The Lamplighter

Vance County Schools/Employee Newsletter/February 2015

L.B. Yancey’s Daye earns NCAE award

Lanisha Daye, assistant principal of L.B. Yancey Elementary School, after she was named the Vance County Schools’ Assistant Principal of the

Year in November.

VCS Photo

Lanisha Daye of L.B. Yancey Elementary School, has been selected as the North Carolina Association of Educators’ 2015 Assistant Principal of the Year. Daye was notified of the state award on March 2. She has been the assistant principal of L.B. Yancey for the past three school years. In November, Daye was named the Vance County Schools’ Assistant Principal of the Year for 2014-2015. Dr. Michael Putney, principal of Dabney Elementary School and president of the NCAE Division of Principals and Admini- strators, nominated Daye for the state award. With the NCAE award, Daye is considered the top assistant principal in the state as recognized by the prestigious educational organization. Daye has already proven to be a valuable part of the administrative team, joining Principal Clarence Hicks, at L.B. Yancey. She is a strong instructional leader and champions the school’s successful reading program. Over the last two school years, she has planned and coordinated a reading program that focuses on a particular theme and includes lots of special events, such as this year’s RODEO kickoff, Wild Wild West Week activities, Round Up Pen Pal Week and the Dr. Seuss Bandana Reading. The program this year challenges students to read a total of 25,340 books by the end of the school year. Daye serves this year as the leader of assistant principals in the district and represents the school system in the Leader- ship Vance Program, which brings young business leaders together to enhance their leadership skills and to get a strong understanding of the county’s history, present day business environment and future aspirations. In her notification letter for the award, NCAE officials wrote, “It was obvious from your application and personal interview of your dedication to the education profession, teaching and learning of all students and the association. We are proud that you will represent NCAE as an example of educational excellence.” Daye will be honored at the NCAE Representative Assembly March 20-21 and a plaque will be presented to her by NCAE officials at a local event in April or May.

Vance County Schools 2 The Lamplighter

WVHS Photo

VCS Photo

Nine graduates receive diplomas

Aycock students again ‘Mix It Up’ Erika Barnett, standing at center in the photo at left, again led efforts at Aycock Elementary School to plan and carry out “Mix It Up” activities during lunch periods on February 13. Barnett, the school’s counselor, had students in each participating class sit during their lunch with other students they didn’t know as part of the “Mix It Up” initiative to encourage children to develop new friendships and show mutual respect and kindness. The event had a Valentine’s Day theme and Barnett gave each student questions printed on a pink or red heart-shaped card to ask their new friends, so that they could get to know one another.

Mid-year graduates at Western Vance High School are all smiles as they prepare to receive their diplomas on January 16.

Western Vance High School officials presented graduation diplomas to nine seniors during commencement exercises held at the school on January 16. The students successfully completed all graduation requirements by the end of the first semester of the school year and, thus, qualified for their diplomas. Principal Eric Pierce, along with his faculty and staff, led the commencement exercises in front of an overflow crowd in the school’s gymnasium. The newest graduates are among the almost 550 seniors who have now graduated from Western Vance since it became an alternative high school. Last school year, Western Vance had a 100-percent graduation rate and was honored by the state for its lofty achievements.

Vance County Schools 3 The Lamplighter

E.O. Young, City Road Methodist begin partnership

VCS Photo

Community Resource Fair set for March 19 at SVHS

The second Vance County Community Resource Fair will be held on Thursday, March 19, in the gymnasium at Southern Vance High School. The resource fair will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. Students from local schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels, will attend the fair. It also is open to the public and admission is free to everyone. The event again will feature resources available through agricultural programs and will include vendors who are part of the school system’s CTE program, the Vance County Cooperative Extension Center and representatives of agricultural programs in area colleges and universities.

Jason Brown, a farmer in Franklin County, talks with students about agriculture during the 2014 Community

Resource Fair.

