TSA Chapters Excel in STEM

Leaders of the Technology Student Association (TSA) chapters at five of our schools recently took nearly 80 students to Greensboro for two days to participate in the 39th annual NCTSA State Conference. They engaged in STEM- (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and leadership-based competitions, and learned much in the process. They did an amazing job of representing our district's Career and Technical Education (CTE) department.

TSA chapters take the study of STEM beyond the classroom and give students the chance to pursue academic challenges among friends with similar goals and interests. 

CTE teachers serve as chapter advisors, but the student members govern the organization through chapter, state and national level officers. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' TSA students hold a legacy of leadership with 12 students holding an NCTSA state officer positions since 2003, with four of those as state presidents. 

Along with incubating the leaders of tomorrow, TSA is nurturing tomorrow's scientists, engineers, journalists, trades people and educators. This is evident when one looks at the awards our TSA chapters brought home from the conference. Below you will find a section for each of the five chapters in our district. Students from four of the schools are already making plans to attend the National TSA Conference in Atlanta, June 22-26, and will no doubt continue to represent our district with their talent, integrity and STEM skills on full display. 

In fact, both McDougle Middle and East Chapel Hill High TSAs will receive the Chapter Excellence Award in NCTSA for their respective school levels. The awards will be announced and received at the upcoming National TSA Conference. The advisors for both schools are extremely proud of all of their chapter members. 
_____ 

Culbreth Middle School TSA - Mike Sharp, Advisor

The Culbreth TSA chapter was new this year, and the level of involvement was amazing. They had 30 members join the team, and 13 were able to compete at the state conference. Under the guidance and leadership of officers, Yash Gupta, Xavier Van Raay, and Sebastian Malhotra, students performed at their personal best and succeeded in bringing home a total of 5 trophies.

The following students won trophies in their events:

1st place in Coding: Sebastian Malhotra and Ben Shoenbill
2nd place in Community Service Video: Sarah Stephens and Xavier Van Raay
2nd place in Promotional Marketing: Daniel Estevez
3rd place in STEM Animation: Daniel Estevez, Miles Prenda, and Yuta Tsuboi
3rd place in Tech Bowl: Xavier Van Raay, Yash Gupta, and Srinivas Iyengar
_____

Phillips Middle School TSA - Ryan Barnes, Advisor

Phillips Middle School TSA placed in a number of events and represented their school, district and chapter in outstanding fashion.

1st Place Structural Engineering: Kabir Grewal, Raymond Zhao
2nd Place Microcontroller Design: Ethan Bartlett, Kabir Grewal, Hanqi Xiao, Jake Boggs, Graham Troy
2nd Place Website Design: Jake Boggs, Anna Finklestein, Meilin Weathington
3nd Place Electrical Applications: Ethan Bartlett
_____ 

McDougle Middle School TSA - Redmond Grigg and Kate Major, Advisors

These young men and women worked hard, smart ,and with so much heart this year as they prepared for competition. The trophies they earned are but symbols of their consistent and forthright efforts. They resurrected and helped beautify their school's outdoor classroom. They also ran a successful campaign to raise over $1,000 for the American Cancer Society through the Relay For Life at UNC. What an amazing feat for a group that only had three returning members. 

1st Place Community Service Video: Amelia Brinson, Lula Caress, Lucas Gutierrez-Arnold, Mateo La Serna, Vincent Paquet, Sophie Ussery Intintolo
1st Place Junior Solar Sprint: Nivas Kolli, Alexis Mead
1st Place Mechanical Engineering: Nora Daley, Nivas Kolli, Katie Randolph, Noah Wegner
1st Place American Cancer Society Fundraising: Raised $1,095 through Relay For Life
2nd Place Essays on Technology: Erin Gottschalk
2nd Place Flight: Ani Yu
2nd Place Inventions & Innovations: Lars Kahn, Gabo Ochoa Samoff, Noah Wegner
2nd Place Leadership Strategies: Amelia Brinson, Lucas Gutierrez-Arnold, Lars Kahn
2nd Place Problem Solving: Diogo Gomes, Noah Wegner
3rd Place Biotechnology: Ryan Atack, Alexis Mead, Gabo Ochoa Samoff, Guillermo Vizuette
3rd Place Career Prep: Nora Daley
3rd Place Forensic Technology: Amelia Brinson, Katie Randolph
3rd Place Technical Design: Daniel Furberg, Ani Yu
_____ 

Chapel Hill High School TSA - Redmond Grigg, Advisor

While no Chapel Hill High student placed in their competitive events at the state conference, they still did an incredible job representing their chapter, school and district. All of the state officers from our district were Chapel Hill High students, including the previously mentioned four state presidents.

Kyle Halstater first joined TSA as a 6th grader at McDougle Middle School. This was Kyle's third year holding a state office as he just finished his tenure as the 2017-2018 NCTSA State President. 

Angel Koshy will carry on the tradition of leadership as the 2018-2019 NCTSA State Reporter. She's held chapter officer positions during middle and high school, frequently serving as a mentor to younger newer members. 

