Classroom Connection - October 28, 2009
Magnet Fair
The Magnet Schools Fair of the Wake County Public School System will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Southeast Raleigh High School. Families interested in educational
choice can use the fair to explore the innovative programs offered through the school system’s network of magnet programs.
The magnet fair is open to the public and creates a venue for parents and students to visit interactive display booths and inquire about such magnet programs as Gifted and Talented, International Baccalaureate, Museums, University Connections, Leadership and Technology, and the newest magnet schools, Smith Elementary with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Brentwood Elementary with Engineering and Millbrook High with International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. Families can also collect information about future recruitment events as well as enjoy performances by students attending magnet schools.
To find out more information about WCPSS magnet schools and other upcoming recruiting events visit us online at www.wcpss.net/magnet, stop by the Magnet Resource Center located on the campus of Millbrook Magnet Elementary or call us at 919.501.7900.
DIRECTIONS TO MAGNET FAIR: Take I-440/Beltline south to Rock Quarry Rd exit. Go south on Rock Quarry Rd (away from Raleigh). Southeast Raleigh High School is just past Creech Rd on the right at 2600 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC 27610. The phone number is (919) 856-2800.
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John A. Wall, Jr. North Garner Middle School |
Fay Jones Forest Pines Drive Elementary |
Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year
The Wake County Public School System named John Wall of North Garner Middle School the 2009 Principal of the Year during an Oct. 15 ceremony at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. The awards ceremony is sponsored by Pierce Group Benefits, the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals.
Wall has been in education for 22 years and has been principal at North Garner Middle for four years. Prior to that, he was principal and assistant principal at Zebulon Middle and a teacher at Carnage Middle. Earlier he taught in New York. Wall was a finalist for Wake County Principal of the Year in 2004; Mentor of the Year by the Helping Hands Program; and served as president of the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals.
Fay Jones of Forest Pines Drive Elementary was named the 2009 Assistant Principal of the Year. Jones has been in education for 15 years and has been assistant principal at Forest Pines Drive Elementary for five years. Prior to that, Jones has served as an assistant principal and teacher who split time between Green Hope Elementary, Adams Elementary and Farmington Woods Elementary. She also worked as a teacher at Farmington Woods Elementary and West Lake Elementary.
Athens Drive Drama Department Wins Set Design Contest
The Athens Drive High drama department has won a nationwide contest for set design. ScenoGraphics, a national set design company, awarded the ADHS spring production of Mousetrap first place in theatrical set construction. Burgundy Zikowitz, drama teacher, and Lee Ball, art teacher and chief consultant, were delighted to receive the first place plaque on behalf of the entire cast of Mousetrap. In its letter of recognition, ScenoGraphics stated: "This trophy symbolizes high regard for the outstanding quality of your work. We hope it commemorates your great effort and that your school community joins us in saluting what you have accomplished." A color picture of the ADHS Mousetrap set is featured on the cover of the 2009-2010 ScenoGraphics catalog.WCPSS Schools Win State Fair Art Contests
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Wakefield High School’s "sheep" art project took 2nd place in the NC State Fair's Farm Animal Frenzy Competition. It was made of re-used materials like wood, paint buckets and electrical chords. |
Wakefield and Panther Creek high school students finished second and third in the NC State Fair's Farm Animal Frenzy competition this year. The two were among 15 high school art classes seeking to win $1,000 for the school arts programs by shaping recycled or recyclable materials to look like a farm animal.
Wakefield High School won second place and $750 for its unnamed sheep made of wood, five-gallon paint buckets, and fur made of electrical chords, clothes lines and various other wires. The face is made of telephones, hair curlers, light bulbs, computer mice and other materials.
Panther Creek High School's "Moona Lisa" was awarded third place and $500. The cow was made of plastic milk containers.
Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School and Fuquay-Varina High School both took home honorable mentions for their sheep creations. Southeast Raleigh created "Kelsey's Sweater," which was made of wood and recycled yarn. Fuquay-Varina's "Sleepy Sheepy" was made of five-gallon buckets, a soccer ball, sand bucket, plastic buckets and plastic bottle caps.
Click here to see photos of all the animals.
Athens Drive High Visual Art Department students won first place in the High School Division of the Arts at the NC State Fair. Six students were chosen to represent the art department: Roxanne Beckner, Lauren Byrne, Justin Forestieri, Megan Hubbard, Margo Jordan, and Zahrah Tayebali. Individual students were also recognized. Roxanne Beckner received the Jerry's Artarama Award. Zahrah Tayebali received the Cheap Joe’s Student Award. Both awards are given to outstanding individual works by high school students.
