Morris Grove Elementary Dedicates a Month to Wellness

For the fourth year in a row, April was Wellness Month at Morris Grove Elementary, and the focus was on health lessons and activities for both students and staff. In the hallways, posters outlining the Road to Better Health reminded Geckos about the most important steps to building healthy bodies and minds.
   
One of the favorite activities was the Wellness Month Bingo that allowed students the full month of April to complete and color in each square for a successful bingo card. Squares shared tips like No screen time for an hour before bed; No fast food for a whole day; and, Take a “mindful” walk and pay attention to what you see, hear and smell. A 5th grader said, “The bingo board gave me things I could tell my family to help them stay healthy.”
   
Morris Grove nurse Lara Statile leads a team of teachers, staff and parents that meets regularly. “The mission of the Morris Grove Wellness Team is to  support the entire school community - students, staff and families - to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle by creating a culture that encourages positive relationships with health and wellness throughout the school year,” she said. “The focus on health culminates during Wellness Month in April. Our hope is that the various activities that occur during Wellness Month help to educate students and staff on the importance of maintaining good health and how they can achieve that goal in fun ways.”
   
Starting with the first week of April, everyone learned about Mindfulness and explored ways to practice basic mindful activities. Lucie House, the director of Minded, came to the school and led a staff workshop. Nicole Bohlen, 1st grade teacher, said, “Wellness month gave us an opportunity to bring up so many important topics within the classroom. The kids loved learning how to be mindful and practice breathing with techniques like ‘helicopter breathing’ and putting their hands on their bellies to feel their breaths! The more we surround kids with information regarding their health, the more they will apply it to their everyday lives.”
   
Week Two focused on Physical Activity, which perhaps came more naturally than mindfulness for some Geckos. For the staff, ESL teacher Molly Crawford taught a barre class at the school.
   
During Week Three, attention turned to nutrition and hydration. One of the high points of that week was when the Chartwell’s team set up in the cafeteria during lunch, behind a large table of fresh North Carolina strawberries. One 1st grade student said, “I really loved the strawberries that we got to try in the cafeteria!”
   

On the final Wednesday of April, a group of students, parents and staff represented Morris Grove at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market. They set up activities for market-goers to enjoy, including a scavenger hunt. They offered tastes of kale and sweet potato wedges and asked tasters to vote on their favorites. The attention-grabbing activity that afternoon was a Smoothie Station where people could pedal an exercise bicycle with a blender attached - whir, whir, whir - until a delicious fruit smoothie materialized, cold and refreshing.
     
The last week’s focus was, appropriately enough, sleep! A third grade student shared, “I learned that it's important for me to get 10-11 hours of sleep. I didn't know that before, and now, I try to get that much.” The Wellness team composed a list of sleep tips to share with staff, under the heading, Why all this fuss about sleep? “Many of us have forgotten what it feels like to be truly rested,” was an observation that probably resonated with the entire staff at this time of year.
   
Adaptive Curriculum teacher assistant, Alexa Payne, said, “I really liked all of the practical tips each day on the MGE morning news.”
   
And another 1st grader said, “Wellness Month helped teach people how to stay healthy.” Well-expressed, Geckos! And a big shout out to Lara Statile and the Wellness Team who created such a comprehensive exploration of pathways to better health.

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CHCCS High Schools Earn High Rankings

U.S. News & World Report recently released its 2018 edition of Best High Schools. The rankings evaluate more than 20,500 public high schools nationwide to identify schools that best serve all of their students – including historically underserved populations – and assess the degree to which students are prepared for college-level coursework.

East Chapel Hill High, Chapel Hill High and Carrboro High finished as the top three traditional high schools in North Carolina. Of the 582 North Carolina high schools that were eligible, only 17 were awarded gold medals. Our three schools each earned a gold medal.

"Top-ranked schools succeed in three main areas: exceeding expectations on state proficiency tests, offering challenging coursework and graduating their students," said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News.

The Best High Schools rankings feature data on a number of factors, including enrollment, graduation rates, diversity, participation in free and reduced-price lunch programs and the results of state assessments, as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test data.

“I'm proud of our students and our team of educators,” said Superintendent Pam Baldwin. “They are committed to ensuring every child has an excellent school experience. It is a privilege to work with them as we pursue this goal together. "

U.S. News worked with RTI International, a global research firm, to implement the comprehensive rankings methodology.

To see the full list of North Carolina High Schools, click here.

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Northside Teacher Goes NASA

Sandy Athey, a teacher at Northside Elementary, was recently invited by NASA to attend a behind-the-scenes tour of Kennedy Space Center and the launch of TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and Falcon 9 Rocket as a social media correspondent. The Public School Foundation generously provided a grant to cover expenses.

The News & Observer selected Sandy as their Tar Heel of the Week, and published a terrific article utilizing a question/answer format for Sandy to describe her experience. You can read the article here.

Congratulations, Sandy!

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Two Carrboro High DECA Students Compete at Internationals

In April, for the first time ever, two district students competed at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC). Kirby Thornton and Leanne Joyce of Carrboro High School traveled to Atlanta for the three-day 2018 competition. DECA advisor and Marketing Education teacher, Julie Francis, traveled with them. When they returned, Francis reported with pride the accomplishments of her students; Joyce placed in the Top 10 of the Business Growth Plan competition in Entrepreneurship, while Thornton received honors in Food Marketing. Joyce established her 501c3 non-profit, Positive Impact for Kids, when she was in middle school, after being diagnosed with a heart condition.
   
DECA is an international Business and Marketing organization, whose mission is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management around the world. The annual ICDC is open to two separate divisions: High School, with 200,00 members in 3,500 schools, and a smaller Collegiate division with more than 15,000 students in 275 colleges and universities. This year’s conference hosted 19,000 DECA members, so Thornton and Joyce found themselves in the midst of more business-oriented youth than they could have imagined.
   
“DECA is one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of because of the networking ability you have at a conference,” said Thornton. “It’s commonplace at ICDC to walk up to anyone and ask them where they’re from, what event they’re doing, or any other random question you may have. Our hotel had open areas, and kids from all different states would congregate and play cards together. It was really awesome to have that kind of community.” Thornton said it was especially a privilege to be the only two students representing CHCCS.
   
The whirlwind experience in Atlanta was the culmination of months of preparation and competitions at the local and state levels. Joyce placed second in the North Carolina competition for Business Growth Plan with her 30-page growth plan. Before traveling to internationals, she revised it once more and also prepared for an onstage interview by judges of the event. Thornton needed to prepare for both a test and role play scenarios for her Food Marketing competition.
   
