Western Region

GOOD NEWS 

Colfax Elementary
GOOD NEWS.

Colfax Elementary Holds “Rally for Ryan”

On Tuesday, May 28, 2013 the staff, students and families at Colfax Elementary held a special rally in support of one of their own. This fall, second-grader Ryan Altizer was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor that is requiring multiple treatments.

The school helped ease the family’s financial burdens with a three-day “Rally for Ryan” that raised $2,500 through fun activities like Hippie Day, Hat Day and Chewing Gum Day. While the students had fun, it was also important for them to have an understanding of what they were working toward and why. Many of the character traits the district promotes were put into practice during this special time for Ryan. 

GCS Students Give Back to Community during Holiday Season, December 2012
As GCS get ready to break for the winter holidays, students have been busy in their communities raising money, collecting canned goods, buying toys for military children and more.

• Students in Ms. Kristie Holton Hill’s second grade class at Colfax Elementary used the “Stuff a Stocking” as their service project and filled more than 20 stockings.

• Colfax Elementary student government conducted its annual Toys for Tots drive for the U.S. Marines, and students and staff contributed more than 200 toys to the cause. In addition, the school also participated in the annual food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. The school collected 1,847 non-perishable items.

 GOOD NEWS

Students at Colfax are EnergyWISE, September 2012

Third-grade students at Colfax Elementary are learning what it means to be energy wise through lessons about energy efficiency and energy conservation thanks to the district’s EnergyWISE program. Students will work together as a team to create ways to educate their school community about the benefits of reducing energy consumption in our schools.

Third-graders received visits from members of the N.C. A&T Center for Energy Research & Technology, or CERT, during the week of Sep. 10. Ray Tesiero, a research coordinator with CERT, and GCS EnergyWise specialist Elizabeth Keele will provide energy lessons for students and use demonstrations involving a plug-load, phantom load and kill-a-watt meter. During EnergyWISE lessons throughout the school year, Colfax third-graders will continue to become leaders in promoting energy awareness along with wise energy-efficient habits Click here for Western Wire archives.

Colfax Students Write about Voting for Essay Contest
Three fifth-graders from Colfax Elementary – Anayshaia Young, Tykia Jordan and Julian Rollins – participated in the 2012 Mabs Kemp Essay Contest sponsored by the Triad-Rowan Chapter, Continental Societies, Inc. Students shared their essays with Continental A. Rawiya Nash, Continental Guy Frank Nash and Ms. Melissa Warren, the school social worker, during a recognition presentation and Principal Michelle Thigpen acknowledged the three participants during the morning announcements. The students will present their essays on the topic, "Why is voting important?" during the school’s Awards Day in April 2012.

Also happening at Colfax was a drive led by the student government in which items were collected to benefit newborn, premature, sick and needy infants in the area. Students and staff contributed more than 200 items to Newborns in Need, a local nonprofit.

Fairview Elementary

 GOOD NEWSFairview Elementary Students Take Tour of WSSU-October 2012
Fairview Elementary’s music teacher Mr. Thomas took 15 male students on a tour of Winston-Salem State University. Once on the campus, students were amazed at how large the campus was, how many students attended and how many books were kept in the library. On the trip, teachers put an emphasis on reading, explaining that academic achievement ensures their readiness for college. Students met members of the WSSU band, and college students from High Point.

GOOD NEWSStudents from Fairview Elementary Receive Special Backpacks
On Monday, June 4, 2012, 12 students from Fairview Elementary will be even more prepared when they head to middle school next year thanks to the Furnitureland Rotary Club. The students have won the club’s Student of the Month throughout the school year, and will receive backpacks full of school supplies at a special luncheon on Monday, June 4th.  In addition, a club member and teacher will accompany each student to buy school clothes.

GOOD NEWS.Toasty Feet…..The Fairview Elementary Fifth Grade have completed their first quarter service learning project.  Upon the completion of their studies of Weather, they discussed how the weather can change overnight.  They wanted to help people in need due to the change in weather.  With that they decided to name their Service Learning Project, Toasty Feet.  Each child then stuffed a bag with lotions, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and socks.  The TOP SOX Company of High Point donated over 80 pairs of socks toward the project.  Students were able to gather toiletries to include in their decorated bags, which included a holiday greeting.  The 5^th grade Honor Roll students will deliver the bags to the West End Ministries Homeless Shelter on Monday, December 19,2011, just in time for the holidays.

Ferndale Middle

GOOD NEWS March 2013 Ferndale Middle School students once again brought home the gold with a total of 7 trophies this year from the NC State TSA Competition! Please join Mrs. Montgomery and me in congratulating the following students:

1^st Place – Systems Control

Byron Hall

Daniel Thompson

Jacob Watts

1^st Place – Environmental Focus

Margaux Blanchard

Dalton Kern

Samantha Williams

2^nd Place – Essays on Technology

Allie Pardo

2^nd Place – Techno Talk

Dalton Kern

Jay Kun

3^rd Place – Prepared Speech

Berkeley Stewart

3^rd Place – Website Design

Cheyenne Anderson

Emma Welter

Margaux Blanchard

3^rd Place – Wind Catchers

Byron Hall

Nick Nardi

Daniel Thompson

Although not all of the students placed in their event, they worked hard and learned invaluable lessons in STEM.

GOOD NEWSOn Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Mary Lou Andrews Blakeney spoke to the Ferndale 8^th grade drama students.  Ms. Blakeney was a planner and student participant in the High Point sit-in at Woolworth’s on Wrenn St. on Feb. 11^th, 1960.  She shared her knowledge and remembrances as part of a unit in the drama class.

Pictured, LaVonne Rosbor WR Student Services Admin and Mary Lou Blakeney

GOOD NEWS This year Ferndale 6^th grade classes participated in the 2012 Potato Chip Challenge. This is a nationwide (and this year worldwide) K-12 engineering challenge to design and build a package that will protect a potato chip while being sent through the mail so that it arrives at its destination undamaged. This year over 1000 chips were mailed and 3000 students participated.

 Two of Ferndale's 6^th graders, Grayshawn Dye and Alex Leggette working as a team came, in 3^rd place overall in the competition and came in 1^st place in the 6^th grade category.  Their package was mailed to a school in Scotland, UK. 

In addition, seven of the Ferndale Middle School teams came in the top 20. You may see the results by visiting www.potatochipchallenge.com .

