Classroom Connection - March 24, 2009
Two Seniors Named 2009 Morehead-Cain Scholars
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Ramos |
Short |
Two WCPSS high school seniors are among the 70 Morehead-Cain Scholars selected to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The WCPSS students are Julia Victoria Ramos of Fuquay-Varina High School and Patrick Joseph Short of Sanderson High School.
The Morehead-Cain Scholarship pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the cost of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. Additional funding is provided for educational and experiential opportunities during the academic years. The value of the scholarship is about $80,000 for each in-state student.
This year’s winners were selected through a nomination and interview process that began last fall. More than 1,700 high school seniors were nominated by their schools or applied for the Morehead-Cain.
Selection criteria are leadership, academic achievement, moral force of character and physical vigor. Morehead-Cain recipients are chosen by merit and accomplishments, not financial need. Winners have until April 13 to accept the scholarship.Eight Seniors Named Park Scholars
Eight WCPSS high school seniors are among 55 students North Carolina State University has named Park Scholars for the Class of 2013.
The WCPSS students named Parks Scholars include Ryan Alexander Collinsworth of Middle Creek High School, Tyler Confrey-Maloney of Broughton High School, Adam Carswell Dunnof Holly Springs High School, Alyse Cristen Flick of Athens Drive High School, Ebunoluwa Ololade Olaleye of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, Patrick Joseph Shortof Sanderson High School, Gretchen Louise Stokes of Apex High School and John Michael Turner of Middle Creek High School.
The Parks Scholarship awards are valued at nearly $75,000 for North Carolina residents. More than 1,200 applications were received for this year's class, and 200 NC State faculty and alumni reviewed the candidates in a three-stage selection process. More than 100 finalists were invited to participate in final selection activities.
Selection criteria for the merit-based Park Scholarships include academic achievement; personal characteristics such as character, integrity and motivation; exceptional leadership potential; and commitment to the betterment of one's community. The scholarships are renewable each year, based on academic achievement and personal conduct.Grant Enables Students to Create Human Body Systems Exhibit at Leesville Middle
Seventh-grade students at Leesville Road Middle School have built models of different human body systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal and nervous systems to be displayed in a Human Body Systems Exhibit at the school. The exhibit will be held in the school’s media center on March 31 and April 1.
The school’s seventh-grade science teams received a grant from the Triangle Community Foundation’s Biogen Idec Mini-Grants in Science Education Fund to create the Human Body Systems Exhibit.
The exhibit is a collaborative effort on the part of all the seventh-grade science teams, and ties in with the seventh-grade curriculum unit on the human body. The student-built models will be accompanied by posters, educational videos, Power Point presentations and game software.
The grant was for a sum of $2,080 dollars. A small percentage went toward technology supplies while the rest covered the cost of materials including clay, plaster of paris, nuts, bolts, wires and poster board. The students were encouraged to use recycled materials in their projects.
Fuller Elementary Fifth-Graders Headed to Washington, DC
The entire fifth grade at Fuller Elementary will enjoy an unforgettable experience when they travel to Washington, DC, for a three-day class trip this week. The 99 students are headed to our nation’s capital on Wednesday morning and will visit a number of historic locations, including the Capitol Building , the Smithsonian Museums , and Arlington National Cemetery .
While at Arlington National Cemetery , they will participate in a ceremony honoring those who have served their country. Fuller Elementary has been selected to lay the daily wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The monument honors those Americans who have died without their remains being identified. With their classmates looking on, four Fuller students will lay the wreath at the base of the white marble monument.
The school conducted extensive fundraising to ensure that all of the fifth-grade students would have the opportunity to take the trip.
North Forest Pines Student Wins Poster Contest
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Ben Miller |
North Forest Pines Elementary student Ben Miller was the winner of North Carolina's Missing Children's Day Poster Contest.
Nona Best-Everett of the Center for Missing Persons presented Miller with a trophy March 23. Miller's poster will be submitted to the National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest.
Miller's poster shows a girl being taken from her home. After being gone awhile, a helping hand guides her home where she is reunited with her parents. Miller said his poster "shows that there are tons of missing children out there who are just begging for your help. All you have to do is lend a helping hand to kids like the girl in my poster."
A second-place red ribbon went to Abbi Kinder, 11, from Briarcliff Elementary School, Raleigh.
