Marny Ruben – 2013 CHCCS Principal of the Year

The staff at Seawell Elementary arrived early on Monday, October 29 for a workshop led by Principal Marny Ruben. Little did they know, that this teacher workday would take a unique twist.

About ten minutes into their session, a group of special visitors surprised the principal and her staff with an inspiring message. Superintendent Tom Forcella and members of his administrative team delivered flowers and a sincere thank you to Ms. Ruben for the great work she does with the students and families of Seawell Elementary. He also announced she had been selected by her fellow principals as the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools 2013 Principal of the Year.

“Marny Ruben is a strong leader, an exemplary principal and an outstanding person,” said Dr. Forcella. “She leads her school by modeling the character traits we teach our students.”

Ms. Ruben is in her twelfth year with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. This is her fourth year as principal of Seawell Elementary. She was the school’s assistant principal for seven years prior to becoming principal. Ruben also served a one-year stint as an administrative intern at Estes Hills Elementary.

Prior to becoming a school administrator, Ruben spent seven years as a teacher in Durham and Pitt County Schools.

Ms. Ruben will now be entered into the Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year competition along with a principal from each district in the state. Following portfolio reviews and personal interviews, eight regional finalists will be named to participate in the state selection process. 

Also on hand for the ceremony was Ruben’s husband Bryon and son Chase.

Since 1984, Wells Fargo Bank has financially supported the Principal of the Year program in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in an effort to recognize outstanding principals from the North Carolina public schools. Since its inception, the program has recognized 33 state Wells Fargo Principals of the Year, 210 regional award recipients, and 2,679 local Wells Fargo Principals of the Year.


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Project Connect

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools social workers and interns recently attended the 6th annual Project Connect. Project Connect is a one-day event designed to provide an array of services to individuals and families facing homelessness. CHCCS social workers worked with families to complete free/reduced lunch applications, discuss school concerns and resources within the district, and connect families with community agencies, such as counseling resources, child care referrals, housing/shelter options and employment resources.


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Novice Teacher Tea

The Public School Foundation sponsored the annual Novice Teacher Tea on Tuesday, October 23. New teachers from around the district gathered at A Southern Season for an outdoor recognition on the restaurant patio. Words of encouragement were delivered by President Ashley Wilson, Executive Director of Human Resources Arasi Adkins and Superintendent Tom Forcella. Additionally, teachers were each given a check for $100.

Thank you to the Foundation for all it does for the students, families and staff of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools...and also for celebrating the newest members of our team.


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CHCCS Welcomes Two New Assistant Principals!

At its Thursday, October 18 meeting, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education approved the hiring of two assistant principals.

Spencer Hawkins will serve as assistant principal at Carrboro High beginning in November. He is currently an assistant principal at Eastern Alamance High in Burlington, North Carolina. He has also worked as a principal intern at Smith Middle and a counselor at Jordan High in Durham, Orange High in Hillsborough and A.L. Stanback Middle in Hillsborough. Mr. Hawkins earned his Bachelor's degree from UNC-Greensboro along with a Master's degree from North Carolina State University and another from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Alphonso Donaldson will serve as an interim assistant principal at Chapel Hill High beginning in November. He is currently a principal intern at Carrboro High and previously served as an English teacher at Carrboro High and at East Chapel Hill High. Mr. Donaldson earned his Bachelor's degree from UNC-Asheville and is now completing his Master's degree at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Donaldson!


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UNC Football Players Visit Culbreth Cougars!

The Culbreth Middle School Cougars got a wonderful surprise when members of the UNC football team recently stopped by to visit practice. The college athletes spoke with our middle school athletes about the importance of leadership, education and being a winner - on and off the field!





Click here to see the video!



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5th Annual Asian Parents Conference

Everyone is invited to the 5th Annual Asian Parents Conference sponsored by the Asian American Parent Advisory Committee (AAPAC) of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. The event will take place from 7-9 pm on Wednesday, October 24 in the Smith Middle School Auditorium (9201 Seawell School Road). Tony Srithai, Assistant Principal at Ephesus Elementary, will deliver the feature presentation entitled: “My Asian American Experience: An Assistant Principal’s Journey.” The conference will also include a panel discussion entitled: “How Can Your Child Succeed In Our Public Schools?” The panel will include Mr. Srithai, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Magda Parvey, Superintendent Dr. Tom Forcella, Assistant Principal Esther Hahm and Teacher Gregory Cain.



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Gina Chapman, Ephesus Elementary - Teacher of Excellence

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools congratulates Gina Chapman of Ephesus Elementary for being nominated as our Teacher of Excellence for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's annual Exceptional Children's Conference. Gina has taught at Ephesus for ten years and currently teaches in a self-contained setting. She is a leader among her peers and is highly regarded for her collaboration skills and ability to teach a very diverse group of learners with significant education needs. Gina will be honored at a ceremony the evening of Thursday, November 14 in Greensboro.

