WS/FCS chose several students across the district to participated in student focus groups. The groups were held at four high schools around the work with the Code of Character, Conduct and Support. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist TJ James has a look at the way students and staff feel about the code.

If you work hard enough at something in life, wonderful things can happen. That is what 13-year-old Jas Makhani of Clemmons Middle School has learned about himself in the sport of pool. The 8th grader recently won a national junior 9-ball championship held in Las Vegas, Nevada. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn had the opportunity to spend some time with him after school at Breaktime Billiards in Winston-Salem and has the story.

WS/FCS is happy to celebrate Arts in Our Schools Month in March. A part of that celebration included the 2023 Spring Arts Extravaganza, held at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem from March 7-11. With the help of sponsors like Modern Automotive, the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, and Sawtooth School for Visual Art, WS/FCS was able to give our student artists and their families the thrill of seeing their artwork displayed in a real art gallery this past Friday evening. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there and has the story of what this honor means to our students.

The Parkland Lady Mustangs basketball team finished its most successful season since 2009. They were the 2023 co-champions of the Central Piedmont Conference. These ladies are tremendous athletes on the court, but off the court, a social-emotional learning program is what the players and coaches say benefited the team greatly this year and likely for life. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn has a look at the unique way the Lady Mustangs team grew this season.

For almost two years, students at Glenn High School have worked to secure a space, recruit sponsors and stock a functional food pantry. The effort is being sponsored by the Glenn Spanish Club. The project is now complete, and the Bobcat Food Pantry opened officially with a celebration on Friday morning March 10, 2023. Glenn High staff, administrators and pantry sponsors came together for the ribbon cutting ceremony. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist TJ James has the story.

For a student, it is never too early to start thinking about your future and what that could look like. With that in mind, the WS/FCS Community Engagement Team is happy to serve as the liaison by connecting elementary students in our district with some of the leading industry professionals in our community. Recently, the African American Leadership Society from the United Way of Forsyth County visited several schools to hold a career day. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was at Mineral Springs Elementary School as employees of Hanesbrands told 5th graders all about their jobs and how those careers are within their reach.

WS/FCS is encouraging more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast that is part of celebrating National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) March 6-10, 2023. The NSBW campaign theme, “DIG IN to School Breakfast,” reminds the entire school community that healthy school breakfast options available provide an energizing start to the day for students. On March 6, WS/FCS board members and administrators enjoyed breakfast at Paisley/Lowrance. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist TJ James has the story.

WS/FCS students had the amazing opportunity during Black History Month to hear from a variety of guest speakers. One such guest was Brian McLaughlin, better known as B Daht, as he visited East Forsyth High School. B Daht is an extremely popular host, actor, comedian, and radio personality from the Triad area. He’s the hype man for the UNC Tarheels basketball team, has a podcast called I Didn’t Know and Maybe You Didn’t Either, and has appeared on the popular MTV show Nick Cannon’s Wild N Out. These students know him, look up to him, and were eager to hear about how he overcame adversity in his younger years to become successful as an adult. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was at the event and has the story behind B Daht’s different and very real motivational speaking tactics that had the student's attention.

Samantha Foxx Winship, a local farmer, and beekeeper visited Mrs. Vogt's 3rd-grade class at Ward Elementary School. This story was separated from the Feb. 2023 Board of Education Spotlight

WSFCS Black History Month story from the February 2023 Board of Education Spotlight features stories from Parkland High School, Ward Elementary School, Meadowlark Middle School, and East Forsyth High School.

There is truly no place like home. Students and staff at John F. Kennedy High School agree and were thrilled to walk back through the doors of a newly renovated school after being away for 18 months. This week, JFK celebrated the occasion with a special reopening ceremony. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn visited the school and has the story.

WS/FCS is proud to celebrate Black History Month at every school in the district during February. Over at East Forsyth High School, they have special events planned for the month and even dedicated a whole day to celebrate the culture. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn visited the school and has the story.

WS/FCS is fortunate to have interesting guests visit our schools every year. Clemmons Elementary students and staff were thrilled to welcome David Hagerman, The Science Wizard, a scientist and stage magician, whose popularity soared after appearing on Season 16 of the hit TV show America’s Got Talent. He visited the school to give a remarkable demonstration of the science behind the magic. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was at the event and has the story.

Multiple booths and exhibits were set up for students and families to engage in hands-on learning at Petree’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Night. Many of Petree’s community partners were present including Kaleidium, Wake Forest University, The Career Center, Atkins High School, WS/FCS Child Nutrition, and more.

The WS/FCS Community Engagement team is proud to make connections that move, and their latest effort will impact 4th and 5th-grade students at Cook Literacy Model School. Winston-Salem State University students will visit Cook for the next 10 weeks as part of a mentoring program. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was at the school for the celebration and kick-off of their partnership and has the story.