Martin Middle Theatre Students Participate in Festival
On Saturday, March 21, students in the Drama Production, Technical Theatre III, and Playwriting classes at Martin G.T. Magnet Middle School traveled to Winston-Salem to perform in the North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC) Regional Middle School Play Festival. The Martin Middle Theatre Arts Department earned a Superior Rating for their production of their original piece, "Serpent of Stone," as well as Theatre Arts Awards for Excellence in Puppetry, Excellence in Choreography, and Excellence in Directing. In addition, student Lauren Bullamore's one-act play was recognized for Excellence in Playwriting. Teachers leading the group were Judy Dove, theatre director, and Kirt Landry, technical director.
This collaborative production piece, featuring a 40-foot-long silver Chinese dragon (body made by the Drama and Tech Theatre students, with the dragon head by Maggie Bennett’s Visual Arts sculpture class), was inspired by an all-school collaboration with Cisco engineer and mountain-climber Chip Popoviciu, who climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest last spring. The Martin Drama Production students wrote a poem to commemorate his climb, and local composer Marshall Thomason wrote an original composition for the school’s Honors Chorus (directed by Ramona Jenner) using the poem as the basis for the lyrics. Playwriting student Lauren Bullamore wrote an original one-act play that was inspired in turn by the music. The musical portion of the production was included in this year’s WCPSS/Wake Ed. Partnership production of Pieces of Gold.Wake County Students Compete and Advance in Odyssey of the Mind
The Regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament was held March 7 with more than 1,000 students participating on 160 teams from across the central region of North Carolina. Thirty-one teams advanced to the State Tournament which will be held at Wingate University near Charlotte on April 4.
Thirty-one Wake County schools participated, sending 120 teams to the competition. Brassfield Elementary fielded five teams with one advancing to state. Carnage Middle fielded two teams. Carroll Middle fielded two teams and both are advancing to state. Cedar Fork Elementary fielded four teams. Conn Elementary fielded two teams. Davis Drive Elementary fielded five teams with one advancing to state. Davis Drive Middle fielded five teams with two advancing to state. Dillard Drive Elementary fielded four teams. Douglas Elementary fielded seven teams. Durant Elementary fielded two teams and both are advancing to state. East Cary Middle fielded a team. Highcroft Elementary fielded four teams. Hilburn Drive fielded two teams. Hunter Elementary fielded two teams with one advancing to state. Joyner Elementary fielded nine teams and two are advancing to state. Jeffreys Grove fielded six teams with one advancing to state. Martin GT Magnet fielded two teams. Mills Park Elementary fielded five teams. Morrisville Elementary fielded six teams with one advancing to state. North Ridge Elementary fielded two teams. Olds Elementary fielded two teams. Partnership Elementary fielded three teams and one is advancing to state. Penny Road Elementary fielded five teams. Salem Elementary fielded nine teams and one is advancing to state. Sycamore Creek Elementary fielded two teams. Underwood GT Magnet fielded two teams. Wakefield Middle fielded three teams with two advancing to state. West Millbrook Middle fielded three teams. Wildwood Forest Elementary fielded eleven teams with one advancing to state. Enloe High fielded a team that is advancing to state. Zebulon GT Magnet fielded two teams.
The problem solving experience and confidence and competences gained from the Odyssey of the Mind program are wonderful benefits to the schools and students. Check out www.odysseyofthemind.com! For more information contact Tom Hansen, Regional Director at tom_hansen@ncsu.edu.
Wake-Forest Rolesville Middle Plans for Dance-a-thon
Members of a Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle’s Social-Organization and Service Club traveled to THON, the massive Penn State University dance-a-thon, last month. THON is the world’s largest student-led fundraiser. Each year the event funnels millions of dollars to support families with children undergoing treatment at Penn State Children’s Hospital.
Students at Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle support local children’s hospitals through their spring dance-a-thon and fun fair. Last year, the group raised almost $20,000.
The behind-the-scenes tour at THON showed the students how much work goes into a dance-a-thon. Members are learning fund-raising skills to use when they pitch dance-a-thon sponsorships to businesses. The dance-a-thon has become an annual fundraiser for the school.
Counselor Michael Meyer had several goals in mind when he created the Social-Organization and Service Club at the middle school. The club is modeled after similar fundraisers he led at two previous schools, and he encourages students to approach the club as a small business. Meyer hopes the experience helps students learn business skills as well as fiscal responsibility. When the expenses from the dance and fun fair were paid for last year, the group was able to split $18,000 between the Duke Children’s Miracle Network and North Carolina Children’s Hospital.
This year’s WF-R Middle dance-a-thon is May 1. For more information, or to inquire about sponsorship, visit the dance-a-thon website at www.wfrnationaltreasure.com.