GOOD NEWSConducting science experiments in microgravity is a challenge usually left to astronauts – until now. Three Ferndale Middle teachers are spending the week in February 2012 with NASA at Johnson Space Center in Houston and will fly on a reduced gravity aircraft today while conducting a series of science experiments.

Ferndale Middle was selected from a pool of more than 1,300 schools as one of 14 NASA Explorer Schools for its contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The honor provided technology education teacher Kim Forbes, math teacher Krista Hanna and science teacher Betsy Montgomery with the chance to participate in NASA’s Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program.

The teachers have been preparing for their flight for months by conducting science experiments on inertia, motion and density in their classrooms. Today they will do the same experiments while experiencing both weightlessness and the force of twice the gravity as the aircraft flies up and down in a series of parabolas.

After their flight is complete, the teachers will share their experience with their students in a video conference with Ferndale

High Point Central High

GOOD NEWS

High Point Central Shows Documentary for Black History Month

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., several organizations are collaborating to host an event that will showcase the documentary “Bring Your ‘A’ Game.” Working together are High Point Central High’s African-American Male Ambassadors and Human Relations Club, Calvary Baptist Church, High Point Human Relations Commission and the district’s Character Development Department and African-American Male Initiative.

The event will take place on Tuesday,Feb. 26 2013 at Calvary Baptist Church (808 Hilltop St., High Point) from 6-8 p.m. This Sunday Supper will bring the Greater High Point community together to share a meal and discuss strategies to improve academic and opportunity outcomes for African-American male Students.

“Bring your ‘A’ Game” is a 23-minute documentary in which a 17-year old African-American Male is offered a message of success delivered by influential black male cultural figures. Using a cinematic style and employing innovative technologies, the film details strategies that have improved the lives of African-American men and boys. It highlights how essential educational achievement and high school graduation are to survival and success in today’s world. For more information, contact the GCS Character Development Department at 370-8397.

Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

State Superintendent June Atkinson (third from left) visits with Western Region Student Services Administrator Lavonne Rosbor, High Point Central Student Body President Thomas Jarrell and Principal Robert Christina. Students and teachers at High Point Central High welcomed a special visitor to campus on Friday. State Superintendent June Atkinson stopped by the school while visiting High Point.   Atkinson toured the school and observed several classes and then spoke with juniors and seniors in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at High Point Central. Her message to them included a challenge for them to keep persevering in their school work and careers and to always work hard.   Students were able to participate in a question-and-answer session with Atkinson about her academic and professional preparation for her career in education.

GOOD NEWS

Students Compete in Black History Quiz Bowl
November 2012, students from High Point Central High, Penn-Griffin School for the Arts and Andrews High competed in a Black History Quiz Bowl for the Glenn R. Chavis Championship Cup. The competition was sponsored by Preparing Our Youth Foundation in collaboration with Beta Kappa Kappa and Alpha Delta Zeta Chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. A Youth Musical Group (Reid 360) and the Dudley UMOJA step team were the entertainment for the evening. Antonio Sloan, the district’s social studies curriculum facilitator, moderated the event and the High Point Mayor Elect was honored as a Local Legend.  

Penn-Griffin students Kendall Tate and Rebekah Singleton took home the Championship Cup. They are coached by Mr. Stuart Johnston and will represent the Beta Kappa Kappa chapter in the state competition in Clinton, N.C. on March 17. Second place went to Andrews High students Jasmine Malachi and Shaniqua Bell. They are coached by Jennifer Lackey. High Point Central students Daisha Walton, Adeola Anjorin and Brian Baccus placed third. Their team is coached by Mr. Dwain Waddell.   

GOOD NEWS.Join High Point Central for Spooky Spaghetti Supper- October 2012
High Point Central students are holding a “Spooky Spaghetti Supper” on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012.  Dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m. in the school cafeteria, which will be followed by carnival games and a costume parade. The show – three original short plays written by High Point Central theatre arts students – begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds benefit UNICEF.

The Spooky Spaghetti Supper is a collaboration of High Point Central’s culinary arts, early childhood education, key club and Bison theatre. Join the school for a festive night of service-learning! For more information or to make reservations, contact Christina Caltagirone at caltagc@gcsnc.com.

Sunday, August 5th, 2012

Aug. 5, 2012   Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green (left) and Garson Rice of Rice Toyota/Scion congratulate Daniel Horschler on winning the car at Cool to Be Smart. High Point Central High graduate Daniel Horschler unlocked the door to a brand new car on Sunday at the 10th annual Rice Toyota/Scion Cool to Be Smart. He was among more than 580 outstanding Guilford County Schools (GCS) graduates who were eligible to win a 2012 Toyota Prius C and other high-tech prizes. Horschler and his mother attended Cool to Be Smart with the hopes that he would win an Apple iPad to take with him to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he plans to study computer science. Instead, he left the event with a new car, something he never expected. "I thought I was going to walk away without winning anything," he said. "It's amazing. This hasn't even sunk in yet. I feel very lucky and fortunate to have won." Now that he has a new car, with taxes, tags and fees included thanks to Rice Toyota/Scion, Horschler will need to check one more thing off his to-do list before driving off to college: get a license. He says he was planning to get one within the next few weeks. He had a car that is about 11 years old, so getting a new car was a nice surprise. The Prius C is a hybrid that boasts about 50 miles per gallon in fuel efficiency.

GOOD NEWS.  High Point Central High Students Prepare To "Dance UNITED" for United Way
On March 23, 2012 students at High Point Central High will take to the dance floor in a fourteen hour dance marathon to benefit the United Way of Greater High Point. Their goal is to raise $10,000. Faculty and students see this as an opportunity to combine the lessons they’ve learned in class with a service-learning opportunity that benefits others in the community. Following the event, the students will learn more about the human service organizations funded by the United Way, and, in a process similar to the actual United Way allocations process, will vote on how to distribute the money they have raised.  

Academy at High Point Central

GOOD NEWS October 2012:

Health Sciences Go Beyond the Classroom at The Academy at Central

The Academy at Central has partnered with the Greensboro Area Health Education Center where 16 students in the health science program will attend monthly seminars. Students will have the opportunity to speak to healthcare professionals from various fields, tour a healthcare facility, take college tours, learn SAT prep strategies, network and meet other students interested in health careers, participate in an array of science workshops designed to prepare them for various occupations in healthcare, attend seminars and presentations and participate in fun and enjoyable health-related activities.