WS/FCS has tremendously talented art students throughout the district and now their artwork will have a new home. The Superintendents Art Gallery debuted at the Education Building and all 3 floors of the Administrative Center in a special ceremony this week. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn attended the event and has the story of a big honor for our students.

Extracurricular activities in WS/FCS are important and special to so many of our students. That’s the case at Griffith Elementary School and its multicultural step team, the Griffith Bulldog Stompers. WS/FSC Cable 2 Photojournalist visited a practice recently and takes you behind the scenes to see the impact this 4th year program has on its team members.

If you’ve been fortunate enough to see a symphony in person, you’re aware of just how powerful the sound and the music they perform can be. Elementary students in WS/FCS have had the amazing opportunity to see members of our local Winston-Salem Symphony perform in their schools for more than 60 years now. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn visited Konnoak Elementary School for their performance recently and has the story.

Nareny Martinez Wins 2023 MLK Young Dreamers Award

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Holds Annual Science Fair

When it comes to A Capella music, Deke Sharon can do it all! He is an American singer, arranger, composer, director, producer, and teacher of A Capella music. He is best known for being the music director, arranger, and singer in the very popular film series Pitch Perfect and has even been called the Godfather of A Capella. Mr. Sharon is in Winston-Salem this weekend as he will host the annual RJR A Capella Jam for HOPE at 7pm on Saturday night. Several WS/FCS high schools and middle schools were in attendance on Friday at RJ Reynolds Auditorium as Deke Sharon held 2 masterclasses in A Capella music. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there and has the story.

The holiday season is the perfect time to show people in your life that you appreciate them. That’s the case at Meadowlark Elementary and Middle Schools as parents generously showed their appreciation for school crossing guard Robert Johnson this holiday season. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was at the school for the presentation and has the story.

A role model can be defined as someone who is worthy of imitation. A perfect example of that is custodian Will Hanes at The Children’s Center. He’s been at the school for over half of his life, starting as a student in 1968. Now, he’s retiring from The Children’s Center after spending the last 29 years as the school’s custodian and so much more. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was at the retirement celebration held in honor of a career that can be an inspiration to all.

The state of North Carolina has always loved basketball and that's no different right here in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Meadowlark Middle School students and staff shared their love of the game and used it to kick off the holiday season with some friendly competition and fun. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn has the story.

You’ve heard the old saying, it's better to give than to receive and that’s especially true during the holiday season. The members of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem are doing just that as they celebrated a special anniversary in the church by giving back to the students at Ashley Academy. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there and has the story.

WS/FCS is thankful to be able to support our students all year long, especially during the holidays. This year our district’s Central Office staff is supporting The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program by providing gifts for those students that need them the most. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn has the story.

WS/FCS has been fortunate to have Dr. Leslie Baldwin working in our district for the past 22 years. After 4 years as a Spanish Teacher at Ward Elementary School, Dr. Baldwin took over as the WS/FCS World Languages Director. Since then, she has worked hand in hand with foreign language teachers in our district to provide our students with the best instruction they can get. Recently, Dr. Baldwin had the tremendous honor of being named the NADSFL 2022 Supervisor of the Year, presented in Boston, Massachusetts at their annual meeting. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn sat down with Dr. Baldwin to hear her reaction to the award and to get her insights into foreign language instruction in our district.

WS/FCS has tons of interesting courses outside of the regular academic curriculum. RJ Reynolds High School and local public radio station WFDD have formed a unique partnership over the past 5 years to teach students the art of narrative journalism in a class called Radio 101. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn visited the class and has the story.

Teaching our students is priority number one for WS/FCS, and that goal is only enhanced when the learning is fun. At Walkertown Elementary School they held Math Madness, an event where Kindergarten through 5th-grade students got the chance to show off their skills by answering Math facts questions while also competing against their classmates. WS/FCS Cable 2 photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there and has the story.

As Thanksgiving approaches, WS/FCS is giving back to our students and their families by giving out break kits filled with food and activities through our We’re All In This Together Thanksgiving service project. WS/FCS Cable 2 photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there as Central Office employees packed the boxes and has the story of a true labor of love for our district.

The North Carolina Music Educators Conference was held recently at the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem. Hanes Magnet Middle School’s band was chosen to perform in front of a huge crowd, and it is an honor they will never forget. WS/FCS Cable 2 photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there for the big event and has the story of an honor that has a long history for WS/FCS and Hanes Magnet Middle School.

On a rainy teachers' workday, 75 TRUIST employees spent the day at Brunson Elementary School. The volunteers spruced up the building and beautified and grounds as a part of their participation with the company's United Way Workplace Campaign's Day of Caring. WS/FCS Cable 2 Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn caught up with them as they gave back to a community they love.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools prides itself on teaching our students every day to the best of our abilities. That instruction sometimes goes outside the classroom and includes real-life responsibilities like how to operate a vehicle safely and effectively. That was the case recently at Carver High School as WS/FCS teamed up with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department, Winston-Salem Police Department, and representatives from Wake Forest Baptist Health to hold a seminar centered around safe and responsible teen driving and drug prevention. WS/FCS Cable 2 photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there and has the story in this Assignment Schools segment.

