Rashkis Elementary Farmers Market

Exploring new flavors and fresh, local foods were on the menu at Rashkis Elementary School in the café and courtyard on Thursday, October 20. Students enjoyed an opportunity to participate in a pop-up Farmer’s Market at their school, sample new foods, talk with a Chartwells K12 Chef and select a made from scratch lunch in the café.

Chartwells K12 and Foster Caviness Produce partnered with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Rashkis Elementary to host a pop-up Farmer’s Market that allowed students to shop for fresh produce using fictional money to make purchases. Students were able to take home the fresh produce they “purchase” from the Farmer’s Market to share with their families. Additional celebrations occurred throughout the school including:

     • Featured café menu of fresh, house made foods including Italian baked lasagna with fresh made marinara sauce, pinto beans, Greek tomato salad, fresh steamed broccoli and assorted fresh fruits and vegetables;
     • Chartwells K12 Chef Jordan Keyser conducting a demonstration table featuring a warm tri-colored sweet potato sauté;
     • Guess the Greens game and a sampling of our Imperfectly Delicious Produce.

 “Our students are so excited about the Farmer’s Market, the opportunity to shop and to learn about the fresh and local foods served in the café every day,” said Liz Cartano, Chartwells K12 Director of Dining Services. “They really love the chance to meet one of the real chefs that help design their meal.”

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Rashkis ES Students Have Surprise Guest Readers

Students from Rashkis Elementary had some very special visitors recently. UNC star basketball player Marcus Paige dropped by the school to read with third-graders. Accompanying Paige was North Carolina President of Duke Energy David Fountain and Rameses - the beloved UNC mascot.

Together, they read "Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream" by Deloris Jordan.

Upon finishing the story, Paige shared with students how his own mother is an English teacher and how reading is the foundation for his family's education. For the past three seasons, Paige has made the Academic ACC Honor Roll and is majoring in both Media/Journalism and History.

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International Walk to School Day

International Walk to School Day took place on Wednesday, October 7. It is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration with record breaking participation each October. Now, thousands of schools across America – from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – participate every October.

Among local schools participating, Rashkis Elementary and Ephesus Elementary, did it up in a big way.

The team at Rashkis Elementary enjoyed a make shift drum line, police officers, emergency workers, UNC cheerleaders to keep up the spirit, flags from all over the world to represent our international students, Len Cone, i9 Sports (to place safety signs), and even a representative from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Ephesus Elementary celebrated their healthy choice with a dance party before classes. Students who ride the bus had the opportunity to walk a lap around the building, too. There was also a special appearance by the Chapel Hill Police Department, who provided a speed sign on Ephesus Church Road to raise awareness of safety in the school zone.

Congratulations to all who participated. What a great way to start the day!

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Twelve CHCCS Teachers Earn National Board Certification!

North Carolina leads the nation in the number of National Board Certified Teachers. We are pleased to announce the following educators recently earned their national certification.

Susan Azzu - ESL teacher at Rashkis Elementary
Holly Loranger - social studies teacher at Chapel Hill High
Melissa Nicholson-Clark - Intervention Specialist at Morris Grove Elementary
Samantha Howard - classroom teacher at Morris Grove Elementary
Christine Cohn - classroom teacher at Estes Hills Elementary
Jenny Marie Smith - English teacher at East Chapel Hill High
Agnes Bernasconi - classroom teacher at Rashkis Elementary
Ashley Laver - classroom teacher at Rashkis Elementary
Miles Chappell - social studies teacher at Phillips Middle
Jennifer Pedersen - Intervention Specialist at Northside Elementary
Lisa Myles - Gifted Specialist at McDougle Elementary
Beth Kinney - EC Resource teacher at McDougle Middle


Additionally, the following six educators have renewed their national certification. We appreciate their ongoing commitment to excellence.

Susanna Breeden, social studies teacher at Phillips Middle
Annie Cramer, art teacher at Seawell Elementary
Toni DeMarco, classroom teacher at Morris Grove Elementary
Jessica Harris, counselor at East Chapel Hill High
Bradey McDaniel, classroom teacher at Rashkis Elementary
John Montavon, Spanish teacher at McDougle Middle

Congratulations and thank you to all of our nationally certified educators.

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Three New Principals

The Board of Education approved the hiring of three principals at its March 7 meeting. Jillian La Serna was named principal of Carrboro Elementary, Dr. Janice Croasmun was named principal of Rashkis Elementary and Sulura Jackson was named principal of Chapel Hill High.

Jillian La Serna

Jillian La Serna has served as Carrboro Elementary’s assistant principal since July 2011, and as an administrative intern for one year prior. She has also worked as a teacher in the San Diego Unified School District, a dual-language teacher in our district and as a program coordinator with Durham Public Schools. She earned her bachelor of arts degree from California State University, Sacramento, her master of school administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is currently working on her doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an expected completion date of May 2014. La Serna will begin in her new role July 1, 2013.

Janice Croasmun

Dr. Janice Croasmun is currently serving as the interim principal at Rashkis Elementary and has been the assistant principal there since 2006. She also spent nine years as an assistant principal with Durham Public Schools. For part of that time, she also served in a dual capacity as a technology facilitator. Dr. Croasmun was an elementary teacher for 13 years in West Virginia, Florida and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She earned her bachelor of science degree from West Virginia University and her doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Croasmun will begin as principal immediately.

Sulura Jackson

Sulura Jackson comes to Chapel Hill High from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she was the 2011 Michigan High School Principal of the Year, and is currently serving as the founding principal of Skyline High, a role she has been in since 2006. Prior to that, she served four years as a principal in both Farmington and Detroit, Michigan. Ms. Jackson was also a teacher and assistant principal in Detroit for 16 years. She earned her associate degree from Grambling State University, her bachelor of science degree from Louisiana College and her master of education degree from Wayne State University. Jackson will begin at Chapel Hill High on July 8, 2013.





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Mack named interim administrator for Dual Language

Deshera Mack has been named the interim transition administrator for the Dual Language transition process.  In overseeing the transition process, Mack will help implement the transition plan, develop and lead a transition team, and support FPG Elementary.  She will also help develop and provide leadership for internal and external communications, as well as staff planning.

Mack will work closely with FPG Elementary's administration, school staff, district staff and parents to help provide the best possible support for everyone as the district moves forward.

Mack retired from CHCCS in 2011 after 19 years of service to the district.  Most recently, she was the principal of Rashkis Elementary from its planning phase in 2002, until she retired last year.  She began her career at CHCCS as an assistant principal at Seawell Elementary before becoming its principal in 1994 through 2002.  She was named Principal of the Year for CHCCS twice.

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