students and staff.”

Ken Derksen, NCSPRA president and executive director for community engagement & student and family support for Wayne County Public Schools, said the work of the award winners exemplifies the high standards and qualities members demonstrate in their daily school communications programs. “Blue Ribbon Awards are among the highest and most prestigious honors that a member of our organization can attain. I congratulate all of this year’s winners for achieving statewide recognition as a Blue Ribbon Award winner. These awards highlight the superior work being accomplished in the area of school communications and all that our members are doing to support and promote public schools across North Carolina,” Derksen said.

NCSPRA recognizes outstanding communications through its Blue Ribbon Awards program each year. Vance County Schools was one of 37 school districts statewide to receive a Blue Ribbon Award. This year’s submission categories included: Marketing, Digital Media Engagement, Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing, Publications, Image/Graphic Design, Photography, and Special Projects and Events. The Georgia School Public Relations Association judged NCSPRA’s 2021 Blue Ribbon entries.

During the virtual event, Nicole Kirby, president of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) paid tribute to award winners and thanked all North Carolina school districts for their efforts to effectively communicate during difficult times. Kirby praised the districts and their communications teams for the powerful way they have responded to help parents, students, and staff during the COVID crisis. “At a time when we are all under extraordinary pressure, you have continued to produce award-winning work,” Kirby said.

NCSPRA is a statewide professional organization serving more than 150 members. Its mission is to build support for public education through well-planned and responsible public relations. For more information, visit the NCSPRA Facebook page or www.ncspra.org.

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Wayne Adcock

Adcock’s Family Humbled, Honored During Dedication Of Wayne Adcock Auditorium

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“It’s not work if you love what you do.” There is no more fitting statement to describe the way Wayne Adcock felt about his job as an educator, and members of the community and Vance County Schools school had a chance to remember the lifelong educator, former superintendent, mentor and friend at a special ceremony Monday at the Center for Innovation.

Vance County Schools named the auditorium for Adcock, who died in November 2020. His wife, Susan, and son John were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting and dedication. She reflected on the morning’s celebration in a telephone interview with John C. Rose.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “It was a very emotional day, but we were so humbled by the school board wanting to do that,” she said of the naming ceremony.

Adcock was so complimentary of the work that Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett and the school staff undertook to make the day a reality.

“We enjoyed hearing people remembering Wayne,” she said. A recurring theme throughout the remarks made on Monday included how much her husband loved working for Vance County Schools and with students. And, my, how he loved that building that now houses the Center for Innovation. He served as principal at the Charles Street campus when it was Henderson Middle School. “He was principal there 10 years,” she said. “He loved that building – he would always say it was the prettiest building in Vance County.”

But whether it was at Henderson Middle School or Northern Vance High School, Adcock said her husband genuinely loved what he did.

“He felt like he was the lucky one that got to (work) with the students,” she recalled. “He thought he was the fortunate one to get to do it.”

Several speakers gave remarks at the ribbon-cutting, and then the microphone was opened up for others to share their memories. Her son, John, offered remarks on behalf of the family.

Her husband made lifelong friends working for Vance County Schools, but it was the students that he dearly loved hearing from after they’d graduated and become successful in life.

He enjoyed his time interacting with the older high school students because he could hopefully give them advice that would “guide them in the right direction.”

David Cooper and David Westbrook are former students who now work in the field of education. Westbrook talked about advice that Adcock had given him when he was in high school “when he wasn’t always doing what he was supposed to do,” Mrs. Adcock recalled. “(Wayne) was always tickled when he’d call and seek advice,” she said.

Cooper talked about the encouragement Adcock offered him through the years.

School board chair Ruth Hartness shared the strong relationships that Adcock established with students and the guidance that he was so good at providing.

“Wayne valued education so much,” she said. He felt that it was one thing that could lift people out of poverty. He was awarded a scholarship to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, and he realized how fortunate he was to be able to continue his education.

When he’d bump in to former students or get updates on what they were doing, “he would be so happy that they’d gotten an education and were doing so well.”

Wayne Adcock

Wayne Adcock Auditorium Dedication Monday On Center For Innovation Campus

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The auditorium at the Vance County Schools’ Center for Innovation will officially be named for longtime educator and former superintendent at a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022.

The public is invited to attend the event, during which the Wayne Adcock Auditorium will be officially dedicated, according to information from the school district. The ribbon-cutting is at 10 a.m., with the dedication immediately following.

Adcock, who was superintendent from July 1996 until January 2003, died Nov. 1, 2020 at the age of 73.

The Center for Innovation is a state-of-the-art facility where students, faculty and the community can engage in various programs and activities. It is located on the campus of  the former Henderson High School, 219 Charles St.

Vance County Schools Logo

Two Hour Delay For Vance County Schools on Tuesday

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Vance County Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay on Tuesday, January 18th. All schools operating on the traditional and year-round calendar will have a required teacher workday. The workday will begin at 10:00 for all staff.
For VCHS and Early College, students and staff will operate on a two-hour delay.
Should the weather or power outages require a change in this plan, a call/message will be sent out at 6AM on Tuesday, January 18th.