E. O. Young Jr. Elementary School and City Road United Methodist Church have begun a unique partnership. On Saturday, February 7, the first session of the “Learning Together” initiative began with approximately 20 selected students in grades 1-3 from the school attending tutoring sessions with adult volunteers. Sessions are held each Saturday morning in the church’s fellowship hall. Students, who were identified by their teachers as needing extra instruction in reading and math, are picked up each Saturday on 15-passenger vans provided by Flat Rock United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church. The students are divided into smaller groups for the tutoring and work with five to six volunteers. Most of the

volunteers are members of City Road, but there are several from other churches. The sessions begin at 9 a.m. with breakfast each Saturday, followed by two tutoring periods, a recess time and lunch before the students are taken home on the vans. The partnership has been made possible through a $10,000 grant received by the church. Pastor Edgar Vergara Millan and Principal Marylaura McKoon, along with church members and school staff members, worked together to plan the program. The school personnel are providing academic guidance, along with books for reading and basic supplies for students. The “Learning Together” program will operate at City Road each Saturday through April in an effort to help the students be more successful in their school work.

Vance County Schools 4 The Lamplighter

VCS Photo

VCS Photo

Kelly Turner of the BioNetwork of North Carolina, center at right, works with students in Shannon Bullock’s fifth-grade science class at Clarke Elementary School on February 2, as she led the students in special science studies. Turner spent the school day at Clarke with Bullock’s fifth graders in three separate classes as she talked to them about the differences in sodium chloride and sodium alginate and how they interact with other substances. She helped the students perform hands-on exercises to illustrate her points. One involved students using medicine droppers to combine sodium alginate with calcium chloride to form a thick, gel substance commonly used by food manufacturers to make gummy treats. Turner also talked with the students about how magnets function and the importance of washing your hands to get rid of germs.

BioNetwork at Clarke

N.C. Rep. Baskerville speaks to HMS students Nathan Baskerville, who represents Vance County in the N.C. House of Representatives, spoke to sixth graders at Henderson Middle School on February 13. Baskerville, a Vance County native and an attorney in Henderson, talked to the students in the school’s auditorium as he discussed his own childhood growing up in this area, his career as an attorney and his duties in the N.C. General Assembly. He told the students he is enjoying his time in the state legislature representing District 32. He added that in his few years as a state lawmaker he has learned a lot about the legislative process and wants to do more to help Vance County to grow, prosper and especially attract more jobs for its citizens. Baskerville also sent a strong message to the students to make the right decisions and choose the right path now, so that they will be successful in school and in their lives in the future. He noted that he always made good grades in school and worked hard to reach his goals. He shared that he was bullied in school, because he made good grades, was small and wore glasses. “But I didn’t let anyone keep me from reaching my goals,” he said.

Nathan Baskerville, right, makes a point during his

comments to sixth graders at Henderson Middle School.

Vance County Schools 5 The Lamplighter

VCS Photo

E.O. Young Photo

Henderson Mayor Pete O’Geary is shown at right as he signs a pro- clamation to recognize the first week in February as National School Counseling Week. O’Geary signed the proclamation at Eaton-Johnson Middle School and is surrounded by a representative group of students and staff members from the school. Schools throughout the district emphasized the importance of counseling throughout the week. School counselors have a vital role in the success of each school day as they assist students, parents and staff.

Focus on counseling

Fifth-grade students at E.O. Young Jr. Elementary School are having enriched experiences in their science classes thanks to grant funding their teacher has secured. Joy Darden, a fifth-grade teacher at the school, has received three grants totaling approximately $1,500 through the Donors Choose foundation. The grant funds have enabled her to purchase much needed science equipment to teach her two classes. The new equipment includes weather station devices, art supplies and a kit containing 37 clipboards and “Science Sleuths” materials for students to conduct in-depth science studies outdoors. A total of 28 fifth graders are benefitting from the use of the new equipment. Darden leads the students in studies including: drawing environmental habitats complete with vegetation and animal life; collecting weather data using a thermometer, anemometer, barometer and rain gauge; and going into wooded areas surrounding the school to use their “Science Sleuths” materials and learn about trees, local vegetation, insects, birds and more.

Fifth graders at E.O. Young Jr. Elementary hold up letters to thank contributors to Donors Choose for grant funding for their science classes.