Jillian Breithaupt served two years as a state officer, and as the 2016-2017 NCTSA State President, she helped to revive the NCTSA Fall Leadership Rally as a means of cultivating future state officers and leaders in TSA. 
_____ 

East Chapel Hill High School TSA - Pat Pudlo, Advisor

East Chapel Hill's TSA had semifinalists (top 12) in 13 events, and for the first time in this chapter's history, two students, Gabe Valera and Mike Pudlo, ran for state officer positions.

2nd Place Coding: Andy Farkas, Ravi Pitelka, Joseph Ahrendsen
2nd Place CAD 3D: Tarun Goyal
3rd Place Video Game Design: Andy Farkas, Ravi Pitelka
_____ 

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools TSA wishes to thank CTE DIrector Kathi Breweur for her staunch and unwavering support for TSA in our district! Our TSA chapters grow and flourish as a direct result of Kathi's support and guidance for CTE teachers and students alike. Kathi's belief in the power and opportunities student organizations like TSA provide CTE students, makes her an exemplary leader.

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District Staff Receive SNAColade Awards

SNAColades 2017/18

Note from SNAC: The Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC) created SNAColades to honor Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' teachers, staff and administrators who, through their hard work and creativity, make our children's school experience more meaningful.  The following have been selected for this recognition based on the testimonials of the Exceptional Children community.  Below each name is a quote from an appreciative parent or CHCCS administrator.

Estes Hills Elementary School

• Ryan Grimm - Mr. Grimm has great insight into his students' needs and motivations.  He challenges them to reach their potential while recognizing the supports needed to get them to that point.  He is also a diligent communicator with parents and responsive to their concerns.

Frank Porter Graham Elementary 

• Emily Bivens - Although a Principal’s job entails a range of tasks, Dr. Bivens has gone above and beyond by supporting my daughter and our family through a rough transition into Kindergarten.  She’s met with her regularly to work on developing better friendships and social skills.  She’s given us a glimmer of hope for the future grades.
• June Pacheco - Ms. Pacheco recently relocated to CHCCS, and hit the ground running. She brought decades of experience to the EC department at FPG, and the results I've seen in my child are stunning. And I don't just mean grades or test scores.  Ms. Pacheco handles the children in the EC department with respect and holds them accountable for their actions by rewarding them with accolades.  The children are learning to deal with their emotions better through a recently adopted second-step program and Ms. Pacheco is implementing this program in the EC department.  The children have fewer outbursts and emotional meltdowns as a result.  It's a pleasure to have Ms. Pacheco at FPG, and I highly recommend her for a SNAColade. 

Northside Elementary

• Mary Naylor - Mary has been involved with my son since second grade, either as his EC teacher directly or facilitating with another EC teacher.  My son is now in 5th grade.  I can not say enough good things about her dedication and hard work.  She has gone above and beyond in so many ways and made a such a positive difference in our lives.  A huge thank you from our whole family.

Northside Pre-K

• Sarah Michels - Sarah has been working with my son for three years and the language that he has acquired over this time has been extraordinary.  He went in not speaking but only having about 15 words total and now he is one of the most talkative kids in the class.  Her hard work with him has really made a huge difference and I thank her for that.
• Ronetta Walker - She is amazingly patient.  She pushes my child to his fullest potential so that he can succeed.  She is in constant communication with me and lets me know if something is going on, if something needs to be changed.  She has been a lifesaver and making sure that he is fully ready for kindergarten this upcoming year.
• Pre-K Intervention Team - Thankful for this entire team.  They have helped me and explained everything in detail if needed.  Thanks to Ms. Wilson, Ms. Moore, and all others that have played a part in my son's educational experience.  He had made so much growth in being in the Pre-K class.  Thank you all.

Scroggs Elementary

• Crystal Epps - Ms. Epps is a world- class principal who strives to include children and families with special needs.  She listens to families, students and teachers and helps to resolve problems in a warm, logical and timely manner.  It is critical for students with special needs to have such a professional and caring leader.  She is intelligent, warm, empathetic, fun, and we are grateful each and every day that our children and others with special needs benefit from her leadership.  She listens and problem-solves and educates herself on matters big and small.  With regard to the special needs population, I've seen her attend SNAC meetings after-hours (non-mandatory and clearly indicative of her commitment).  I see her call the names of our children and others with special needs,  on a daily basis.  She greets them with warmth as they enter the building.  She knows them well and supports the teachers when they face challenges.  We are inspired by Ms. Epps and would like her to receive the recognition she deserves.  Lastly,  and importantly Ms. Epps doesn't shy away from difficult moments.  We as parents of SN children will sometimes be anxious or "freak out" about particular situations.  Ms. Epps picks up the phone and calls and reassures us in such situations and we are forever grateful for this.  Thank you Ms. Epps!!!
• Gina Pellegrini - I am giving Gina a SNAColade for her time, patience and understanding she has given my child this year.  His continued growth throughout this grade level wouldn't be possible without Ms. Pellegrini's guidance.  Thank YOU!
• Dottie Small - Ms. Small has been exemplary in the practice of inclusion, when it comes to teaching our son (who has autism) in a mainstream classroom.  She sees his progress and praises him for social improvements, which may go unrecognized by others.  We are deeply grateful for her structured teaching approach and importantly warmth and acceptance of our son.  Our son's fifth grade year has been wonderful both academically as well as socially and we believe Ms. Small plays a major role.  Ms. Small helps him to engage with his peers and to provide him positive reinforcement needed for improvement.  She recognizes his abilities and judges his success based on where he started (not where others are currently at!).  She additionally helps other children to understand our son and to provide him with needed social support.  In this age group,  it is important to also help a special needs child when they struggle with classmates or challenging peer situations.  Ms. Small has demonstrated a clear ability to go above and beyond to support such children.  We feel very lucky to have you as a teacher and appreciate all of the hard work. 

