Meyer Visits White House

Graig Meyer, director of student equity and volunteer services, spent Thursday morning, November 29, at the White House.

Meyer was invited by the White House to join a delegation of community leaders from across North Carolina to discuss the fiscal cliff.

Meyer  also met with staff from the White House Internship Office and the White House Mentoring Initiative to seek partnerships that might benefit CHCCS students.

Graig Meyer

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Board of Education to Hold Public Hearings Regarding Redistricting Plans

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education will hold two public hearings on the proposed redistricting plans.  The hearings are official meetings of the district's Board of Education. The first public hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 3, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Carrboro High School Auditorium. The second public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Chapel Hill High School Auditorium. Both auditoriums will open to the public at 6:30 p.m.

People interested in speaking at the Board of Education's public hearings can sign up in advance or at the meeting. Anyone wishing to sign up in advance is asked to do so by 3 p.m. on the day of the hearing and use the online form link found here. You may also sign up to speak in person at the auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. that evening.

Other Important Information:

• Typically the Board allows speakers up to 3 minutes of speaking time. Depending on the number of speakers signed up, the Board reserves the right to shorten the time amount to make sure everyone has an opportunity to share their comments.
• Each hearing is scheduled to end at 10 p.m. Depending on the number of speakers signed up, you may not have an opportunity to speak until the second public hearing on December 12. Anyone signed up to speak and not able to on the first evening will be given the first opportunity to speak at the second public hearing.
• Interpreters will be available and located in the rear of the auditorium.
• Placards, signs, demonstrations, etc. will not be permitted.
• Due to the anticipated volume of speakers and the desire to make sure everyone has a chance to speak, we are not able to project PowerPoints or other electronic information. If anyone is interested in sharing something electronically, please share it in advance by emailing attachments to allboardmembers@chccs.k12.nc.us. Speakers may also hand out paper copies to the Board when it is their turn to speak. They should consider bringing 10 copies.

 Northside Elementary, set to open in August 2013

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Bivins Named Principal of Dual Language Magnet School

Dr. Emily Bivins, currently the principal of Carrboro Elementary, will be the principal of Frank Porter Graham Dual Language Magnet School beginning July 1, 2013.  The magnet school will be the first ever for CHCCS.  The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education approved the hire at its November 15 meeting.

Bivins has been the principal of Carrboro Elementary since 2006 and was the district's 2009-10 Principal of the Year.  She has also served as the Carrboro Elementary assistant principal, the district's director of elementary instruction and staff development and the coordinator of elementary education for Cherokee County Schools.  She has also been a teacher in three elementary schools.

"Dr. Bivins is a proven and effective educator and we have full confidence in her ability to lead this exciting new educational journey," said Superintendent Tom Forcella.  "Her track record and her passion for student learning will drive that school's pursuit of sustained excellence."

Bivins holds a bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University, a master's degree from Elon University and another master's degree and a doctorate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Emily Bivins

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Board Approves 2013-14 School Year Calendar

The Board of Education approved the 2013-14 school year calendar at its November 1 meeting.  It meets the 1025 hours of instruction requirement within a 180 instructional day calendar.  There are 14 teacher workday, five of which are optional.

The first day of school is Monday, August 26 for students in grades 1-12.  The last day of school for all students is Wednesday, June 11, when school will be dismissed two hours early.

Other calendar highlights include:  eight delayed opening dates; Winter Break, December 23-January 3; Spring Break, March 31-April 4; and high school graduation, June 14.

To view the entire calendar, click here.  To see the board item, click here.

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ECHHS Field Hockey Team Wins State Championship

East Chapel Hill High School's Field Hockey Team captured its fifth consecutive championship, defeating Winston-Salem's RJ Reynolds High School 3-0.  It was the first time the team won a championship by more than one goal.  The goals were scored by Holly Dew, Caroline Kolk and Sydney Holman.  "I have never seen them play better," said Coach Susan Taylor.

The Wildcats finished the season with a 19-0-1 record, tying with Charlotte Country Day in a game called due to lightening.  "This is one of the best groups of girls I've had the privilege to coach," said Taylor.  "They have worked very hard all season.  They have a strong bond and play so well together."  Seniors Amanda DeMasi and Sydney Holman were team members for all four of the last championship games.

The team's most outstanding moment was defeating cross-town rival Chapel Hill High in double overtime in both games this season.  They won the first game 2-0 and then won 2-1 the second time these teams met.

ECHHS had six members selected for the All-Conference Team:  Marissa Creatore, Amanda DeMasi, Rebecca Halter, Sydney Holman, Caroline Kolk and Fiona Nelson.

There were seven members selected for the All-State Team:  Marissa Creatore, Amanda DeMasi, Grace Haley, Rebecca Halter, Sydney Holman, Caroline Kolk and Fiona Nelson.