GOOD NEWS. 1^st National English Honor Society in the District:National English Honor Society is an organization dedicated to recognizing high school students who have excelled both in the study of English Language Arts and academically in general.  NEHS accepts only students who have demonstrated the highest standards in academics and behavior. Until recently, no school in the Guilford County School System had a chapter of NEHS, but no more. We are proud to announce that The Academy at Central is the first school in the district to host a chapter of the National English Honor Society this due to great efforts of Forrest Littleton, English/Latin teacher here at the Academy at Central.

The High Point Shakespeare Chapter of the National English Honor Societyheld its first induction of members on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the High Point Public Library. We were grateful to Dr. David Roberts a professor from Bennett Collegeand Kinyatta Dodson; a senior at Bennett College and a member of Sigma Tau Delta as our guest speakers.  

Congressmen Mel Watt Visits the Academy:

Due to the work and persistence of one of our own students Roberto Bell, U.S Representative Mel Watt visited the Academy on Monday, February 13, 2012. The focus of the visit came as result of our US History/C&E teacher, Morris Johnson presenting the constitution and various components of the Senate and House of Representatives to our students. After class Roberto was inclined to contact Rep. Watt to make a visit.  After providing students with some preliminary information he allowed them to ask questions they had created. Rep Watt then took a tour of our building along with taking pictures with constituents.  

Academy students visit NCA&TSU for STEM DAY

On Tuesday February 21, 2012 from 10:00am to 12:30pm, the students at The Academy at Central visited the North Carolina A&T State University for their third annual Energy Day Celebration for grades 6-12. The Energy Day Celebration exposed students to various types of technologies and research that are related to the conservation of energy.  University students led tours at the Engineering building and high school students displayed energy saving gadgets.  The National Society of Black Engineers NSBE group had students that explained the importance of Engineering and how construction research helps to save energy and overall benefit the consumer in cost savings. 

Johnson Street

GOOD NEWS.

Students from Johnson Street Global Studies experienced history Sunday as they witnessed the launch of the Space X Dragon commercial spacecraft for its first official cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station with the science experiment they created on mold growth on board.   An anonymous donor made it possible for the team of 13 students along with their parents and teachers to attend the rocket launch. The group’s visit also included a tour of Kennedy Space Station and lunch with an astronaut.   Students hope to learn more about how gravity affects the growth of mold to find out how long it might take for food to spoil in outer space. Their research could help determine what passengers eat if public space travel ever becomes a reality. The experiment will be on the International Space Station until November, when it will come back to Earth for the students to analyze the results.   Johnson Street is one of 11 student teams from across the country selected for the opportunity through the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program. Two student-designed mission patches are also on board the International Space Station with the experiment.

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

A team of student scientists from Johnson Street Global Studies is interested in finding out how long it would take food to spoil in outer space. If the team finds that mold grows differently in microgravity, its research could help determine what passengers will eat if public space travel ever becomes a reality.   Fourteen students will have the opportunity to study mold growth by placing their experiment on the International Space Station this fall. As a part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, they will be among some of the first researchers to send an experiment to the space station via a commercial spacecraft. Johnson Street is one of 11 student teams from across the country selected to fly an experiment on the first operational flight of the SpaceX Dragon, scheduled for launch in September 2012.   During the spaceflight, the student team will conduct two identical experiments - one on the International Space Station and one in their classroom - to see how gravity effects mold growth. Sixth-graders Evelyn Adriance, Ryan Darden, Zeynab Warrich and seventh-grader Jonathan Mickey, the principal investigators for the experiment, said they expect to find less mold growth in outer space since there is less gravity.   The team's advisors, Alison Manka and Suzanne Bahr, science teachers at Johnson Street, said the students brainstormed ideas and worked on their experiment proposal twice a week for a month.   "I am swelling with pride," said Manka. "This is an incredibly hard thing to do. Our students are seeing what real science is like and will get to create a real experiment. They will do the same things that universities and professional researchers do. Sending an experiment to the International Space Station takes our school's global studies curriculum to a whole new realm."   Western Region mission patch designed by sixth-grader Madeline Cassetty from Northwest Middle. The Johnson Street experiment was selected from 32 proposals submitted by students from four Guilford County middle schools, including Ferndale Middle, Mendenhall Middle and Northeast Middle.   A local committee of 35 community members, university representatives, science professionals and Guilford County Schools (GCS) educators selected the top three experiments. A national review board convened by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, which administers the program, selected Johnson Street's experiment for spaceflight. The other finalists were a cell mitosis experiment by Ferndale Middle and a paint absorption experiment from Mendenhall Middle.   Two student-designed mission patches will fly with the experiment. The artwork for the patches was created by sixth-grader Madeline Cassetty from Northwest Middle and 10th-grader Alexa Sassorossi from Northern High. The patches will be certified as having flown in space and returned for display in their respective schools.   Grants and contributions of $20,000 from the N.C. Space Grant, John G.B. Jr. and Jane R. Ellison Family Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, GCS Enrichment Fund and the PTAs of the four schools involved are making the experience possible.    In addition to the students who are the principal investigators of the experiment, members of the Johnson Street team are sixth-graders Mary Dumena, Yodit Getahun and Jamarria Haywood, seventh-graders Aya Abdelaziz, Jamie Baxter, Tavin Felton, Ashka Shah, Summer Shoemake and Mookho Htee, and eighth-grader Ashley Sowell.   This is the second time GCS will participate in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program. In 2011, a team from Mendenhall Middle designed an experiment about the effect of gravity on brine shrimp. The experiment was selected to fly on the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour. The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program is a national science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program undertaken by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education in partnership with NanoRacks LLC , which is working with NASA under a formal Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory.

Northwest Middle
GOOD NEWS.Students Advance to Odyssey of the Mind State Final

Northwest High

GOOD NEWS

Northwest High Places Second in Writing Competition

Northwest High’s IQ team placed second at the North Carolina Scholastic Quill Writing competition held at Lexington High on Saturday, March 2. Team members included James Stallings, Drew Johnson, Samantha Smith and Laura Meisner. James won first place for his essay in argumentation, which received the highest score in the entire competition

GOOD NEWS

Two student-designed mission patches will travel to the International Space Station with a space experiment. Eighth-grader McKenzie Kimrey from Northern Middle and senior Matthew Taylor from Northwest High created the artwork for the patches. The patches will be certified as having flown in space and returned for display in their respective schools

Mission patch designed by Northwest High senior Matthew Taylor.