Seawell Elementary

• Julie Halpert - Ms. Halpert has several Twice Exceptional children in her classroom, and she teaches, supports, and encourages them with incredible skill, kindness, and patience.  She seems to care deeply for each individual child, and she ensures that they are thriving!

McDougle Middle School

• Kate Major - As a TA In the AC classroom Ms. Major stepped up to provide leadership and stability while the teacher is away on maternity leave.  She has worked hard to keep up communication with us and continued to provide continuity in our daughter's experience at school.  Losing a teacher is a stressful event for a special needs student, but Ms. Major has gone over and above to keep things as stable as possible.

Phillips Middle School 

• Danielle Riley - Ms. Riley is the "kid whisperer."  She has a magical touch with children in crisis, which stems from her great empathy and patience.  She is entirely non-judgemental with students and puts them at ease, which allows her to get to heart of an issue and start working on solutions.  I am forever grateful to her for the times she has helped my son work through a difficult time.  Yay, Ms. Riley!
• Sydney Ryals - Ms. Ryals is steadfast in her kindness and patience and is the rock that my son has relied upon all year.  In IEP meetings, she looks at challenges from a variety of perspectives and is a creative problem-solver.  Many of her ideas on how to help my son cope and engage have been helpful this year, and we are tremendously grateful to her for being so dedicated to his success.  Yay, Ms. Ryals!
• Kaleigh Vogan - Moving from elementary school to middle school is a big transition for any child, but can be even more difficult for a child with special needs.  From the moment Ms. Vogan reached out to us last summer for a school tour, I had a good feeling about 6th grade.  Having Ms. Vogan as part of my son’s team  has made such a positive impact.  When he needs her, she is there for him.  For our son, knowing that he has her support has been a huge comfort for him and for us.  Thank you. 

Smith Middle School 

• Gina Chapman - Ms. Chapman started at Smith in Jan 2018.  She is very patient, caring and kind to all the students and staff in the AC classroom.  She communicates well with parents and makes herself accessible.
• Danka Kulikowski - Thank you Ms. Kulikowski for encouraging our granddaughter this year. She has blossomed under your direction.  She can be shy, but to see her on stage with a speaking part, brought such joy to my heart.  Thank you!
• Chris Glasco - Mr. Glasco joined the Smith EC team in Sept 2017.  He cares deeply about the students' well being and participation in the classroom, as well as in their specials outside of the AC classroom.  His youthful demeanor and winning smile are a hit as he navigates the hallways and cafeteria with our students.
• Fred Feely - We don’t know what we would have done without your daily support of Violet.  You helped to keep her and us on track.  You are a dedicated professional! Thank you.
• Margaret Maternowski - Ms. Maternowski, we appreciate your understanding and flexibility in designing a program for our granddaughter.  We couldn’t have done it without your support!  Thank you.
• Irene Slydel - Thank you for all your help with our granddaughter this year.  It has been a stressful year, and your assistance really helped.

Carrboro High School

• Brittany Deeds - We are thankful for Ms. Deeds for providing us with the opportunity to complete real, valuable work within our school.  We are grateful that she relinquished control of the school supply closet to our students so they can gain skills with reading, counting and vocational work endurance while filling teacher supply orders.  Ms. Deeds is flexible, cheerful and gives us opportunities to be valued members of the community.
• Kelly Furr - We are grateful that Ms. Furr joined the CHS team!  She volunteered as a chaperone on multiple occasions to make our Community Based Instructional opportunities possible.  We are thankful for her positivity and interest in our activities.
• Lorrie Marro
• Ms. Marro, the transition facilitator at CHS, made a point to connect with my son from the beginning of his freshman year as an OCS student at Carrboro High.  She spent time getting to know him, beyond the assessments and evaluations. Ms. Marro identified him as a good candidate for Appalachian State University's Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program (SDAP).  By his junior year Ms. Marro had made sure we (his parents) understood the requirements of the application process, and the goals he needed to meet in order to be a competitive candidate.  She, along with the whole EC department, helped him work on self-advocacy, self-management, independence, and a raft of academic goals.  During this, his senior year, Ms. Marro worked closely with him and us to get all the pieces in place for his application to SDAP - many, many documents, assessments, evaluations, interviews, work samples, transcripts... We all were glad to have that submitted in November!  By January we knew that he was on the short list. And in late March we learned that he had gotten a spot in the program--one of five students to be accepted, as we understand it.  He is the first CHS student to achieve place in the SDAP. He and we are thrilled!  He has worked very hard - and of all his excellent school support, it is the support of Lorrie Marro that made the biggest difference.  Our son has attended CHCCS schools from K-12 grade.  We are happy that he is ready to move on - and we are profoundly grateful to Ms. Marro, and to the dozens of other teachers and staff that have been part of his education!
• Ms. Marro is a phenomenal Transition Facilitator and going above and beyond for every student regardless of what type of transition needs they have.  Ms. Marro is incredibly creative has unbelievable energy and does not stop until she thinks the student is on the right path for a successful exit from high school.  Thanks, Ms. Marro!
• Donna McMillan - Ms. McMillan has a never ending supply of patience for our students.  She extends herself after school and on weekends to support our students' interests and activities.  Her warm smile, gentle style, and attentiveness help our students express their interests and increase their confidence with interactions.
• Katie Moorehead - Ms. Moorehead goes above and beyond to make sure that our students are embraced by their community.  She volunteers her time, makes materials for us, supports us in activities and continually brightens our day!
• Brett Stegall - Ms. Stegall creates an inclusive class environment and structures activities and lessons so students of all abilities experience success.  Because of her structures and positive attitude, students are comfortable to try new things and find true friendships in our school.
• Quianna Phillips - We appreciate Ms. Phillips for her energy, enthusiasm and support of our skills and interests.  We are thankful that Ms. Phillips volunteered her time to serve as a chaperone this year to make our Community Based Instructional opportunities possible.
• Martha Phipps - Ms. Phipps serves as our CHS bookkeeper and is one of the ultimate "Yes, and..." supporters of our students.  Always behind the scenes, Ms. Phipps helps manage funds from our grants, orders supplies, and makes it possible for magic to happen in the classroom.
• April Ross - Ms. Ross serves as the Athletic Director at Carrboro HS.  She is unwavering in her support of our students and their rights to be on the fields, courts, track and true members of our teams. 

