Reaching in pocket to remind U.S. Troops of home thanks to Meadow School (New) Meadow School students in Mr. Jackson Temple’s 7th grade Social Studies class folded 300 miniature U.S. flags and placed them in bags with a note reading: "A flag for your pocket so you can always carry a little piece of home. We are praying for you and we are proud of you. Thank you for defending our country and our freedom.” This project took place the week before Veteran's Day. Mr. Temple works often with the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 in teaching U.S. History and citizenship. Mr. Temple and Meadow School continuously do projects for U.S. troops. For more information, please contact Jackson Temple at 919.894.4226 or see PocketFlagProject.com. Riverwood Middle School students learn history through reenacting (New) Social Studies teacher Mr. Doug Pawlak is currently leading his students through a reenactment of the mock trial of the British soldiers who were involved in the Boston Massacre. Jury member “students” will decide if it was murder or self defense. The prosecution team is lead by Kelsey Boykin, Lindsey Tippett, Raven Greer and Michael Hall. The defense team consists of Justin Mourfield, Tyler Lindley, Victoria Montgomery and Christian Pettus. Students will learn that the Boston Massacre took place in March, 1770, when British soldiers fired on a mob of American colonists resulting in five deaths. This helped stir resentment and anger towards the British government which culminated with the American Revolution. For more information, please contact Mr. Pawlak at 919.359.2769. Sixth graders at Riverwood Middle School win battle over pennies (New) The Junior Beta Club of Riverwood Middle School recently sponsored Penny Wars, a service project to raise money for the American Red Cross. In three days, the school raised close to $2,100. Each grade level “battles” the other grade levels by placing pennies, paper money and checks into their own bank of money. The battle gets interesting because silver money subtracts from each grade level’s total. In the end, the sixth grade hall blew away the competition and will be enjoying a “RAP” party – recess and popsicles. Penny Wars has become an annual event at the school. In three years, Riverwood Middle School and the Beta Club have raised over $6,000. The club’s next service project, Giving Tree, begins in two weeks. During that time, wrapped gifts for area families are brought in by members and are then delivered in time for the holiday season. Last year, the club helped 20 families in the Clayton area. The goal of the Beta Club is to promote character and develop leadership skills as well as encourage service involvement. Membership in the Junior Beta Club is based on grades and conduct – 90% overall average, no grade lower than an 85, and good conduct. For more information, visit www.betaclub.org or call Jeni Wiley, Beta Club Advisor at Riverwood Middle School, at 919.359.2769. North Johnston High School HOSA Club raises money for autism and cancer (New) HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) Week was a great success at North Johnston High School. Students raised approximately $400 for autism and cancer. The club is collecting new toys for needy children in Johnston County for Christmas as well as participating in a food drive and diaper collection. Several HOSA students will be attending the Regional Competition at West Johnston High School on Nov. 18. For more information, please call Pat Sasser at 919.284.2031. Clayton High School’s Ladies of Vision club visit the sick (New) Clayton High School’s Ladies of Vision club, sponsored by Lynette Barber and Sandy Sanders, visit the Brian Center in Clayton every month. Club members visit patients and staff to provide a day of fun filled activities such as poems, songs and even provide stuffed animals to show the patients that they care about them. For more information, please contact Marlon Lee at 919.553.4064. McTeachers Night raises funds for Princeton School (New) McDonalds of Selma hosted Princeton School parents, teachers, and students to a McTeachers Night as a PTO fundraiser. Teachers, students and their families enjoyed an evening of special treats that raised more than $500 for Princeton School PTO. The PTO will use the proceeds to support teachers and school projects. For more information, please call Kirk Denning, Principal, at 919.936.5011. Grants awarded to Johnston County Schools (New) The Aileen S. Andrew Foundation of Smithfield recently donated $5,000 to Johnston County Schools. The funds will be used to bring middle school students to The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education in Raleigh for in-house interactive nutrition and physical activity lessons to ensure a positive change in behavior through a range of practical applications. The Johnston County School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) received a $5,000 mini-grant from the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NCAAHPERD) to pilot the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program in Johnston County Schools. In the 2005- 2006 school year, Johnston County Schools had over 140 suicide ideations -- students who either attempted suicide, discussed suicide, or wrote notes about suicide. ASIST provides practical training for caregivers seeking to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. The emphasis of the ASIST model is on suicide first-aid and on helping students stay safe and seek further help. For more information, please contact Dr. Oliver Johnson at 919.934.9810, ext. 234. North Johnston Middle School finds creative ways to raise money for United Way (New) North Johnston Middle School was on a quest to find new ways to raise money for United Way. This year, the school had a staff/student volleyball game and a silent auction. The first fundraiser was the volleyball game. It was the NJMS Lady Jaguars Volleyball Team vs. NJMS staff. It was held after school on Wednesday October 25. Admission was $1 and concessions were sold at the game. The