Five members were named to the All-Star Team:  Marissa Creatore, Amanda DeMasi, Rebecca Halter, Sydney Holman and Fiona Nelson.

Taylor has coached the team the last four years.  Said Taylor, "The girls and I were very privileged this year to have help from my amazing assistant coach, Rachel Magerman, who is on the UNC Field Hockey Team, and Michelle Kasold, an ECHHS alumn, who was on the Olympic Field Hockey Team this year."

Members of the ECHHS Varsity Field Hockey Team are:  Sofia Bossut, junior; Rachel Cohn, sophomore; Kelsi Cornell, senior; Marissa Creatore, sophomore; Amanda DeMasi, senior; Bailey DeMuth, senior; Holly Dew, senior; Maddie Futch, junior; Elianna Goldstein, junior; Grace Haley, sophomore; Rebecca Halter, senior; Sydney Holman, senior; Mariana Jones, junior; Caroline Kolk, freshman; Christine Kolk, junior; Fiona Nelson, senior; Elle Richardson, sophomore; Ariel Smith, senior; Sarah Towne, sophomore; and Cassie Watters, senior.

Please see the link below to the Chapel Hill News story for more information on this incredible accomplishment.

http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2012/11/14/73789/wildcats-re-re-re-repeat-as-state.html

ECHHS Championship Field Hockey Team

ECHHS Championship Field Hockey Team Seniors pictured with their Coach 

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Mary Andrews - National Literacy Teacher of the Year

Mary Andrews is a dynamic teacher at Estes Hills Elementary, but also a cherished community volunteer. Now, she is the recipient of a large grant from the Random House, Inc. Foundation – the largest book publisher in the English-speaking world. Nominated by Nancy Zeman, a Board member for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation, Andrews was the first place winner for the nation and named Literacy Teacher of the Year.

"Both as a teacher in our school district and as a volunteer in conceiving and implementing these programs, Mary Andrews continues to make an impact that goes beyond measure," said Kim Hoke, Executive Director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation." She continually finds innovative ways to reach out to our students and families."

The $10,000 grant will be divided among four initiatives: READ2ME: Tailgate Stories ($6,000); Family Reading Partners ($1,300); Book Babies ($1,500); and professional development ($1,200).

Additionally, Andrews was invited to attend the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference in Las Vegas on November 16 for the breakfast awards announcement at the MGM Grand Hotel.

Way to go, Mary!

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Financial Aid Night - November 19

East Chapel Hill High is hosting a Financial Aid Night for the district on November 19 from 6:30-7:30 in the auditorium. The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) will conduct a financial aid presentation explaining the cost of attending college, financial aid basics, the free application for federal student aid, state and federal programs and CFNC resources.

After the presentation there will be panelists from UNC-CH, NCCU, NCSU and Duke leading a question and answer session.

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FPG Meets Field Hockey!

Seven Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey team representatives from three different schools took part in an ACC Community Connections outreach event Thursday morning before the start of the 2012 ACC Field Hockey Championship.

“I think the outreach program is important because in a region like the south where field hockey isn’t as prominent, it’s good to introduce kids to it at a young age,” said Duke junior Ashley Camano. “I didn’t know what field hockey was in third grade, and I can imagine that being introduced to it and influenced by it early enough can open doors for the future for these kids.”

The student-athletes visited Frank Porter Graham Elementary School to lead a clinic on the sport of field hockey. They met with third graders and introduced the basics of the rules, game format, and equipment used. In addition, they discussed life as an ACC student-athlete and answered questions form the 60 students in attendance.

“My favorite part about this outreach program was seeing the kid’s smiles on their faces and seeing how excited they were to learn a new sport,” said Maryland freshman Shari Jones.

The ACC Community Connections Program, now in its third full year, takes place at all of the conference's Olympic sport championships. The program aims to get local elementary students the chance to talk with ACC student-athletes, learn about the sport, and to donate books to the schools' libraries."

UPDATED NOVEMBER 15, 2012
Please click see the Flickr slideshow below from the event.

Slideshow

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United Way Campaign - Thanks To All Who Contributed!

The CHCCS United Way Campaign recently came to a close and we are pleased to announce that our 19 schools plus central office raised $28,787.56 this year. A few highlights of this year's campaign:

- Estes Hills Elementary, McDougle Elementary, East Chapel Hill High and the UNC Hospital School showed the largest percentage increase in contributions versus the previous year;

- Ephesus Elementary led all sites with 44 donors;

- The elementary school with the largest total was Morris Grove Elementary with $3,234.

- The middle school with the largest total was McDougle Middle with $1,155.

- The high school with the largest total was East Chapel Hill High with $2,284.

We want to thank everyone who participated in this great event. Your contributions are positively impacting lives in our community and beyond!

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Board of Education Meets in Closed Session on Nov. 8

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education will meet in closed session regarding student matters on Thursday, November 8, 2012, at 6 p.m. at Lincoln Center.

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