Chapel Hill High School

• Kate Kennedy - I am so thankful that the school has supported the role of a twice exceptional expert, and I couldn't think of anyone better for the position than Kate Kennedy.  She is fantastic at bringing the perspective of both giftedness and disabilities to the table, and she has provided much guidance for our son over the years.
• Ryan McGraw - Mr. McGraw has gone out of his way to help guide our son in choosing appropriate courses each year taking his disabilities into consideration.  He truly goes above and beyond.  Thank you!

TRAC/PATHSS/PATHSS Bridge

• Su Wanamaker - For persevering with coordinating the TRAC, PATHSS and PATHSS Bridge program.  We are looking forward to her leadership next year and hope that she will stick with it!

read more "District Staff Receive SNAColade Awards"

Middle School 101

Middle School 101 is a program offered by Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to ease the transition from 5th to 6th grade by providing students the opportunity to navigate their new schools and learn some of the procedures of Middle School. Middle School 101 is open to all incoming 6th graders. The program operates as a middle school transition camp for all rising 6th graders in the district. There are two sessions of Middle School 101. Session 1 will be held from July 24-July 26. Session 2 will be held from July 31- August 2. Camper hours are from 10-2 daily. Each camper can only attend one session. 

Transportation is offered for campers, as well as lunch. There will be 70 spots offered per school per week. If you are interested in your rising 6th grader attending Middle School 101, please complete the Registration Form as soon as possible to reserve your spot. 

If you have any additional questions about the Middle School 101 program, please contact Aaron Acome or Sarah O’Shea, Assistant Principals at Smith Middle School (919) 918-2145. Thank you.

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Smith Middle Comes Up Big at Science Olympiad

Smith Middle School's Science Olympiad Team had a very successful showing at the recent state competition held at North Carolina State University, taking home a 5th place trophy. The competition included 53 teams made up of hundreds of students from across the state. The Smith Team brought home 17 individual metals, including four 1st place finishes.

The team is coached by Regina Baratta and Lori Clark.

"This team has been a real pleasure to coach because they are motivated, cooperative, and creative," said Baratta. 

Team members include:
                                   
Harper Baer                                               

Smith Middle School Science Olympiad Team

Sophia Benjamin                                           
Eve Bryner                                                     
Laura Cai                                                     
Caroline Chen                                           
Eli Elk                                                       
Calvin Hinkle                                                   
Kevin Ji 
Justin Joo                                                   
Achyuta Kannan                                               
Max Kuhlman                                                 
Benjamin Li                                           
Avery Loeb                                               
Erin Mansfield 
Clara Merry                                                     
Noah Siekierski                                                 
Kiana Taylor                                               
Kelly Wang 

Phillips Middle School finished in 10th place. East Chapel Hill came in 9th place in the high school division.

East Chapel Hill High Science Olympiad Team

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Tiffany Cheshire - Assistant Principal of the Year

Tiffany Cheshire
Phillips Middle School

Congratulations to Tiffany Cheshire of Phillips Middle School, the 2018-19 Assistant Principal of the Year! 

Cheshire has been the assistant principal at Phillips since August 2017. She has made a quick and powerful impact. 

"I am honored to work alongside Tiffany Cheshire every day," said Phillips Middle School Principal Drew Ware. "She embodies educational leadership with her creativity, professionalism and the way she interacts with students. She helps make Phillips a great school."

      

Before joining the team at Phillips, Cheshire served as assistant principal at McDougle Elementary School for four years. She arrived in the district in April 2013 from Alamance-Burlington Schools, and spent the 2010-11 year as principal intern at Seawell Elementary. She began her career as a Spanish teacher in Orange County Schools. 