game started at 4:00 and ended around 5:20. Many staff members were involved in this fundraiser. The cheerleaders for the game were teachers: Krysty Williams, Kay Howell, and Emmie Fitzgerald. The staff running the concession stand was: Mona Finch, Cindy Pettigrew, and Jennifer Peele. Gatekeepers were staff members: Pat Narron and Marci Lamm. Staff members who kept score were Jennifer Davis and Melissa Sevigny. Former NJMS students were the line judges and the referee. The staff volleyball members included: Ray Stott (principal), Haywood Watson (assistant principal), Rhonda Johnson, Gary Boyd, Emily Vann, Kathy Pipkin, Garfield Baker, Jody Edwards, Heather Anders, Chan Hales, and Amanda Surratt. To get prepared the faculty had practice on Tuesday before the game. Practice must have been the key to success for the staff. The staff showed up ready to play on Wednesday. The final score was NJMS staff winning 3 out of 4 games. Jody Edwards had some key plays at the net. Garfield Baker served the ball with power. Emily Vann sacrificed herself to save the ball from hitting the floor numerous times. The overall fundraiser brought in over $230. The money collected was divided between athletics and United Way. This was not only a fundraiser but an opportunity for the staff and faculty to bond while getting a little extra physical activity. The last portion of the school’s United Way fundraising events was a silent auction. Everyone on staff was encouraged to bring items in for donation to the auction. The items were placed on the stage in the cafeteria for all faculty/staff to bid on during school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Nov. 1, 2, 3). The bidding closed at 3:15 on Friday afternoon. Bidding sheets were placed beside of each item stating the item and who donated it to the auction. Before the bidding began everyone on staff was given a bidding number so that nobody knew who they were bidding against. This helped in keeping the excitement of the auction. This was the school’s second year raising money for United Way through a silent auction. The faculty/staff seemed to really enjoy this fundraising idea. This year, the silent auction raised over $600. This was another way to promote faculty and staff bonding. For more information, please contact Amanda Surratt at 919.284.3374. South Johnston High School names scholarship nominees (New) Crystal N. Raynor has been nominated by South Johnston High School as this year’s Centennial Scholarship Nominee for North Carolina State University College of Textiles. Joanna Tart has been nominated as this year’s Strickland Scholarship Competition Nominee for Campbell University. Stephen Parker, Sarah Core and Samantha Surles have been nominated as this year’s Morehead Nominees for the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Each student was selected based on the criteria set forth by UNC-CH. Daniel Page and Heather Thornton have been nominated by SJHS as this year’s Park Scholarship Nominees for North Carolina State University. Each student was selected based on the criteria set forth by NCSU. For more information, please call Brandy Owen, Scholarship Chair, at 919.894.3146, ext. 1109 or email her at brandyowen@johnston.k12.nc.us. Winners of the Lion’s Club Annual Peace Poster Contest Announced (New) First Place—(will represent Johnston County Schools at district competition) Adaria Coulter, Riverwood Middle School Art Teacher, Magen Pike Second Place— Katie Mullins, Clayton Middle School Art Teacher, Deborah Coates Third Place— Tonia Taylor, Selma Middle School Art Teacher, Walter Alligood For more information, please call Magen Pike at Riverwood Middle School, 919.359.2769. A Festival of Drums and Percussion comes to South Smithfield Elementary School Braima Moiwai, an artist from Sierra Leone, West Africa, will share a program of African music with the students of South Smithfield Elementary School during the week of November 13-17. His week long residency will afford every class in the school an opportunity to work with Mr. Moiwai in a small class situation. Mr. Moiwai is a freelance artist from Sierra Leone, West Africa, based in Durham, NC. He is a story teller and musician who specializes in the oral tradition of the coastal regions of West Africa. He will provide hands on drumming and percussion techniques for students and will share games, dances, songs and stories from his homeland of West Africa. This residency was arranged by the Cultural Arts Committee at the school and supported by the South Smithfield Elementary PTA, and a grant from Artist-in-the-Schools, with support from the Fred Smith Company, the Johnston County Arts Council, Johnston County Schools and corporate, foundation and individual donors. This program is modeled on the Artist-in-the-Schools program of the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and is supported in part by services provided by United Arts. The program will highlight African music and the instruments of West Africa. For more information, please call Judy Daniels at 919.934.8979. November calendar exciting for Polenta Elementary School’s kindergarteners November 17--All kindergarten classes will have a Thanksgiving Feast from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. November 21--All kindergarten classes will have a Thanksgiving play in the Multipurpose Room. For more information, please call Deborah Bennett at 919.989.6039. Meadow Elementary to hold diabetes fundraiser during month of November Superintendent Dr. Anthony Parker asked that each school raise at least $1 per student for diabetes. Meadow’s goal is to raise a minimum of $560. The school will have "Coins for a Cure" jars placed throughout the school for donations. The school will also sponsor several promotional days to raise additional funds: Friday, November 17, students can pay $1 to wear sunglasses to school on "Shade Out Diabetic Day." Tuesday, November 21, students may pay $2 to dress tacky on "Tacky Day." For more information, please call Karla Parker in the Guidance Department at 919.894.4226. Greg Gelb Band