ANNOUNCEMENTS_________________________________________________ Four Oaks Middle School Principal takes pie in face for juvenile diabetes (New) (PHOTOS—Winters&Calcutt; chose)In an effort to raise as much money as possible for Juvenile Diabetes Research, Four Oaks Middle School set the following goals to inspire the students and staff: For $750 - FOMS Athletic Director, Mike Winters, would have his head shaved; For $1,500 - Ms. Edwards-Calcutt would pie Brenda Clayton & Debbie Woodard, school counselors; and for $2,250 - Ms. Edwards-Calcutt, Principal, would be pied. The fundraiser began November 15 and ended November 30, after only nine days. The grand total of the fundraiser was $2,344.01. As promised, Mr. Winters had his head shaved, and Ms. Clayton, Ms. Woodard and Mrs. Edwards-Calcutt were pied in the school cafeteria on Friday, December 1. For more information, please call Lisa Edwards-Calcutt, Principal, at 919.963.4022. Meadow Elementary School recognized for Bright Ideas (New) (PHOTO-Bright Ideas)Meadow Elementary School Science Teacher, Donna Price, and Darene Honeycutt, Parent Involvement Contact, attended the Bright Ideas Awards Luncheon on Thursday, November 30, 2006, at the Raleigh Marriott at Crabtree Valley. Bright Ideas Grant winners were treated to a royal luncheon and presented certificates. After a delicious meal, awards recipients were treated to a fabulous, heart-warming tale. Erin Gruwell, the teacher who started the Freedom Writers, shared her story of how she brought a classroom of at-risk students who were gang members to academic achievement. The students attended college on the proceeds of their published book, "The Freedom Writers Diary," which was inspired by "The Diary of Anne Frank." The movie "The Freedom Writers" is scheduled to premier in January 2007. None of these students had ever read a single book from cover to cover. For more information, please contact Price or Honeycutt at 919.894.7064. Perfect attendance wins privileges for Princeton High School students (New) (PHOTO-Princeton) Princeton High School wishes to recognize students in grades 9-12 who had perfect attendance for the month of November. These students were randomly chosen from more than 200 students who had perfect attendance. These students are awarded special privileges such as free concession items and free passes to athletic contests. Congratulations to all of the students who had perfect attendance for the month of November. For more information, please call Kirk Denning, Principal, at 919.936.5011. Polenta Elementary students help feed the hungry during holiday season (New) (PHOTO-Polenta Student Council) Polenta Elementary School’s Student Council held a food drive November 28 - December 4. The students collected nonperishable food items for the Helping Hand Mission. The food will be distributed to needy families this holiday season. The school is very proud of its staff, students and parents for making this service project such a success. (Student Council)Front row (left to right): Katherine Perez, Corrie Byrd, Logan Locklear, Alexander Kuppler and Bryce Hale Middle row (left to right): Jake Lorren, Ajee Acosta, Paul Mefford and Pedro Aviles Back row (left to right): Beverly Simmons (advisor), Bailie Pickering, Brianna Taylor and Amy McGinnis (advisor) For more information, please call Beverly Simmons, Media Coordinator/Co-advisor for Student Council, at 919.989.6039. Princeton students explain why they’re proud to be American in essay contest (New) (PHOTO-Vets Essay Contest) Several Princeton middle school students entered a Veteran's Day essay contest sponsored by Princeton Veteran's committee. The theme for the essays was: “Sacrifice + Veterans = freedom. Why I'm proud to be an American”. Winners are: 1st Place essay - Ryan Chase; 2nd Place - Dalton Langdon; 3rd Place - Will Denning. For more information, please call Kirk Denning, Principal, at 919.936.5011. UPCOMING EVENTS________________________________________________ Meadow Elementary students give to those in need (New) The Beta Club hosts an annual food drive and donates it to the Share Program. Each homeroom at Meadow School competes to bring in the most non-perishable foods. The class with the most items wins a pizza party. The Beta Club then organizes the food for families before giving it to the Share Program. The goal of the Share Program is to provide at least one toy, one outfit of clothing and a Christmas dinner for children in need. The drive will last from Monday, December 4-Friday, December 15. The Meadow Community is known for its beautiful display of Christmas Lights, but more than the night sky is lit during the holiday season; the hearts and lives of children are brightened with hope of a beautiful Christmas morning. For more information, please call Cherry Johnson, Beta Club sponsor, at 919.894.7064. Life