New Administrators

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education recently approved new hires for administrative positions.

Scott Fearrington was named as the district’s new Director of Transportation. Fearrington began his work with the district in 1998. He most recently served as the Community Schools Program Supervisor, a position he has held since 2011. He also has experience as a Community Schools site director and bus driver.

“Mr. Fearrington has invested in building collaborative relationships with parents, students and staff for 17 years,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Todd LoFrese. “He is appropriately prepared for the challenges of this important position, and he has earned the full trust of our school principals and district leadership.”

Tomeka Ward-Satterfield is the new principal at Phillips Middle School. She has served as an assistant principal at East Chapel Hill High since 2009, and at Graham High School in Alamance County from 2008 to 2009. Ward-Satterfield also worked for ten years in Durham Public Schools as a teacher assistant, teacher, counselor and testing coordinator.

“Ms. Ward-Satterfield is an excellent fit for Phillips Middle School,” said Arasi Adkins, Executive Director of Human Resources. “She brings a robust combination of educational leadership experience and relationship-building skills that make her well-suited to lead the school.”

The Board of Education also named Ileana Herrera, currently an assistant principal with Chatham County Schools, as an assistant principal for Chapel Hill High School.

Tomeka Ward-Satterfield

read more "New Administrators"

Carrboro High Wins Fourth Consecutive Wells Fargo Cup!

The results are in...and once again Carrboro High has the top 2-A athletic program in the state.

The Jaguars had an impressive spring, securing the school's fourth consecutive Wells Fargo Cup, rolling up 305 points in the spring for its 677.5 total, well ahead of runner-up Lake Norman Charter at 382.5 points. Carrboro High, with playoff points in six different sports, won both the 2-A men’s dual team tennis title and the women’s soccer state crown, was second in women’s outdoor track and then picked up major points as the top 2-A finisher in women’s lacrosse.   

Wells Fargo Cup points are determined by a system based on performance in state championship events. All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) earn points. In the playoff events involving teams from more than one classification, Wells Fargo Cup points are awarded based on the school’s standing against other schools in its own classification. If fewer then eight schools from a classification compete in a sport, only those schools that are represented are eligible to receive the Cup points.
   
Points are awarded for all sports as follows: 50 for first, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fifth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. In the event of a tie, the schools receive an equal number of points based on the number of teams that tie and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school competes.

1.  Carrboro                                           677.5
2.  Lake Norman Charter                       382.5
3.  Newport Croatan                              377.5
4.  N.C. School of Science and Math      372.5
5.  Franklin                                             310
6.  Newton-Conover                              307.5
7.  South Granville                                  265
8.  East Lincoln                                       260
9.  Washington                                        255
10. Salisbury                                           250

Please join us in congratulating Carrboro High Athletic Director April Ross, the coaching staff and all of our Jaguar student-athletes.

read more "Carrboro High Wins Fourth Consecutive Wells Fargo Cup!"

Students Place at National TSA Conference

Twenty-four CHCCS students from four different schools competed at the national Technology Student Association (TSA) conference in Dallas from June 28 to July 2.  The students brought back two, first place trophies and a second place trophy, as well as trophies for sixth and tenth place.  They also had two teams reach the semifinals and two students selected as NCTSA officers.

Teams from McDougle Middle brought home both first place trophies.  They won in Structural Engineering Models (team members Polina Ermoshkina and Jacob Meredith-Andrews) and in Flight (team member Angel Koshy).

A team from Phillips Middle brought home the second place trophy in Problem Solving (team members Mike Pudlo and Lydia Treml).

The other Top Ten finishes were both captured by McDougle Middle teams.  Students placed sixth in the Junior Solar Sprint (team members Polina Ermoshkina and Jacob Meredith-Andrews) and tenth in the Go Green Manufacturing competition (team members Sylvia Gordon, Kyle Halstater and Max Kurzman).

The McDougle Middle teams that reached the semifinals were Inventions and Innovations (team members Jayden Gumerman, Kyle Halstater and Max Kurzman) and the Chapter Team (team members James Crescenzi, Polina Ermoshkina, Kyle Halaster, Ian Jensen, Max Kurzman and Jacob Meredith-Andrews).

The two students who were elected as NCTSA officers are Jillian Breithaupt, treasurer, and Kyle Halstater, reporter.

"It's very refreshing to see our students grow in richer and more meaningful ways socially, emotionally and intellectually than could ever be measured on a standardized test," said Team Advisor Patrick Pudlo.  "For example, a middle school student, quite unsure of her abilities, now realizes that her effort in the flight event was not just good, it was THE best.  She is still hugging the trophy," he said.