GOOD NEWS

Northwest High Leadership Class Holds Food Drive
Northwest High’s leadership class developed a service-learning project in their local community that included a food drive. On Nov. 11, 2012 students walked door-to-door to deliver the bags for donations, and explained the importance of their donations. A week later, students picked up the bags and sorted the donations for delivery to Urban Ministries of Greensboro. The students’ and neighbors’ collections totaled an impressive 1,130 pounds of goods. The project showed how you can be even more successful by making it easy for others to become part of a community project

GOOD NEWS

Northwest High Students Participate in German Immersion Weekend at Camp Caraway

A collection of 60 high school and middle school students from across North Carolina came together November 2012 to immerse themselves in the German culture and language. Pledging only to speak German during this two-day event, the students created skits around the camp theme "German Food," sang and also took part in word games and a quiz bowl led by Wake Forest University professor Alyssa Howards. The following students from Northwest High participated with their teacher, Lisa Worthington-Groce, who also served as co-organizer of the event: Sabrina Carr, Tori Haslacker, Alana Pearson, Andrew Pearson, and Caleb Swartzentruber.

GOOD NEWS

Northwest High Students Receive Scholarships for German Exchange

Seven Northwest High students received scholarships from the German American Partnership Program (GAPP). The scholarships are for participation in an exchange with the Justus-von-Liebig Gymnasium in Neusäß, Germany.  Scholarship recipients are Chris Auber, Mitchel Grunewald, Chris Pearson, Morgan Pilcher, Madeline Robless, Josh Sizer and Anna Wurz. 

Twenty-four German teenagers were hosted by area families this March 2012 and their American partners will travel to Germany for three weeks this summer. The stay includes visits of a German high school and trips to the Mittenwald and Berlin.

GOOD NEWS.After being chosen the NC Foreign Language Teacher of The Year, and then after a portfolio and interview process, Thomas Soth was selected the SCOLT Region K-12 Foreign Language Teacher of The Year on March 23, 2012 in Atlanta.
SCOLT, or the Southern Conference on Language Teaching is one of five regional affiliates of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The SCOLT region includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This is a huge honor and puts Mr. Soth in the running for the ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year (The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). Mr. Soth will be completing for that honor with the other 4 region Teachers at the ACTFL conference in November.

 GOOD NEWS. High School Students To 'Run 4 Haiti' - Video - WXII The Triad

http://www.wxii12.com/video/30741547/detail.html

GOOD NEWS.At its April 3, 2012 meeting, the Board of Education will recognize the overall top five schools that read the most books during the Two Million Books challenge as well as the top middle school and top high school that read the most books.

Northwest High was the top high school with 20,542 books.

GOOD NEWS.  Students Advance to Odyssey of the Mind State Final

 Northwood Elementary
GOOD NEWS.

Northwood Elementary Receives Community Donations to Update Media Center, January 2013
Northwood Elementary has received nearly $10,000 in donations to update its media center. The school received $3,000 from the Forest Hills Endowment, $5,000 from Culp Inc., located in High Point, and $1,000 from Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. The school plans to update its furniture and shelving. Staff has also applied for a grant to add more books to the library.

 GOOD NEWS.

Northwood Elementary IB World School Northwood Kindergartens Build Relationships with Senior Adults at River Landing. 

Elementary IB World School kindergarten students have completed their study of an IB transdisciplinary unit on human relationships that include family, friends, and the community.  Even though students have completed their study, they will apply their knowledge throughout the year with an exciting service learning opportunity. Kindergarten teachers worked with Northwood’s CIS Site Coordinator to connect with River Landing, a senior adult retirement community, as a means of helping their students to reach out into the community to build relationships. In December 2011, River Landing residents visited Northwood kindergarten classes.  River Landing senior adults and Northwood kindergarten students worked together in the classrooms on art projects and other collaborative activities. Kindergarten students demonstrated their confidence and strong communication skills by providing small group school tours for the senior adults.  Students, teachers, and senior adults are busy planning opportunities to continue this relationship in 2012!

Oak Hill Elementary

GOOD NEWS

'Pay it Forward' Campaign Benefits Oak Hill 

Oak Hill Elementary was the recipient of a generous donation thanks to Moses Cone Health’s “Pay it Forward” campaign.   In the spirit of “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” 12 golden tickets were placed in goodie bags at a recent Cone Health all-employee event. The ticket winners received $1,000 with one condition - they had to pay it forward.   Each participant chose projects that are based on the Cone Health Values of Caring for Our Patients, Caring for Each Other and Caring for Our Communities.  John Hansen, a trainer with management systems, put the money toward buying supplies, coats and books for Oak Hill Elementary, where his wife, Jane Hansen, is an ESL teacher. Mr. Hansen also put his $1,000 toward the Boys and Girls Club in High Point, an organization used by many Guilford County Schools (GCS) students and their families.

Oak Hill Elementary Receives Donation to Support Parent Groups

Oak Hill Elementary students received a $2,500 donation from the Willow Creek Rotary Club Thursday morning January 24, 2013 at the High Point Country Club. The donation will support the school’s All-Pro Dads and iMoms, which offer parents fun and engaging opportunities to learn more about how to support their child’s education.

GCS to Participate in Character Education National Conference

GOOD NEWS

The Character Education Partnership Conference 2012 is being held November 1st – 3rd in Washington, D.C. Representatives from five Guilford County Schools are participating in the conference, showcasing their school’s promising practice and attending the Promising Practices Poster Session and Awards Ceremony. Oak Hill will be one of five schools that will be recognized.  The Character Development Team is extremely proud of these schools and looks forward to having other GCS schools submit applications to be recognized with Promising Practices of Character in 2013!

GOOD NEWS APRIL 5, 2012. We have outstanding news! Congratulations to Patrice Faison, principal at Oak Hill Elementary, as the 2012 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year! Ms. Faison accepted the state’s 2012 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year title to a standing ovation at a luncheon ceremony held in Cary. As Wells Fargo Principal of the Year, Ms. Faison will receive an additional $3,000 for her school. Thanks to EF Education First, a privately-held company that offers a range of educational programs, Ms. Faison will receive a scholarship for a 10-day educational tour of China. She also will be appointed to the State Superintendent’s Principals’ Advisory Committee, serve a one-year term as advisor to the State Board of Education, serve a one-year term on the Board of Directors for the NC Public School Forum and will chair the 2013 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year Selection Committee.

