*Schools will be closed Wednesday, November 23, Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25 for the Thanksgiving holidays. McGee's Middle Celebrates, Recognizes Level 5 Students Students who scored at the 94th percentile on the reading or math on the End-of-Grade test in school year 2004-2005 were recognized for their achievement during a celebration in the school cafeteria on November 18. Also recognized were "students on the move" who progressed at least one or more achievement levels on last year's EOG in reading and/or math. For more information, please call Barretta Haynes, Principal, at (919) 894-6003. SJHS Baseball Players Giving Back to the Community Returning and prospective members of the 2006 South Johnston High School baseball teams are undertaking a community service project. The players are selling raffle tickets for a $100 Wal-Mart Gift Certificate. All money raised in this raffle will go to buy toys for needy and underprivileged children at Christmas. At the conclusion of the raffle, players will go to the Smithfield Wal-Mart where players will purchase the toys. Members of the United States Marine Corps Reserve will be on hand to receive them for the "Toys for Tots" program. For more information, please call Keith Durham, baseball coach, at 894-3146. JCS Teachers Win Bright Ideas Grants McGee's Crossroads Elementary has earned a $598 Bright Ideas grant from North Carolina's Touchstone Energy cooperatives. The grant will fund Learning Is Fun, For $500. Bright Ideas Grants are offered annually to educators across the state. The grants are offered in increments up to $2000 and must directly involve students; achieve clearly defined goals and learning objectives; use creative teaching methods; provide ongoing benefits to students; and feature measurable results that can be evaluated upon completion. These grants will fund over $530,000 in innovative programs and projects in classrooms throughout North Carolina. For more information, please call Catherine O'Dell, Manager of Member Services, South River Electric Membership Corporation at (910) 892-8071 or 1-800-338-5530. Selma Elementary Students Win Outback Steak Meal in Pumpkin Contest Karla Rea's second grade class at Selma Elementary recently entered a pumpkin decorating contest sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. Student Hannah Sowell suggested they decorate the pumpkin to look like a turkey. Their worked earned them 1st. place, and each child will receive a free meal at Outback. For more information, please call Angela Piper at (919) 965-3361. Princeton School Yardsale Saturday Princeton High School will host a yardsale fundraiser on Saturday, November 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items are priced to go. The event will include a bake sale and a craft table. Games such as rock climbing will be offered. Early birds are welcome. For more information, please call Cathy Starling, PTO President, Gwen Kea, Guidance Counselor, or Sarah Gatlin, Media Center, at (919) 965-5011. Memorial Tree Planting at Riverwood Middle Riverwood Middle School's PTSA, Student Council, Staff and the family of Jessica Farrara, who was killed tragically in an accident, will host a tree-planting dedication program on Monday, November 21, 2005 at 2 p.m. in the courtyard in Jessica's honor. Because of her love for horses, a horse statue will be placed in the courtyard in her memory. For more information, please call Marchelle Horner, Assistant Principal, at (919) 359-2769. Polenta Elementary Supply Drive to Benefit Louisiana School Polenta Elementary School held a School Supply Drive November 14-18 to benefit Walter Abney Elementary in Slidell, Louisiana. Student Council has adopted this school this year. This is the 1st service project organized to benefit this school. The purpose of student council's service projects are to help those in need. The students and staff at Walter Abney lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, so Polenta students are helping them rebuild in terms of needed school supplies. All grades are participating. For more information, please call Erin Justice at (919) 989-6039. SSS Naval Training Corps Hosts First Masters Cup On Sat. Nov. 12th, the SSS Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps hosted the first Masters Cup Drill and Field Meet. The meet, which will become an annual event, was attended by seven NJROTC units from six different counties with an estimated crowd of 400 . The events included Armed and Unarmed Regulation Drill performances with Armed and Unarmed Exhibition Drill routines that featured some of the top drill teams in the State of North Carolina. The day concluded with a competition for top field event honors. These events included team push-ups, sit-ups, 10 X 100 and 4 X 16 relay races. For more information, please call Michael Taylor, Assistant Principal, at (919) 934-5191.
