Schools in Session on April 3 - No Teacher Workday / 3 de abril - Escuelas estarán abiertas y en sesión - No habrá día de trabajo para maestros

Teacher Workday Canceled and Inclement Weather Day on April 3
Because schools were closed on January 11 due to inclement weather, the next Inclement Weather Day to make up any missed school is Monday, April 3.  This means that school will be in session and the Teacher Workday is canceled.

Día de trabajo para maestros está cancelado el 3 de abril
Por que las escuelas estuvieron cerradas el 11 de enero, por mal clima, y el 3 de abril es el siguiente día designado en el calendario como día de reemplazo en caso de mal clima. Esto significa que las escuelas estarán abiertas para los estudiantes y en sesión y el día de trabajo para maestros está cancelado.

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Good Luck, Dr. Causby!

After serving as the district's Interim Superintendent since August, Dr. Causby is returning to retirement. Throughout his time at CHCCS, Dr. C has been an amazing leader, helping guide the district until a new superintendent could be found.

At their last meeting, the CHCCS Board of Education presented Dr. C with a plaque, thanking him for all he's done (see picture of Dr. C and Board Chair James Barrett below).

Dr. C was always willing to meet with and help students, parents and staff, and he always put what was best for the students ahead of any decision, great or small.

Thank you, Dr. C and we wish you luck as you return to Asheville and retirement.

For those who want to hear Dr. C's convocation speech again, click here and be inspired by a true educator with over 40 years of dedication to the students and districts across North Carolina.

Board Chair James Barrett presents plaque to Dr. Jim Causby

Dr. Causby reads to students at Northside Elementary

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A Visit From Euzelle Smith

In 1999, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools named its new middle school after R.D. and Euzelle P. Smith. This couple served for many years with the school district, were longtime members of the Northside neighborhood and First Baptist Church, and active in local news and politics. They were even named Town Treasures in 2008 by the Chapel Hill Historical Society.

Unfortunately, R.D. passed away last year at the age of 98.

Recently, Euzelle Smith had an opportunity to visit Smith Middle School. As part of the school's Black History celebration, students lined the halls and cheered as Mrs. Smith made her way from one end of the school to another. Indeed, it was a memorable occasion for all involved.

We are extremely grateful for the legacy of the Smith family. Their hard work, and all that they stood for, will carry on for generations to come at Smith Middle School.

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Kara VanHooser - 2017 New Voices Award for Excellence

New Voices is a local non-profit with a mission to help children with severe communication and physical challenges maximize their learning potential. The ultimate goal of New Voices is inclusion in all aspects of life. The Lara Jane Parker Awards Program was established to provide both reward and recognition to those outstanding teachers, therapists, parents, education and health professionals and leaders who work daily to improve the lives of New Voices children. These individuals help improve their schools and their communities in ways that will allow these children to be fully included in all aspects of their daily lives.

The award for excellence recognizes individuals from the Alamance/Burlington, Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Orange, Wake counties school districts and the Chapel Hill—Carrboro City Schools, who have direct instructional or therapeutic contact with a school-aged child (or children) with communication and physical challenges.

Kara VanHooser, a speech language pathologist at McDougle Elementary School, is one of three winners of the 2017 Award for Excellence. Kara has over 20 years of experience and serves as the Exceptional Children’s team lead. Kara is proactive in engaging a child’s whole team, including families, private therapists and physicians to meet the student’s communication and other needs. She invites local and state politicians to meet her students and to understand their challenges. She maintains regular contact with them to discuss the issues that affect her students.

Kara received her Masters of Science in Speech/Language Pathology from James Madison University. She was nominated by Delia Hudson, her peer speech language pathologist, working at McDougle Elementary School. She will be honored at a ceremony on April 19 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill.

Congratulations Kara!

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East Chapel Hill High Wins Fifth NC History Bowl State Title

This past Saturday, East Chapel Hill High School hosted the NC History Bowl/Bee State Championship.  East had two teams competing in the bowl, both of which qualified for the national tournament in Washington, DC.  The team comprised of Max Hazerjian, Alex Dixon, William Ke, Nick Parker, and Vincent Du, went undefeated on their road to winning the state title.  

Likewise, East participants swept the medal round of the varsity NC History Bee, with Alex Dixon taking 1st place, Thomas Brody earning 2nd place, and Sam Pritchard coming in 3rd. 