Ms. Faison was appointed principal at The Academy at Smith in 2007, and with the assistance of teachers and parents, transformed the school from low-performing to an Honor School of Excellence with a 100 percent graduation rate. In 2010, Faison became principal at Oak Hill and in her first year raised the school’s ABCs composite test score by 19.4 percentage points to become one of GCS’ most improved schools in 2011. Ms. Faison first began her career with GCS in 1995 as a third-grade teacher at Stokesdale Elementary. Five years later, she received her National Board Certification. She holds master's degrees in elementary education and school administration from North Carolina A&T State University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Ms. Faison becomes the district’s second state Principal of the Year since the district merged in 1993. Pandora Bell was given the title in 1998 when she was the principal of Jesse Wharton Elementary.

Ms. Faison was recognized in September, 2011 as the district’s Principal of the Year at the annual Celebrating Excellence in Education event. The district’s Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Arberg, was also named a regional finalist for the state’s Teacher of the Year title. The state will name the winner in May.

GOOD NEWSOak Hill Elementary Presents Gina Jacobs Volunteer of the Year Award  
Oak Hill Elementary awarded the first Gina Jacobs Volunteer of the Year Award to William Strickland, a parts and fabrication technician, from Thomas Built Buses. The company became a partner with the school earlier this year, and Strickland worked diligently to create a special environment for the students and their parents through a basketball program and sports banquet.  

The award is named in honor of Gina Jacobs, Oak Hill’s “volunteer extraordinaire,” who passed away in a cycling accident in February. Jacobs reached out to the community and asked them to assist Oak Hill, and Thomas Built Buses was one of those community corporations that responded to her call. Strickland, a High Point native and Andrews High graduate, has gone above and beyond according to Oak Hill staff.

GOOD NEWS. High Point, NC: Oak Hill Elementary is excited to present “Spring into Health with Oak Hill” Health Fair on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 10 am to 1 pm. In addition to providing information to the school family, we will have specialist on site to provide free screenings for high blood pressure, vision, and dental issues. Each parent will receive the Monster Health Book: a guide to eating healthy, being active, and feeling great to encourage literacy and healthy living choices amongst our families. Giveaways! Discussions on good nutrition, exercise, and safety and much more! This event is only for parents and guardians of Oak Hill students.

Oak Hill Elementary is strongly committed to enriching the lives of children and their families.  This exciting event is a meaningful way for the school family to gather in a FUN way to enjoy an afternoon focused on health and safety. The partnership between school, family, and community is a strong one at Oak Hill Elementary, and we are thrilled to bring this exciting event to our school!

GOOD NEWS. Oak Hill Elementary gives new meaning to March Madness as students use their math skills to become the ultimate Math Madness champion for their school starting  March 23, 2012.  Classroom teams, named for their college basketball favorites, will compete in a math bee to see which class has superior knowledge of skills such as multiplication, division and number recognition. The Final Four and Championship rounds will take place on Friday, March 30, 2012 

GOOD NEWS. In December 2011 Oak Hill participated in the Sumdog's Guilford County Contest -
The overall winner, with the highest average number of correct answers per competing student, was Oak Hill Elementary.  They win a Yenka Mathematics Site Licence, worth $750, and an engraved trophy.

GOOD NEWS. December 2011,  Oak Hill was recognized as a SIGNATURE SCHOOL by the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium.  The prestigious award is based on total school improvement.

Oak View Elementary

GOOD NEWS.

Oak View Elementary Preps Garden for 2012-2013 School Year

With the help of the Cooperative Extension and the Food Corps, Oak View Elementary now has four garden beds with sweet potatoes, corn, squash, zucchini and tomatoes.  Leah Klaproth from the Americorps Foodcorps will work with third-grade classes next year on nutrition and gardening

GOOD NEWS.

On Monday, May 15^th, 2012, Oak View Elementary students had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in a live video-conference with former NASA’s astronaut and recently inducted into the U.S. Astronaut’s Hall of Fame,  Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz.  Dr. Chang-Diaz  has been in space seven times and has worked very hard since he was a child in order to reach his dream. He shared his knowledge, advice, and experiences with students at Oak View Elementary, and students had a chance to ask him interesting questions and share drawings and models of rockets they created for this special occasion. This was also a great opportunity to motivate students for the EOG week, as they were inspired by Dr. Chang to reach their dreams through hard work.  Students really enjoyed this unique learning experience!

GOOD NEWS.

On March 27, 2012 The Business and Professional Women’s Club of the Triad put on a “Reality Store” for our 5^th grade classes.  Students learned the “reality” of a monthly family budget and the value of making goodchoices while planning for careers, family and their education.  Students were assigned a career and the average starting salary for that career.  They were then given a check book registry and had to make their way through a variety of booths choosing the best way to budget their money.  The booths included monthly expenses such as utilities, clothing, housing, transportation, entertainment, and child care.  We had many volunteers from the community help guide our 5^th graders in making wise choices.  The goal of this event was to help students learn basic skills in financial planning, goal setting, decision making, and career planning.

GOOD NEWS.

March 2012 Oak View Elementary partnered with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the Pasta for Pennies fundraiser.  Our school goal was $1500 and our students quickly surpassed that. Students at Oak View raised $2623 to help cure blood cancers and improve the lives of patients and their families.  What an amazing job the students did with this service learning project.  Angela Bracken’s class won a catered lunch from Olive Garden for raising the most money, they raised $484.65.

GOOD NEWS.

 Parkview Students Place in County-Wide Poster Contest,April 2013

Parkview Village students Stefan Ingram and Nykearria Ledbetter

Receive awards for two separate water conservation awareness poster contests in the county.

Parkview Elementary fifth-grader Stefan Ingram placed second in the Guilford County Soil & Water Conservation poster contest. He will receive a certificate at the County Commissioners meeting on May 16 and will be presented a monetary award at a banquet on May 23rd. 

Parkview Fifth-Grader Recognized for Arbor Day Photo

Fifth-grader Tykearreon Ledbetter at Parkview Elementary received an Honorable Mention (fifth through eighth-grade category) in the first North Carolina Forest Service Arbor Day photo contest. The contest challenged students in grades 5-12 to not only capture the beauty of a tree or forest, but to also demonstrate the benefits of trees to the urban environment through a short narrative describing “The Trees Where I Live.”  There were a total of 35 entries from students across the state with just five students’ photographs being honored. Click here to see Tykearreon’s photo

Parkview Students Showcase Art at Cultural Center

The following students will have artwork on display at the Greensboro Cultural Center from Oct. 10-18, 2012. A public reception will be held at the Greensboro Cultural Center on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.