WS/FCS is fortunate to have people in many roles making a positive difference in the lives of students and staff. In celebration of Custodian Appreciation Month WS/FCS Cable 2 photojournalist Kevin Wrenn visited Parkland High School to meet custodian Stanley Williams, a man whose work with students is also his passion.

National Hispanic Heritage Month just wrapped up and many WS/FCS schools found ways to honor the occasion. Speas Global Elementary School was one such school, as 1st graders and staff held their 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Parade. WS/FCS Cable 2 photojournalist Kevin Wrenn takes you behind the scenes of a fantastic parade that means so much to this school.

WS/FCS held its 26th Annual Band Jamboree on October 10, 2022, at Glenn High School. Eleven of our district's high school bands were on hand to perform their halftime shows. Select 8th-grade band members were also invited and were excited to perform along with the high school bands. WS/FCS Cable 2 photojournalist Kevin Wrenn was there and has the recap of an incredible night!

National School Lunch Week is October 10-14, 2022. Cable 2 visited Smith Farm Elementary to find out more about the WS/FCS School Lunch Program and the people behind making it possible in our schools

The exhibit is in the Education Building at the Carolina Classic Fair and can be seen from now until Sunday, October 9th.

Chartwells and Dine WS/FCS held a farmers market for the students at Southwest Elementary School

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools representatives are laying out their plans for identifying "missing" students in the 2022-23 school year and making sure as many of them as possible return to school so they can thrive in their studies.

Hall-Woodward Receives School Supplies From SECU, Ferguson Enterprises, and Winston-Salem Home Builders Association

On September 1st, West Forsyth High School honored former basketball player and current NBA star Chris Paul with a ceremony to name their gymnasium after him. Cable 2 had the pleasure of attending the event and takes you there in this Assignment Schools segment.

Recently 16-year-old Parkland High School sophomore Antwan Hughes Jr. won a national championship in the 100-meter dash at the AAU Junior Olympics held at North Carolina A&T University. Cable 2 had the chance to visit Parkland and catch up with the speedster and his favorite coach in this Assignment Schools segment.

“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity.”

Legendary Football Coach, Lou Holtz

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools held its Summer School Commencement Ceremony on July 28th at West Forsyth High School. Around 60 students from 11 different high schools in our district persevered and reached the ultimate goal of graduating high school! Photojournalist Kevin Wrenn had the chance to attend the ceremony and takes you there in this Assignment Schools segment.

Earlier this year, WS/FCS opened a request for proposals (RFP) to create increased access to direct services for students as a part of the district’s ongoing response to the pandemic, focusing on Before and After School Services, Strategic Tutoring, and Student Mentoring. The process resulted in over 20 approved community organizations and agencies that schools can select to contract with for specific services that address unmet needs in the three focus areas. On Monday, July 25, WS/FCS held an Approved Service Provider Fair where principals and school improvement teams met with the approved providers. Schools can now move forward with selecting providers to contract with, utilizing Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, to bring structured student engagement and enrichment opportunities to their learning community. 

The approved providers for 2022-2023 are:

Before and After School Services

• AlphaBEST
• Champions
• Community Technical Assistance, Inc. (CTA)
• Imprints Cares
• Right at School, LLC
• University Instructors (UI)
• YMCA of NWNC
• YWCA

Strategic Tutoring Services

• Back to Basics
• Bravo and the Dreamcatcher, LLC
• Community Technical Assistance, Inc. (CTA)
• Focus Care, Inc. – FEV Tutor
• iTutor
• Kelly Education
• Neuro-development of Words
• Sylvan
• Tutored by Teachers
• Tutor Me Education
• University Instructors (UI)
• Varsity Tutors

Student Mentoring Services

• Axiom Learning
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Creative Intentions
• Empoweru Community Services
• LEAD Girls of NC
• St. Paul United Methodist Church
• Youth Style Fitness

WS/FCS held a Summer Operations Career Fair at RJ Reynolds Gymnasium on July 14th. WS/FCS Cable 2 had the chance to visit the career fair to find out what this event is all about. If you missed the Career Fair on the 14th, find out how you can still be a part of our team at WS/FCS.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Summer Enrichment Musical Theatre Program will present the musical Elf at Reynolds High School Auditorium, July 18th through the 20th at 7 pm. Tickets are only $5. This music theatre program began as the vision of C. Douglas Carter in 1960 and has established itself as a staple in our community. Cable 2 had the chance to go behind the scenes of last year's presentation of Matilda. In this extended Assignment Schools segment, you’ll get to hear from some of the participants and get a feel for how much this program and the chance to perform means to them.