In the six years that East has fielded a team, coached by social studies teacher Brian Link, it has had at least one team qualify for nationals every year and won five state titles.

 

Please join us in congratulating each of the individuals listed above (as well Helen Jiang, Kees Benkendorfer, and Sophia Janken who played on the other qualifying bowl team). 

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Spring Break, March 27-31 / Vacaciones de primavera, 27-31 de marzo

Spring Break Scheduled Week of March 27
Spring Break for CHCCS is March 27-31. During this week, schools may be working limited hours, with limited staff. Also during Spring Break, Lincoln Center is minimally staffed and operating on a modified schedule: Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., when Lincoln Center will close to the public.

Horario de la semana del 27 de marzo, durante las vacaciones de primavera
Las vacaciones de primavera para CHCCS son del 27-31 de marzo. Durante esta semana, las escuelas estarán trabajando con un horario limitado y poco personal. También durante las vacaciones de primavera, Lincoln Center tendrá poco personal y trabajando en el siguiente horario: de lunes a jueves de 7:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. y los viernes de 7:30 a.m. a 1:30 p.m.

read more "Spring Break, March 27-31 / Vacaciones de primavera, 27-31 de marzo"

Former Governor Bev Perdue Visits Northside Elementary

Former North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue stopped by Northside Elementary earlier this week to meet with students and share a story. In addition to reading with them, she explained various aspects of being Governor and helped prepare them for an upcoming trip to Raleigh.

In addition to being the first female governor in North Carolina, Perdue is also a former elementary teacher, Governor Perdue really enjoyed her time with the students, and they found her captivating. They were able to ask her very specific questions and received truthful, detailed answers.

The staff also enjoyed their time with her. It was a great visit. Thank you to everyone who worked to make this happen.

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Mix It Up!

It’s a simple call to action: take a new seat in the cafeteria. By taking a risk, this one day, students can cross the lines of division in a safe, controlled environment, meet new people, and help build an inclusive and welcoming school community. Mix It Up is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance program, which aims to reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations in the nation’s classrooms and communities.

Recently, two CHCCS schools were named Mix It Up Model Schools. They were among only 76 schools nationwide to be recognized for this accomplishment. Below are the write ups detailing how each school promoted the event.


Frank Porter Graham Bilingüe

Organizers compiled lessons and resources from Teaching Tolerance and shared them with all grade-level teachers, who then integrated the material into classes a week before Mix It Up at Lunch Day. Preparing fourth- and fifth-grade student leaders - including those classified as academically or intellectually gifted, those receiving special education and pairs of students who’d previously struggled to get along - was another important element of getting ready for the event. On the big day, “Would you rather?” questions created by the student leaders were a huge hit!


Morris Grove Elementary School

Mixed-up seating and clothing weren’t enough for Morris Grove Elementary. The cafeteria staff joined in the fun by mixing up students’ lunch trays, serving the food backward and mixing fruits and veggies together! With this fun spirit and conversation starters at every table, students were able to find common ground with new friends. After the Mix event, Morris Grove devoted a whole month to showing gratitude toward one another.

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Chapel Hill/Lincoln High Hall of Fame – Class of 2017

The newest members of the Chapel Hill/Lincoln High Hall of Fame have been announced and are listed below. To celebrate, a banquet will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017 in the Chapel Hill High cafeteria. If you would like to attend please contact Charlie Webb at Chapel Hill High, 919-929-2106. Reservations will be taken until April 15, 2017.

- Charles “Skeet” Baldwin – Football, Basketball, Track (1985) - Three-year starter on the football team earning All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State Honors. Baldwin was also a three-year member of the basketball team and earned All-Conference Honors. He also was an All-Conference performer in track during his two years as a team member. Baldwin went on the University of North Carolina, where he was three-year starter for the Tar Heels. Baldwin is currently a Behavior Specialist for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

- Patrick Currin – Baseball (2002) - Patrick earned three varsity letters in baseball at Chapel Hill High. He was All-Conference 2001 and 2002, and team MVP in 2002, leading the Tigers to their first playoff appearance in 15 years.  His #5 jersey at Chapel Hill High is retired. He went on to play at UNC-Greensboro, earning Academic All-American Honors. Patrick still helps Chapel Hill High's summer camp, and lives in the area.

