Battle of the Books Regional Meet to Take Place The Battle of the Books regional meet will take place at Selma Elementary School on April 3 at 9:45 a.m. Students from 12 districts-- Johnston, Wake, Durham, Edgecombe, Wilson, Nash-Rocky Mount, Northampton, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Vance, and Warren-- will converge upon the county to reveal their intricate knowledge of the books they've read for the competition. The student participants are members of the winning teams from their districts. For more information, please call Diana Freeman, Director of Instructional Technology, at 919.934.4361, extension 347. Science on Wheels Rolling Into Four Oaks Middle The Imagination Station's "Science on Wheels" will visit the seventh grade for a hands-on demonstration and presentation on chemistry and physics on Monday, March 20 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the gym. The program is part of the seventh grade science/social studies field trip. Students will also be traveling to Kobe Japanese Restaurant in Smithfield. For more information, please call Lisa Sapir at 919.963.4022. SSS Students Named to All-State Honors Band Three Smithfield-Selma High School students earned spots in the All-State Honors Band . The students: Brittney Johnson on clarinet, Robert Goodwin on trumpet, and Paige Ridout on string bass. Paige Ridout was selected first in the state on the string bass. To be eligible to audition for All-State Honors Band students must first place in the top chairs in one of the six districts in North Carolina. These students will perform at the All-State Honors Band Clinic on Sunday, April 23 at UNCG. For more information, please call Michael Taylor, Assistant Principal, at 919.934.5191. SSS Students to Present Scenes From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Classic The Smithfield-Selma High School Honors Play Production class-- a two-semester course-- is in rehearsal for a full scale production of Romeo and Juliet to be presented on April 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school. "It's a pretty exciting project," said Ruth Mills, teacher. "Students are working on their costumes and doing all the production work, including lights and sound. It's a total student production." The school's drama department also will present a short program of scenes from the Shakespeare classic at various schools as part of its outreach program throughout the semester. The program is in conjunction with an interactive workshop, actor talk back, and study guide that is appropriate for the age of the audience. The program is available any day from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., or by special arrangement. For more information, please call Ruth Mills at 919.934.5191, e-mail RuthMills@johnston.k12.nc.us, or fax to 919.934.3001. SSS Students Receive Excellent Ratings in Festival--photo attached Congratulations to Smithfield-Selma High School students Katie Dean and Krysti Reuter for their participation in the NC Vocal Solo and Small Ensemble Festival held on Sat. March 4, 2006 at Beddingfield High School in Wilson, the East District #2 competition. Katie and Krysti received a rating of "Excellent" for their duet and Krysti received a rating of "Excellent" for her solo. The piano accompanist was Terry Carroll. For more information please contact Delores Barrett, SSS Chorus Teacher, at 919.934.5191. SSS U.N.I.T.Y. Club to Host Program The Smithfield-Selma High School U.N.I.T.Y Club will be having a heritage program on Saturday, March 11 in the school's auditorium at 6 p.m. The gospel choir of SSS (which is a facet of the Club) will be performing along with three other groups. A special, surprise recognition will take place to honor a long-time community member. The U.N.I.T.Y. Club's objective is to increase and enhance respect among peers. The group has participated in Toys for Tots and other community activities. For more information, please call William Sanders, Teacher, at 919.934.5191. Cooper Spelling Bee Nets Winner After Suspenseful Round There were two spellers left and the dismissal bell would ring at any minute on Monday afternoon at Cooper Elementary. Back and forth they went and it didn't seem like there would be a winner that day. This recount describes the last few minutes of the Spelling Bee on March 6 for about sixty fourth and fifth graders at Cooper Elementary. With words like "enzyme", "occupancy", and "vestibule", only two students remained. Finally, Hayden Jones won with the word "initiate," and Brad Hendrick took second place. Both students are in Ann White's fifth grade classroom. Hayden will be the school's representative at the Johnston County Spelling Bee to be held on March 16 at Selma Elementary. Also at Cooper: Nathan Lee, fifth grade student at Cooper Elementary, participated in the NC Central Regional Science Fair held in Durham at Hillside High School on March 4. His Science Project earned the American Meteorological Society Certificate of Outstanding Achievement for his "Ability and Creativity in an Atmospheric Science Exhibit". --photo attached Cooper Elementary School Odyssey of the Mind students competed in the Eastern Regional tournament on March 4th in Chapel Hill. Two teams represented Cooper Elementary: The Great Parade Team and the Geometric Structure Team. The Great Parade Team placed 6th in their division missing 5th place recognition by a half point. The Geometric Structure Team placed 2nd in their division earning a bid to compete in the State tournament to be held April 1 at Appalachian State University in Boone.