"Another example is a group of middle school students who failed to read the problem solving event instructions carefully as sixth graders, as eighth graders, receive national recognition," Pudlo adds.

When speaking about the conference, Team Advisor Redmond Grigg said how much he appreciated the opportunity to take the students on this trip and what it can mean for the students.  "Worlds unseen suddenly open and connections are made and the results are priceless, regardless of accolades and awards garnered," said Grigg.

From McDougle Middle, team members are: James Crescenzi, Polina Ermoshkin, Sylvia Gordon, Jayden Gumerman, Noam Gumerman, Kyle Halstater, Ian Jensen, Angel Koshy, Max Kurzman, Jacob Meredith-Andrews, Erick Mickunas, Andrew Redinbo and Colby Reeve.

From Phillips Middle, team members are: Angad Grewal, Albert Huynh, Mike Pudlo and Lydia Treml.

From Chapel Hill High, team members are: Jillian Breithaupt, Bryanna Chazotte, Shera Chellani, Iain Dixon and Nathan Dixon.

From East Chapel Hill High, team members are: Luke Cunningham and Matt Pudlo.

Redmond Grigg advises both McDougle Middle and Chapel Hill High teams and Patrick Pudlo advises both Phillips Middle and East Chapel Hill High teams.

The team chaperones were Anne Halstater and Marne Meredith, whose guidance helped students throughout the conference.  "Whether it was helping students remember schedules and events, finding name tags or room keys, or nursing them in the middle of the night, as the week's festive atmosphere begins to catch up and take its toll, both Anne and Marne rose to the occasion," said Grigg.  "I am grateful for their willingness to participate, not only on behalf of their children, but on behalf of the other students, and on my behalf as well." he added.

TSA is a national organization with more than 200,000 middle and high school student members.  It is an opportunity for students who are engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to learn through challenging competitions, leadership opportunities and community service.  CHCCS students participate in TSA through their Career and Technology Education (CTE) classes at their schools.

read more "Students Place at National TSA Conference"

Glenwood Elementary Sister School

Walt Disney was right...It is indeed a small world after all.

Our own Glenwood Elementary Gators have been working on creating a sister school relationship with a school in Beijing - the Second Elementary School of the Beijing Chaoyang Foreign Language School (Chao Wei Er Bu for short). 

This school recently merged with a nearby middle school, high school, and another elementary school to be one big school. The school has aspirations to be a leader in foreign languages, but for now it offers the same English program as the other public schools in Beijing. 

Glenwood students sent letters that were received warmly by principal. In fact, she immediately distributed them to her teachers and asked for responses. Glenwood now has a complete set of delightfully illustrated Chao Wei letters. English letters are answered in English, and Chinese letters in Chinese. There was also a ceremony to formally receive the gifts from Glenwood and, in turn, to present a variety of gifts destined for Glenwood.

The pictures below show Chao Wei kids displaying their Glenwood wrist bands, and greeting Glenwood with a gator chomp!

read more "Glenwood Elementary Sister School"

Congratulations Class of 2015!

Nearly 900 students crossed the stage at four recent graduations. Carrboro High, Chapel Hill High and East Chapel Hill High each held ceremonies at the Dean Smith Center on Saturday, June 13. Phoenix Academy High held its ceremony at Extraordinary Ventures on Wednesday, June 10. Photos have been posted to the district's facebook page.

We are very happy for all of our graduates and their families. Please join us in congratulating them on a job well done!

read more "Congratulations Class of 2015!"

Data Manager of the Year

Congratulations to Geoff Gentry, McDougle Middle School Data Manager, for being awarded Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools 2014-15 Data Manager of the Year. This award is given annually to the data manager that has supported the district’s data managers above and beyond the job description.

Besides striving to embrace the full functionality of PowerSchool, and using PowerSchool to meet McDougle Middle School’s information needs, Geoff volunteers to work on district data teams to provide the same functionality to all Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Often used as a resource for his peers, he is willing to assist others with their needs to access and use student and staff information in their decision-making tasks.

A CHCCS Certificate of Appreciation was also granted to Anshu Gupta, Data Manager at Seawell Elementary, for striving to enhance how information is stored, and for achieving change in the use of PowerSchool functionality during 2014-2015 school year.