Skills students dance the night away with Queen and King (New) Johnston County Schools is hosting its annual countywide Life Skills dance at North Johnston High School from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2006. A Queen and King are crowned at this event. There are approximately 30 Life Skills students in the district. For more information, please call Diane McNamara, Life Skills teacher at North Johnston High School, at 919.284.2031. Riverwood Middle School Chorus sings the message that “Christmas Comes from the Heart” The Riverwood Middle School Chorus will be participating in the Christmas in Riverwood Festival on Friday, December 8, 2006. Events are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Activities will include: carriage rides, live Nativity scene, community caroling, tree lighting, brass choir, and Santa reading the Christmas story. Come out and help spread some Christmas cheer around the Riverwood community. For more information, please call Candace Westbrook, Choral Director, at 919.359.2769. Schools participate in Festival of Trees McGee's Elementary Chorus will perform for the Festival of Trees at the Johnston Medical Mall in Smithfield from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2006. The school invites the community to come and enjoy the students’ holiday performance. The South Smithfield Elementary School Chorus will be performing at the Festival of Trees on Friday, December 8, 2006, at 10 a.m. Friday, 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. South Smithfield Elementary School will have a Christmas tree on display at the Festival of Trees through Sunday, December 10th. The students have made decorations representing the wonderful cultures at South Smithfield and named the tree "The Faces of Christmas". The tree sponsors are Lisa and Mark McMillen of Smithfield. A complete listing of the schools is attached. For more information, please call Carolyn Ennis at 919.934.6031, extension 257. McGee's Crossroads Elementary School News The annual McGee's Elementary School and Community Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2006, at the school. The night will feature the school chorus and the PTA is sponsoring a local arts and craft show for the community to enjoy and do some holiday shopping. The McGee's Elementary Student Council is sponsoring their annual Salvation Army Food Drive through Wednesday, December 13, 2006. The school’s goal again this year is to collect several hundred pounds of food. The Student Council theme this year is "McGee's Students Are Food Bandits for the Needy." The school is encouraging students and families to bring in canned goods and paper products to help fill the many large containers placed throughout the school building. For more information, please call Vicky Temple-Rains, Assistant Principal, at 919.894.7161. River Dell Elementary students jump for Christmas (New) The River Dell Elementary School Jump Rope Team will perform at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2006, in the Clayton Christmas Parade at the Clayton Chamber of Commerce. The group will also perform at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2006, in the Smithfield Christmas Parade on Market Street between 5th/6th Street to 2nd Street. River Dell’s jump rope team was the first of its kind in the county. This is the team’s fourth year together. For more information, please call Jenn Velardo at 919.553.1977. Join the festivities at Riverwood Middle School this month The Riverwood Middle School 7th and 8th grade band will be performing for the first time in the Clayton Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9, 2006, beginning at 3 p.m. on Main Street. Riverwood Middle School will be hosting their annual Winter Band Concert on Tuesday, December 19, at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium of Riverwood Middle School. The 6th grade band, 7th grade band and 8th grade band will be performing. Come enjoy an evening of festive music. For more information, please call Chris Germanoski, Band Director, at 919.359.2769. West Johnston High School Band to perform holiday concert The award-winning West Johnston High School Band will perform its annual Holiday Concert this Sunday, December 10, at 3:00 pm. The concert will be held at the West Johnston Auditorium and admission is free. There will be a reception for the community immediately following the concert in the cafeteria. Sunday’s program will feature Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed, selections from Peter I. Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, as well as many other holiday classics. The Concert Band will be joined by the WJHS Percussion Ensemble and the WJHS Honors Chorus under the direction of Ms. Sarah Phelps. “We are very happy to have the join us on this special occasion,” stated Director of Bands, David S. Duffy. “We truly hope the entire community will join us in celebrating the Holiday season this Sunday,” stated Director of Bands, M. Lance Britt. “We have been working hard since Grand Nationals to prepare this ‘thank-you’ concert for our community,” he continued. “It is sure to be a fun afternoon for the entire family!” For more information on the West Johnston High School Band program, please contact the WJHS Band Office at 919.934.2328 or visit its web page at www.wjhsbands.org. Forecast calls for Bill Reh to visit Selma Middle School (New) Bill Reh from NBC 17 Weather will be at Selma Middle School at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 11, 2006, to speak with 7th grade students about weather. For more information, please call Heidi Adams at 919.965.2555. Johnston County Middle College High School Johnston County Middle College High School cordially invites you to join its first annual Senior Project Showcase to be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2006, in the Great Hall of the Tart Building located on the campus of Johnston Community College. The Showcase will exhibit Senior Project Products in an expo style. It will serve as an opportunity for businesses to prospect for future employees and internships and will introduce seniors to the business and professional community. For more information, please call Amelia McLeod, Principal, at 919.989.6208. Winter festivities underway at Meadow Elementary School It is a school tradition for the Meadow Band to hold a Winter Concert. This year, the concert will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2006, in the school gym. For more information, please call Kevin Sevigny, Band Director, at 919.894.7064. Spartan Voices to be heard in concert The SSS Spartan Voices will be performing their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 12, at 7:30 p.m., in the Selma Elementary School auditorium. For more information, please call Dolores J. Barrett, Chorus Director, at 919.934.5191. December Dates to remember for Polenta Elementary School Tuesday, 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. Thursday, 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 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 Wednesday, December 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. A Christmas Carol presented at Four Oaks Elementary School On Thursday, December 14, 2006, The Bright Star Children's Theatre will present the classic tale "A Christmas Carol" in the Four Oaks Elementary School gymnasium. Show times are 8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:45 p.m. For more information, please contact Elaine Butler or Nicky Lee at 919.963.2166. 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 Thursday, 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. Career Day to help North Johnston Middle Schoolers prepare for future On Friday, December 15, 2006, approximately 210 eighth grade students at North Johnston Middle School will attend “Career Day 2006” from 8 a.m.-12 noon. The purpose of the Career Day is: • to develop student awareness of a wide variety of career opportunities • connect for students the role of education and the world of work • further develop the partnership between the NJMS community and the school • Give relevancy to the school curriculum and careers of interest • Further students knowledge as they consider their course selections for ninth grade Participants include at least 18 businesses/individuals representing careers in the areas of Education (representatives from North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, and North Carolina Teaching Forum), Business/Trades (Heating & Air Conditioning, Surveying, Real Estate & English Second Language Dept. at Johnston County Schools’ Central Office), Service Industries (Micro, Pine Level and Kenly Fire Department, Clayton and North Johnston Emergency Medical Services , Law Enforcement (Johnston County Sheriff’s Dept, and Women’s Prison-Dept of Corrections), Sports (Mudcats), Media (Kenly News), and Military. The Career Day is co-sponsored by GEAR UP, which is providing lunch for presenters and staff participating in Career Day. For more information, please contact Mona Finch, Computer Skills Teacher, North Johnston Middle School, at 919.284.3374. Imagination Station brings in Four Oaks Middle Schoolers A 7th grade field trip, Imagination Station—"Science on Wheels", will do a hands on demonstration and presentation on physics and chemistry on Tuesday, December 19, at 9:30 a.m., in the Four Oaks Middle School gym. Students will also travel to Smithfield to eat at a Japanese restaurant. The event is being held to combine science and social studies to extend curriculum. For more information, please call Lisa Calcutt, Principal, at 919.963.4022.