Congratulations, Gina Chapman!

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Chapel Hill High Coach Sets State Record

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has received documentation that there is a new leader in the state of North Carolina in career volleyball victories.

Sherry Norris, who has coached at Chapel Hill High School for 35 years, now has 704 victories after a win on Monday night over Southern Vance. She currently sports an overall record of 704-246.

Her career mark eclipses that of Jan Stanley, the long-time coach at West Henderson who had been the state's all-time leader with 698 wins against just 115 losses during her career of 35 years.

The NCHSAA publishes lists of winning coaches in various sports, based on what schools have submitted in the Association school data base, but this information had not been submitted before.

Norris has also coached women's basketball 35 years and has compiled a mark of 471-373 in that sport, giving her close to 1200 varsity victories in those two sports combined. The Chapel Hill High women's basketball team was 27-3 a year ago.

Congratulations to Sherry Norris of Chapel Hill High School!

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Schools Raise Money through Walk for Education

Saturday, October 13 was a great day for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the Public School Foundation. The 16th annual Walk for Education began at McCorkle Place on the UNC campus and included over 5,500 participants. The legendary Steve Scroggs served as emcee. Walkers were led down Franklin Street and Merritt Mill Road by the Frank Porter Graham Roaring Lion Drumline. Frank Porter Graham Elementary is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and also had the largest number of participants (over 400!). McDougle Elementary won a $200 prize for featuring their "super" characteristics. Seawell Elementary was the top fundraising school. In total, the schools raised over $90,000.

The Walk concluded at Lincoln Center, where participants enjoyed 22 major attractions and over 50 booths, including activities, food and even a DJ. Additionally, many raffle prizes were won, including a Kindle, Nook, iPad and many gift cards. 

To see more pictures from the event, be sure to visit our Facebook gallery.

Emcee Steve Scroggs

McCorkle Place

Ashley Wilson, PSF President

McCorkle Place

FPG Elementary Roaring Lions Lead the Walk

Walking down Franklin Street

Lincoln Center

One of the rides at Lincoln Center

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Six Students Named National Achievement Semifinalists

More than 1,600 Black American high school seniors who have been designated Semifinalists in the 49th annual National Achievement Scholarship Program were announced today by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) officials. These scholastically talented young men and women now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship® awards worth more than $2.5 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a National Achievement Scholarship, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 80 percent of Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win an Achievement Scholarship award.

Six students from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City schools were named 2013 National Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists:

          Norman T. Archer – Chapel Hill High
          Kendall N. Simms – Chapel Hill High
          Jeane-Yve Z. Daniel – East Chapel Hill High
          Bria S. Johnson – East Chapel Hill High
          Diana F. Lamaute – East Chapel Hill High
          Troy P. Mitchell – East Chapel Hill High

The National Achievement Scholarship Program, conducted by NMSC, is a privately financed academic competition that operates without government assistance. It was initiated in 1964 to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants. To date, over 31,900 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $100 million.

More than 160,000 high school juniors from all parts of the United States requested consideration in the 2013 National Achievement Scholarship Program when they took the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists are designated within geographic regions and are the highest-scoring program entrants in the states that make up each region. To advance to the Finalist level in the competition, the Semifinalists and their high schools must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and educational goals. Semifinalists must present a record of high academic performance throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm their PSAT/NMSQT performance.

From the approximately 1,600 Semifinalists, about 1,300 are expected to advance to the Finalist level and in January they will be notified of this designation. All Achievement Scholar® awardees will be selected from the Finalist group on the basis of their abilities, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

National Achievement Scholarships provided in 2013 will be supported by corporations, professional organizations, foundations, and by NMSC’s own funds. Two types of scholarships will be offered. Every Finalist will compete for one of the 700 one-time National Achievement $2500 Scholarships, which will be awarded on a regional representation basis. In addition, corporate and business sponsors will underwrite about 100 Achievement Scholarship awards for
Finalists who meet criteria set by the grantor. Although some corporate-sponsored awards provide a single payment, most are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. NMSC will release the names of scholarship winners to news media in early April.


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Northside Elementary

Board of Education Celebrates Tradition of Historic Site

At its meeting on Thursday, October 3, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education approved the name of its soon-to-open elementary school. In keeping with the rich tradition of the school formerly housed on the same site, the Board approved the name Northside Elementary.

"We are fortunate to have so many community members with ties to the former Northside school who can help us carry forth the traditions," said Superintendent Tom Forcella. "At the same time, we are excited about the future of this school and all the students who will be positively impacted."

The school is scheduled to open in August 2013.

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