For students who commit to DECA throughout their high school years, the pay off and increased confidence can be substantial. “My involvement in DECA has taught me so much about myself and about other people,” said Thornton. “I’m always so proud when I get to see members of my chapter improving at every competition. I’m especially proud of the younger kids. It always seems to be the young, quiet freshman that shows the most improvement. Most importantly, I’ve learned that everyone has leadership capabilities. Anyone that takes the initiative to join has the qualities they need to be successful in DECA.”
   
“Carrboro High DECA is an amazing opportunity for students who are interested in Business and Marketing,” said Francis. “This organization prepares students to get first hand knowledge about Business and Marketing as they enter the next phase of their education and career.”

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Chapel Hill High and the National Spanish Exams

CHAPEL HILL HIGH SPANISH STUDENTS SCORE WELL

Congratulations to the many, many Spanish students from Chapel Hill High who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2018 National Spanish Examinations.

In all, 378 students took the exams, which assesses reading, listening, vocabulary and grammar comprehension. Students from Chapel Hill High earned a total of 20 gold, 40 silver and 33 bronze medals along with 110 honorable mentions.

Exams across the nation are given and then compared. Students who scored in the 95th percentile and above are gold, 85-94% are silver, 75-84% are bronze and 50-74% are honorable mention.

“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 150,000 students participating in 2018.” 

Students from Chapel Hill High have a long history of high achievement on these exams, and were taught by Spanish teachers David Boyle, Susan Stites, Braden Walsh, Maite Lamberri, and Thomas Soth. 

The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

More information about the exams can be found at:

https://www.nationalspanishexam.org/index.php/about-us/what-is-nse

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Scroggs Art Teacher Receives Fulbright Award

A huge congratulations goes out to Sarah Cornette, the art teacher at Scroggs Elementary, who has received a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching grant to Greece from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Sarah is one of approximately 35 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program in 2018-2019. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement and demonstrated leadership potential.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and the United States also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 380,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, professionals and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Fulbrighters address critical global challenges in all areas, while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 84 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program sends U.S. teachers abroad and brings international teachers to the United States for a semester of independent study and professional development focused on sharing international best practices and developing students’ global competence. Based at university-level schools of education or other educational institutions in the host country, participants complete an inquiry project, take courses, share their expertise with local teachers and students, and engage in action planning to implement what they learn on the program when they return home.

We are so proud to have one of our very own Scroggs Frogs representing our school district - and our nation - in this amazing program. Way to go, Sarah!

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Northside's Amy Brande Named 2018 Lara Jane Parker Award Recipient

Congratulations to Amy Brande, a K-2 Adapted Curriculum Teacher at Northside Elementary, for being named a 2018 Lara Jane Parker Award recipient.

A graduate of East Carolina University, Amy is a talented teacher who applies evidence-based practice to her classroom instruction. She pursues additional training, and shares what she learns with colleagues. Amy also meets with parents and other professionals outside of school to ensure consistency for her students across different environments. Amy was nominated by her colleague Rena Dadolf.

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.

Winners were honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 25 at The Friday Center in Chapel Hill. A $500 cash award, a special trophy, and a letter of commendation was bestowed upon the recipients at this prestigious event attended by family, peers, leaders, and the community.

Way to go, Amy!

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Mustang Math

McDougle Middle School knows how to have a great time! Recently, 119 of teacher Mary Patricia Peres-da-Silva's Compacted Math students held a Math Fair complete with food trucks and cool STEM activities.

 There were 115 different projects set up all over the school. Here is a sampling of the amazing work being demonstrated:

 - Carlos Merida created a robotic arm from scratch that moved and lifted objects.
 - Andrew Herring and his sister, Ava, programmed spheros to go over truss bridges that they built.
 - Sydney Lin programmed a machine to play tunes from Mobius strips.
 - Jane Rydin and Madden Rutherford coded their Makey Makey kits and used bananas to turn it into a piano board.
 - Mia Oliaro created photon flowers that lit up when the circuit was complete with lemon juice.
 - Cogan McMichael flew his drone and showed the audience how they could find missing people using a coordinate mat and the drone camera.
 - Ana Payst made a Rube Goldberg machine that used a marble to trigger other components that ultimately led to a plant getting watered.
 - Alair Rojas constructed a truss bridge with straws and popsicles, and engineered it to hold more than 70 pounds of weight.
 - Rishi Patel created his maze with tunnels and learned how to program his sphero to go through it.

 Many thanks to Mrs. Peres-da-Silva and the entire Mustang team who made this event possible.

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CHCCS Teachers Benefit from $29 Million DonorsChoose Gift

Unless you keep up with Stephen Colbert’s fundraising preferences, you would be forgiven for asking what the comedian has to do with the new Sphero robots at Ephesus Elementary, or the soon-to-be-delivered collaborative desks at Seawell Elementary. But Colbert has long been a friend and fan of DonorsChoose, the national non-profit that funds teacher requests. This spring, Colbert used his late night show to announce a $29 million gift from the cryptocurrency company Ripple, a gift that funded every single active request on DonorsChoose nationwide. Five Chapel Hill-Carrboro teachers had the good fortune to be among the 28,210 teachers whose projects were filled by the Ripple gift.
   
Claire Nelson, third-grade teacher at Ephesus, said, “Needless to say, I’m still quite shocked at Ripple’s generosity!”  She had requested six Sphero Mini robots and one Sphero SPRK robot, after learning about the resource at the North Carolina Technology in Education Society (NCTIES) conference that she attended in March. “My son is on a high school robotics team. I have seen what a difference robotics and coding has made to him. Even though robotics and coding are out of my comfort zone, I wanted to challenge myself to integrate it into my classroom instruction. I sought out a few sessions on Robotics and Programming at NCTIES. I decided Sphero would be a perfect place to start!”
   
Tori Mazur, Digital Learning Specialist at Ephesus, said she has been using DonorsChoose since 2008, and she now writes most of her project requests with the school’s Hour of Code in mind. “We borrowed a 12-pack [of Spheros] from Morris Grove for Hour of Code in December and we discovered so much potential, that we had to have our own!”
   
The title of Mazur’s funded project was “May the Force & Motion Be With Us!” She wrote in her proposal, “My students need a 12-pack of Spheros to work in programming teams. We can use the force (and motion) standards to engage in STEM every day, not just during Hour of Code.”
   