      

After receiving her B.S. in Spanish Education at Appalachian State, Cheshire earned her Masters in School Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

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Smith Mathcounts Team - State Champions!

On Friday, March 23, the Smith Middle School MathCounts Team traveled to the NC School of Science and Math in Durham for the MathCounts State Finals.  The Cyclones team came in as one of the favorites - having finished in the top three for seven straight years now, but knowing it was going to be very competitive this year.

Smith won thanks to a very strong Team Round in which they were the only school to get eight of the 10 problems correct.

Student team members include Leo DeJong, Ben Li, Bo Chi, and Michael Dai, and the team is coached by Smith math teachers, Boyd Blackburn and Rachel Haber.

In addition, Ben Li was the individual winner of the Countdown Round which is a fast-paced event in which you try to be the first to buzz in with the correct answer.

In addition, Leo DeJong finished 3rd individually which means he will be one of the four students representing North Carolina at the National MathCounts competition (live-streamed on ESPN) in Washington, DC in May.  Dr. Blackburn will coach the North Carolina team.

Smith's arch-rival, Carnage Middle School in Raleigh, finished second. Phillips Middle School also had a good day, finishing seventh in the state. The Phillips team is coached by Angela Short.

Congratulations to all of our Smith and Phillips MathCounts competitors.

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Smith and Phillips Middle Schools Qualify for MathCounts State Finals

On Friday, February 16, the Smith Middle School MathCounts Team competed against 20 other schools and 160 students in the Orange-Durham Chapter MathCounts Competition. The event was held at the Carolina Student Union and hosted by the UNC Department of Mathematics.

Smith won the overall competition, taking eight of the top 10 spots. All 10 Smith students finished in the top 18. Ben Li was named the individual champion. The team qualified for the MathCounts State Finals held in one month at the NC School of Science and Math.

Phillips Middle School came in second place as a team, and Jeffrey Zhu of Phillips came in second place individually. The Phillips team also qualified for the State Finals.

Please join us congratulating the following students:

(Perfect score is 46)

Ben Li - 45 
Jeffrey Zhu - 44
Leo DeJong - 43
Michael Dai - 43
Bo Chi - 42
Kevin Ji - 40
Amanda Zhang - 39
Sophia Benjamin - 39
Thomas Shundi - 38
Tyler Yang - 38
Ben Knight - 37
Kevin Li - 37
Rama Varanasi - 36
Jiwon Kim - 35
Luke Chen - 35
Tyler Tan - 34 

The Smith team is coached by Boyd Blackburn and Rachel Haber. The Phillips team is coached by Angela Short. 

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AIG Partnership with Elon University

A collaboration was born last summer that promises to deliver gifts to both Elon University and especially the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. As a pilot outreach, Elon’s School of Education Project LAUNCH (Leveraging All Unique Needs - Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools) is offering the full 12-credit AIG licensure to a group of 20 district teachers. Superintendent Dr. Pam Baldwin was instrumental in orchestrating this tuition-free partnership from its inception. Even the textbooks will be offered to participants, free of charge.

These teachers will be learning as a cohort over a period of 18 months. Instruction will be delivered by two Elon professors, Dr. Stephen Byrd and Dr. Glenda Crawford, and most of the class sessions will be taught at Morris Grove Elementary School, so that the participating teachers can minimize their travel to the Elon campus.

Because 30% of CHCCS students are identified as AIG, gifted education is one of the district’s primary areas of focus. Few, if any, public school districts in the state have such a high percentage of identified gifted students. Administrators and the school board are always seeking strategies to reach more of these students in their classrooms, across the grade levels. As the Gifted Education website for our district states, “Our mission is to promote habits of mind that grow creative problem solvers, passionate leaders, and lifetime learners - Growing Greatness.”  

In the current district AIG Plan (2016-2019), one of the key goals is to place “AIG students in general education classrooms with teachers who have earned an AIG add-on license from an Institute of Higher Education (IHE) or who have met the LEA’s professional development requirements for that position.” The impact of Project LAUNCH will do just that-- increase the number of AIG-licensed teachers by 20, with a much wider impact than in their own classrooms, through the sharing of information in Professional Learning Communities and other site- and district-based opportunities.    

Several high school teachers are part of the LAUNCH cohort, including English teacher Pierre Lourens at Carrboro High. “I am excited about the AIG partnership between Elon and CHCCS, because it provides me the chance to pursue mastery of instructional approaches and curriculum design. In my role as an English teacher, I encourage my students to think of “mastery” of our standards as an endless and active pursuit rather than a single achievable goal. To that end, I know that I can always grow, and I look forward to adding to my skillset - a skillset which benefits all students.” Lourens added that he was encouraged by the first reading assignment because it emphasized how much the broader use of strategies for AIG instruction will raise the bar for all students.      

Board Chair Rani Dasi said, “CHCCS is focused on optimizing resources to address the needs of all of our students. While the state does not provide adequate resources to serve our district's gifted population, we are pursuing a partnership with Elon to certify local teachers in gifted instruction. We are fortunate to have professionals on staff who are willing to put in the time and effort toward this initiative. The project also highlights the importance of community partnerships, as Elon is playing an important role in providing training and support for our teaching community."      

