JCS Reporter...Find Out What's Happening in the JohnstonCounty Schools!

"Rossillini's Italian Cafe" at North Johnston High (New)
For Teacher Appreciation Week, all North Johnston High School teachers and staff were treated to a homemade Italian lunch provided by the administration, assistants and students. Mr. Ross Renfrow was the master chef (thus the name "Rossillini's") with his co-chefs, Mr. Jarvis Ellis, Mr. Edward Holmes, Mrs. Wilma Pridgen and Mrs. Teresa Lewis. They cooked all morning and decorated with authentic Italian decor. The décor consisted of checkered table clothes and flowers. There was authentic Italian music playing in the background. When staff walked into to dining facilities (Consumer Science Room at NJHS) they were greeted and seated. Drink orders were taken and fresh Italian sliced bread was brought to each table. Entrees were selected from an actual menu. Goodies were distributed all week. It meant a lot to be so appreciated and only inspires us to want to do an even better job. Appreciation can do wonders for staff!
For more information, please call Wendy Gupton, Counselor, North Johnston High School 919.284.2031.

First Grade Class at Dixon Road Observes Earth Day (New) (Photo)
Each student in Ms. Hulce's first grade class chose an endangered animal to research and share about for Earth Day. They researched the animal's habitat, food source, interesting facts, and why they are endangered. Their posters were voted on by their peers to find the winners.
The winners are as follows:
1st Place: Canaan B.-- Mexican Wolf
2nd Place: Cheryl C.-- Tiger
Tie for 3rd Kayla D.-- Bald Eagle and Giovanny R.--King Cobra
For more information, please call Belinda Montanez, Counselor, at 919.894.7771.

Princeton Student of the Month for March 2007 (New) (Photo)
Market Street Advisors recognized a student from Princeton for a strong work ethic, striving to achieve their fullest potential, and going above and beyond what is required or expected. The Student of the Month receives a $50 Saving Bond and a trophy.
Honored was Colin Parker, March Student of the Month, Princeton.
For more information, please call Phil Smith, Market Street Advisors at 919.989.7055.

Clayton Middle Hosting Artsy Stool, Plant Stand Auction (New)
The Clayton Middle School Art Department is having the 2nd half of their "Artsy Stool and Plant Stand Silent Auction" on Thursday, May 17th, in the CMS Cafeteria from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to come and bid on any of the 12 stools and 5 spool plant stands that the 8th grade Art students have decorated. Three small painted tiles by Mrs. Deborah Coates, the CMS Visual Art teacher, will also be auctioned. The 8th grade students studied how they can creatively recycle materials into beautiful pieces of art. The stools were the old wooden stools that had been used in the art room for 15 years and were in need of repair. The wooden spools came to the art room when CMS was wired for security cameras and the tiles were left over from installations in homes. These items would have ended up in our county landfill but are now creative useful items waiting to be owned. The proceeds will go to buy equipment for the Visual Art program, Art books for the CMS Media Center and a donation to the Hocutt Ellington Memorial Library for Art books. The first auction held in November raised enough money to give $100 to the CMS Media Center, $100 to the Hocutt Ellington Memorial Library and to purchase 30 hand-held microscopes with strong rechargeable batteries as well as two chargers to use in the Art room. The microscopes will be used to integrate Visual Art with science. The CMS Art students would like to thank Everett Coates for reconditioning the stools, Larry Flowe for acquiring the donation of latex paints from Duron Paints and Eric Griffin for the donated tiles. For more information, please call Deborah P. Coates, NBCT EAYA-Art, Visual Art Instructor, at 919.553.5811.

JCS Nurse Coordinator Talented Artist, Author
The artwork of Jean Tripp, School Nurse Coordinator for the Johnston County Schools, will be on display throughout the month of May at the Johnston County Public Library in Smithfield. Tripp has also written a book called, "My Summer with My Nana," which will be on display.
For more information, please call Jean Tripp at 919.934.9810, extension 287.

WJHS Musical Opens
An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood-thirsty Little Red Ridinghood? A Prince Charming who's not so charming? A Witch...who raps? They're all among the characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's Tony-Award winning musical Into the Woods which opened Thursday night at West Johnston High School. The show will run for three performances May 10 - 12, at 7:00 p.m. each night in the WJHS Auditorium. Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door. Children 5 and under are free.
Into the Woods was made famous by Bernadette Peters and puts all the familiar fairy-tales together as if they happened in the same enchanted forest. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later. What begins as a lively fantasy soon becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children. Produced by the entire fine arts faculty at West Johnston, this production features performances by junior Zach Morris as the baker, sophomore Morgan Shearon as the baker's wife, junior Keeley Spivey as Cinderella, freshman Elgin Giles as both the wolf and Cinderella's prince, freshman Aaron Wright as Jack, senior Nick Williams as the narrator, junior Alex Stroud as the Wicked Witch, and a cast of other well known fairy-tale characters. "This show is fun for the entire family," stated Fine Arts Chair, M. Lance Britt. "The cast, orchestra, and crew have been working hard for months to put this show together. We hope the entire community will come out and be a part of our fairy tale."
For more information, please call M. Lance Britt, Fine Arts Department Chair, at West Johnston High School 919-934-2328 or 919.934-7333.

Talent Show at Benson Elementary to Raise Money for Relay for Life
Benson Elementary will host its 2nd annual Talent Show to raise money for Relay for Life. Our show is being dedicated to our guidance counselor, Cynthia Dunn, who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. The show is to be held at the W.J. Barefoot Auditorium on Friday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $3 and all proceeds will go directly to Relay for Life. It looks to be a wonderful evening, showcasing the talents of many of our children. Acts range from
poetry reading, singing, piano playing, dancing, karate, and even joke-telling!

For more information, please call Tracie Johnson or Yorke Denning at Benson Elementary School 919.894.4233.