Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines visited Moore Magnet Elementary School to tour the campus and meet with students participating in the summer enrichment program. Moore's campus has been revitalized in recent years with gardens and park facilities where students can learn about agriculture, play sports, and observe local wildlife, thanks in large part to investments from neighboring community organizations.
"It's impressive to see the innovation of how to use this space and how to incorporate it into the school's curriculum," Joines said. "It's a great way to help our students stay engaged and give them opportunities they may not have otherwise had."
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Graduation season officially wrapped up last week with this year's summer commencement ceremony. Forty-five seniors from nine schools finished the job this summer and walked the stage. Congratulations to all of our graduates!
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The Board of Education heard an update on the All In For Our Schools initiative during their meeting on Tuesday night. In the past year, the campaign has generated over $12.4 million to help the district pay off its debts. Going forward, the All In For Our Schools Fund will be established as a permanent source of financial support for WS/FCS students, teachers, and schools in need.
"We just look forward to continuing to work side by side with Dr. Phipps and with other school leaders to really make a difference in our community," said Marni Eisner, the executive director of the WS/FCS Education Foundation.
Thank you to the WS/FCS Education Foundation and to everyone who has lent their support for the good of our schools!
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Rachit Chandrakul from Atkins High School is up for a STEM Choice Award, a global honor sponsored by the International Science and Engineering Fair. One of only 200 finalists in the world, his project offers a medicinal solution to liver damage caused by forever chemicals. Congratulations, Rachit!
To vote for Rachit to win a Top 10 Award, view his project at https://events.projectboard.world/SCA26/project/229196 and click the heart icon in the top-left corner. You’ll need a free account with ProjectBoard to vote. Winners will be announced on Friday, June 26.
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Congratulations to Alexis McCoy, this year's NCHSAA Dave Harris Athletic Director of the Year! Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2998893.
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WS/FCS Bus Drivers Van Oakes and Altovise Rowland represented the district last weekend at the NCPTA's Annual Bus Roadeo. The competition has drivers show off their skills in various driving safety events. Thank you to the excellent drivers who make our district proud!
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The Board of Education honored 38 students from seven WS/FCS high schools who will be attending the North Carolina Governor's School this summer. This four-week residential program for gifted and talented high schoolers receives receives over 1,000 applications per year from across the state. The complete list of WS/FCS attendees can be found at https://tinyurl.com/msrvzddw. Congratulations!
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WS/FCS wished a fond farewell to retiring employees on Wednesday morning during the 2026 Retirement Breakfast. Retirees had breakfast, won door prizes, and spent the morning reminiscing on decades of service with treasured friends and coworkers. This year's 261 retirees have over 6,500 years of experience between them, and during that time, they've made an immeasurable difference in the lives of the district's students.
"It's meant a lot working with students, seeing them grow, and seeing the kind of impact we can have," said Susan Vanhoy, a retiring ESL teacher from Bolton Elementary School and this year's longest tenured retiree with 41 years of service.
Congratulations to all of our retirees, and thank you for everything you've done for our schools!
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The Board of Education recognized schools that won Clean and Green awards during their meeting last week. Clean and Green is an initiative with Keep Winton Salem Beautiful and the Garden Club Council that rewards schools that reduce litter, provide environmental education, and beautify their campuses. Congratulations to #HanesMagnetMiddle School, #LewisvilleMiddle School, and #RJRHigh School for winning awards, as well as #WSPAPhoenix, #Atkins_HS, #HallWoodward Elementary School, and #KernersvilleES for winning honorable mentions!
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Carsten Macosko, a new graduate from Reagan High School, is one of only 621 students in the nation to be named a semifinalist for this year's U.S. Presidential Scholars program. Being selected for the program is one of the highest honors a high school student can receive. Macosko, who was just named his class's valedictorian and is now headed to Princeton University in the fall, is excited for the chance to be a part of American history.
"I was incredibly honored and pleasantly surprised to advance, especially on the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America," Macosko said. "I'm hopeful about moving on to become a Presidential Scholar Finalist."