-- photo attached For more information, please call Julie Jailall, Principal, at 919.553.0256. JCS Students Represent District at Regional Conference Two Johnston County Schools students, Demetrius Speight from Smithfield Selma High School and Ravvyn Archible from Johnston County Schools Middle College, were the only students who recently made personal statements about what Educational Talent Search has meant to them and the experiences they have had while being members of the federally funded program. Their courageous speeches took place on February 4 when 40 students from Johnston County traveled to Greensboro to attend the SAEOPP - Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel Regional Conference. The Johnston County students were representatives in a contingency of more than 2500 students in attendance at the conference. TRIO is an Educational Opportunity established by Congress to help eligible Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate fully in America's economic and social life. While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. Over 1,200 colleges, universities, community colleges and agencies now offer TRIO Programs in America. TRIO funds are distributed to institutions through competitive grants. Students in the Upward Bound program are four times more likely to earn an undergraduate degree than those students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in TRIO, and nearly 20 percent of all Black and Hispanic freshmen who entered college in 1981 received assistance through the TRIO Talent Search or EOC programs. Students in the TRIO Student Support Services program are more than twice as likely to remain in college than those students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in the program. The TRIO programs include: Talent Search, which serves students in sixth through twelfth grades. In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admissions requirements, scholarships and various student financial aid programs. Upward Bound, designed to help young students prepare for higher education. Participants receive instruction in literature, composition, mathematics, and science on college campuses after school, on Saturdays and during the summer. Currently, 774 programs are in operation throughout the United States. Upward Bound Math/Science, which helps students to strengthen math and science skills. In addition, students learn computer technology as well as English, foreign language and study skills. More than 130 programs are serving students throughout the country. Student Support Services, which helps students stay in college until they earn their baccalaureate degrees. Participants, who include disabled college students, receive tutoring, counseling and remedial instruction. Students are now being served at 930 colleges and universities nationwide. Educational Opportunity Centers located throughout the country primarily serve displaced or underemployed workers from families with incomes under $24,000. These Centers help people to choose a college and a suitable financial aid program. There are 138 Educational Opportunity Centers in America serving 210,000 individuals. Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement programs are designed to encourage low-income students and minority undergraduates to consider careers in college teaching as well as prepare for doctoral study. Students who participate in this program are provided with research opportunities and faculty mentors. This program was named in honor of the astronaut that died in the 1986 space-shuttle explosion. Currently, there are 179 programs, serving 4,100 students. For more information, please call Sandra Conoly, Director, Educational Talent Search programs, North Carolina State University, at 919.515.6447. Polenta Student Wins Regional Science Fair Cole Simons, a student at Polenta Elementary, was one of four winners in the elementary division of the Regional Science Fair on Saturday, March 4 in Durham. Cole presented a project comparing three different types of insulation. He found that a mixture of cellulose and foam insulation was the best type. His idea for the project originated from working with his family this summer to build their vacation home in Republic, Washington. Cole will go on to represent Polenta and