JCS Bus Drivers Honored For Perfect Attendance (New) On Wednesday, June 13th Transportation Services honored 51 school bus drivers/monitors who had perfect attendance for the year. The drivers were given plaques to recognize their dedication and hard work for the year. Dr. Anthony Parker, Superintendent, and Dr. Ed Croom, Deputy Superintendent, addressed drivers to share their appreciation for the job that the drivers do each day. For more information, please call Sherrie Morgan, Assistant Director, Transportation, at 919.8340, extension 23. South Johnston Students Give to Relay for Life (New) South Johnston High School staff and students raised over $7,000 for the Relay for Life. The effort was led by Heather Ribar and the walk was in memory of Kyree Miller, a former student who recently passed away due to cancer. For more information, please call Shelly Cook at 919.894.3146. West Smithfield Gives to Animal Shelter (New) (Photo) West Smithfield Elementary's Student Government Assoc. presented a check for $150 to Mr. Ernie Wilkinson for the Johnston County Animal Shelter. The money was raised by selling kiss-a-grams for .25 each. (The first picture shows the SGA members with Mr. Wilkinson. The second shows Erica Thomas, 5th grade student, presenting the actual check to Mr. Wilkinson.) For more information, please call Vanessa Watson, Media Coordinator West Smithfield Elementary School at 919.989.6418, Ext. 131. South Johnston students and teachers headed to South America Three South Johnston High School teachers, two former teachers, and four students will be traveling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands in South America this summer. In a non-school sponsored trip, teachers Michael Avery, Allyson Puskar, Sandra Bishop, Elaine and J.D. Roberts will be taking South students Bridget Allen, Nick Barbour, Brooke Britt and Misten Upchurch to the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, to the Equator, the Cotopaxi Volcano, and to the famous Galapagos Islands, 600 miles off the Ecuadorian mainland in the Pacific Ocean. The islands were an inspiration to many of the theories of Charles Darwin. This is a cross-curriculum trip that combines Spanish, History and Biology. Teacher Michael Avery, who is leading the group, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for the students and teachers to try their Spanish in a real-world situation. They will also be learning so much about South American and Spanish history. Students will also never forget the memorable trip to the Galapagos Islands, seeing flora and fauna that is exclusive to the islands - a living, breathing Biology lesson." Mr. Avery also said the students will get the opportunity to work with injured wildlife at a wildlife reserve. The trip dates are from June 14 to June 23. For more information, please call Michael S. Avery, Spanish teacher, South Johnston High School, at 919.894.3146. Clayton High School Standout Named Gatorade State Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year In its third decade of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, Gatorade Thirst Quencher (June 15, 2007) announced Johnny Dutch of Clayton High School as its 2006-07 North Carolina Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Gatorade joins with RISE Magazine to name State Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year award winners representing 50 states and the District of Columbia. State winners are selected not only for their outstanding athletic performance, but also for meeting high academic-achievement standards while exemplary personal character on and off the track. Dutch, along with his fellow State Athletes of the Year, is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced later this month. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior hurdler is a nine-time state champion and a two-time Class 4A state meet MVP. The six-time All-American has also won three national championships: in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 2005 Junior Olympics and the 2006 Nike Outdoor Nationals, and in the 60-meter high hurdles at the 2007 Nike Indoor Nationals. Dutch's time of 7.07 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles is a national prep indoor record. His personal-best 60-meter hurdle time of 7.73 and this year's state-meet-winning time of 13.39 seconds in the 110 hurdles were both ranked No. 1 nationally among 2007 prep competitors at the time of his selection. Dutch has maintained a 3.18 GPA in the classroom. He is an enthusiastic member of the school drama club, an active participant in student government and remains a dedicated participant in his church youth group. "He's perfect combination of speed, technique and mental focus," said Clayton coach Bennett Jones. "He's unreal for someone his age. You could coach for 30 years and never see an athlete quite like him." Dutch will attend the University of South Carolina on a track scholarship this fall. The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes one winner in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in football, girls volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field. The selection process is administered by RISE Magazine, which works with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport. Dutch joins recent North Carolina Boys Track & Field Athletes of the Year J-Mee Samuels (2005-06, Mount Tabor HS), Andre Tillman (2004-05, North Rowan HS), and Matt DeBole (2003-04, Mount Tabor HS) on the state's list of former award winners. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/playeroftheyear For more information, please call Jerry Smith, Principal, Clayton High School, at 919.553.4064. Johnston County Schools Salutes Fourth Junior Leadership Johnston Class The fourth Junior Leadership Johnston Class graduated on Friday, June 22. Fourteen students, including one from Johnston Christian Academy, were immersed in leadership seminars, activities, field-trips, and hands-on projects during the annual summer weeklong program. Pictured are from left to right: Jason Massey - Princeton Jonathan Bridges - Princeton Jonathan Daniels - SSS Joseph Partin - WJHS Becky Wiedemann - Clayton Ryan Keen - NJHS Sydney Johnson- SJHS Brady Hedglin - Clayton Dawn Locklear - WJHS Cathryn Medlin - SJHS Emily Blackman - NJHS Regan Gatlin - SSS Sarah Elizabeth Campbell - SSS Megan Little - JCA For more information, please call Joy T. Callahan, Director, Johnston County Workforce Development Center and Department Chair, Business and Industry, Johnston Community College, at 919.209.2027.