- Donnell T. Garrett – Football  (1978) - Played three years of varsity football for the Tigers from 1976-78. Garrett was Chapel Hill High's Offensive Player of the Year in 1978 while earning All-Conference and Prep All-American Honors. He went on to play running back at Kansas State University.

- Taylor Gilland - Cross Country, Track (2008) - Taylor was part of Chapel Hill's 4A state championship team in 2006. He was the only person ever to win the 4A individual state cross country championship three consecutive years. He also won the 3200 meters championship for three consectuive years. He was 2008 North Carolina Gatorade Athlete of the Year. Taylor went on to run track and cross country at the University of Virginia for four years. While there, he claimed First Team All-ACC, Second Team All-American, and First Team Academic All-American. Taylor now lives in San Francisco, where he works as a private equity investor at TPG Growth.

- Keith A. Jones – Basketball (1976) - Jones was a member of the Chapel Hill High basketball team from 1973-76.  He earned All-Conference honors in both 1975 and 1976. He was an active member in Student Government while at the school. He went on the play basketball at Quinnipiac University, graduating in 1980. Keith then worked for the Federal District Court of Eastern New York for 32 years.

- Kristen (Samuhel) Clarey – Soccer (1997) - Kristen played soccer at Chapel Hill High in the 1996 and 1997 seasons. During both seasons she earned All-Conference, All- Region, and All-State honors. In her senior of 1997, she was an All-South Team Member. She went on to the University of Richmond to play soccer, where she was team captain, Academic All-American and Athlete of the Year. Kristen completed her education at UNC Medical School, and is now a physician in Cary, NC.

- Teams being inducted are the 1981 men’s and women’s state championship basketball teams.

read more "Chapel Hill/Lincoln High Hall of Fame – Class of 2017"

Glenwood Elementary Ribbon Cutting

Glenwood Elementary celebrated the opening of a new administrative addition on Friday. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 1:30 p.m. and was attended by parents, staff, elected officials and nearly 500 Glenwood Gators.

Construction began last summer and provided a new office and conference space, along with a secure school entrance. It also provided staff bathrooms and corrected water infiltration conditions. The project was paid for from the district’s fund balance, and final costs came in slightly under the $1.256 million budgeted.

Speakers at the ceremony included Principal Katie Caggia, Students Arabela Doyle and Michael Fowler, Board Chair James Barrett, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Todd LoFrese and Architect Steve Nally from Moseley Architects.

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Schools in Session on March 24 - No Teacher Workday / 24 de marzo - Escuelas estarán abiertas y en sesión - No habrá día de trabajo para maestros

Teacher Workday Canceled and Inclement Weather Day on March 24
Because schools were closed on January 10 due to inclement weather, the next Inclement Weather Day to make up any missed school is Friday, March 24.  This means that school will be in session and the Teacher Workday is canceled.

Día de trabajo para maestros está cancelado el 24 de marzo
Por que las escuelas estuvieron cerradas el 10 de enero, por mal clima, y el 24 de marzo es el siguiente día designado en el calendario como día de reemplazo en caso de mal clima. Esto significa que las escuelas estarán abiertas para los estudiantes y en sesión y el día de trabajo para maestros está cancelado.

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Delayed Opening Canceled on March 9, Schools Start at Normal Time / Apertura demorada cancelada el 9 de marzo, las escuelas comienzan a la hora normal

Delayed Opening Canceled on March 9
Thursday, March 9, was originally scheduled as a Delayed Opening for the purposes of staff development. However, because of the March 8 Teacher Workday, the Delayed Opening is being canceled. Instead, March 9 is a full school day. Buses will pick up students at their normal times and all schools will begin at their normal start times.

La apertura demorada del 9 de marzo está cancelada

El jueves, 9 de marzo, estaba programado originalmente como un día de apertura demorada para propósito de desarrollo profesional.  Sin embargo, porque el 8 de marzo fue un día de trabajo para maestros, la apertura demorada ha sido cancelada. En su lugar, el 9 de marzo es un día de escuela completo. Los autobuses recogerán a los estudiantes a la hora normal y todas las escuelas comenzarán a la hora normal.

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Solar Power - Duke Energy Teams Up With East Chapel Hill High

As part of a $300,000 grant, Duke Energy recently announced it would pay 100 percent of the funds needed to install a solar power system at seven North Carolina schools - including our own East Chapel Hill High.