The 20 teachers met in late October for an orientation, but the first official class and coursework will begin on February 6. In the recent welcome letter sent to teachers, the Elon team wrote, “Our vision of the program is of a vibrant, challenging education community that fulfills the experienced teachers' desire to explore, to grow, and to actively engage in their love of teaching and learning.”     

The first of four courses is “Curriculum and Instructional Design in Gifted Education.” Other courses will include “Social/Emotional Needs of Gifted Students” and a final course called “Consultation and Collaboration” that will involve an internship designing, administering, and evaluating a summer learning enrichment experience for our students.  The courses will be taught integrating face-to-face sessions at Morris Grove, online coursework, and some sessions on campus at Elon University.      

Kelly Fox, a social studies teacher at Phillips Middle School, reflected pure excitement as she talked about this new learning experience. After 14 years as a classroom teacher, and in her third year at CHCCS, Fox noted that the range of giftedness she observes in her sixth grade classes is unlike any other level of exceptionality she has experienced as a teacher. “I’m excited for this opportunity to better meet the needs of all our children,” she said. “I already differentiate all of the time, but I look forward to having a new, expanded toolbox.”    

The operative word for all the partners seems to be “excited.” Dr. Byrd of Elon wrote to participants, “We are excited that you are taking this next, important step in your professional career. Really, it is a step of leadership. We look forward to partnering with you to promote your future success.” 

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Smith and Phillips Athletes Compete in CAROLINA BOWL

Imagine you’re a Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools middle school student who lives and breathes football, and you’re invited to participate in a bowl game at Kenan Stadium. You’ll even jog through the tunnel, like so many great UNC football players before you, and out on the field. Hundreds of eyes will watch as you compete for the state of North Carolina.
   
Sounds like a far-fetched dream, perhaps, but five football players from the community - two from Phillips Middle School and three from Smith Middle School - lived that dream in December as competitors for the Carolina Bowl: Isaiah Roberson, Jackson Fortney, Andre Davis, Caleb Smith and Shad Alban.
   

Andre Davis and Caleb Smith

The Carolina Bowl (formerly the Youth Shrine Bowl) highlights the top youth football players from North and South Carolina. Participants are chosen through tryouts at regional combines, and occasionally through videos and coach recommendations. Coach John French of the Chapel Hill Police Department serves as the coach for the blended Phillips-Smith football team, as well as the Chapel Hill High women’s basketball team. He also runs a mentoring program at Smith for young men. With a keen awareness of talented football athletes in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, French worked hard to get his middle school players onto the Bowl roster for North Carolina.
   
The motto of the Bowl is “Kids Helping Kids,” and one aspect of the organization is a strong fundraising drive for St. Jude’s Hospital. Each player is encouraged to raise at least $1,000, but it is definitely not a Pay for Play scheme. Any athlete who doesn’t raise funds is still part of the team. As Coach French observed, along with daily service projects before the Bowl game, the focus on helping other children teaches the athletes the importance of giving.
   
“What I like most about the game is how they tie academics to athletics,” French said. “Kids need to have at least a 2.5 GPA to be invited. They needed to bring their report cards with them before they checked into the hotel.” Coach Jeane Brumley at Phillips, along with Coach Matt Sleeman at Smith, undertook the detailed process of collecting documentation for the five students, which included teacher recommendations.
     

Caleb Smith, Isaiah Roberson (with MVP trophy), Shad Albon

The district players made a real splash during the week of Bowl preparations, and especially during the big game at Kenan Stadium on December 16. The seventh grade team for North Carolina beat the “other” Carolina 32-0. When asked why that score was so lopsided, Phillips eighth grader Andre Davis didn’t skip a beat. “Because of Isaiah Roberson.”
       
Coach French proudly described the gifts of all his players, but he said that Roberson has a remarkable, elevated talent. In Kenan, he rushed for over 200 yards, scored four touchdowns and ran a kick-off return for 65 yards. “He played out of this world.” The seventh grader won the Overall MVP for the Carolina Bowl.
   

Jackson Fortney

Roberson is modest about his own abilities. He cited his speed as an important factor in his success, as well as his dedication to improving in all areas. Coach French pointed to Roberson’s leadership skills as the most important part of his strong performance on the field and off.
   
In April, French and Roberson will travel to Charlotte for the regional Football University camp, and maybe the Smith Middle School standout will even catch the attention of recruiters for the National Combine in January 2019.
   
When describing the four days in December of preparing and then competing for the game, Andre Davis continually broke into a smile. “To me, personally, it was great. The experience of traveling as a team, getting up in the morning and going down to breakfast together, just talking. All riding on the bus. I felt like I really knew my team.”
   
Caleb Smith, Phillips seventh grader, agreed. “It was great meeting different people from across the state.”
   
The players gathered with their coaches in Raleigh on the Wednesday before the Bowl game, and they spent three nights at a hotel there. Both Davis and Roberson spoke about how quickly their teams jelled and how they made new friends from both states, athletes who they expect to encounter as their football careers progress. French said, “They can make lifelong friends in less than a week.”
   
