School Bus Safety Poster Contest Winners Named Spencer Winspear, a student at Cleveland Elementary School was the Division 1 (K-2 grades) winner in North Carolina's 2005 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, "I See the Driver -The Driver Sees Me." Spencer was one of three North Carolina elementary school students who received top honors in the state contest. Spencer received a $50 savings bond sponsored by the Governor's Highway Safety Program and his poster is featured, along with other category winners, on the School Bus Safety Web site at http://www.ncbussafety.org. The National School Bus Safety Poster Contest theme highlights the critical need for students and drivers to communicate, not only verbally but also visually, as they board the bus in the morning and exit the bus in the afternoon. School bus drivers are trained to count students as they approach a stop and to count again as those students board the school bus to ensure that all students board safely. They follow the same procedure in reverse in the afternoon. Just as it is important for the driver to watch the students, it also is important for the students to watch the driver. The driver has the view of approaching traffic and can help communicate to the student when it is safe to approach the school bus. The School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest is held annually to select the official poster for National School Bus Safety Week, which is Oct. 16-22 this year. For more information on school bus safety, please go online to the School Bus Safety Web site at www.ncbussafety.org or contact the NCDPI's Communications Division at 919-807-3450. Cooper Learns of African Culture Through Song Cooper Elementary School welcomed "The Healing Force" with open arms on September 30 by singing together the African folk song, "Funga". The musical group brought jimbay drums and shakeres to play amazing African rhythms Soft soothing melodies could be heard by sounds of the thumb pianos. Stories were told and music was all around! Students were invited to play along with them at the closing of the performance. That afternoon, the fifth graders were able to work with "The Healing Force" by joining them in workshops such as making their own instruments, playing in a drum circle, and participating in African dance. The fifth graders had a wonderful educational experience. *Attached picture shows 5th graders Gabriella Sari and Kristen Graham playing instruments along with the group. For more information, please call Michee Olson at (919) 553-0256. West Clayton Students Against Violence West Clayton Elementary School will be observing Students Against Violence Day this year by having lunch with Dr. Anthony Parker, Superintendent; Chief of Police Gary Ragland of Clayton; and, Mayor Jody McLeod on Wednesday, October 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Student work regarding anti-violence will decorate the cafeteria and certificates of appreciation will be awarded to our visitors for their support of the SAVE program in our school. For more information, please call Suzanne S. Phillips, Grade 3 Team Leader, at 919-553-7113, ext. 890. Smithfield-Selma Chamber Honors South Smithfield Teacher, South Smithfield Plans On-Site Field Trip Kelly Holland, a third grade teacher at South Smithfield Elementary School, was named the school's Teacher of the Month for October. The Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce Education Committee recognized her with gifts and a visit from members of the committee. Also at South Smithfield, an on-site exploration day is planned for Friday, November 4 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring exhibits and displays from the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, the Smithfield Fire and Police Departments, Starlab planetarium, the Wildlife Federation, the Johnston County Heritage Center, the Bentonville Battleground, music by local artists, and Indian and animal exhibits by Ruffin Johnson, South Smithfield's Volunteer of the Year. The students will be able to participate in nine different social studies and science opportunities without leaving the campus-which is also a positive move while fuel prices are climbing. For more information, please call Brian Vetrano, Principal, at (919) 934-8979. "Kidz for $Change$" Katrina Rescue Relief Project at Meadow School Meadow School students were very concerned about the welfare of students in Louisiana, Missouri, and Alabama after Katrina. Katrina created quite a few "teachable moments" in all curriculum areas: current events, social studies, science, reading, writing, and character education. Meadow students wanted to make a difference during this disaster so teachers MaLinda Turnage, Nancy Gervais, and Sandra Wheeler headed up a committee to raise funds for Katrina victims. The project is named "Kidz for $Change$" because Meadow feels that all contributions are valuable, even a penny. Pennies add up to dollars and every dollar collected is needed. The money will be forwarded to the Johnston County chapter of the American Red Cross who will make sure that these monies reach the most needed areas. For more information, please call Darene Honeycutt at (919) 894-7064.