The following students will represent Parkview Village Elementary School in the Kids Voting- Patriotic Art Contest:

·In Grade 1: Corinthia Elorza-Reyes, Elijah Hightower, Maddox Teates, Kennay Magana, Fabiola Leoni-Jimenez and Adrian Fountain

·In Grade 3: Joshua Williams, Irvin Dominquez, Jonathan Smith II and Ja'Kayla Whitmire

·In Grade 4: Makayla Leonard, Elijah Hightower and Gabrielle Leoni-Jimenez

·In Grade 5: Sabreyonn Hargrove, Lamin Keita, Quanasja Robertson, Dajai Manning, Nelson Cuchillas, Dasani Muhammad and Alisha Dillard

Penn-Griffin School for the Arts

GOOD NEWS

Penn-Griffin Collects Backpacks for Homeless Students- May 201

Students in Penn-Griffin School for the Arts’ Key Club, in conjunction with junior Katie Kennedy’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, collected 28 gently used backpacks through the H.E.A.R.T. Packs program. The backpacks will be filled with donated school supplies over the summer and given to Homeless, Endangered and Runaway Teens (H.E.A.R.T.) at the beginning of next fall. Students and several teachers donated bags, and Mrs. Craven’s Apparel II class made several handmade bags. The students’ goal is to collect 50 backpacks.

Penn-Griffin Serves the Community

On Feb. 9, 2013 students from Penn-Griffin School for the Arts’ H.O.P.E club along with students in environment science, biology and the eight-grade student government association participated in a street and campus cleanup. Altogether, students picked up 15 bags of trash.

In addition, students in the AP U.S. History class and in the Advanced Choral Ensemble are collaborating on a service-learning project focused around Abraham Lincoln and the ideals and goals outlined in his second inaugural address. They will be working with fifth-graders and will explain the concept of “Charity toward all, malice toward none,” as referenced in Lincoln’s second inaugural address. 

Chorus students will perform “A Just and Lasting Peace” and present a PowerPoint presentation outlining the special ideas of Lincoln’s address and its correlation to the song. Following the performance, elementary students will break out into four rotating groups led by high school students.

GOOD NEWS

Students Compete in Black History Quiz Bowl

 November 2012, students from High Point Central High, Penn-Griffin School for the Arts and Andrews High competed in a Black History Quiz Bowl for the Glenn R. Chavis Championship Cup. The competition was sponsored by Preparing Our Youth Foundation in collaboration with Beta Kappa Kappa and Alpha Delta Zeta Chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. A Youth Musical Group (Reid 360) and the Dudley UMOJA step team were the entertainment for the evening. Antonio Sloan, the district’s social studies curriculum facilitator, moderated the event and the High Point Mayor Elect was honored as a Local Legend.  

Penn-Griffin students Kendall Tate and Rebekah Singleton took home the Championship Cup. They are coached by Mr. Stuart Johnston and will represent the Beta Kappa Kappa chapter in the state competition in Clinton, N.C. on March 17. Second place went to Andrews High students Jasmine Malachi and Shaniqua Bell. They are coached by Jennifer Lackey. High Point Central students Daisha Walton, Adeola Anjorin and Brian Baccus placed third. Their team is coached by Mr. Dwain Waddell.   

GOOD NEWS  Penn-Griffin Wins African-American Heritage Quiz Bowl
For the second consecutive year, Penn-Griffin School for the Arts captured the African-American Heritage Quiz Bowl tournament championship, defeating High Point Central High and Andrews High. Penn-Griffin will represent GCS at the regional competition in Greenville, SC in April 2012.   

GOOD NEWS  Penn-Griffin Students Earn Superior Marks at Concert
The Penn-Griffin School for the Arts Middle School Treble Choral Ensemble, under the direction of Catherine Butler, sang at the North Carolina Music Performance Adjudication in Greensboro on March 15,2012. The group prepared two contrasting pieces to perform for three judges and received a rating based on that performance. They earned the highest rating of Superior based on their performance with scores of 95, 99 and 100. After their performance, they sang a new piece, which earned a perfect score of 100. Choral students from Penn-Griffin have earned top ratings for the past nine years in both performance and sight-reading at the event.

GOOD NEWS  Penn-Griffin Holds Freedom Week to Commemorate Feb. 11 Sit-in
Students and staff at Penn-Griffin celebrated Freedom Week, held at the school from Feb. 6-10, 2012 to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Feb. 11 sit-in, which was led by high school students in High Point in 1960.

To begin the week, students hosted a town hall discussion about racism in America. The week culminated with a student showcase of music, theatre, visual arts and dance.  Students spent hours interviewing those who were involved in the 1960 sit-in, including original teenage sit-in participant Mary Lou Blakeney. Through the videos, students performed short monologues sending the audience back in time to that day and moment in history.

Pearce Elementary

GOOD NEWS  

We are so excited to share with you these photos from an incredible partnership with Pearce Elementary this past school year.  The top photo is of some of the students holding the items they brought.  The student body donated almost 2,000 food items this year and at the last pick-up we received 400 food items from the 5th grade classes. WOW! This is truly incredible and shows how much children can do for the community. 

A special thanks to Shelley Hunt from Pearce Elementary and all the other teachers and faculty and to Angelo Kidd for coordinating this incredible effort. It is making a tremendous difference in our community.

The second photo features our Vice President of Resource Development, Jane Liebscher, with James Vanadore of The Salvation Army receiving some of the food from Pearce Elementary. Please join us in our gratitude for what these children have accomplished!  

Pearce Chorus Performance at ACC Tournament -  March 7, 2013

 http://www.gannett-tv.com/tools/brightcove/playvideo.ashx?sid=wfmy&bctid=2209595571001&rate=1199

Pearce Elementary Raises Funds for Local Dog Rescue Group

GOOD NEWS  

January 2013

The first-graders at Pearce Elementary recently organized a loose change drive to help raise money for Ruff Love Rescue, a local dog rescue group. This was part of their ongoing service-learning project to raise awareness of and provide help for the nearly 100 dogs serviced by this rescue group each year. The goal of the first-graders is to target a specific necessity for the dogs each quarter throughout the school year. For the second quarter, their focus was on raising money to go toward medical treatments for some of the dogs with heartworms and those in need of surgery. Through their efforts, Pearce raised $914.67 in just two weeks.

