WS/FCS middle and elementary schools have now also completed their 2026 Battle of the Books competitions. Battle of the Books tasks students with reading a selection of books and competing quiz bowl style to test their reading comprehension and teamwork. This year's placing teams were:
1st Place Middle: Kernersville Middle School
2nd Place Middle: Hanes Magnet School
3rd Place Middle: Lewisville Middle School
1st Place Elementary: Morgan Elementary School
2nd Place Elementary: Meadowlark Elementary School
3rd Place Elementary: Whitaker Elementary School
Congratulations to our district's avid readers!
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WS/FCS celebrated Read Across America this week, and Forest Park Elementary School capped off the week with a book character parade through the halls. Students and teachers carried their favorite books, and many wore costumes resembling their favorite characters. The parade is an annual tradition that helps bring reading to life for students, and Principal Debra Gladstone says it's always followed by a welcome uptick in checkouts from the school library.
"We're always focused on trying to get a book into the hands of our students," Dr. Gladstone said. "The time they spend reading something they self-select leads to big academic gains."
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Wednesday was opening day for the new food pantry at North Hills Elementary School. With support from donations and volunteers from community partners at Carolina Basement Systems, Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, and RJ Reynolds Second Harvest Food Bank, the school distributed enough food for 106 people during their grand opening. Food insecurity is a barrier to success in the classroom that too many students have to deal with every day, and Assistant Principal Shemika Hamilton says the school is grateful for the chance to make the problem less daunting for students and their families.
"It's always amazing when we have an opportunity to bless our families," Hamilton said. "Our students are very fortunate to have people in their community who want to wrap their arms around them and help remove barriers so that they can succeed."
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WS/FCS' 2026 High School Battle of the Books is in the books, and the district has its new champions. Battle of the Books tasks students with reading a selection of books and competing quiz bowl style to test their reading comprehension and teamwork. This year's placing teams were:
1st Place: Reagan High School
2nd Place: Reynolds High School
3rd Place: Early & Middle College
Congratulations to our district's avid readers!
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WS/FCS has been wrapping up Black History Month in style this week. Students have celebrated Black arts, culture, and stories with live music, classic literature, interviews with community leaders, presentations from HBCUs, and more. Black History Month is an opportunity to highlight trailblazers and accomplishments that are often overlooked, as well as to remind students that they are capable of doing great things.
"It's important for our students to see the contributions of people from their own culture and from other cultures," said Principal Diana McIntosh, who took time this week to tell her students about her childhood in Liberia. "They deserve to know that the sky is the limit."
#wsfcs #BlackHistoryMonth
With recent reports of measles cases emerging in North Carolina and a large outbreak in South Carolina, we encourage you to take a proactive approach to keep our school community safe and informed. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2732630.
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WS/FCS welcomed students in grades 8-12 and their families to the Career Center on Monday night for Real Talk: A Safe Place, a discussion forum and resource fair dedicated to substance abuse prevention. Visitors were able to speak with the district's mental health partners about services they provide, hear from district leaders about how substance abuse affects schools, and break out into discussion groups to learn what their peers are going through. Mental Health Clinician Keisha Horton says that substance abuse is one of the biggest threats to teens' safety in North Carolina, and this event was an opportunity to sound the alarm for the people best positioned to make a difference.
"We've seen a lot of mental health crises involving substance use in our schools and in our city," Horton said. "This is our chance to show parents how to help their students and show students how to help each other."
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WS/FCS honored dozens of student artists on Tuesday night at the 2026 Superintendent's Gallery. It was a packed house at the Central Office as visitors toured the halls to get a first look at the fourth annual gallery's installations. The selected paintings, drawings, photographs, and more will hang at the administrative and education buildings for the rest of the year, reminding everyone who visits of how talented the district's students are.
"I'm really happy," said student artist Una Davis, a junior at Werst Forsyth High School. "I didn't realize this many people cared, so I'm really excited."
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Parkland High School seniors dug deep into ethical issues surrounding their chosen career paths and shared what they learned during last Friday’s Reflective Project Extravaganza. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2714732.
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The Board of Education acknowledged Atkins, Reagan, Reynolds, and West Forsyth High School during their meeting on Tuesday for earning AP Honor Roll distinctions from the College Board. This honor is given to schools with high percentages of students who take advanced placement classes and pass their exams for college credit. AP classes empower students to challenge themselves academically and get a head start on their collegiate futures. Congratulations!
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Every fifth grader in Forsyth County is taking a trip to the Reynolds Auditorium this week to hear the Winston-Salem Symphony perform their Mary Starling concert series. With transportation donated by All In for Our Schools, the show lets students see up close what it's like to perform in an orchestra. Executive Director of Encore Learning Alexandra Hoskins says that the program inspires students to think more about working as part of a large team, putting on live presentations, and making the most of their talents.
"Music and arts programming helps foster the durable skills we teach as part of the Portrait of a Graduate, particularly adaptability and collaboration," Hoskins said. "It inspires them to unleash their own creativity."
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The Board of Education recognized Agriculture Teacher Sarah Hutchens from North Forsyth High School during their meeting on Tuesday night. Hutchens grew North Forsyth's agriculture program from six students to 120 in a single semester and helped 10 students earn their Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification last year. Well done, Ms. Hutchens!
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WS/FCS recently held its annual district science fair, and numerous projects at the fair were created with help from the student leaders behind the youth development organization empowerminds. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2681247.
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Four WS/FCS magnet schools were recognized for excellence with national awards from Magnet Schools of America. Congratulations to Atkins, JFK, Reynolds, and The Downtown School! Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2663556.
The deadline to apply to a magnet school for the 2026-27 school year is Friday, January 30. Apply online at https://wsfcsncc.scriborder.com/. For more information on WS/FCS magnet schools, go online to https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/page/magnet-schools.
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Congratulations to East Forsyth High School Economics and Personal Finance Teacher Damia Jones on becoming a nominee for the National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year Award! Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2649929.
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WS/FCS just wrapped up another year of its annual district science fair. Dozens of young scientists across all grade levels show off their experiments on practical scientific applications like carbon sequestration, maintaining safe food and water supplies, sustainable construction, and responsible use of digital devices, with a few lucky winners moving on to represent WS/FCS at the state competition in Raleigh. The fair is a chance for aspiring scientists to dive deeper into the subjects they care most about, and the students who participate say it's a rewarding experience.
"It's a lot of fun to do science projects," said Rex and Jay Rajan, a pair of fourth grade brothers from Meadowlark Elementary School who did their project on the reliability of ChatGPT results. "You can learn a lot of interesting things."
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Kindergarten registration for WS/FCS’ 2026-27 school year begins in February. Families are invited to visit their new school in person during the districtwide Countdown to Kindergarten event from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, February 19, with an inclement weather date of Thursday, February 26. You can get help with the enrollment process, review supplemental materials, and meet the staff.
Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2640394.
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Jeff Ryan from the Winston-Salem Open appeared before the Board of Education during their regular meeting on Tuesday night to present a $20,000 donation towards the district’s middle school athletics program. The Winston-Salem Open has made similar annual donations for several years, and Ryan says it’s an honor to support the district’s aspiring athletes in their ambitions.
“It is a genuine pleasure to be up here every year in this role,” Ryan said.
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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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