Nationally, the Ripple gift funded more than 35,000 classroom requests, which according to DonorsChoose, will cover 70,000 books, 15,000 art supplies and 6,200 pieces of lab equipment. The day after Colbert announced the Ripple gift on his show, teachers created more than 15,600 projects on DonorsChoose, which beat the site's record for the number of projects created in an entire week.
   
Nan Lujan, English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Seawell Elementary, benefited from Ripple’s gift with the funding of two separate requests: i-Pads for first grade math centers, called “Math that is Just Right for Me,” and “Black History Matters” for twenty T-shirts for children and adults to wear at school events. For the i-Pads, Lujan wrote, “One of our centers is technology, in which students can utilize a program which uses a screener to determine what specific skills a student is proficient in and which skills they need to work on in order to become proficient. It then tailors their time in the application to allow them to practice the skills they need the most work in so that they may advance.” In regards to the T-shirts donation, Lujan explained, “We want our kids of color and all of our kids to know that at our school, Black History Matters.We would love to be able to outfit our teachers and students in our affinity group with Black History Matters t-shirts to make a strong statement at our assembly and throughout the school year. It's important that we tell the stories of strong black men and strong black women and inspire a new generation.”
   
Tomika Altman-Lewis, the fifth-grade Learning Environment for Advanced Placement (LEAP) teacher at Seawell, has a long and fruitful history with DonorsChoose, and she now serves as an ambassador for the non-profit, as well as an essay reader for project proposals. “As an ambassador, I help spread the word about DonorsChoose and assist teachers with creating their projects.” Over the years, DonorsChoose has funded 61 of Altman-Lewis’ requests, most of which have supported her wide-ranging and creative approaches to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) instruction.
     
Her most recent grant was for twelve standing desks, plus materials for hands-on learning activities. For “The Ultimate Learning Space,” Altman-Lewis wrote, “Learning does not stand still and neither should my students. Students need the opportunity to move, materials for them to work collaboratively or independently, and space for them to feel comfortable. Students will learn about architectural design and blueprints as they create the ultimate learning environment because my students will design the layout of our class.”

“Game On” was what Altman-Lewis named her other request. “Integrating literacy with hands-on experiences will allow my students to truly understand the concepts taught in school and this project will allow them to share such learning with their families. I am requesting a variety of STEM-related games such as the Food Chain, Mammal Survival, Human Body, and Forces and Motion activity kits and family games such as 'Smath, 5 Second Rule, Man Bites Dog, and etc. These games will also serve as models when they create their own games.”
   
The fifth teacher to receive a DonorsChoose gift from the Ripple donation was Jessica Plant, seventh-grade math teacher at Culbreth. Titled “Help! I Can’t Sit Still,” Plant’s request was for additional seating choices. “Students will have the option to sit on the classroom rug, sit on yoga balls, or on the bean bags to complete classwork assignments and work collaboratively with their peers. These materials will make a difference in the lives of my students and help students that have a lot of trouble staying focused for the entire class period.”
   
Two years ago Stephen Colbert, as a member of the board of directors of DonorsChoose, pledged to pay for every project request in South Carolina, his home state. Little did he know that he was establishing a national model for blanket funding.
   
DonorsChoose CEO Charles Best told EdSurge, "We believe in the wisdom of the front lines. Hardworking, passionate teachers know their students' needs better than anyone else in the school environment. If we can tap into their needs, we can unleash smarter solutions and empower those people on the front lines."

View Colbert’s announcement here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfw4FWJJVOQ



     

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CHCCS Honors Staff at Annual Recognition Reception

Johnson Named 2018-19 Teacher of the Year
Jasmine Johnson of Scroggs Elementary, was named the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Teacher of the Year at the annual Recognition Reception on May 8 at Carrboro High.

Johnson is a fifth grade teacher with five years of teaching experience.  She holds a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education from the Appalachian State University.  Johnson received a $1,000 check from Pinnacle Financial Partners, as well as gifts from area businesses.

Two Honor Teachers were also named on Tuesday.  They are Tijuana Goodwin of McDougle Middle and Christen Campbell of Chapel Hill High School.  They each received a $500 check from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation (PSF) and gifts from local businesses.

Jasmine Johnson, 2018-19 CHCCS Teacher of the Year

Tijuana Goodwin, District Honor Teacher

Christen Campbell, District Honor Teacher

Other Teachers of the Year were recognized with $100 checks from PSF and gifts from local businesses.  They are: Susan Murray, Carrboro Elementary; Hannah Murphy, Ephesus Elementary; Corissa Gamble, Estes Hills Elementary; Daniella Buenaventura, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Suzanee McNulty, Glenwood Elementary; Alison Davis, McDougle Elementary; Kathleen Carswell, Morris Grove Elementary; Alder Keene, Northside Elementary; Gretchen Pegram, Rashkis Elementary; Chelsea Robinette, Seawell Elementary; Molly Caudill, Culbreth Middle; Kaleigh Vogan, Phillips Middle; Beth Kinney, Smith Middle; Stefan Klakovich, Carrboro High; Evon Barnes, East Chapel Hill High; and Clyde McPherson, Phoenix Academy High.

Teacher of the Year gifts were provided by:  A Better Image Printing, Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, Office Depot and University Florist.

The Mary Scroggs Award for Excellence in Providing Support Services recognizes one classified staff member from each school and several Lincoln Center departments.  The award recipient is Laila Bradford, the IT business systems specialist with the Information Technology Department at Lincoln Center, who also received a $1,000 check.  Two Honor Recipients were named.  They are Crystal Brooks, the receptionist at Northside Elementary, and Shaunna Jeffries, a teacher assistant at FPG Billingüe.  They each received $500.

Other Classified Staff of the Year, who each received $100, are:  Raymond Miles, EC teacher assistant, Carrboro Elementary; Jo Ann Hodges, receptionist, Ephesus Elementary; Jody Benedict, EC teacher assistant, Estes Hills Elementary; Karl Pace, teacher assistant, Estes Hills Elementary; Sally Massengale, science specialist, Glenwood Elementary; April Siler, teacher assistant, McDougle Elementary; Mary Mateer, receptionist, Morris Grove Elementary; Mary Battista, receptionist, Rashkis Elementary; Jennifer Elton, teacher assistant, Scroggs Elementary; Sarah Silverstein, data manager, Seawell Elementary; Theresa Collins, data manager, Culbreth Middle; Kathleen Mitchell, receptionist, McDougle Middle; Jeri Wilson, data manager, Phillips Middle; Thomas Scroggs, data manager, Smith Middle; Quiana Phillips, school secretary, Carrboro High; Teresa Dawson, secretary, Chapel Hill High; Sara Adcock, technology assistant, East Chapel Hill High; Thomas Britton, secretary, Instructional Services Division, Lincoln Center; Antonio Salas, grounds foreman, Facilities/Maintenance, Lincoln Center; and Chuck Lockhart, lead bus driver, Transportation.