GOOD NEWS  

GCS Students Give Back to Community during Holiday Season
As GCS get ready to break for the winter holidays, students have been busy in their communities raising money, collecting canned goods, buying toys for military children and more.

• On Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 fourth-grade students at Pearce Elementary gave more than 600 items of non-perishable food to the United Way of Greater High Point.

GOOD NEWS  United Way Recognized Pearce Elementary
Pearce Elementary was recognized on November 28, 2012 by the United Way of Greensboro during halftime of the UNCG and N.C. A&T men’s basketball game. The school raised an impressive amount for the United Way of Greensboro’s annual fund drive. Several organizations and community donors were also recognized for their successful campaigns during the special presentation.

Pearce set a goal to increase its student and staff campaigns by 10 percent, and easily passed the goal, increasing their total donations by 15 percent. On Friday, Dec. 14, the school will reveal the total donation amount to United Way of Greensboro President Keith Barsuhn in a special assembly.

Pearce Elementary Places Sixth in Odyssey of the Mind World Finals May 2012
Pearce Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind returned from the World Finals, held at Iowa State University, with a sixth-place finish in problem 2: Weird Science. There were 52 other schools that competed in the same problem. In Weird Science, the team created and presented a performance about a team of scientists on an expedition to uncover the cause of mysterious events. Staff, students and the community raised $11,000 in just three weeks to sponsor the trip.  

GOOD NEWS  On Saturday, March 31, 2012 Pearce Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind two groups performed at the State Level, at Wingate University.  One group placed 3^rd and the 2^nd group placed 2^nd.  The 2^nd group will travel to Iowa State University in May for the World Finals.  Pearce is the only school in GCS (this year) to make it to the World Finals Level.  J

GOOD NEWS  Pearce’s PTA has been selected as NCPTA’s recipient for the National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships Award.  Receiving this award recognizes that families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning. Pearce will be recognized in Raleigh, April 28, 2012.

GOOD NEWS   Congratulations to Pearce Elementary School's fourth graders, who collected 565 food items for hungry families in our community in January 2012!  The food was donated to the food pantries at Another Chance Community Development Corporation, Seventh Day Adventist Church, and Community Outreach of Archdale-Trinity.

GOOD NEWS  Pearce Elementary Proves they “CAN” Make a Difference
Pearce Elementary service-learning teacher leader Shelley Hunt has involved the whole school in a service-learning project that proves students "can" make a difference. In November 2011, fifth-grade students collected more than 700 canned food items to donate to the United Way of Greater High Point and in January, fourth-graders collected 565 items. The teachers have made this a true service-learning project by connecting the project to curriculum as well as making sure the students engage in the five core components of service-learning. For the remainder of the school year, ACES students and students in kindergarten through third grade will attempt to top the other grades with their collections. 

GOOD NEWS  Students Advance to Odyssey of the Mind State Final

Shadybrook Elementary

GOOD NEWS.  

 Two Students Send Hugs for Connecticut
Airon Caudle, a tenth-grader at The Middle College at N.C. A&T, and his sister, Jasmyne Caudle, a third-grader at Shadybrook Elementary, started a project called Hugs for Connecticut. The students collected new or gently used teddy bears and blankets to send to Sandy Hook Elementary as a way to provide comfort and support to all the children who were affected by the tragedy. The siblings were featured on the News 2 Good Morning Show.

Shadybrook Elementary Surpasses Food Drive Goal
Shadybrook Elementary students donated 6,572 cans of food and other non-perishable food items during their annual canned food drive. Shadybrook’s student council set a goal of 6,000 cans and students easily exceeded it. On Monday, November 19,2012 students took a large portion of the food to Open Door Ministries in High Point where they also served lunch. The school is donating some of the food to Hand to Hand Ministries and the rest is being stored at the school to help Shadybrook families. For more information, contact Assistant Principal April Conley at 819-2950.

Southwest Elementary

GOOD NEWSKindergarten students at Southwest Elementary spent part of their spring break, April 2012 doing chores to earn money to help others. The project, called “Chores for Chicks,” partnered teachers and students with Heifer International, a nonprofit organization that seeks to end hunger and poverty around the world through education, sustainability and self-reliance. Students did chores at home and at school to earn money to buy flocks of chicks. The chicks will provide needy families with eggs for protein and extra money to pay for food, clothes and schooling. The initial goal was for each student to earn $1.00, allowing each of our five classes to purchase one flock of chicks. The students, however, surpassed that goal, raising enough money to purchase 15 flocks of chicks.  

GOOD NEWS.At its April 3, 2012 meeting, the Board of Education will recognize the overall top five schools that read the most books during the Two Million Books challenge as well as the top middle school and top high school that read the most books.

The top five schools that read the most books were Reedy Fork Elementary (127,343 books), Brooks Global Studies (126,061 books), Pilot Elementary (117,396 books), Jones Elementary (111,505 books) and Southwest Elementary (98,721).

GOOD NEWS.  Elementary Fundraises for Haiti, March 2012

Fourth- and fifth-grade students in the Regional Instructional Support class at Southwest Elementary learned about the needs of the citizens of Haiti.  A doctor who does medical missionary work visited Southwest Elementary and talked with students about the work he has done in Haiti. Students learned about climate, erosion, farming, geography, global awareness, respect and empathy. The students also completed activities in geography, biomes, the interdependence of plants and animals, problem solving, reading and research skills. The students then voted to initiate a coin drive to raise money for medical supplies. By the end of the drive, Southwest Elementary students had raised $462.69 to donate to the missionary group to purchase medical supplies.

GOOD NEWS. Students Advance to Odyssey of the Mind State Final

 Southwest Middle

GOOD NEWS

Southwest Middle Principal Shows off Mohawk for Good Cause
Southwest Middle established a year-long goal to raise $10,000 for Special Olympics as part of the school’s service-learning project in which they learn about diversity. Several fall events raised $4,000, but Principal Joe Caraher knew his students and staff could do even better. He challenged students to raise another $4,000 at a special staff-student basketball game. If they met his challenge, he would show off a new Mohawk haircut. Students and staff surpassed his goal and raised more than $7,000 from the game. With one more event to go, the school is celebrating its successful fundraising for the Special Olympics. 