to ‘swing’ by Four Oaks Middle School A concert by the "Greg Gelb Swing Band" will be held at Four Oaks Middle School at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 17, in the gym. Greg Gelb leads a jazz group of eight musicians. Students will learn about the history, techniques, and unique characteristics of jazz and the genre of a jazz band. For more information, please call Pat Bridgers at 919.963.4022. UPCOMING EVENTS Meadow School PTA to hold annual Fall Festival fundraiser The Meadow School PTA is sponsoring its annual Fall Festival fundraiser on Friday, November 17, 2006. Food will be served at 5 p.m. There will be games from 6-8 p.m. and a dance from 8-10 p.m. This event allows students and their families to have a fun-filled evening at an affordable price. The PTA is able to provide Meadow Elementary with many resources that the school does not have in its budget. For more information, please call Robin Barefoot at 919.894.4226. Benson Middle School offering chance to win $5,000 (New) The Benson Middle School PTO will be having a reverse raffle at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 17, in the school cafeteria. Ticket holders are entitled to a steak dinner for two and a chance to win $5,000. Tickets are $50. For more information, please contact Janet Glover, Secretary/Treasurer, at 919.894.4155. Superintendent to host Ministers’ Meeting in Smithfield-Selma High area Superintendent Dr. Anthony Parker will host a Ministers' Meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 20, in the Conference Room at Selma Middle School. Ministers from the Smithfield-Selma attendance area including: Corinth Holders, Selma Elementary, Selma Middle, Smithfield-Selma High, Smithfield Middle, South Smithfield Elementary, West Smithfield Elementary, Wilson's Mills Elementary, South Campus Community Middle, South Campus Community High, and Johnston County Middle College High, are invited to attend. For more information, please call Lori Dixon or Carolyn G. Ennis 934.6032, ext. 242 or 257. First graders learn about Native Americans at West View Elementary School (New) Michele Myers first grade class will be having a Native American celebration. The children will sing, recite a poem, perform a Cherokee dance, and present information about Native Americans in our country. The show will take place at 1:15 p.m. on November 21 and will be followed by refreshments. For more information, please call Michele Myers at 919.661.6184. Meadow School fundraiser rescheduled from Nov. 14th to Nov. 21st (Change in Date) Additional funds are needed to support parent involvement projects at Meadow Elementary School. The school has teamed with the Smithfield Golden Corral to sponsor a School Spirit Night where Golden Corral donates $1 for each Meadow customer eating dinner on Tuesday night, November 21, 2006. Customers must present a special coupon with their order for Meadow to redeem the $1 donation. Coupons will be distributed to all students. Additional coupons are available upon request. For more information, please call Frank Swinyer, Principal, at 919.894.7064. Student artwork featured in Johnston Memorial Hospital Pediatrics Unit The Johnston County Arts Council and Johnston Memorial Hospital invite you to attend the “Student Art Exhibit for the Pediatrics Unit.” Artwork from students at the AIG Center will be on display through November 25, 2006. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please call Sue Booker, Art teacher, at 919.934.9529. Native American storyteller to visit Meadow School (New) Lloyd Arneach, a Native American storyteller, will be visiting Meadow School at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29.Grades K-5 are invited to attend. Mr. Arneach was born and raised on the Cherokee Reservation. He has been telling stories in schools since 1990.The Native American Storyteller was selected by the Artists in the Schools committee because Native American culture is studied in the 5th grade curriculum. This event will take place in the school gym. For more information, please contact Darene Honeycutt at 919.894.7064. December Dates to remember for Polenta Elementary School December 8—The 3rd Grade Chorus will perform at the Festival of Trees at 11 a.m. in Smithfield. For more information, please call Susan Marler. December 12—As part of the Artist-in-the-Schools program, Felix Pitre will share many of the Hispanic traditions that were passed down to him from his own family. The program includes stories and songs from Latin America, bringing to life the culture of Latin America with instruments, dance and language, performed in English interwoven with Spanish words and phrases. Children will enjoy stories such as Juan Bobo and Paco & the Witch, and sing along with a sign-language song as well as familiar classics, and even play along with Latin American instruments. December 14 –The 3rd Grade Chorus will perform a Holiday Classic at 7 p.m. during the PTA Meeting. For more information, please Nancy Nettles, Principal, at 919.989.6039. Selma Elementary School Chorus goes on tour (New) The Selma Elementary School Chorus will be going ‘on tour’ to area nursing homes to show compassion and enrich the lives of senior citizens and the elderly by performing holiday music. Performances will take place on Wed., Dec. 13, at various times. The times and locations are as follows: 9:00 at Unity House in Selma; 9:30 at Selma Library; 10:15 at Selma Senior Center; 11:00 at JMH; 11:45 at Golden Corral for lunch; 1:15 at Carolina House; and 2:00 at Smithfield Manor. For more information, please contact Jeannie Barnes at 919.965.3361. Empty Bowl at Polenta Elementary School to benefit hungry Polenta Elementary School will have its annual EMPTY BOWL project which will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 14. Ceramic bowls and Christmas ornaments will be bartered off for food items and money. The art club will be working hard to make these items. All proceeds will go to the North Carolina Food Banks. For more information, please call Nancy Nettles, Principal, at 919.989.6039