Stefanie Mazva-Cohen, school social worker at Culbreth Middle, received the Exceptional Children Student Services Staff of the Year Award, as well as a check for $500.  The two Honor Recipients are Emily Burrows, Autism support specialist at McDougle Elementary, and Cynthia Zwiacher, school nurse at Scroggs Elementary.  They each received $250.

The other ECSS Staff of the Year, who each received $50, are: Katie Harrison, school social worker, Carrboro Elementary; Marne Meredith, school social worker, Ephesus Elementary; Ashley Hudson, speech language pathologist, Estes Hills Elementary; Rebecca Fox, speech language pathologist, FPG Bilingüe; Wendy Johnston, school social worker, Glenwood Elementary; Stacey Rader, EC program facilitator, Morris Grove Elementary; Candice Norwood, school social worker, Northside Elementary; Dionne Silvester, school psychologist, Rashkis Elementary; Lisle Pearman, EC program facilitator, Seawell Elementary; Kathy Kauffmann, school counselor, McDougle Middle; Allison Crosetto, school social worker, Phillips Middle; Wendy Lee, speech language pathologist, Smith Middle; Linda Karcher, SAP/504 coordinator, Carrboro High; Stefanie Kotzen, school social worker, Chapel Hill High; Jessica Harris, school counselor, East Chapel Hill High; and Melissa Breaden, school social worker, Pre-K/Head Start.

Classified and EC staff of the Year gifts were provided by FSI Office and University Florist.

Other staff awards were also presented at the event.

John Williams of Phoenix Academy High was recognized as the district's Principal of the Year, while Tiffany Cheshire of Phillips Middle was named the district's Assistant Principal of the Year.  Bill Mullin, facilities management executive director, received the Award for Excellence in District Administration.

Janine Barr of Glenwood Elementary received the CHC Promising New Teacher Award.  Kirsten Gardner Venema of Ephesus Elementary was the recipient of the Jeannette Blackwell Mentor Teacher Award.   Shawna Catlett of Ephesus Elementary was named the recipient of the Elmo's Award for Excellence in Teaching English Language Learners and World Language.  Kate Kennedy of Lincoln Center and Mintzy Paige of Carrboro High received the MSAN (Minority Student Achievement Network) Equity Equals Excellence Award.  Kathryn Edelstein of East Chapel Hill High was awarded The Reckford Teaching Prize (a new award this year).

The Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate (BRMA) program presented two Excellence in Equitable Teaching Awards.  These award recipients are selected by the students in BRMA.  The middle school award went to Jessica Grinnell of Culbreth Middle, and Michael Irwin of Chapel Hill High received the high school award.

Representatives of PSF were on hand to present both new and renewing Teaching Chairs. Michael Sharp of Culbreth Middle is the Neil Pedersen Teachers First Chair for Excellence in Classroom Technology.  Mackenzie Casey of Smith Middle is the Mel and Zora Rashkis Chair for Excellence in Teaching Health and PE (a new award this year).  Amy Brazasky of Morris Grove is the Sockwell Chair for Excellence in Teaching in the Primary Grades (Pre-K-2).  Anthony Swarigen of Carrobor High is the Bernadine Sullivan Chair for Excellence in Teaching High School English or Social Studies.  Molly Caudill of Culbreth Middle is the GlaxoSmithKline Chair for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Science or Math.

Renewing chair recipients were also honored on Tuesday.  Denise Keene of Smith Middle is the Kim Hoke Chair for Excellence in Teaching Exceptional Children.  Ann Daaleman of Phillips Middle is the PTSA Chair for Excellence in Teaching Cultural Arts.  Morgan May of Culbreth Middle is the Burton Stuart Chair for Promising New Teachers of Secondary Math or Science.  Candace Crothers of Glenwood Elementary is the Upper Elementary Chair for Excellence in Teaching Innovation.

Ten teachers were recognized for earning their National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  They join the more than 300 other CHCCS teachers who have earned their National Boards.  They are:  Melissa Barry, Carrboro High; Edward Baruch, Phillips Middle; Sophia Bauers, East Chapel Hill High; Stephanie Bruce, Morris Grove Elementary; Molly Caudill, Culbreth Middle; Sarah Cornette, Scroggs Elementary; William Giblin, Culbreth Middle; Ashley Sherman, Ephesus Elementary; William Vincent, East Chapel Hill High; and Jessica Wallace, Chapel Hill High.

Nineteen employees (of the more than 45) were recognized for retiring from the district this year.  They include:  Sarita Allen-Medlin, Lincoln Center; Betty Berryhill, Carrboro Elementary; Susan Brandt, Lincoln Center; Marianne Henderson, Smith Middle; Kathleen Kauffmann, McDougle Middle; Alice Lassiter, Carrboro Elementary; Geneva Long, Chapel Hill High; Lavern Manzano, Lincoln Center; Sally Massengale, Glenwood Elementary; Jamilah Moye, Carrboro Elementary; Sandra Murphy, Chapel Hill High; Fay Nourani, Northside Elementary; Teresa Peters, Morris Gove Elementary; Debbie Phelps, McDougle Elementary; Susan Poole, UNC Hospital School; Beverly Roberson, Transportation; Betty Wooten, Carrboro High; John Wykoff, Lincoln Center; and Cynthia Zwiacher, Scroggs Elementary.

Employees were also honored for attaining milestones of service with CHCCS.  Sarita Allen-Medlin, a PAC teacher in Human Resources at Lincoln Center, was honored for her 35 years of service.

Seven employees were honored for having 30 years of service to CHCCS.  They are:  Karla Boreiko, Estes Hills Elementary; Phylis Cook-Mack, Seawell Elementary; Ann Cramer, Seawell Elementary; Natalie Faircloth, McDougle Elementary; Melodie Majette, Rashkis Elementary; Douglas Noell, Lincoln Center; and Carlos Perera, Seawell Elementary.