Johnston County in the State Science Fair at Meredith College on Saturday, March 25. For more information, please call Nancy Nettles, Principal, at 919.989.6039. Micro-Pine Level Hosts Poet The "Lovable Poet," Barbara Cleary was at Micro-Pine Level Elementary School from February 27 to March 3 to teach all students about writing poetry. A collaboration of student poems will be put together from the activities done that week. Also at Micro-Pine Level: Dr. Seuss' birthday was celebrated in style. Classrooms read and discussed favorite Dr. Seuss' books. Second grade students acted out "The Sneetches" for our school wide monthly character assembly, illustrating friendship. The Micro-Pine Level Student Council created and donated 5 blankets to Project Linus, which provides homemade, washable blankets to children who are terminally ill or have survived a crisis. The students received gift patches for their hard work. Micro-Pine Level will have a career day on March 24. Parents will be invited to come into the classroom to share with the children what they do. The students will be exposed to many different careers and have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the world of work. Micro-Pine-Level is inviting grandparents to visit the school. Our annual "Goodies for Grandparents" is scheduled for the weeks of March 27 and April 3. Grandparents are invited to visit students' classrooms, where students will read to them or interview them. Breakfast will also be offered. For more information, please call Sara Foster, School Counselor, at 919.965-3323. "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" On Thursday, February 23, seven criminal justice professionals met in a panel discussion entitled "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" in the North Johnston High School Media Center. Students in Mrs. Sonya Kiser's English I classes prepared thirty-five questions for the panel based on the classes' reading of Walter Dean Myers' novel Monster and a related courtroom field trip. Student-nominated freshmen facilitators Spenser Lebbano, Lataya Williams, Will Olive, Charlie Young, Heather Bass and Kris Hinnant posed the questions for an hour and a half, while forty-nine English I and Civics students listened and observed. Panel members included District Attorney Tom Lock, criminal defense attorney Chadwick Lee, District Court Judge Jacquelyn Lee, NC Department of Corrections guard Sam Boyette, former jury foreman Bill Ellis, probation supervisor Donald Jones and School Resource Officer Curt Jernigan. The panel discussion allowed students to question professionals in order to apply real-world knowledge to their experiences with the characters and situations from the novel and to their observations of Judge Knox Jenkins' courtroom on February 13th. In post-panel classes, students reflected on the success of the day through discussion and writing. Students commented on the experience: * "I learned that when you work with the criminal justice system it is hard to forget the cases that you deal with." * "I learned that someone doing the smallest thing can lead to really big consequences." For more information, please contact Sonya Kiser, Teacher, at 919.284.2031. Child Nutrition "Calendar Girls" Featured in National Magazine The March issue of School Foodservice & Nutrition magazine featured the Johnston County Schools' Child Nutrition for its 2005 Calendar Girls Project. The calendar included a compilation of photographs of members of the Child Nutrition staff with various props and decked in creatively adorned costumes. Not only was the project a fundraiser for cancer research, but it boosted morale as well. For more information, please call Beth Taylor, Child Nutrition Director, at 919.934.1304, extension 106. Knights of Columbus Presents Proceeds to Benson Elementary Members of the Dr. John Carr Monk Knights of Columbus Council #7259 in Newton Grove recently gave the proceeds of their 2005 Operation LAMB "Tootsie Roll" drive to several schools and agencies in the Johnston County and Sampson County area, including Benson Elementary School. The program, known as Operation LAMB-- Least Among My Brethren-- has been in existence in North Carolina since 1973 and in this area since 1981. Last year, the local program grossed almost $7,500. After paying for the candy and aprons (the only expenses of the program), more than $7,100 was available to help the children and citizens of North Carolina with intellectual and learning disabilities. More than $6,100 was distributed to two schools and four agencies in the bi-county area of Johnston and Sampson. The $1,000 balance will be used for the state's large hospitals and institutions which care for the mentally handicapped. The local schools and agencies who received funds from this program included the Exceptional Children's program of Benson Elementary School. For more information, please call Rodney Peterson, Principal, at 919.894.4233.