As a newly hired data manager for the 2014-2015 school year, Anshu challenges traditional and school
procedures. She was successful in improving Seawell’s procedures in managing students with excessive absences, which resulted in Seawell Elementary meeting District and State requirements with great savings in time and effort.

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Data Manager of the Year"

Lincoln Center on Summer Hours, June 15-Aug. 7 / Lincoln Center funcionará con horario de verano del 15 de junio al 7 de agosto

Lincoln Center Starts Summer Hours
Lincoln Center will operate on Summer Hours from Monday, June 15 through Friday, August 7. During those weeks, Lincoln Center will be open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Registration at Lincoln Center will also operate at limited hours during that period: Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. No registrations will be started after these hours.

Horario de verano en Lincoln Center y para inscripción de estudiantes – del 15 de junio al 7 de agosto
Lincoln Center funcionará en horario de verano del lunes 15 de junio al viernes 7 de agosto. Durante estas semanas, Lincoln Center abrirá 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.

La inscripción de estudiantes en Lincoln Center también estará disponible en un horario limitado durante estas semanas: lunes a jueves, 7:30 a. m. a 4:30 p. m. y viernes, 7:30 a. m. hasta la 1 p. m. No se iniciará el proceso de inscripción de estudiantes después de esas horas.

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Lincoln Center on Summer Hours, June 15-Aug. 7 / Lincoln Center funcionará con horario de verano del 15 de junio al 7 de agosto"

Dr. Forcella Named Regional Superintendent of the Year

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Tom Forcella was presented with a pleasant surprise at last night’s Board meeting.

Dr. Neil Pedersen, Executive Director of the Central Carolina Regional Educational Service Alliance (RESA) and former superintendent of the same school district, showed up at the meeting and signed up to speak as part of the citizen comment portion of the agenda.

Upon approaching the podium, Dr. Pedersen used the opportunity to announce that Dr. Forcella had been selected as the Central Carolina Regional Superintendent of the Year. He is now one of eight finalists for the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year, which will be announced in November. The state Superintendent of the Year then becomes eligible for the National Superintendent of the Year honor, which is announced by the American Association of School Administrators at its annual conference in February.

“We were extremely pleased to learn of Dr. Forcella’s selection as Regional Superintendent of the Year,” said Mike Kelley, Chair of the Board of Education. “His dedication to student success, innovative approach to leadership and determined focus on quality instruction make him an excellent candidate as he moves through the process.”

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Dr. Forcella Named Regional Superintendent of the Year"

Innovative Instruction: The Augmented Reality Sandbox

Would you like a quick glimpse at the kind of innovative lessons taking place in classrooms throughout Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools? Well check out this short video (one minute, twenty-two seconds):

A team of four engineering students from East Chapel Hill High School have constructed an Augmented Reality Sandbox (ARS) to be used by East science teachers to provide a dynamic interactive 3D color topographic modeling environment. The team's project idea was first suggested by East Chapel Hill science teacher and team's project "client", Dr. Stephen Snyder. This idea was inspired by a similar machine constructed at East Carolina University by colleagues of Dr. Snyder. The team of first-year engineering students, consisting of seniors James Jennings and Victor Ding along with sophomores Sam Castleberry and Ryan Pecaut, constructed their functioning version of the ARS on a slim budget of less than $300. These students creatively financed their project through a combination of teacher directed PTA funds, donations, and CTE instructional funding. They received guidance and encouragement from their client, Dr. Snyder, East engineering instructors, Patrick Pudlo and Bill Vincent, and local and district level support staff including Bill Groves, Anita Benton and Brian Wood. 

 

This team of four engineering students were part of a total of 134 taking the Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) course at East Chapel Hill High School.  For the course final project, these students self-assembled into more than 60 teams and attempted almost 30 authentic projects. Teams bid on authentic projects submitted by members of the East community including East teachers and the athletic booster club. The person submitting the idea for an engineered solution served as the "client" for the students who operated as engineering firms.  Through the project, the engineering teams were responsible for maintaining communication with their clients, managing overall project time lines and budgets, creating comprehensive design briefs, constructing 3D CAD models and creating physical models of their designs before presenting their final products to their clients. Many of these students will continue their study of engineering next year at East in the second level engineering course, Principles of Engineering (POE).  Learn more about engineering at East by visiting 

https://sites.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/echhs-engineering/.

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Innovative Instruction: The Augmented Reality Sandbox"

Northside Rap Remix

So you think you can dance?

Check out the moves put on display in this video by the Northside Elementary staff.

read more "Northside Rap Remix"