Employees with 25 years of service included:  Linda Fyle, Scroggs Elementary; Carla Gilchrist, Glenwood Elementary; Carmen Hackney, Rashkis Elementary; Sharon Henley, Morris Grove Elementary; Mary Hill, Seawell Elementary; Wanda King, Morris Grove Elementatry; Sarah Massengale, Glenwood Elementary; Tricia Thompson, Scroggs Elementary; Anglea Short, Phillips Middle; and Suzanne Stokes, Morris Grove Elementary.

Employees with 20 years of service included:  Roberto Aponte, Lincoln Center; Marla Brown, McDougle Elementary; Jinnie Burnette, Chapel Hill High; Holly Clark, Morris Grove Elementary; Jason Curtis, Chapel Hill High; Lisa Decesaris, McDougle Middle; Tracey Farrar, East Chapel Hill High; Anthony George, Lincoln Center; Yikaalo Habte, Phillips Middle; Jerri Humphries, Chapel Hill High; Michael Irwin, Chapel Hill High; Kathleen Kauffmann, McDougle Middle; Barbara Link, Culbreth Middle; Issac Marsh, Chapel Hill High; Magaret Maternowski, McDougle Middle; Janelle Price, Chapel Hill High; Karen Sanders, East Chapel Hill High; Roy Smith, Phillips Middle; John Walker, Transportation Department; and Linda Williford, Seawell Elementary.

The annual Recognition Reception is hosted in collaboration with the Public School Foundation (PSF).

“Taking this evening to honor educators throughout the district is something I look forward to all year.  We don’t just honor teachers - we honor staff members and their accomplishments from all areas of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.  Everyone spotlighted with awards tonight are held up by their peers as being the best at what they do.  All those who spent 20 or more years serving our community are the epitome of dedicated.  And all of our retirees have worked hard, educating generations and have earned our thanks as they start a new journey, ” said Superintendent Pam Baldwin.  “Who wouldn’t want to celebrate these successes?”

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Carrboro High's April Ross Named NC Athletic Director of the Year

Congratulations to Carrboro High's April Ross. She was recently named the 2018 Dave Harris Athletic Director of the Year by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

April has been the Athletic Director at Carrboro since 2008. The Jaguars have enjoyed immense success under her leadership with hundreds of scholar athletes, 23 state championships and six Wells Fargo State Cups. Prior to joining Carrboro High, April worked as Athletic Director at Briggs High School in Columbus. She is a member of both the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the North Carolina Athletic Directors' Association. She holds current Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) and Certified Interscholastic Coach (CIC) certifications. When she coached at Tarboro High School for 15 years, her 1990 basketball team reached the 3A state finals. April was a four-year letter winner in basketball at Bath High School and East Carolina University.

"We are so happy for April. This is a very well-deserved honor," said Carrboro High Principal Beverly Rudolph. "While she is often working behind the scenes, her efforts make a significant difference for our student-athletes and the entire student body."

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Teachers First Breakfast Celebrates 15th Year at Squid’s

Squids Restaurant and Oyster Bar isn’t normally known for its teeming early morning crowds, but on Friday, April 27, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools teachers and staff enjoyed a full, hot breakfast at the restaurant before they headed off to their classrooms and offices. Another 1,182 staff went through a “drive thru” line and received to-go orders of breakfast burritos, fresh fruit cups, muffins, yogurt  and other treats, many of which were prepared by School Board members Rani Dasi and Mary Ann Wolf, as well as Public School Foundation’s former executive director, Kim Hoke. This wildly popular parent-supported fundraiser for the Public School Foundation drew crowds of teachers lining up in the dark, outside Squid’s well before the 6 a.m. opening time. Nearly three hours later, when the last steam table trays were scraped clean of scrambled eggs, bacon, grits and sausage, more than $100,000 had been pledged for our teachers, a record amount.
   
Since the first breakfast in 2003, the owners of the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group have provided all of the food and pulled off the increasingly large numbers of meals, with the help from dozens of volunteers. Tom Herzog, manager of Squid’s, said that the early years felt more stressful for his team, until the veteran volunteers from the Foundation learned the ropes. Herzog smiled as he nodded at the bustling helpers throughout the dining room. “They can run the show now,” he said. However, the Squid’s folks still came in between 2 and 3 a.m. to start preparing the food.
   
Lynn Lehmann, Executive Director of the Public School Foundation, said, “To the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group...what can we say?  You guys are the best and your generous spirits overwhelm us.  We appreciate all of you so much - and all that you give to our organization - and the community.  THANK YOU!”

The total amount raised in 15 years reached $856,431 this year, all of which has been earmarked for the Teachers First Fund to support programs, grants and professional development opportunities for CHCCS teachers, including scholarships towards National Board Certification.
   
As the sun rose, Ron Stutts from WCHL took the microphone to broadcast the beginning of his morning show from Squid’s, interviewing Lehmann and Stephanie Yost, breakfast volunteer organizer - as well as Dr. Todd LoFrese, Board Chair Rani Dasi and Gloria Sanchez-Lane, school social worker from Phoenix Academy. Various greeters from Lincoln Center rotated through their posts, as other School Board members hauled trash and collected plates and cups. The collegial spirit and contagious adrenaline allowed the waves of teachers and staff to move quickly through the serving line, providing them time to visit among the tables.

“The Annual Teachers First Breakfast and Roses is a CHCCS community-sponsored event,” said Lehmann. “I’m so very grateful to the parents who support this effort, while honoring their teachers with the gift of a breakfast and rose at the same time. It is a win-win-win for CHCCS families, the Public School Foundation and our deserving teachers.”

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ESL Teacher Will Visit China as Fund for Teachers Fellow

Anne Tomalin, an ESL teacher at Chapel Hill High School, will be spending nearly two weeks in China this June, as a Fund for Teachers Fellow. The $5,000 grant covers the cost of a UNC World View Global Study program called “China: Traditions, Trends and Transformations,” which will allow Tomalin to learn about the country’s educational practices, as well as its culture and language. She hopes to “spark ideas” for ways to better support her Asian refugee students at Chapel Hill High. Although she has taught English language learners for 21 years in our district, she said that with the changing demographics in her classroom, she has felt called to adapt “not only how I teach but what I teach.”
     

Anne Tomalin

The scores on state end-of-course exams have been consistently low for the English learner (EL) students at the high school level, with only 7% scoring proficient in English II at Chapel Hill High last year. The low performance is a complex problem that requires a multi-faceted approach, said Tomalin. “I believe one missing piece of the puzzle is that we don’t have sufficient knowledge of their cultural and educational background, and how that background influences the way they learn. Without this knowledge, we aren’t able to provide them with culturally responsive instruction.”
   