Stough Elementary fifth-graders Caroline Holden and Alex Cardwell were awarded third and fourth place respectively in the North Carolina State Fair Web graphics design competition. The students earned $180 for their school by earning this statewide honor.
Free Flu Shots Available to Students
Wake County is partnering with public, private and charter schools across the county to provide free seasonal flu shots to all school-age children in Kindergarten through grade 12. Please note that seasonal flu vaccinations are separate from the H1N1 flu vaccinations also being offered by Wake County. The vaccines will be offered at 21 clinic sites throughout the County. Students may attend any clinic offered, regardless of the school they attend or where they live. A parent or guardian must accompany all students receiving the vaccine, regardless of age. Only the injectable vaccine - a flu shot - will be available. Seasonal flu vaccine clinics for students will be offered from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Upcoming Clinics
Thursday, Oct. 29 - Sanderson High School, 5500 Dixon Drive, Raleigh
Monday, Nov. 2 - Ravenscroft School, 7409 Falls of the Neuse Road, Raleigh
Tuesday, Nov. 3 - Cary Academy, 1500 North Harrison Ave., Cary
Wednesday, Nov. 4 - Apex High School, 1501 Laura Duncan Road, Apex
Thursday, Nov. 5 - Middle Creek High School, 123 Middle Creek Park Ave., Apex
Monday, Nov. 9 - Endeavor Charter School, 9400 Forum Drive, Raleigh * 3:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Holly Springs High School, 5329 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs
Thursday, Nov. 12 - Fuquay-Varina High School, 201 Bengal Blvd., Fuquay-Varina
Tuesday, Nov. 17 - Garner High School, 2101 Spring Drive, Garner
Wednesday, Nov. 18 - Panther Creek High School, 6770 McCrimmon Parkway, Cary
Thursday, Nov. 19 - Green Hope High School, 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road, Cary
Tuesday, Nov. 24 - Cary High School, 638 Walnut St., Cary
Green Hope High Recognized for High Graduation Rate
Green Hope High was one of 17 schools recognized by State Education Superintendent June Atkinson and the NC Department of Public Instruction for having the highest rates of graduation in North Carolina at a ceremony held this month in Raleigh.
Green Hope was recognized as one of the state’s top two schools by cohort rate that have 500 or more students graduating. The graduation rate at Green Hope was 94 percent.
Athens Drive Student Newspaper Staff Selected for National Edition
Three students on the staff of Oracle, Athens Drive student newspaper, were selected last week to be in the national edition of My High School Journalism. The students are Blair Robinson, Caryn Siggins and Erik Tomins.
Briarcliff Elementary Teacher Receives Honor from OfficeMax
Nicole Russell, a first-grade teacher at Briarcliff Elementary School, is one of the more than 1,000 teachers in the nation to receive the "A Day Made Better" honor from OfficeMax. Teachers who exemplify passion, dedication, and innovation in the classroom can be nominated for the honor. Barbara Bozon, Briarcliff clerical assistant, wrote the letter that nominated Russell.Russell was chosen to receive a visit from the local OfficeMax, as the office supplies retailer kicks off a campaign to eliminate teacher-funded classrooms. The third annual "A Day Made Better" nationwide event includes surprise in-class ceremonies where teachers receive a donation of more than $1,000 worth of classroom supplies.
"It's a shame that today's teachers are forced to spend out of pocket on school supplies to maintain their classrooms," said Bob Thacker, of OfficeMax. "With our third annual 'A Day Made Better' event, we hope to lead the fight to end teacher-funded classrooms and call widespread attention to this national crisis in a time when teachers need our support most."
Board Names Principals
At its Oct. 20 meeting, the Board of Education named retired principal Edward Gainor as interim principal at Green Elementary School. Gainor has served as interim assistant principal of Wakefield Elementary, interim principal of York Elementary and did an earlier tour as interim principal at Green Elementary. Prior to that, he served as principal of Leesville Road Elementary for 15 years and Wiley Elementary for six years. He was an assistant principal and teacher at Daniels Middle School. The board named Eric Betheil assistant principal at Davis Drive Middle. Retired principal Charles Langley was named interim assistant principal at North Ridge Elementary.