Oak Grove Fifth-Graders Adopt Pilot
As part of Southwest Airlines’ Adopt-A-Pilot program, Oak Grove Elementary School’s fifth-graders in Kimberly Degnan’s class will work with and “adopt” a special Southwest pilot for more than six weeks. The pilot, Capt. Fred Denton, has 12,950 hours of flight time in the Air Force and at Southwest. The program gets students thinking about a wide range of careers, not just aviation.
The coursework is provided by Southwest and is planned as a six-week program. Denton plans to come to Degnan’s classroom once a week and send e-mails and “Skype” teleconference in between. Students will combine writing assignments with map plotting, weight and height computations, charting and graphing. On a large vinyl map in their classroom, they will plot Denton’s destinations. They will discuss ways to “go green” and participate in a tie design project. A class project will result in a portfolio entered in a national contest. The students also plan to tour the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and take a peek inside the cockpit of Denton’s plane.
Music Students Prepare for Concerts
Wake County students are busy preparing for several upcoming concerts.
The Wakefield High School Choral Department will present its Spring Concert at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 26 in the Wakefield High School Auditorium. The concert will feature literature performed by the Women's Concert Choir, the Advanced Women's Chorale, the Wolverine Chamber Singers and student soloists. The Women's Concert Choir and student soloists received Superior ratings at the recent NCMEA Solo and Small Ensemble Music Adjudication. For more information contact Arts Department Chair and Head of Choral Activites John-Philip Mullinax at jmullinax@wcpss.net.
The Cary High Chorus will present a choral concert with the Concert Singers of Cary at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 28 in the school auditorium. For more information, contact Edward Yasick at eyasick@wcpss.net or call 380-3618.
Cary High will present its Green Tie Gala with performances featuring the Cary High Band, Choral, Orchestra ensembles, drama presentations, and art exhibit at 7 p.m., April 23 in the school auditorium. For more information, call 380-3618 or visit http://sites.google.com/site/chspabc/.
Cary High will present the Cary Choral Classic with performances featuring choirs of Cary, Green Hope, and Panther Creek high schools at 7 p.m., April 28 in the Cary High School Auditorium. For more information, call 380-3618 or visit http://sites.google.com/site/chspabc/.
Cary High will present the Cary High Concert, Symphonic, and Jazz bands in the Spring Band Concert at 7:30 p.m., April 30 in the school auditorium. For more information, call 380-3618 or visit http://www.caryband.org.
At Enloe High, students will present piano recitals at 7 p.m. on April 28, April 30 and May 4 in the school's chorus room. For more information, contact Assistant Principal Matt Rice at 856-7918.
The bands of Hunter Elementary, Ligon Middle School and Enloe High School will perform in a joint band concert at 7 p.m., Friday, May 1 in the Enloe High auditorium. For more information, contact Assistant Principal Matt Rice at 856-7918.
Middle Creek High Band Department will present a Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday May 7 at the school. For more information, contact Arts Department Chair Athena M. Reaves at 919-661-5468 or areaves@wcpss.net.
Cary High will present the Cary High Concert, Symphonic, and Jazz bands in the Spring Band Pops Concert at 2 p.m., May 10 at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. For more information call 380-3618 or visit http://www.caryband.org.
The Middle Creek High Band Department will present a Band Concert on Sunday, May 17 at the school. For more information, contact Arts Department Chair Athena M. Reaves at 919-661-5468 or areaves@wcpss.net.
The Millbrook High School Choral Department will present it's spring chorus concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 in the school auditorium. Tickets are $5 for adults, $1 for students, and free to all faculty and staff with an identification badge. For more information, contact Megan Boyd at mboyd@wcpss.net.
The Enloe High Orchestra will present its Spring Concert at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19 in the school auditorium. For more information, contact Assistant Principal Matt Rice at 856-7918.
The Middle Creek High Choral Department will present a choral concert at 7 p.m., Friday, May 21 at the school. For more information, contact Arts Department Chair Athena M. Reaves at 919-661-5468 or areaves@wcpss.net
The Cary High School choirs and orchestra will perform in the Spring Choral Concert at 7:30 p.m., May 21 in the school auditorium. For more information, call 380-3618 or visit http://sites.google.com/site/chspabc/.
The Enloe High Chorus will present its Cafe Cabaret Performance at 5 p.m. Friday, May 22 at the school auditorium. For more information, contact Assistant Principal Matt Rice at 856-7918.
The Enloe High Band will present its Symphonic Band & Chamber Music Concert at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 28 in the school auditorium. For more information, contact Assistant Principal Matt Rice at 856-7918.