“By observing a completely different educational setting, I hope to cultivate the ability to think outside of the box about how best to serve the needs of our district's EL students," she added.
     
The 2018 Fund for Teachers awards, $2.1 million total, will provide self-designed experiences for 546 educators in the U.S. One of the distinctive aspects of these grants is that they must embrace initiatives to address specific achievement gaps with students and/or with teachers themselves. Salma Zaky, Program Officer for Fund for Teachers, wrote in an email to Tomalin, “From thousands of applications from across the country, your proposal stood out as one that will bring relevant knowledge and skills back to your students.”
     
In her proposal, Tomalin noted that the number of Asian refugees in the district has demanded new approaches to teaching English, since many have arrived with weak academic skills due to interrupted schooling in the refugee camps, in addition to having very little English proficiency. In China, she hopes to gain insights into ways that our educational practices might be a mismatch for some Asian students’ learning styles.
     
Tomalin knew about the UNC organization, World View Global Study, and she chose to apply for the grant in order to cover the costs of the UNC trip to China. Included in the experience is a two-day Professional Development seminar prior to traveling abroad, twelve days of travel in China, as well as a follow-up workshop. The pre- and post- workshops are designed to help participants integrate what they’ve learned during their travels when they return to the classroom.
   
“During the trip I'll blog about my observations and experiences. I'll encourage my students to follow me while I do it, because I think it'll be meaningful for them to see a teacher experience a bit of what they contend with every day - that is, being in an alien environment with limited ability to communicate.”
   
Follow Tomalin on her learning adventure in June!    #FFTFellow

https://travel4learningblog.wordpress.com/

Fund for Teachers strengthens instruction by investing in outstanding teachers' self-determined professional growth and development in order to support student success, enrich their own practice, and strengthen their schools and communities.

http://www.fundforteachers.org/

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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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Cisco Networking Academy Offers Opportunity

If you ask most parents and students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools about the Cisco Networking Academy courses for high school students, unfortunately you’ll hear, “Cisco What?” But if Jennifer Walker and her colleagues at Chapel Hill High have their way, the pathways within the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) will soon be recognized throughout the district - and beyond. Walker is both passionate and tireless in her work with Cisco NetAcad, and to hear her talk about current and future projects is to recognize she’s barely gotten started as a mentor and teacher.
   
Within a couple years, labor analysts in the U.S. predict there’ll be over one million more tech jobs than qualified applicants to fill them. And the salary for many of these tech jobs? Often in the $80,000 to $110,000 range. It’s surprising that more high school students aren’t standing in line to enroll in these information technology (IT) pathways.
   
How are Chapel Hill High’s AOIT and Cisco Networking Academy courses laying foundations for students to join the ranks of the “quickly employed” tech workers? Students can now choose two Cisco course pathways, either CET (computer engineering technology) or NET (network engineering technology). Upon completion of the specialized courses in either pathway, students can sit for rigorous and prestigious industry certifications before graduating from high school. The district will even pay for one certification exam voucher for each student.     
     
The AOIT is housed at Chapel Hill High, but it’s open to all CHCCS high school students who can travel from their home schools to take the academy classes. The Cisco Networking Academy is an international training program accessible through universities, community colleges, and some high schools. It provides the curriculum and hands-on lab experiences for students, as well as resources to deliver and extend IT training for instructors.  From this framework, Walker provides students with an ever-growing range of activities, information about opportunities to apply skills outside the classroom, and she works with AOIT to provide internships. Cisco's IT Essentials in the Computer Engineering courses provides training in hardware, software, and troubleshooting skills, while preparing students for CompTIA A+ certification. Cisco's CCNA (Certified Cisco Network Associate) Routing and Switching curriculum is used in the Network Engineering courses, training students in the process of data transmission, network design, device configuration, and troubleshooting, while preparing students for the Cisco CCENT (Certified Cisco Entry Networking Technician) and CCNA certifications.
     
Walker teaches all of the Computer Engineering and Network Engineering courses at Chapel Hill High, and her enthusiasm about the Cisco curriculum and its enduring benefits to students is apparent in the first few minutes of conversation. She’s a true believer, based on more than fifteen years in the IT field, as well as ten years in previous instructional positions. The keyword for her is “Opportunity,” and she loves to reel off the many opportunities students can pursue to sharpen their networking and engineering skill sets.
     
Earning one or both of the “certs” by graduation is the crown jewel of Cisco NetAcad participation, but all of the students who complete one of the pathways are well-qualified to work in IT, right out of high school. In this district, as Walker notes, most students will continue to a four year university, but some NetAcad graduates pursue classes at community colleges, or take their skills into the military. “Even without the certs, by completing these courses, students can transfer their skill sets into any profession,” said Walker.
     
“Cisco Networking Academy is a very useful program that teaches you a lot about computer engineering and networking,” said Dhruv Patel, who’s currently taking both Computer Engineering 2 and Networking Engineering 1. “Paired with the lab work Ms.Walker sets up, it prepares you for the CompTIA A+ and the CCENT certifications and gives you skills for practical use, at home and on the job.”
     
Walker’s students frequently take advantage of service-learning opportunities, both in-district and in the community. “I say to them all the time, Use your skills for good.”
     
This year, she and Darren Bell, manager of the CHCCS Community Connection Program, have collaborated to create the Tiger Tech Squad with more than 35 of Walker’s students. The Squad will soon operate as a Chromebook service depot, beginning with tech support for the Career and Technical Education staff at Chapel Hill High, but they will expand that support in the future.
     
Walker encourages her students to earn service-learning hours - plus invaluable Real World experience - at events like Volunteer Night at the Kramden Institute in the Research Triangle Park. Students provide assistance to local residents through Kramden, performing tasks like desktop refurbishing and monitor testing.
     
“It’s great for these students to see their skill set has value. In three hours, you can give people something that can change their lives,” said Walker. “Students say, 'But it’s so easy to swap out a hard drive,' and I say - to you it is!”
     
Beyond the service opportunities touted by Walker, she is constantly sharing news about internships and scholarships for summer study. Her Twitter feed @LearnITWalker is a goldmine for students in search of (there’s that word again) opportunities: cybersecurity workshops, Virtual Reality instruction and UNC’s Imagine Lab are just a few of the recent links or posts shared.
     
Walker also brings in a regular slate of tech speakers from Lenovo, Cisco and other industry giants in the area, as well as creates informative field trips for students to observe and experience a range of IT professionals in action.
     
