JCS Calendar Dates *October 23—PTA/PTO Parent Advisory Council Annual Dinner, ClaytonHigh School *October 30—Early Release Day for staff development *October 31—Student Vacation Day Strength Team at RiverwoodMiddle School (New) Riverwood Middle held a school-wide assembly on September 26 in the gymnasium featuring the Strength Team performers. The Team discussed the effects of drugs and alcohol on your life. They demonstrated strength by ripping a phone book and breaking a bat in half. There was a reenactment with students from the audience with a story about Shaun who was paralyzed after taking the wrong path in life. The Strength Team also explained that a person’s desires and wants need to stay in front of them throughout life and to live life to the fullest. Students chanted “I Believe I can achieve!” at the end of the assembly. For more information, please contact Magen Pike at 919.359.2769. RiverwoodElementary School News Update (New) “Kids Under Construction” is the theme for the 2007-2008 school year for the Rams. Throughout the entire school teachers, teacher assistance, staff, and administration are working together to “construct” the young minds of tomorrow. Upcoming, current, and past activities include the following: The next PTA fundraiser will be Friday, October 26, 2007. In addition, nine teams of fifth graders at RES are participating in “The Stock Market Game”. On October 3, a guest speaker from Merrill Lynch informed the students of which stocks are best to purchase and will be the most profitable. The RES fourth graders have just finished studying North Carolina and its land regions including the different elevations throughout the state. Students completed their own elevation project of our state in which they incorporated many creative ideas and had these on display at the last Open House. In reading, fourth grade is learning about the Titanic and they learning the practice of documenting their ideas on paper JUST THE “WRITE” WAY! The third graders have been working hard on reading skills like cause/effect, inferences, fact/opinion, and sequencing this year. They have planned two field trips for the month of November. Second graders at RES have been learning about Christopher Columbus in anticipation of Columbus Day. One class is even making a journal of their voyage with Columbus as Sailors. These activities are to remind the children to reach for their goals, as did Columbus. First graders at RES have been learning all about fall, apples, pumpkins, and the harvest season. First graders and kindergartners have been learning about families. Kindergarteners have mailed letters to their Grandparents in different parts of the country to help with their studies on families. When they receive letters in return they will find that state on the map. Mr. Coughlin, P.E. teacher, has been using the Multi Flow Thinking Map to show the positive effect that exercise and a healthy lifestyle have on a person. He also has been collecting data for the Body Mass Index County wide study that is being lead by Steve Strickland to chart our student’s growth and development. For more information, please contact Mary Katherine Pittman at 919.359.6300. Fourth Graders Host Four Oaks Elementary Fair (New) On Friday, October 5, fourth graders at Four Oaks Elementary held a fair featuring competitions that are held at the North Carolina State Fair. Students had to make their own projects. Student projects will be displayed at their school. Some students will enter their projects into the competitions at the NC State Fair. The fourth grade social studies curriculum focuses on the state of North Carolina. Fourth grade electives focused on competitions that are held at the NC State Fair. For more information, please contact Denise Ellis at 919.963.2165. Selma Middle Is Hosting a Community Book Fair (New) Students from Selma Middle School are hosting a special book fair from Scholastic, called The Exchange, Wednesday, October 3 - Tuesday, October 9, to help raise funds for new books for the school's media center and for students. The Exchange will feature a wide range of books for young teens and adults, including mystery and adventure novels, fantasy trilogies, sports guides, anime, cookbooks, and the latest bestsellers from more than 150 publishers. The Exchange is opened each day from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Parents, children, teachers and the community are invited to attend. Student volunteers, dubbed The Crew, helped to plan the fair and will also help run it. From creating special promotions to merchandising and managing inventory to assisting shoppers with their selections, Crew members are learning life skills while helping to make pleasure reading more acceptable and cool at their school. “Our Student Crew is working very hard to put on a great book fair event - one that promotes literacy and reading, while at the same time raising money for much-needed school resources,” said Kaye Pearce, Media Coordinator at Selma Middle. Fair attendees can help build classroom libraries by purchasing books for teachers through the Classroom Wish List program. Proceeds will also be used to purchase essential classroom resources and support school projects at Selma Middle. Sponsorships are available. For more information, please contact Kaye Pearce at 919.965.2555. Colonial Era Reenactment Demonstration at SmithfieldMiddle School (New) Smithfield Middle School will hold an outside Colonial Era reenactment demonstration on Wednesday, October 10, 2007, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. This is a supplement to assist teachers in teaching about the ways of life during the 1700-1800s in the Eighth Grade North Carolina History Classes. Frontiersman Camping Fellowship will present the program. For more information, please call Laura Dowd or Allen Williams at 919.934.4696. Student Government Association Election to Be Held at West View Elementary (New) West View Elementary School will have its first Student Government Association Election on Wednesday, October 10. The candidates are running for President, Vice President, and Secretary; and they will be giving one-minute speeches to all 21 classroom representatives. There will be voting booths set up for the students to cast their