Schools applied for the grants last year. Working with Raleigh-based nonprofit NC GreenPower and modeled after its Solar Schools program, the initiative will pay the installation costs for rooftop or top-of-pole mounted systems on school property. The program also provides monitoring equipment, training and curriculum to students and teachers.

“These systems will give students a chance to see solar power production firsthand and allow them to learn more about this energy resource,” said David Fountain, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. ”North Carolina is second in the nation for installed solar power. These seven schools will now be part of the state’s success story.”

“NC GreenPower is thrilled to collaborate with Duke Energy on this initiative. As a small non-profit funded by donations, our reach with our Solar Schools program is limited. But through this partnership, NC GreenPower can provide greater impact to schools and students who will benefit from this technology,” added Vicky McCann, NC GreenPower vice president.

Any K-12 North Carolina school served by Duke Energy Carolinas was eligible to apply for the grant. NC GreenPower will use approved solar installation companies to manage the installation process. With a renewable energy portfolio spanning more than a dozen states, Duke Energy is one of the nation’s leading developers of renewable energy and has invested more than $5 billion in wind and solar projects. The company owns and operates about 35 solar facilities in North Carolina.

The Duke Energy program was part of a recent settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and environmental groups.

Click here to see the article posted by the Daily Tar Heel.

About NC GreenPower
With the mission of improving the quality of the environment in North Carolina, the nonprofit NC GreenPower was founded in 2003 by Advanced Energy. NC GreenPower helps to connect consumers with renewable energy and carbon offset providers to create positive environmental and economic impacts for our state. All projects supported by the program are located in North Carolina. In 2015, NC GreenPower launched a new pilot to support solar PV installations at K-12 schools. Contributions to NC GreenPower are tax-deductible. For more information, visit: www.ncgreenpower.org.

About Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about remarkable people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

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National School Social Work Week

The week of March 6-10 marks the celebration of National School Social Work Week. 

With the theme of "Be the Change," school social workers across the country will highlight their critically important role in helping students every day to meet the academic, social, and emotional challenges on the road to becoming successful and productive young adults.  

Join us in thanking our CHCCS School Social Workers for the very important role they play in the success of our students and our schools. 

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March 8 is Now a Teacher Workday & Delayed Opening on March 9 Canceled

CHCCS Designates March 8 as a Teacher Workday and Cancels March 9 Delayed Opening
This coming Wednesday, March 8, is International Women’s Day, and has also been deemed, “A Day Without a Woman.”

Women across the nation, as well as men, will be participating in a one-day demonstration to recognize the value of women. As part of this demonstration, many will be staying home from work.

In recent weeks, I started hearing from staff members who indicated they will not be coming to work on Wednesday, March 8. As we get closer to that date, I have heard from more and more staff that they will also be absent. I asked our school principals and central office department heads to survey staff to find out how many absences would occur.

The results came back, and the number was significant. In fact, it is my determination that we will not have enough staff to safely run our school district.

To that end, I am declaring Wednesday, March 8 as an optional teacher workday. There will be no school for students, and no on-site child care. Students will not be required to make up this day as the system is on schedule to meet the required number of instructional hours for the school year.

All athletic events will occur as scheduled unless otherwise notified by the coach.

Additionally, a previously scheduled delayed opening for the purpose of professional development planned for Thursday, March 9 will be canceled. Thursday will instead be a full day of school.

While Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools values and supports its female employees, the decision to close schools is not a political statement. It is entirely about the safety of students and the district’s inability to operate with a high number of staff absences.

Thank you for understanding.

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Grand Opening - Family Resource Center at Culbreth Middle School

The Family Resource Center at Culbreth Middle School will celebrate its grand opening all day
on Friday, March 3. The Center is a comfortable, friendly space where parents in the Culbreth Community, including feeder schools, can relax, enjoy a cup of coffee with a neighbor, and receive information and support on parenting topics and school and community resources. Books and games are also available for check-out.

The Family Resource Center is located in the main hallway of Culbreth Middle School and is open from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  The Center will sponsor a speaker series, book groups and other special events. The Center is hosted by community leaders, mental health professionals, teachers, public health care providers, district personnel, and parents, who will offer their specialized knowledge and foster community relationships.

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