Southwest High

GOOD NEWS

"Southwest Guilford High School sponsored a school wide food drive during the week of March 18, 2013 and collected over 4,280 pounds of food. This effort was supported by the whole school and was sponsored by school’s chapters of the Beta Club, the National Honor Society, and the Junior Civitans.  Out of the Garden is a nonprofit organization that helps to feed over 900 families a week in Guilford County and the surrounding area. In the five years that Out of the Garden has existed, this donation is the largest food donation ever given to them by an organization through a food collection campaign." 

GCS Students Give Back to Community during Holiday Season December 2012.
As GCS get ready to break for the winter holidays, students have been busy in their communities raising money, collecting canned goods, buying toys for military children and more.

• Southwest High participated in the “Stuff a Stocking” project and collected 62 stockings. The school-wide effort was sponsored by the Junior Civitan Club.

GOOD NEWS

Southwest High Students Discuss Cyberbullying, Social Media and More
On October 17, 2012, about 400 students in the Freshmen Academy at Southwest High experienced two relevant presentations as it relates to current trends and issues affecting students. Corporal Brian Herndon from the Guilford County Sheriff’s office delivered a presentation on cyber-bullying, inappropriate use of social media and the laws surrounding the topics. The second presentation was delivered by the motivational speaker and former Oakland Raider quarterback, Roman Gabriel III, from the organization “SOLD OUT.” Students responded to both presenters with thought provoking questions and shared their thoughts later within groups in their classrooms.

Some of these responses included:

• “I learned that substance abuse will only get in the way of your dreams - that life is too short and to work towards a goal.” – Calyssa Ponder
• “Put yourself in other people’s shoes; whatever’s online is always out there, and it may never go away. You may never know who is on the other end of the text, message, or network.” – Brianna O’Connor
• “Future employers can look at what you post on Twitter and Facebook, and you might not get the job because of it.” – Robert Sari
• “Never give up...Failure is a part of success.” – Srijana Chhetri

GOOD NEWS. On Friday, March 16, 2012, the Southwest Guilford High School Orchestra traveled to Shelby, NC to participate in Music Performance Adjudication, also known as state contest.  The MPA provides “a performance opportunity for students and directors that offers a critical assessment of the quality of their performances by highly qualified experts in instrumental music performance.” It is the only state-sanctioned event that provides a summative, standards-based assessment, designed to measure student performance as related to the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. 

While there, SWGH Orchestra received “superior” ratings from all three contest judges for their performance.  “Superior” is the highest rating a group can receive, and it is only awarded to groups who play at a consistently high musical level throughout their entire program.  Additionally, after their initial performance, they were evaluated on their sight reading ability where they also scored a “superior” rating.  The 8^th grade orchestra at Southwest Middle School made their first ever trip to the state contest this year and also received a “superior” rating.  This is an extraordinary achievement for the orchestra programs at Southwest, and we should feel a sense of pride in the accomplishments of the orchestra students and their director, Mr. Joel Wenger.  If you would like to hear the Southwest High School Orchestra for yourself, you can attend their final concert of the year on May 22, 2012 at 7:30 pm. In the school auditorium.

GOOD NEWS. Several staff members and students contributed to the Ronald McDonald House when the school’s leadership class delivered two truckloads full of more than 400 items ranging from food products, cleaning products, paper products, towels and sanitizers. The donation also included $95 in gas gift cards and $273 in cash. After the donation drop, 24 leadership class students spent additional hours volunteering at the Brenner’s Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees. In addition, the school held a canned food drive, which was sponsored by the Beta Club and the Junior Civitians. From Nov. 10 through Nov. 19, students and staff donated more than 5,500 cans of food to the West End Ministries Food Pantry, which supports families in High Point. The school also donated 400 more cans to First Friends Meeting in Greensboro, which provides a food pantry that serves families throughout Guilford County.

GOOD NEWS. Joanne Altendorf, a science teacher at Southwest High, was recently selected as a 2010 Outstanding Science Teacher (high school) for region five by the North Carolina Science Teachers Association. Region five includes Guilford and 10 other counties. Altendorf has worked in GCS as a curriculum writer and district presenter for earth and environmental sciences. She has also worked at the state level as a writer for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Essential Standards for Earth and Environmental Science and as a presenter for the North Carolina Science Teachers Association.

Stokesdale Elementary

GOOD NEWS

Stokesdale Elementary Awarded Grant for Technology

Students and staff from Stokesdale Elementary did a presentation regarding technology to the Stokesdale Town Council last spring. Their hard work is being rewarded – the school was approved to receive a grant for more than $13,000 from the Stokesdale Town Council to purchase a mobile iPad lab students.

GCS Students Give Back to Community during Holiday Season, December 2012.
As GCS get ready to break for the winter holidays, students have been busy in their communities raising money, collecting canned goods, buying toys for military children and more.

• Stokesdale Elementary kindergarten classes gathered gently used toys during December and donated them to various community organizations. Students made a contribution of more than 100 toys. Classroom teachers Carla Morgan, Whitney Moss, Julie Johnston and Callie Haderlie spearheaded the project.

GOOD NEWS. Students Advance to Odyssey of the Mind State Final

 The Middle College at GTCC - High Point
GOOD NEWS.

May 2013- Middle College at GTCC - Student Wins Triad CW 20 Teen Video Contest

Hannah Thompson, a junior at The Middle College at GTCC – High Point, submitted a public service announcement, “Distracted Driving Can Be Deadly” for the Triad CW 20’s teen video contest. Hannah’s video, which was shot with help from classmates and teacher Jim McSorley, demonstrated the dangers of cell phone usage while driving.  Hannah’s video stood out among all 80 schools from Guilford, Forsyth, Davidson, Rockingham, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. As the winner, Hannah will be awarded  $1,000 cash and her commercial will air for one month on Triad CW 20.

Middle College at GTCC-High Point Students Write Children’s Book

Students in Ms. Cranfill’s yearbook class at The Middle College at GTCC-High Point used their writing and art skills to create a children’s book. “Woodie’s Big Discovery” is about the famous chest of drawers, a historical landmark in High Point. The story is about Woodie’s worries about moving. She’s afraid she won’t find anyone else like her, but learns about finding acceptance as she travels around High Point.

“Our students thought that the children’s book would be a wonderful way to celebrate a piece of High Point history as well as promote literacy across the curriculum,” said Principal Charlos Smith-Banks. 

Elementary principals in the Western Region received a copy of the book at their March principals meeting. Students also plan to read the book to elementary school students.