Smith Farm Elementary School students raised over $1,000 to benefit Samaritan Ministries with their Penny War fundraiser. Classes and grades competed to see who could bring in the most spare change over the course of the campaign, and all of those small donations added up quickly. Samaritan Ministries provides thousands of meals and nights of shelter per year to people experiencing homelessness in Winston-Salem, and they appreciate having so much support from civic-minded schools.
"There are always going to be people who need help," said Rese Davis, Samaritan Ministries' marketing manager. "It's awesome to see these kids offering that help at such a young age, and to see the teachers who are fostering these hearts."
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The Board of Education recognized the student artists who won this year’s Holiday Card contest during their meeting on Tuesday night. All of this year’s selections can be viewed at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/o/wsfcs/page/holiday-cards. Congratulations, artists!
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Christmas came early at East Forsyth High School on Tuesday when an Amazon truck dropped off about $5,000 worth of donated classroom supplies for teachers. An East Forsyth parent who works for the company asked teachers to start writing wish lists a few months ago, and now they'll go into the new year with a fresh supply of valuable tools. Civics Teacher Shawna Tshiboyi, who got a box of pocket Constitutions for her students on Tuesday, says it's comforting to know that the district's business partners are willing to lend a hand and make sure students have what they need to be informed citizens.
"There is a real need in our community for people to help support these kiddos," Tshiboyi said. "It just fills my heart with joy."
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Parkland High School recently hosted the International Baccalaureate’s Festival of Hope, an annual celebration of the power hope has to create a better world. Parkland student hosted eighth graders from Flat Rock Middle School as they wrote holiday cards for local nursing homes, collected food and toys to support families in need over the holidays, and discussed comprehensive strategies for positively affecting civic change. The IB magnet program focuses on critical thinking skills, project management, and looking at problems with a global mindset, and the Festival of Hope is an opportunity for students to practice those skills in the present so they can create a better future.
"I am inspired by how the Festival of Hope empowers students to showcase not just their academic abilities, but their abilities to lead, uplift, show compassion, and serve others that ultimately will have a tremendous impact on our community," said Rhonda Higgins, the IB Middle Years Program Coordinator for Parkland.
Learn more about applying to a magnet school with an IB theme at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/page/magnet-schools.
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Congratulations to Amy Harlee and the Reynolds High School Popular Music Band for their outstanding presentation at the Department of Public Instruction on Thursday! Part of the department's Winter Performance Series, the show was a hit with employees and the student musicians made a great impression. Dr. Laura A. Stauderman, K-12 dance and visual arts consultant for NCDPI, saw the show as a positive reflection on the school's educators and the results they create in class.
"The students represented RJ Reynolds with pride and conducted themselves in a professional manner," Stauderman said. "Their mastery of multiple objectives from the Standard Course of Study was evident in all that they performed, and the students clearly demonstrated their ability to meet the high level of excellence that is expected of them."
Watch the full performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBQknqii1ts.
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The Reagan High School Band and Orchestra will stage a benefit concert at 4 pm on Saturday, December 13 in the school auditorium in support of their trip to perform at Carnegie Hall in the spring. An online silent auction will also be held from Friday, December 5 until Saturday, December 13 at 9 pm. Tickets to the benefit concert are $20 per person or $40 per family. Tickets and a link to the auction can be found at www.bandofraiders.org.
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Dr. Don Phipps is officially the new Superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools following his swearing-in ceremony on Monday morning. Welcome to the team, Superintendent Phipps! Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2572194.
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The Board of Education recognized 23 principals whose schools were in the Top 50% in the state for growth over the last six months. Congratulations!
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Clemmons and Morgan Elementary Schools got into the holiday spirit early this week with their own Thanksgiving Day parades, complete with customized balloons. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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Ibraham Elementary School and Lutheran Church of the Epiphany gave out 37 Thanksgiving turkeys to families last week ahead of the holiday break. The turkeys went to families who have visited the school's food pantry this year, which volunteers from Epiphany help stock and operate. Thanksgiving turkeys are a longstanding annual addition to the food pantry's weekly distribution, and they've made an incalculable difference in morale for Ibraham's community.
"Through my 12 years here, it's fed hundreds of families and thousands of individuals," said School Social Worker Jennifer Applegate. "We couldn't do it without Epiphany. We're very fortunate to have such valuable partners."
