Classroom Connection - January 13, 2009
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Principal Matt Wight |
Apex High Principal Named Regional Principal of the Year
Matt Wight, principal of Apex High School, has been selected as the Regional Principal of the Year by the NC Department of Public Instruction, The Principals’ Executive Program and the Wachovia Corporation.
Wight was named Wake County Principal of the Year last October. He has been in education 24 years and has been principal at Apex High for two years. Prior to his job at Apex High, Wight served as principal of Salem Middle, East Cary Middle and was a principal, assistant principal and teacher in the New Hanover County schools. Wight now becomes one of eight Regional Principals of the Year under consideration for the 2009 state Wachovia Principal of the Year to be announced in April at the state luncheon in Raleigh.
Artist Donates “Artist in Residence Day” to Brentwood Elementary
Steve R. Allen, the official artist for the Olympics donated an “Artist in Residence Day” to Brentwood in December. Allen is a renowned artist who was commissioned to create the Olympic paintings for the last several Olympic Games.
Allen, who grew up in Raleigh’s Walnut Terrace public housing, returned to his hometown to share his experiences as an Olympic Games artist and to, hopefully, inspire a love of art in today’s students.
He was the "official artist" for the Atlanta Organizing Committee for the 1996 Summer Olympics and has presented paintings at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Athens, Sydney, Torino and Salt Lake City.
During his visit to Brentwood, Allen visited several classes and a lucky group of 14 students got a chance to paint with him.
East Wake Student to Attend Presidential Inauguration
Caleb Rhinehart, a student at East Wake School of Engineering, has been accepted into the People to People Presidential Inauguration program. Rhinehart will join a select group of returning People to People travelers from around the world to celebrate this monumental event in Washington, D.C.
This special delegation will witness the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States and listen to his inaugural address. They will also gain insights into American leaders throughout history, during discussions with political experts, access to the U.S. Capitol and National Archives, exploration of the newly reopened National Museum of American History, and visits to Washington’s treasured monuments and memorials.
As a successful People to People delegate, Rhinehart earned an exclusive invitation to this unique program.
The program is coordinated by People to People Leadership Programs to fulfill the vision President Dwight D. Eisenhower had for fostering world citizenship when he founded People to People during his presidency in 1956. For additional information, please visit www.peopletopeople.com.
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Michael Hopkins |
Penny Road Elementary Teacher Wins Environmental Grant
Michael Hopkins, a teacher at Penny Road Elementary School, has been selected by NC Beautiful to receive an environmental education grant of $1,000. The award is part of the NC Beautiful’s Windows of Opportunity Grant Program, which rewards North Carolina teachers for their creativity and their dedication to perpetuating the natural beauty of the state through creative education projects.
Hopkins will use the award to create a bluebird lifecycle program for Penny Road Elementary first-graders as well as installing a new solar powered bluebird house webcam to view the entire bluebird lifecycle via the Internet. This will be a cooperative effort of the school’s staff and Penny Road Elementary School’s PTA to complete this project.
Lufkin Road Middle Students Competing in National Geographic Bee
For the 21st year, the National Geographic Society is holding the National Geographic Bee for the students in the fourth through eighth grades across the United States and in the five U.S. territories, as well as in Department of Defense Dependents Schools around the world. The winner of the Lufkin Road Middle School's Bee will advance to the next level competition, a written examination to determine state competitors. All school winners are eligible to win the national championship and its first prize, a $25,000 college scholarship, at the national competition May 19 and 20 in Washington, D.C.
Two Wake County Administrators Publish Research Books
Two Wake County administrators have recently published research books. Dr. James E. Hedrick, principal of Green Hope High School, published “A Case Study: High School Desegregation” which chronicles the integration of Danville, Virginia's two high schools in 1970-1971. Dr. Camille H. Hedrick, assistant principal at Lufkin Road Middle School, published “Retaining Career Switchers” which focuses on the impact of school culture and teacher retention.