Liz Anderton is a sophomore in Computer Engineering Technology 1, and she described how fortunate she feels to have landed in the NetAcad, even as one of the few young women in Walker’s classes. “It can be a little intimidating being the only female in a class, but it’s interesting because sometimes they (her male classmates) just think differently.” Anderton said that she’s very shy and has tended to dislike group work in previous classes, but she thrives in the team-learning format of Walker’s class. “This experience has helped me be more open in general. Everyone is really encouraging, and it’s been amazing.”
     
Anderton moved to Chapel Hill from Tennessee before ninth grade. “There was never anything like this where I lived before,” she said. “Kids don’t realize how lucky they are to have these programs. And if more people sign up for NetAcad, we can grow and do even more things.”


The Cisco Networking Academy celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2017. According to its website “since 2005, more than 1.6 million students who have completed advanced courses have gotten new jobs thanks to Cisco Networking Academy. In the United States, 30 percent of enrolled students are underrepresented minorities (African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian/Alaska Native), and numerous academies specifically serve military service members, veterans, and their families. Additionally, Cisco Networking Academy has made a commitment to benefit 10,000 people living with disabilities within the next five years.

https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?articleId=1894689

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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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CHCCS Teachers Among the Nation’s Newest National Board Certified Teachers

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) proudly announces that 10 teachers are among the nation’s newest National Board Certified Teachers. These educators are part of a growing community of Board-certified teachers, now more than 118,000 strong across all 50 states. CHCCS joins the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in celebrating these accomplished educators and congratulating them for earning the highest mark of professional achievement.

North Carolina continues to lead the nation in the number of teachers who have earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, with 616 additional teachers gaining the endorsement in 2017. Nearly 21,500 teachers in North Carolina have attained national certification, which is based on a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to do.

More information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is available at www.nbpts.org.

Newly certified teachers, along with those receiving renewals this year, will be recognized at a celebration in May.

Congratulations to the following CHCCS teachers who earned or renewed National Board Certification in 2017:

Carrboro High School
Melisa Barry

Chapel Hill High School
Jessica Wallace

Culbreth Middle School
Molly Caudill
William Giblin

East Chapel Hill High School
Sophia Bauers,
Ruth Toro (renewal)
William Vincent

Ephesus Elementary School
Ashley Sherman

Estes Elementary School
Heidi Van Brocklin (renewal)

Morris Grove Elementary School
Stephanie Bruce
Lisa Frangipane (renewal)

Phillips Middle School
Edward Baruch

Scroggs Elementary School
Sarah Cornette

Seawell Elementary School
Julie Halpert (renewal)
Ginger Becton (renewal)

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Carrboro High Hosts Group from Dominican Republic

An international-CHCCS connection that’s now in its fifth year celebrated a new chapter in December as 15 students and staff from the Julian Javier High School in the Dominican Republic spent a week with families and teachers from Carrboro High. Each day was packed with activity, food and conversations in Spanish and English. Alejandra Castillo, a junior at Carrboro High said, “Not only did the students have fun, but the parents and staff also danced, sang, and laughed along with everyone. We had fun the whole time they were here, taking pictures and sharing stories. It was an amazing experience I’ll never forget.”

During the summer of 2013, several Carrboro High students traveled to the Dominican Republic with Transcending Borders of the Global Leadership Institute. One of those students was Leah Simon, who now attends UNC, and the trip ignited her passion and commitment to the culture and the people they met. When she and the other students returned to school, they began planning various projects and fundraising efforts, under the guidance - and with tireless energy - from teacher John Hite. Dr. LaVerne Mattocks, principal at the time, offered her enthusiastic support as the core group built bridges with the community of Tenares in Hermanas Mirabal Province.

So far, the collaboration-exchange between Carrboro High and Hermanas Mirabel has yielded a mural project (and two vivid murals at the school), as well as a major drive for funds and boots-on-the-ground support of a water project at La Cumbre, a small village that had no access to clean water. In recent years, Carrboro High students and their families have raised tens of thousands of dollars for La Cumbre and Tenares, and each year, new students join this ongoing endeavor. Current principal Beverly Rudolph has picked up where Dr. Mattocks left off, providing assistance to ensure that each undertaking runs as smoothly as possible. John Hite led nine Carrboro students on the most recent trip to the Dominican Republic during the summer of 2016.   

The December exchange that brought 15 Dominicans here had been in the works for some time, but plans were scrambled by the succession of powerful hurricanes in 2017. Throughout the months of delays and complications, Hite stayed focused on making sure the exchange could take place. “There were so many moving parts, I had to make sure it all fit together.” 

Teachers Angela McChesney and Nathalie Gaut also pitched in with a group of students. The hundreds of collective hours paid off in an enriching and entertaining experience for both the Dominicans and the Carrboro High community alike.    

Students and their parents hosted visitors, as did McChesney and Gaut. The itinerary was packed between the group’s arrival and departure from RDU: a UNC basketball game, bowling, trips to the Ackland Museum, the Bennett Place and the Planetarium. Karl Naomi, a Carrboro High senior, said, “They loved Chapel Hill and saw a lot of different things than what they have in their country. Just something as simple as leaves falling off the trees and even a little snow was really cool for them to see.”     

The Dominican group, with their student hosts, also toured the campuses of UNC and Duke, courtesy of former Jaguars who’d been involved in earlier exchanges and fundraising: Leah Abrams at Duke, and Leah Simon and Kristen Lee at UNC.      

But the Dominicans also spent plenty of time at Carrboro High during the week, going to classes and other in-school events, as well as attending both a breakfast and lunch hosted by Youth Leadership Institute students. Senior Stephanie Lopez of YLI said, “I learned new things from their culture and what the education system is like in the Dominican Republic and it was a great experience!” On the final day of the exchange, most of the Carrboro High student body gathered during lunch in the Cafe Commons to share songs and dances from both cultures. The Dominican students performed a traditional dance, in full regalia, and a number of Carrboro High students offered their talents as well.           

The parents of the visiting students expressed their gratitude in emails to Hite after their children had returned home. One father wrote, “More than grateful for that great experience my son has lived. You who welcomed them and treated them so well from North Carolina-- thanks to you, students, teachers, professors and high school director. Thank you very much, it was unforgettable for our children.”


“I am from Peru, but I grew up here and so I felt like I wasn't really connected to my Latino side,” said Alejandra Castillo. “I feel like being with them has awakened (that). Having them here not only brought me closer to people from a different culture, but also to other people from the Carrboro High School community. I can hardly wait for future exchanges between Carrboro High School and Liceo Julian Javier!”