votes and the winners will be announced at the end of the day. For more information, please call Nancy Parker, Assistant Principal, at West View Elementary at 919.661.6184. Also, at West Smithfield, Second Annual Holiday Bazaar at WestViewElementary School (New) West View Elementary School will be hosting "Hootie's Second Annual Holiday Bazaar" on Saturday, November 17, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa will be on site for pictures, craft vendors for Christmas shopping and students can enjoy shopping at "The Owl's Nest Gift Shop". For more information, please call Nancy Parker, Assistant Principal, at West View Elementary at 919.661.6184. Selma Elementary Students to participate in N.C. Honors Chorus(New) Two Selma Elementary students have been selected to participate in the N.C. Elementary Honors Chorus at Stevens Center Theatre in Winston Salem. The selected students are Nirmine Moore, fourth grade, and Valerie Alvarenga, fifth grade. Rehearsals are scheduled for November 10 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and November 11 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., with the final performance at noon. Several hundred students audition each year and only 180 are chosen to perform. For more information, please contact Jeannie Barnes, at Selma Elementary, at 919.965.3361. NorthJohnstonHigh School to Host Parent Information Seminar (New) North Johnston High School will hold its annual Parent Information Seminar in the auditorium on Tuesday, October 23. Grades 9 & 10 will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Information will be provided to parents and students on graduation requirements, resources and academic planning. Additional presenters and information will be provided by our AVID program coordinator, GEAR-UP coordinator & Career Development. For more information, please contact Wendy Gupton at 919.284.2031. Grades 11 & 12 will meet at 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.Parents and students will be provided informationon academic planning, scholarships and college admissions information. The presenter is Mrs. Wendy Jebens, Assistant Director, Office of Admissions UNC-CH. For more information, please contact Donald Coates at 919.284.2031. West Johnston Band Invites Public to Invitational (New) The West Johnston Marching Band will host 20 high school bands from around the state at the 4th Annual Marching band Invitational marching band show. The event will be held in the West Johnston High School football stadium on Saturday, October 13 from 1:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. For more information, please call Lance Britt, Director of Bands, at 919.934.7333. 22 Go To NCCATS Training (New) (Photo) Twenty-two first-year Johnston County Schools teachers are spending the weekend at NCCATS (the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching) in Cullowhee for training in effectively addressing the academic needs of students who live in poverty. NCCAT’s seminars strengthen teachers’ classroom expertise by exposing them to new ideas and activities they can use with their students. Seminar topics range from the humanities, arts, and sciences to technology, health, and communication. For more information, please call Terri Sessoms, Professional Development and School Improvement, at 919.934.2016. Clayton High To Host Parent Information Night An information night for parents will be held at Clayton High School in the cafeteria on Monday, October 8 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Entitled "Come Celebrate Your Child,” the event will feature topics such as Family Involvement Education, Graduation Requirements, Role of Student Advocate, Extracurricular Activities, Peer Tutoring, and Remediation opportunities. For more information, please call Dawn Alligood, Assistant Principal, at 919.553.4064. West View Elementary PTA Celebrates Start the Art Week West View Elementary will call attention to the importance of arts education by hosting arts-focused events the week of October 8–12 as part of PTA Start the Art Week—a national initiative to inspire students and families to participate in the arts and help keep the arts in schools.Each student will have artwork displayed throughout the school as well as in several local businesses; students will write Save The Arts letters to the President of the United States; and the PTA will host a ‘gallery day’ during the week inviting parents and the community to see the creative works of our West View students.Parents, teachers, and arts advocates throughout our community and across the country are encouraged to celebrate the arts, offer arts opportunities, and speak up in support of arts education during the weeklong celebration. PTA believes that all children deserve a quality arts education. Studies show that there is a direct link between the arts and student achievement. Students who study the arts develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving techniques, and a drive for excellence. According to a 2005 Harris Poll commissioned by Americans for the Arts, “93 percent of Americans agree that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children.” For more information, please call Zilphia Adcock, West View Elementary PTA President, at 919.681.6184. Clayton Middle to Host Book Fair Clayton Middle School Media Center will host a Scholastic book fair October 10-17 to help raise funds to purchase new books for the media center. The fair will feature a wide range of books for young teens and adults, including mystery and adventure novels, fantasy trilogies, sports guides, anime, cookbooks, and the latest bestsellers from more than 150 publishers. The Exchange will be open each day from 7:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents, children, teachers and the community are invited to attend. On Wednesday, October 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the fair will feature Family Night. Fair attendees can help build classroom libraries by purchasing books for teachers through the Classroom Wish List program. Proceeds will also be used to purchase essential classroom resources and support school projects at Clayton Middle School. Sponsorships are available. For more information, please call Nicole