Cary Navy JROTC Finishes Second at Meet
The Cary Navy JROTC recently competed in a field of 16 Navy and Marine Corps Junior ROTC units from North and South Carolina. They finished in second place, just three points behind Cape Fear High School. The Cary cadets won more events than any team at the meet with first-place finishes in Armed Regulation Platoon led by Assir Abushouk, Unarmed Exhibition Platoon led by Jeanette Theora, Unarmed Exhibition Squad led by Ian Coleman and First Year Unarmed Squad led by Austin Hurlock.
The Cary team had second-place finishes in Unarmed Regulation Squad led by Grace Earley, along with three third-place finishes, two led by Dominic Arnone in Armed Exhibition Squad and Unarmed Regulation Platoon and one in Armed Exhibition Squad. Ross Smith led the Armed Exhibition Platoon to a third-place finish as well. In the individual competition Jessica Waters won the Unarmed Knockout Drill competition and freshman Nick Jones finished sixth in a field of 110 competitors.
Project Enlightenment Schedules Parenting Classes
Project Enlightenment, the early childhood education and intervention program of the Wake County Public School System serving teachers and parents of young children, has published its schedule of parenting classes for January to April 2009. Classes include creating connections with our kids, positive discipline, the spirited child and bully proofing your child. You can find more information about classes, schedules and registration here or by calling 856-7804.
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Lufkin student shows off her wares at the school market project. |
Market Teaches Sixth-Grade Students At Lufkin
Sixth-graders at Lufkin Middle School are learning the concepts of economics, writing, advertising and more through a real-life "market." The project allows students to create, advertise and market their wares. Students receive initials from teachers throughout the semester and this becomes their "money" at the market.
Empty Bowls Fundraiser and Chili Sale Raises Money for Food Pantry
During the holiday, Ligon Middle School students in pottery classes, FCCLA, and art club made bowls to sell and chili to eat as part of a community fundraiser.
Teachers participated during their lunch periods and parents/students were invited to attend the fundraiser in the evening. The school was able to generate $579 in sales to donate to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.
New Principal Appointed for Davis Drive Middle
The Board of Education approved the appointment of Karen Summers to be the new principal of Davis Drive Middle School in Cary.
Summers is currently an assistant principal at the new Mills Park Elementary School, which opened in July. Previously, she was a senior administrator in growth and planning and an assistant principal at West Lake Middle School. Summers replaces Tina Hoots, who is now principal of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School.
Wakefield Middle Great Charity Debate
Wakefield Middle School students in Mr. Tharrington's Advanced English class were able to make a difference for two local charities. Just before winter break, students participated in a fundraising event and writing contest that brings awareness to different charities that the students selected and wrote essays about. The Great Charity Debate encouraged students to raise money through parent pledges, their own nickels and dimes, and by wrapping presents at Barnes & Noble. At the end of the fundraiser, the students held a tournament-style debate in each c
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Congressman Bob Etheridge stands in front of mobile classrooms at Ligon Middle School explaining school construction bill. |
lass, which ultimately led to choosing the winning charities who will split the $600 the school was able to raise this year. This year's winners were the Wake Co. SPCA and Heifer International.
Congressman Etheridge Visits Ligon Middle
On January 12, Congressman Bob Etheridge held a news conference at Ligon Middle School to make a big announcement regarding calling for school construction funding to be included in the economic recovery package before congress. Read more on this story here.
Professional Sports Alum Visits Athens Drive High
Major League Baseball Player Josh Hamilton recently went back to his hometown roots to film for ESPN’s “Homecoming” show hosted by Rick Reilly. The Texas Ranger All-Star was a graduate of Athens Drive High. Hamilton and ESPN crews videotaped an in depth interview at his old high school in October. On January 9, ESPN2 aired a sneak preview of the Josh Hamilton Homecoming. The real premiere will be in April in Prime Time on ESPN before a Texas Ranger game.
Performances from the Athens Drive Band and Chorus were taped during the interview and will be posted on ESPN’s website!