High School Students Selected for 2017 Governor's School

CHCCS had 19 students selected to attend the 2017 NC Governor's School this summer.

The student selected from Carrboro High and her subject is:  Leanne Joyce, Social Science.

Students selected from Chapel Hill High and their subjects are:  Maria Henriquez, Instrumental Music (Trombone); Yijian Huang, Instrumental Music (Violin); Eri Kakoki, Instrumental Music (Flute/Piccolo); Claire Mink, Spanish; Emily Soll, French; Caitlin Su, Instrumental Music (Violin); Belinda Wang, Instrumental Music (Violin); Demi Wang, Instrumental Music (Violin); and Eric Xu, Natural Science.

Students selected from East Chapel Hill High and their subjects are: Isabel Green, Art; Jocelyn Kim, Instrumental Music (Cello); Laura Meshnick, French; Frances O’Grady, English; Dora Pekec, Social Science; Justin Takamiya, Instrumental Music (Clarinet); John Welsby, Instrumental Music (Bass); Romy Whitesell, English; and Zixuan Yang, Instrumental Music (Clarinet).

The Governor's School is the oldest statewide summer residential program for academically or intellectually gifted high school students in the nation.  The program, open to rising seniors only (with some exception made for rising juniors in the performing/visual arts area), is located on two college campuses, Salem College in Winston-Salem and Meredith College in Raleigh.  The sessions will run June 18 to July 26.

Over 800 students are selected to attend.  The Governor's School is administered by the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction through the Exceptional Children Division.  A Board of Governors is appointed by the State Board of Education to act as an advisory body.

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CHCCS Announces Teachers of the Year for 2017-18

Faculties across the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district have selected their 2017-18 Teachers of the Year to represent the best in teaching at each school.

Elementary teachers who have been elected to the honor are: Emily Moorman, K-2 coaching specialist, Carrboro Elem.; Rachel Etheridge, Kindergarten teacher, Ephesus Elem.; Ann Partin, fourth grade teacher, Estes Hills Elem.; Flor Ramirez, PE/healthful living teacher, FPG Billingüe; Jianghong “Jenny” Zhao, fifth grade Dual Language teacher, Glenwood Elem.; Natalie Sayag, third grade teacher, McDougle Elem.; Lauren Boening, third grade teacher, Morris Grove Elem.; Nancy Hilburn, English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, Northside Elem.; Amanda Klinkman, EC resource teacher, Rashkis Elem.; Rebeka Hall Barringer, third grade teacher, Scroggs Elem.; and Kevin Swain, fourth grade teacher, Seawell Elem.

At the middle school level, these teachers were selected:  Terra Hodge, drama teacher, Culbreth MS; Christine Lippy, eighth grade science teacher, McDougle MS; Katherine Whittington, math teacher, Phillips MS; and Danka Kulikowski, drama teacher, Smith MS.

From the high schools, these teachers have been chosen:  Melissa Barry, EC system level teacher, Carrboro HS; Isaac Marsh, EC resource teacher teacher, Chapel Hill HS; and Shannon McGinnis, math teacher, East Chapel Hill HS.

This year, CHCCS is also honoring a teacher from the UNC Hospital School, Anna Kohler, EC resource teacher.

All of the schools' Teachers of the Year will be honored on Thursday, May 11 at Carrboro High School at the district's annual Recognition Reception where they will be presented with items donated by local businesses.  The District Teacher of the Year and two honor teachers will be announced that evening.  The district will also recognize Classified Employees of the Year, Exceptional Children & Student Services Employees of the Year, staff members who are retiring, as well as staff awards which include Teaching Chairs and Years of Service.  Tickets to the event must be purchased by April 14 from the Human Resources Department at Lincoln Center.  Tickets are $5 per person.

Pictured: 2016-17 Teachers of the Year at the
2016 Recognition Reception

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Lisa DeCesaris - Teal Ribbon Award Winner

Congratulations to Lisa DeCesaris, Social Worker at McDougle Middle School. She is this year’s recipient of the Teal Ribbon Award sponsored by Orange County Rape Crisis Center (OCRCC). 

The Teal Ribbon Award recognizes significant contributions to the mission of ending sexual violence and its impact by a community partner outside the OCRCC family. 

Lisa is being recognized for her efforts and years of active support for prevention programs like the Standing Side by Side parent workshop series, Stop the Drama peer influencers club and the McDougle Middle School QSA.  Lisa was also instrumental in the development of a sexual violence response protocol.  

Lisa was honored at this year's Teal Ribbon banquet and ceremony on April 5, 2017.

Congratulations Lisa!

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District Holiday, April 14 / Festivo del distrito, 14 de abril

District Holiday on April 14
CHCCS schools and offices are closed on Friday, April 14.  School will resume as usual and district offices will be open on Monday, April 17.

Festivo del distrito el 14 de abril
Las escuelas y oficinas de CHCCS están cerradas el viernes, 14 de abril. Las escuelas y oficinas del distrito resumen actividades  el lunes, 17 de abril.

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

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

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

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Good Luck, Dr. Causby!

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

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

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

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

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

Board Chair James Barrett presents plaque to Dr. Jim Causby

Dr. Causby reads to students at Northside Elementary

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A Visit From Euzelle Smith

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

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

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

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

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Kara VanHooser - 2017 New Voices Award for Excellence

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

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

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

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

Congratulations Kara!

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East Chapel Hill High Wins Fifth NC History Bowl State Title

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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