Branch, Media Coordinator, at 919.553.5811. JCS to Participate in United Way Kick-Off Johnston County Schools will participate in the United Way’s annual campaign kick-off on Wednesday, October 17 at 7:30 a.m. at Chick-Fil-A. For more information, please call Crystal Roberts, Public Information Officer, at 919.934.6031, extension 241/242. Highway Patrolman, Sheriff’s Deputy to Visit Selma Elementary A member of the Highway Patrol and Sheriff’s departments will visit Selma Elementary to talk to the second grade classes about safety. They will also display their patrol equipment Thursday, October 25 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The activity follows second grade Social Studies curriculum and teaches children about safety. For more information, please call Lisa Murphy at 919.965.3361. Artists-in-the-School Programs for the Month of October October 1st marks the beginning of the ninth year of the Artists-in-the-Schools program. Since its inception in 1999, Artists-in-the-Schools has raised over $900,000 to fund over 900 cultural events in the Johnston County Schools. Building on the success of the previous seven years, Johnston County Schools will play host to over 50 different artists for more than 150 cultural programs in the 2007-08 school year. This vital program has become an integral part of the Johnston County Schools and reaches over 30,000 students at all 37 Johnston County Schools, K-12. Anyone interested in observing any performances should call the school to request permission and confirm the date and time of the performance. The Artists-in-the-Schools Program is supported by the Fred Smith Company, the Johnston County Arts Council, Johnston County Schools and corporate, foundation and individual donors. Donna Washington will perform at Clayton Middle on October 8, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. Donna presents a wide range of tales from many different cultures: Korean stories, Greek and Celtic myths, African folk tales, Arthurian legends, English lore, and American folk heroes. Donna Washington will perform at Selma Middle on October 9, 2007. Donna presents a wide range of tales from many different cultures: Korean stories, Greek and Celtic myths, African folk tales, Arthurian legends, English lore, and American folk heroes. Almost Recess will perform at Meadow Elementary on October 15, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. Almost Recess will perform songs-both originals and covers- and band members describe how they create their music, incorporating explanations of vocal arrangements, songwriting, the history of a cappella, voice parts, vocal drumming, and types of a cappella. Almost Recess will perform at Meadow Middle on October 15, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Almost Recess will perform songs -both originals and covers- and band members describe how they create their music, incorporating explanations of vocal arrangements, songwriting, the history of a cappella, voice parts, vocal drumming, and types of a cappella. Tony Peacock will conduct a week-long residency at Cooper Elementary, October 15-19, 2007. Tony Peacock's five-day residency will increase student awareness of North Carolina writers and encourage the development of each student's voice. Almost Recess will perform at Cleveland Elementary on October 16, 2007, at 8:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Almost Recess will perform songs-both originals and covers- and band members describe how they create their music, incorporating explanations of vocal arrangements, songwriting, the history of a cappella, voice parts, vocal drumming, and types of a cappella. Mike Wiley will perform his show “Jackie Robinson” at Benson Middle on October 17, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. In Mike Wiley's one man show, Mike Wiley lifts the shawdow of African American segregted athletics from the dark depths of yesteryear into the daylight of a new sports millenium. Donna Washington will perform at South CampusCommunitySchool on October 17, 2007, at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Donna presents a wide range of tales from many different cultures: Korean stories, Greek and Celtic myths, African folk tales, Arthurian legends, English lore, and American folk heroes. Almost Recess will perform at River Dell Elementary on October 17, 2007. Almost Recess will perform songs-both originals and covers- and band members describe how they create their music, incorporating explanations of vocal arrangements, songwriting, the history of a cappella, voice parts, vocal drumming, and types of a cappella. Almost Recess will perform at McGee's Crossroads Elementary on October 19, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Almost Recess will perform songs-both originals and covers- and band members describe how they create their music, incorporating explanations of vocal arrangements, songwriting, the history of a cappella, voice parts, vocal drumming, and types of a cappella. Almost Recess will perform at McGee's Crossroads Middle on October 19, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Almost Recess will perform songs-both originals and covers- and band members describe how they create their music, incorporating explanations of vocal arrangements, songwriting, the history of a cappella, voice parts, vocal drumming, and types of a cappella. Bright Star Children's Theater will be performing "The Lady of Bullyburg" at 9:00 a.m. and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" at 10:30 a.m. at WestSmithfieldElementary School on October 17, 2007. "The Lady of Bullyburg" is designed to empower young audiences with the tools to stop bullying and the Washington Irving classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is retold through music and physical comedy. Shabu Family will perform at Four Oaks Middle on October 19, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Young master drummers and dancers bring the fire of the djembe (drum), the dance, and all the music and drama that bring the African spectacle alive. Mad Science will perform at West View Elementary on October 24, 2007. Mad Science will present an interactive program of amazing science and unbelievable feats of science and nature.