At UNC, all of the young athletes gathered in the Kenan locker room to hear from Coach Larry Fedora, as well as from recruiting scouts. Davis said the scouts emphasized the importance of always remembering what you learned the day before, and apply it as you move forward.
   
Both Davis and Roberson remarked that a high point was running through the Kenan tunnel, though Davis laughed when he said they were annoyed that the North Carolina teams had to use the Away tunnel, instead of the UNC Home tunnel. Roberson said he couldn’t believe how much noise a group of 40 young men can make, inside a football tunnel.
   
Although this community is hardly known as a football hotbed these days, Coach French believes that could change, especially with such impressive talent in the pipeline, and now the regional recognition for these players.
   
“We want to make sure we increase excitement for football in the Chapel Hill community. It seems like it’s a dying breed-- kids not really trying out. I’m really blessed I was able to coach Isaiah and Andre and all the other players.” Clearly, French believes this momentum can impact CHCCS football in the years ahead, and he hopes that fans will start to pay attention to these young stars.
   
The Carolina Bowl (formerly Youth Shrine Bowl) is a non-profit organization based in Hope Mills, NC and Inman, SC. Proceeds from players’ fundraising go directly to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Former Shrine Bowl players include the Detroit Lions’ Eric Ebron who competed in the 2010 game.

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The Reality of Money

How many adults wish they could have learned about the reality of money, before they set forth into the world (or as Millennials say, before they began adulting)?

     

With guidance and resources from the local State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU), many parents, a team of teachers and support staff, and all of the eighth graders at McDougle Middle School recently experienced a crash course in personal finance. Maybe a little scary, but judging from the students’ evaluations, the event was also extremely valuable-- and fun.

     

The Reality of Money is a community outreach program created by SECU and offered to schools (grades 8-12) as a collaborative learning experience on financial literacy. Phillips Middle School has hosted this event the past three years, but this was the first time for McDougle Middle. The entire 8th grade class, approximately 200 students, participated in groups of 65 during the three sessions throughout the day.

     

In the media center, stations with pairs of parent volunteers were set up at tables: housing, healthcare/insurance, childcare, entertainment, and credit cards among others. First they received random profiles which gave details about their occupation, education level, family situation and monthly salary. As SECU’s Erin Roache said, “They then go through the same decision making process that we, as adults, go through every day.”

    

As students figured out their profiles, they compared information, laughing and shrieking, though at some points while circulating around the media center, some of them reflected stress and frustration. “I’m out of money,” rang out from station to station. One student said, “Things cost a lot more than I thought!”

     

Besides the categories of family and personal expenses, a wildcard element called “Stuff Happens” precipitated fear and amusement among students, as assistant principal Chassity Coston roamed around the stations, handing out cards. Surprise expenditures included buying a wedding present, buying $20 on Halloween candy, breaking a tooth and deciding on a dental treatment. Some cards yielded surprise bonuses, but most produced negative impacts on budgets. Coston said that students were running away from her, once their funds began to disappear.

      

Roache from SECU said, “The goals of the activity are to teach students to live within, or below, their means, to learn that credit can affect their way of living, that furthering your education beyond high school is important to a successful future, and that learning how to manage money now will help them avoid many financial pitfalls.”

     

As Robin Gallaher, District Career Development Coordinator for CTE said, “The 8th grade students learned financial information that many adults do not apply in their own lives.”

    

Nearly three dozen parents volunteered to cover stations, some for an hour or two, others for the full school day. Sarah Morales, 8th grade counselor, said, “Volunteer recruitment is key--we started early and enlisted the PTA's help.” The school provided lunch for volunteers, and a time to debrief, before gearing up for the afternoon sessions. “The volunteers had really positive feedback about their role in the program, too!”said Morales.

     

“A hundred lectures on budgeting wouldn't have as much impact on students as the experience of having to re-think their spending as their monthly balance dwindled away to nothing,” said Mellicent Blythe, parent of 8th grader Will Blythe.  “They also saw in really concrete terms how their education level and credit score can make things so much harder or easier for them down the road. I wish I had something like it when I was in school!”

     

What were the students’ reactions to the Reality of Money? Consider some of their responses to the question about what they learned: “I should definitely get insurance,” “Having two kids is really expensive and you never want to have bad credit,” “It’s hard to make decisions about money,” and “You can’t get everything you want.” One student who clearly had encountered assistant principal Coston with her Stuff Happens cards said, “You have to prepare for the unexpected.”

     

Several students reflected on how they now understand more about their parents’ responsibilities and concerns. One wrote, “I learned how to appreciate my parents”-- another, “Money is important and my parents sacrifice a lot.”

    

Eighth grade students, parents and teachers at Phillips Middle School will reprise this event in February.

   

“SECU relishes outreach opportunities like these as they help to foster relationships within the very communities we serve daily in our operations,” said Charles Robinson, the senior financial services officer who represented the organization at McDougle last month.

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Music Mentors

Every Tuesday afternoon, soon after the 7th period bell rings at East Chapel Hill High, a group of more than 20 Wildcat musicians journey over to Phillips Middle School. Some carpool, some take the city bus. They roll up their sleeves, forget about their own homework for an hour, and pay it forward.