Fifth graders benefit

from science funding

VCS Photo

Vance County Schools 6 The Lamplighter

Carver: ‘Echoes from the Past, Hope for the Future’

VCS Photo

Dabney Photo

Dabney Elementary School had the top student in the annual Vance County Soil and Water Conservation Service Poster Contest in early February. Philip Hunt, shown in the photo at far left on the front row, won first place in the county. He is joined by other Dabney winners Zach Hunt, second place and center front, and Johntrell Ragland, third place and right front. Joining them, from left, are Dr. Michael Putney, Dabney principal; Louise Hart, Byron Currin, Diana Lewis and Tommy Farmer, all of the Soil and Water Conservation; Susan Hughes, the teacher who coordinated the contest at Dabney; and Samuel Green of the Soil and Water Conservation.

Dabney has contest winner

Students and guests look on as Carver students perform during

the “Echoes from the Past, Hope for the Future” program.

Students starred in an impressive program at Carver Elementary School on January 27, which focused on the rich history of African-Americans in our country. Carver’s program, coordinated by school volunteer Marion Perry, was a great example of several programs held in local schools in observance of February as National Black History Month. During the program, Carver students were dressed in costumes as they portrayed famous African-Americans including President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, LeBron James and many others. The students each shared inform- ation about the person they portrayed as they spoke about their important contri- butions to our country. The students were joined in the pro- gram by Alice Clark Sallins, director of the Vance County Arts Council, and other representatives of the organization as they shared folklore, sang songs and talked about their native African costumes. Terry Garrison, a member of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, also was on hand to read several famous poems written by the influential African-American poet Langston Hughes.

Vance County Schools 7 The Lamplighter

VCS Photos

VCS Photo

Principal Marylaura McKoon spent most of the day on February 4, reading to students at E.O. Young Jr. Elementary in kindergarten through third grade who met 100 percent of their reading goal for the grading period. McKoon’s efforts to share her joy of reading and some of her favorite books with her students were another shining example of how local educators continue to focus on reading in our schools. McKoon wore a favorite night cap and pajamas and settled into a comfortable chair with blankets, as she read for 30-minute sessions to nine different classes of students.

McKoon and reading

Lots of winter snow for Vance County

Snow scenes around Vance County Schools during parts of January and February were plentiful. The scenes became very frequent during the last two weeks in February, when three different winter storms dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain on the area. The snowfall was certainly picturesque, but it played havoc with the school year calendar as students and staff members missed seven days of

instructional time. Schools also had to cancel or post- pone numerous special events and activities. By the end of February, the only school make-up day planned involved changing March 6 from a teacher workday to a student day. More decisions must be made to make up the rest of the lost time. Shown in the above photos, the front lawn of E.M. Rollins Elementary is covered in white, as shrubs at Pinkston Street Elementary are dressed in snow.

Vance County Schools 8 The Lamplighter

VCS Photo

Willie Fuller, standing at right, holds a new desk nameplate presented to him by students and staff members at Eaton-Johnson Middle School in January after he was named interim principal of the school. Prior to the new appointment, Fuller was in his 10th year as an assistant principal at Eaton-Johnson. He also has served as an assistant principal at E.M. Rollins and L.B. Yancey elementary schools. Fuller said he was excited to lead his school and to continue the recent progress made by its students and educators.

Fuller receives gift

STEM sixth graders lead the way in N.C. Sumdog Contest Sixth-grade students in the STEM Early High School again entered the N.C. Sumdog online competition in math and again came away with first-place honors. Lynn Conlee, their math teacher, assisted the students during the competition. They competed online in mid-February with students from across the state. STEM students finished first as a group from among 30 schools, 292 students, 35,992 questions answered and 29,136 correct answers to math problems. STEM students entered Sumdog math

contests each day during the week they competed, with between 15 and 23 sixth graders from the school in each contest. Students who placed among the highest finishers in the competitions were presented certificates of achievement by the N.C. Sumdog Contest. Conlee noted that her students worked very hard and took the math competition seriously as they competed each day with hundreds of students in schools throughout North Carolina. The contest displays the students’ considerable talents.

The Lamplighter is published monthly by the Public Information Office of Vance County Schools. School news and story ideas are welcome and may be sent to:

Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer, 492-2127, thedrick@vcs.k12.nc.us.