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The Board of Education recognized Jerrin Moore, a rising senior at Atkins High School and the Career Center, for winning this year's Safe Sober T-Shirt Design Contest during their meeting last week. Moore's design was featured on hundreds of shirts to promote safe driving habits among young people. Congratulations!
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Moore Magnet Elementary School welcomed back their senior alumni on Friday afternoon so students could cheer them on ahead of graduation next week. Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors - just don't forget where you came from!
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Congratulations to the Carter High School Class of 2026! They have officially graduated. Go #CarterHighWildcats! #WSFCS #Classof2026
The Ninth Annual Core Awards are in the books, and 13 winners across 10 categories have been recognized for their outstanding achievements in fostering student success. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2906593.
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The Board of Education recognized three students for placing in this year's WS/FCS Dr. Maya Angelou Essay Writing Contest during their meeting on Tuesday night. Fatou Lo from #MountTaborHighSchool, Justine Ibrahim from #WestForsythHighSchool, and Hansika Alampally from #ReaganHighSchool won first, second, and third place respectively, claiming $9,800 in scholarship money between them. Congratulations!
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Congratulations to Whitaker Elementary School PE Teacher Sarah Niblock for winning the Triad Area American Heart Association Rookie of the Year award! Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2879861.
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Kindergarteners at Old Richmond Elementary School took visitors under the sea with their ocean animal wax museum on Thursday. Students spent weeks researching their subjects before putting on presentations in costume as ocean animals. The event also sold ocean animal crafts and raised money for the ORES PTA, The Children's Center, Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City, and Friends of Big Bear Valley in Big Bear Valley, California.
Old Richmond holds a wax museum on a different subject each year to support causes like these. Teachers say that participating inspires their students, not just by giving them a chance to make their communities a better place, but by helping them connect with their families and their reading buddies in the third grade who help them with their projects.
“It builds their confidence and communication skills, and it also builds community between the grades,” said EC Teacher Nicole Roberts. “There’s a lot of value for them in knowing that they’re supported around school.”
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Every WS/FCS third grader is getting a card of encouragement from Bank of America employees in the Triad ahead of this year’s EOGs. The distribution of over 4,000 cards began on Thursday morning as employees visited Kimberley Park Elementary School to hand out cards and hype up students for their tests. Employees say it’s important to them that kids in their community know that everyone is rooting for them to succeed, even outside their school.
“We want you to know that we believe in you, so you should believe in yourself,” said Greg Cox, president of Bank of America Triad. “You are capable of doing really great work.”
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April Herron-White’s class at Carter High School celebrated the end of their year by composing a class book together. Created with help from Studentreasures Publishing, “The BIGGEST Wildcats EC Career Training Class” chronicles the students’ experiences in high school, the activities they’ve enjoyed the most, the skills they’ve learned, and their ambitions after graduating high school. The book features biographies written by EC Teacher Assistant Regina Sockwell and images provided by Art Teacher Ronnie Harris.
Herron-White says that the book project served as an inspiration for her students to challenge themselves. It encouraged them to think about their futures and allowed them to see their hopes embodied in a tangible form. She hopes they’ll carry that confidence forward into everything they do.
“It gave them more self-confidence that they can be anything they want to be,” Herron-White said. “It gives them hope that they can do far more than they think.”
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Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy Senior Alexa Cruz is one of only a few hundred students in the nation to be chosen for The Gates Scholarship in 2026. Covering the recipient’s entire cost of college attendance after financial aid, the award is given only to seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic success, leadership skills, and personal maturity during their time in school. The program receives over 100,000 applications per year, and fewer than 400 are chosen.
Ruiz will attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the fall and plans to study nursing. She says that winning the scholarship is a life-changing moment for her, and she’s grateful that the staff at WSPA were supportive of her throughout the application process. Her teachers and counselors have always made her feel like she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to.
“It makes a big difference because they’re your support system, they’re your village,” Ruiz said. “My teachers are like my family.”
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