“There is something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.” This quote from Robert Half, businessman, is fitting for October Disability Awareness Month, as our state and school district seek to place focus on the abilities and contributions of people with disabilities in North Carolina.

On July 27, 2007, Governor Mike Easley signed into law Senate Bill 753: Disability History and Awareness Month, to increase public awareness and respect for people with disabilities. This bill was signed into law to ensure rich and meaningful learning opportunities were provided for all students about people with disabilities.

In Wake County schools we serve over 18,690 students with disabilities. To support our schools in focusing on Disability Awareness, WCPSS Special Education Services has compiled an array of resources for teachers, media specialists, and administrators. In addition to facilitating a general awareness of disabilities, Special Education Services provides special focus on one area of disability yearly. In 2011 the additional focus is on Down Syndrome.

The resources shared with schools include:

• Media Center display ideas and information created in collaboration with WCPSS media specialists.
• Sample book lists related to people with disabilities (fiction and non-fiction).
• Information on how to search for books about people with disabilities available at each school.
• Several vignettes on people with disabilities which share who the person is and how their disability affected their life.
• Lesson Plans developed for elementary, middle and high school students. These lesson plans provide objectives and explicit instructions on the “how to” for each activity, including discussion, questions, observations to focus on, activities, and printer-ready materials for each activity.
• PowerPoint presentations that can be shared with students and educators concerning people with disabilities and their contributions in our state and world.
• Brochure sharing information specific to autism awareness.

We look forward to you joining us this October, in making the time to recognize the ability in every person.

For more information, please call Special Education Services at 919-858-3141.

Walnut Creek Elementary held a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 27 to mark the school’s opening this year as Wake County’s newest elementary school.

Principal Corey Moore led the ceremony welcoming visitors to the new school and shared the school’s vision of excellence with the community leaders and educators at the event.

Listen to Principal Moore Cuts Ribbon at Walnut Creek

This is a 7-minute mp3 file.

School board member Keith Sutton, assistant principal Vonda Martin, Area Superintendent Julye Mizzelle and principal Corey Moore cut the ribbon.

Deputy Superintendent Cathy Moore talked about the strong partnership between the school, its faculty and the community.

Walnut Creek Elementary held a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 27 to mark the school’s opening this year as Wake County’s newest elementary school.

Principal Corey Moore welcomed parents, school officials, elected officials and builders to the ceremony. Students handed out programs, led tours of the school and the student chorus sang about their pride in being Walnut Creek Wildcats.

Listen to Walnut Creek Students Take part in Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

This is a 5.5-minute mp3 file.

You can listen to the Walnut Creek Elementary student chorus sing “I am a Walnut Creek Elementary Wildcat.”

This is a 2.5 minute mp3 file.

Walnut Creek Elementary students sing during school’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

The students sang the school pledge, I want to be a Walnut Creek Wildcat.

Students led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

East Garner Middle students responded to musician Chris Hendricks’s message against bullying and encouraging self-esteem. Hendricks of Durham talked with students and sang some of his songs to them.

Principal Cathy Williams and her students were impressed by Hendricks and invited him for a second, more informal round of talks to students.

Assistant Principal Lisa Allen and sixth-graders talked about the impact of Hendricks’s message at their school.

Listen to East Garner Students Hear Musician’s Message

This is an 8-minute mp3 file.

Musician Chris Hendricks talks with East Garner students in the gym.

Hendricks shared one of his songs with students.

Students appreciated Hendricks’s message against bullying and encouraging self-esteem.

Lake Myra Elementary media specialist Leigh Pittman worked with the fourth-grade teachers at her school to plan lessons tied to an online blog she used to communicate with students while she traveled overseas this month.

Pittman’s travels proved to be a learning experience for the students and made her trip even more exciting.

Listen to Lake Myra Media Specialist Shares Travels with Students

This is a 12.5-minute mp3 file.

Lake Myra media specialist Leigh Pittman holds the troll she brought back from her travels that she shared with fourth-grade teacher Jan Hall and her students.

The Wake County School to Career Council met at the McKimmon Center Wednesday morning to hear from Superintendent Tata, congratulate businesses supporting schools and learn about the jobs today’s students will hold.

Jerry O’Connor of American Airlines is the WCPSS Business Alliance Leadership Team chair. O’Connor says Wake County businesses have built a network of support for our high schools.

Listen to Wake Business Community Supports Students

This is an 8-minute mp3 file.

WCPSS Business Alliance Leadership Team chair Jerry O’Connor listens as Sanderson High student Samantha Lutz talks about the impact of her school’s finance academy and the importance of support from the business community.