WCPSS Students Earn Honors at State PTA Reflections Competition
The North Carolina PTA has announced the state winners for the PTA art contest, Reflections. The Wake County PTA sent 24 entries to the District 3 competition, and 18 winners from Wake County won at the District Level and were sent to the state competition. Of the 18 Wake County entries, 12 were winners at the state level, including the following:
Primary Dance: 1. Dorrit K. Eisenbeis, Fuller Elementary
Intermediate Dance: 1. Athena Z. Kuang, Davis Drive Elementary
Middle/Junior Dance: 2. Grayson B. Troxler, Martin Middle
Intermediate Video Production: 1. Nathaniel G. Brooks, Baileywick Elementary
Middle/Junior Video Production: 2. Clay M. Connors, Salem Middle
Senior Video Production: 1. Justin R. Poliachik, Apex High
Senior Literature: 3. Jennifer C. Li, Enloe High,
Primary Music Composition: 3. Olexia D. Mitchell, Baucom Elementary
Middle/Junior Music Composition: 2. Nathalie C. Tondeur, West Lake Middle
Senior Music Composition: 1. Myles P. Travitz, Panther Creek High
Senior Photography: 1. Jennifer C. Li, Enloe High
Middle/Junior Visual Arts: 1. Katelyn C. Schubel, Daniels Middle
Lufkin Road Student Qualifies for GeoBee
Lufkin Road Middle School student Daniel Ghan has qualified to participate at the state level of the National Geographic Bee. The state GeoBee will be held Friday, April 3 at Wake Technical Community College. One winner from each state and territory will advance to the national competition which will be held May 19 and 20 at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington D.C.
Melinda Stephani, WCPSS Senior Administrator for Social Studies, offered her congratulations to Ghan and Lufkin Road teachers and school GeoBee organizers Paulette Thomas, Mirka Christesen and Leslie Sniegkowski. Stephani will continue to serve as moderator for the State GeoBee this year.New Principals Named
The Board of Education named Ve-Lecia Council principal of Sanford Creek Elementary in Rolesville. She replaces Jamee Lynch, who is now principal of the East Wake School of Integrated Technology. Council has been principal of Baucom Elementary in Apex since 2005.
Sandy Chambers was named principal of Brier Creek Elementary. She replaces Gig Harris, who is retiring. Chambers is a longtime Durham schools employee who has been principal of W.G. Pearson Elementary School since 2006.
Enloe Art Students Earn Awards
Eight Enloe High students earned top prizes at the district level of the Woman's Club Student Arts Festival. Art teacher Susan Euler says awards were presented to the following students.
Natalia Ehrich - 1st place ($25 cash)
Casey Clements - 1st place for pastel painting ($25)
Kristie Kim - 1st place for watercolor ($25)
Lauren Clapper - 2nd place for pastel painting
Ian Harwood - 1st place for pastel drawing ($25)
Kayee Au - 2nd place for pastel drawing
Elizabeth Poston - 2nd place charcoal drawing
Elizabeth Poston - 1st place colored pencil ($25)
Shannon McKenzie - 1st place graphite pencil ($25)
Shannon McKenzie - 2nd place pen & ink
Sanderson’s Bob Catapano Named to Hall of Fame
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Bob Catapano |
Sanderson High Athletic Director Bob Catapano will be inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame later this month.
Catapano was the varsity men’s soccer coach for 20 years from 1977 to 1996 at Sanderson. Catapano’s teams from 1982 to 1987 contributed to what was, at the time, a national record of 103 consecutive games without a loss.
Under his guidance, the Sanderson soccer team had an overall record of 363-44-21 (.873 winning percentage) with 195 shutouts. Sanderson won nine NCHSAA State Championships, two NCHSAA Co-Championships and 17 conference championships. He was inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.
During his career, Catapano coached 54 all state players, 6 State Players of the Year and 13 All-Americans.
Fuller Elementary Students Win American Mathematics Competition
Congratulations to Fuller Gifted and Talented Magnet Elementary fifth-grade students Michael An, Rishi Sundaresan, Matthew Zheng, and Dorothy Szymkiewicz for winning awards in the American Mathematics Competition for grade 8.
There were 25 eighth- grade level questions on the test and these students outranked some of the eighth -grade students across the state who took the tests. These students are now preparing to take the American Mathematics Competition for grade 10.
ParentVision: This Year's Graduation Ceremonies
With just a few exceptions, WCPSS's summer high school graduation ceremonies will be in the air-conditioned comfort of the Raleigh Convention Center. This ParentVision video podcast provides some information about the changes you can expect along with this move. We have a complete schedule online; for more details, please contact your school.