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The Board of Education recognized 19 teachers from 11 schools who won grants from the WS/FCS Education Foundation this fall. These grants, worth up $1,500 per applicant, provide resources for unique opportunities to enrich the classroom experience. The foundation has awarded $24,550 in grants during this cycle. Congratulations, teachers!
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Congratulations to Natasha Young, this year's recipient of the Ester Page Hill Award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Teaching from the North Carolina Art Educator's Association's Committee on Multiethnic Concerns. The award is given to educators who support inclusive, multiethnic art education through their classes. Young is a visual arts teacher at Northwest Middle School and has led her students to earn a variety of national awards during her 28 years in education. She is also the school's yearbook advisor, talent show coordinator, hospitality committee chair, news team advisor, communications team advisor, and art club sponsor. Way to go, Mrs. Young!
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During the latest meeting of the Board of Education, #AllInForOurSchools announced that they have raised $5.8 million from 330 donors over the past two months to address Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' financial needs. Thank you to All In For Our Schools, the WS/FCS Education Foundation, and all of the community donors who made this possible! Donations can be made online at https://wsfcsedfoundation.org/campaign/.
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JFK High School collected 2,874 cans of food for Second Harvest Food Bank as part of a massively successful annual food drive. The drive was organized by the school's Student Government Association and Health Occupations Students of America chapter and received some of it biggest donations through collaborations with New Bethel Baptist Church and the Winston-Salem Police Department. This year's total easily eclipsed the initial goal of 1,000 cans, as well as last year's total collection of about 1,600. At a time when food insecurity in Forsyth County is a bigger concern than ever, it warmed students' hearts to see how much their community was willing to step up for their neighbors.
"I love to see people putting in this kind of effort," said SGA President Itzuri Bernal. "We're a family here and we take care of each other."
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WS/FCS' magnet application period is officially underway! The deadline to apply is January 30. Learn more about how to apply https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2549821.
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West Forsyth High School’s Fire Academy is hitting the road this month to teach neighboring middle schoolers what the program can do for them. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2547533.
Learn more about WS/FCS’ career academies in firefighting, hospitality, health science, information technology, and more online at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/o/wsfcs/page/career-academies-copy.
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History came to life at Brunson Elementary School today when Daniel Ayers, a historical reenactor and former history teacher, held a presentation for fifth graders in full costume. Ayers offered insight into the daily lives of soldiers during the American Revolution while also explaining how small events at the time have become major historical touchstones today. Ayers says that living history presentations like these help give students a sense of continuity, reminding them that despite seeming very long ago, the past was integral to shaping the present.
"Because we're such a young country, a lot of our history has been captured in photos and videos, but further back, especially for the 18th century, all we have are paintings," Ayers said. "Bringing living history to kids shows them that there were real people behind those paintings, and they lived in a real world, and it was our world."
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The WS/FCS Board of Education reviewed revisions to residential boundaries during their Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting on Monday. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2545475.
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JFK High School pharmacy tech students recently celebrated Sarah Shepard, their former health science teacher and the current career development coordinator at the Career Center, in recognition of CDC Day and CTE Month. Shepard helped oversee increased blood drives, 100% participation in OSHA, Stop the Bleed, and BLS credentials, and greater participation in regional and state HOSA-Future Health Professionals competitions during her time at JFK.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/2p643tev for more information on applying to a magnet school with a CTE focus. The deadline to apply is January 31.
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John F. Kennedy High School recently kicked off another year of their student-run credit union in partnership with Allegacy Federal Credit Union. Student bankers help their classmates set up their first savings and checking accounts, as well as offer advice about professional saving and spending habits. The program trains the next generation of banking professionals while also preparing every student involved for a sounder financial future.
"This partnership empowers students to take charge of their financial futures by opening savings and checking accounts, learning about budgeting and saving, and becoming eligible for Allegacy scholarships," said Lori K. Timm, Allegacy's director of community impact. "Through this program, Kennedy students gain real-world experience in credit union operations, cash handling, member service, and compliance, all while earning class credit and building valuable work skills that prepare them for success beyond graduation."
Visit https://tinyurl.com/2p643tev for more information on applying to a magnet school with a CTE focus. The deadline to apply is January 31.
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