   

Two years ago, Jack Welsby, now a senior at East, met with his former Phillips orchestra teacher, Ann Daaleman, and he proposed starting a mentoring program for her current students. “We set up a plan during the summer,” Ms. Daaleman said, “but quite honestly, I thought it would last a month or two and then everyone would get too busy to continue or lose interest. Instead, it is growing and prospering in Year Two and reaching many of my students. It’s also spread to our band program.”

In fact, nearly 60 Phillips students, participants in Ms. Daaleman’s orchestra and Mr. Ashley Sample’s band programs, are now involved in the after school mentoring.

As any parent of a young musician knows, the cost of ongoing private lessons can be expensive...and completely out of reach for many families. Ms. Daaleman said, “Many of the Phillips students who participate would not have a chance for private lessons due to finances.” She noted that the high school students involved in the mentoring program are some of the best musicians at East Chapel Hill, with years of private lessons already behind them.

With the help and encouragement of Ryan Ellefsen, the orchestra and band teacher at East Chapel Hill High, students Zac Johnson, clarinet, and Quentin Sieredzki, horn, have helped to coordinate the band side of the mentor program.

When asked about why he chooses to mentor middle school students, Sieredzki explained, “It was kind of natural...and it was a way for me to give back to our middle school band.”

Program founder Welsby said, “The Phillips and East orchestras both have a lot of talent, and it’s hard for beginning students to keep up with the advanced ones. I wanted to offer free lessons so the beginning students would keep up with music.”

      

Some East students work consistently with the same Phillips musicians, but others teach pairs or small groups, as the numbers dictate. The mentors smile often and radiate patience, even at the end of their own long, demanding school days. “There you go, that was amazing,” one mentor said to a young violinist. “Perfect.”

      

“I can't tell you how rewarding it is to see my former students come back to teach and inspire my newbies as they learn how to play their first songs,” said Ms. Daaleman. “Even my more advanced students love coming on Tuesdays to work with the high school students.”

The young musicians understand the gift they’ve been given, and their comments reflect that awareness:

"We get to learn things ahead of the class."

"It’s a private tutor for free."

"They help you specifically with what you personally are struggling with."

When asked what he receives from the mentorship program, Johnson stated, “I feel that I am learning to be a better teacher and how to interact with students that are younger and have less experience playing their instrument.”

There really is a bond that develops between the mentors and young musicians. Taniya Rogers, a 6th grade trombonist, asks each week, “Is Megan coming? I really want to work with Megan!”

Ms. Daaleman deflects any credit for this flourishing program, although Jack Welsby said one of the motivations for him has been “to give back to Mrs. Daaleman for helping me find my love for music.” The orchestra teacher’s influence is pervasive. She and Sample are fervent proponents of arts education as part of the district’s larger equity work. They will continue to look for ways to make instrumental music education more widely accessible. Teachers are partnering with the SKAJAJA non-profit on instrument donations for middle school students across the district who want to play but are unable to afford an instrument.

      

Ms. Daaleman said that this program gives her as much joy as she’s ever experienced in her long teaching career. “I just sit at my desk and observe this magic and enjoy seeing the smiles, the relationships and the learning.”

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Morgan Named Chartwells K12 National Associate of the Year

Ann Morgan, the café manager at Phillips Middle School was named National Associate of the Year for Chartwells K12, the foodservice provider for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.  This award recognizes associates who go the extra mile in their school cafes.  Morgan has demonstrated her commitment to her students and her school time and again during her 20 years as the café manager at Phillips.

Under Morgan's leadership, Phillips café has:

• allowing classes to create their own pizza recipes, vote on their favorite and eat the winning pie during lunch; creations such as "Mac & Cheese Pizza" and "Fruit Pizza" are still served;
• celebrating National Nutrition Month (in March) by having students create edible garnishes around Chartwells' Asian noodle bowl, even providing gift baskets out of her own pocket for the winning teams; and
• involving her school in many activities, which shows in meal participation at Phillips - everyone loves to eat at Phillips Café; students sample many new foods, from sweet potato medley (three colors of sweet potatoes) to a wheatberry black bean salad.

"We are so pleased that all of Chartwells K12 now knows what we do - that Ann's excitement, fun and caring for her school and students is second to none," said Liz Cartano, director of child nutrition.  "She is never without a smile and a suggestion about how to improve what we do every day.  She pushes us to be better and has great ideas that she is willing to implement."

Morgan's nomination had to consider her contributions to her associates, school, community, and, most of all, her students.  Some excerpts from her nomination state:

• Ann Morgan's mind never stops working and that is no more evident than with her creative ideas to improve menus, recipes and promotions.
• She is a phenomenal trainer for new staff.  She provides her associates with knowledge and confidence for them to succeed.
• Ann Morgan's number one goal is to provide healthy, nourishing food for her middle school students.  She effortlessly combines her knack for creativity, friendliness with everyone, and never-ending enthusiasm and zest for her school in all that she does.

"Ann Morgan embodies the Eat.Learn.Live philosophy [Chartwells K12's motto] in all that she does.  Our promotions are stronger, our menus are healthier, and our associates are better trained because of Ann's ability to impact so many people through her enthusiasm and good deeds," Cartano added.

As the national award winner, Morgan will attend the Compass Night of Stars in October and receives an all-expenses paid three-day trip to Disney World to celebrate her success.

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