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District High School Students Excel in Learning Through Languages Symposium

The pairing of UNC and Duke in conversation often brings to mind the sports rivalry, but the frequency with which the universities collaborate in academic and research initiatives deserves more of a spotlight. A group of CHCCS high school students and teachers benefited from one of those collaborations recently by participating in the Learning through Languages Symposium. Produced by the Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at UNC and Duke, the event took place on December 13 at the FedEx Global building on the UNC campus.

    

Now in its third year, the Symposium seeks to challenge advanced language students with a competition that demands excellence in both written and oral research skills. Deliver an off the cuff analysis on the impact of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, speaking only in French? No problem for these students. Or answer a range of questions from judges in Japanese about the Western influences on current Israeli politics? Piece of cake. This is what these students prepared for in teams of two or three, and the rigorous expectations seemed to delight them all.

    

Of the 34 teams competing from across the state, 11 were from CHCCS, sponsored by seven world languages teachers of Spanish, French, German and Japanese. Of the 18 prizes awarded this year, eight went to our teams. East Chapel Hill High student Makenna Meyer said, “The symposium helped me improve my Spanish in so many different ways. Through our research, I learned words that wouldn't ordinarily be on a vocabulary list. Through the formal paper, I was able to practice my writing. Through the oral presentation and question/answer period, I was able to practice my speaking and listening skills. However, the symposium experience is very valuable to me not only because it improved my Spanish, but I was also able to learn about other cultures and languages.” Meyer’s team, sponsored by Spanish teacher Justin Seifts, tied for two honorable mention awards for their research on the Rohingya crisis.

Spanish IV students at Carrboro High, Julia Connor and Dani Kaufman-Sedano, won an honorable mention in Best Scholarship for their project, also on the Rohingya crisis. Their teacher, Amy Olsen said, “We're extremely proud of them at Carrboro for representing the district's stellar World Language program, and also for winning an award the first time their school was selected for competition in the Symposium!”

    

The guidelines for the competition required students to use APA style instead of the more familiar MLA. Each project had three components: the written paper, the oral presentation, and the project visual. Students chose their topics from one of four strands: Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Europe or Middle East and North Africa. The contest design promotes research methodology, technology literacy, and critical thinking, and it addresses the Department of Public Instruction’s Essential Standards for the study of World Languages.

    

Judges for the competition were professors or graduate students from UNC and Duke. One of the judges for the French presentations was Dr. Deb Reisinger from the Practice of Romance Studies at Duke; she also happens to be a CHCCS parent. “I work closely with AP curriculum and development, and so I was eager to meet the students who were taking AP courses in World Languages. What an impressive group! Our AP French students were simply outstanding. Not only had they produced written analyses that reflected critical thinking and strong research skills, but they were able to talk about their research on refugees and migration with me in French. What stood out most was that these students were clearly passionate about learning, and able to articulate the importance of learning about the world from multiple perspectives. I am thrilled that my child will have the opportunity to participate in CHCCS' excellent AP program.”

    

One of those French students from Chapel Hill High, Daniel Zaretsky, was on the team that won Best Use of Written and Oral Language (across all languages). He said, “The Research Symposium was definitely a very enriching and important experience as a language learner. Of course, we couldn't have done it without Mme. (Christen) Campbell. The processes of researching and writing the paper, and preparing the presentation, were definitely eye-opening, and I encountered many interesting and shocking facts while exploring the details of the refugee crisis in the Middle East and its effects on Lebanon.”

     

Congratulations to all of the award winning teams from CHCCS, as well as all the participants who put so much effort into their scholarship and presentations!

          

Learn more about the Symposium at http://areastudies.unc.edu/ltl/

Below are the award winners:                        

Best Overall Research Project on Contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean:

• Julia Cummer, Meenakshi Kaundinya and Daniela Martínez Leal of East Chapel Hill High School, teacher Valerie Huet, for “L’Ouragan Maria Révèle La Négligence Envers Porto Rico” (“Hurricane Maria Reveals Negligence towards Puerto Rico”)

Best Use of Written and Oral Language:

• Alec Caruana, Robin Huang, and Daniel Zaretsky of Chapel Hill High School, teacher Christen Campbell, for “Une investigation de la présence des réfugiés syriens au Liban” (“An Investigation of the Presence of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon”)

Honorable Mention of Best Use of Written and Oral Language:

• Justin Holly, Emmy Soll, and Nikita Zaretsky, of Chapel Hill High School, teacher Christen Campbell, for “Les effets du Printemps arabe sur la traite des humains en Tunisie” (“The Effects of the Arab Spring on Human Rights in Tunisia”)

Honorable Mention of Best Scholarship (tie):

• Julia Connor and Danielle Kaufman-Sedano of Carrboro High School, teacher Amy Olsen, for “Examinando la crisis rohingya como limpieza étnica” (“Examining the Rohingya Crisis as Ethnic Cleansing”)

• Makenna Meyer, Noah Clapacs, and Natalie Troy of East Chapel Hill High School, teacher Justin Seifts, for “La respuesta mundial a la crisis de los rohingya: Buscando soluciones cooperativas para una crisis en crecimiento” (“The World’s Response to the Rohingya Crisis: Seeking Cooperative Solutions for a Growing Crisis”)

Honorable Mention of Best Visual Presentation (tie):

• Rebecca Guo, Jane Hwang, and MeiXuan Zhu of East Chapel Hill High School, teacher Yoshimi Yamagata Aoyagi, for “中国、日本、インド、ベトナムの 勢力拡大による国境紛争”  (“China, Japan, India, and Vietnam’s Increasing Power and the Resulting Border Conflicts”)

Honorable Mention of Research Project on Contemporary Asia:

• Makenna Meyer, Noah Clapacs, and Natalie Troy of East Chapel Hill High School, teacher Justin Seifts, for “La respuesta mundial a la crisis de los rohingya: Buscando soluciones cooperativas para una crisis en crecimiento” (“The World’s Response to the Rohingya Crisis: Seeking Cooperative Solutions for a Growing Crisis”)

Honorable Mention of Research Project on Contemporary Middle East and North Africa:

• Jillian Breithaupt, Ethan San Pedro, and Haruna Tsukiyama of Chapel Hill High School, teacher Yoshimi Yamagata Aoyagi, for “イスラエルの政治への欧米の影響” (“Western Influence on Israel’s Politics)

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